Northern Natal - Ithala Game Reserve, Imfolozi Game Reserve, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Lake Sibaya, Kosi Bay Mouth, Ndumo Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park - June 2014
We just happened to notice an article in the Drive Out Magazine that Bhejane would be taking a tour to a number of areas which we wanted to see but were reluctant to go to alone. (We would still avoid some of the areas we visited if we were alone although we were assured it was quite safe. I am very hard to convince.)
1 June - Ithala Game Reserve. We arrived early and did not pay careful attention to the map so ended up on an interesting 4x4 route before eventually finding the Doornkraal Camp Site.
2 June - We spent the day driving on a restricted trail where the scenery was beautiful.
3 June - Imfolozi where the rhino viewing was good. Here we had a tent on stilts which was very comfortable.
4 June - We drove another restricted trail.
5 June - Through Hluhluwe Game Reserve via Lake Sibaya to Mabibi. We arrived at the camp in the dark and fortunately I had plotted the camp site on our GPS otherwise we would have driven all over the place as the group got split in the dark. It rained that night and we could hear the waves crashing in the sea (which we never saw).
6 June - We drove to Kosi Bay Mouth but the weather was cold unfortunately. After lunch at the mouth we headed for Ndumo where we arrived late that evening.
7 June - We set off for Tembe where we were happy to see a few lovely elephants. In the afternoon we drove around at Ndumo where we saw flocks of roosting birds.
8 June - At 7:30 we left Ndumo and headed for home where we arrived just after 2pm.
For me the most beautiful park was Ithala and it would be nice to go back there again sometime.
We did not really have a lot of opportunities to take pictures as we were driving a lot of the time and some people were unfortunate enough to get punctures and the Total garage where we planned to fill up had no fuel.
The Picasa link is https://picasaweb.google.com/105203493367845189954/NorthernNatalJune2014?authkey=Gv1sRgCNP2wqrfp-ffsQE (For some reason this link is not always clickable and has to be loaded.)
The Bhejane team - Senana Seforo, Malcolm Organ, Rooijan Seforo and Christiaan Fouche
Soil erosion at Ithala Game Reserve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithala_Game_Reserve
The river at the camp site.
Some of the group relaxing.
Breakfast being prepared.
Some aloes which I liked.
There are crocodiles even in these small streams.
In the distance below there are a few spots. These are the vehicles we left behind as we trudged up the mountain.
Picking up bites as we headed for the waterfall (which we did not reach).
Late lunch on the mountaintop.
Our guide.
Witchdoctor's artifacts.
Our raised tent.
Discussing rhinoceros excrement.
We drove under her and fortunately did not destroy her web.
Lion sightings are always exciting.
Where the hot water for the showers came from.
Rhino coming to drink with the buffaloes.
Why on earth would anyone ever consider driving ahead here? Lake St Lucia (Isimangaliso Wetland Park). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_St._Lucia
On the way to Lake Sibaya. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sibhayi
Kosi Bay Mouth.
At the Ndumo entrance gate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ndumo_Game_Reserve
Elephant in Tembe Elephant Park. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tembe_Elephant_Park
Our Ndumo birding guide.
Where we walked over the hippo tracks.
I am glad that we had the opportunity of joining this trip. The standard of off-road driving by all participants was good.