Tshipise, Kruger National Park and Die Eiland

Tshipise, Kruger National Park and Die Eiland - July 2013

We bought a Land Cruiser 79 (Mo Chuisle - Ma Cushla - My Darling see http://askville.amazon.com/movie-Million-Dollar-Baby-phrase-mo-cuishle/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=29093728 from a friend of ours.

After examinng the vehicle we decided we would like some modifications done - this takes time - lots of time - but we have done this type of thing before so knew what to expect.

Modifications later we thought it might be a good idea to test some of the "facilities". In order to do this we arranged with friends who have a similar machine to go to The Kruger National Park (Kruger) with them where we would try out the bits on our vehicles together. Having a little time we decided to visit a resort (Tshipise) which has warm water (naturally heated) beforehand and another resort (Die Eiland) afterwards (water heated by a boiler).

We left home on Thursday 11 July. When we arrived at Tshipise it was cold and there was a slight drizzle. This surprised me as I expected warm sunshine - which I like lots. Anyway we soon found a very convenient campsite close to the hot pools which I been dreaming about for ages. The pools not the campsite. First thing we set out to erect the tent and the awning. We attached the sides and stood back to admire our wonderful accomplishment. All this is actually really fast to erect. As we were staying for a few days we unloaded some of the bits and laid them out under the awning. All remained dry and the sidewalls gave a semblance of more warmth than there might have been without them. That night we used our special "facility" being an electric blanket and it was really cozy upstairs.

There was another similar vehicle there with a large caravan/trailer which we also peered at.

During our stay a surprising number of people came and took pictures of our setup. Quite a few people asked what the solar panels were for and I replied in one word - "Advertising". This was never questioned and to date I am not sure what they really thought.

It has been a dream of mine to become a "swaeltjie" and spend three months or more at Tshipise. The whole winter. So this time I carefully evaluated the people who would be my companions for this much dreamt of and eagerly anticipated extended sojourn. To my horror I realised that I knew nothing about "Sewende Laan" which I believe is an Afrikaans soapie. This meant I would be excluded as one "unclean" and unsuitable to be with and certainly not one to let grandchildren near. The dream is over! Smashed! Broken! Destroyed!

I like the Caramel Vodka thing in the silver aluminium bottles and the similar drink in black aluminium bottles. A dear friend suggested I go to Makro and inspect what they had to offer in boxes - like box wine. Two cranberry and vodka boxes later with other booze we left Makro. Why am I telling you this you ask? Well it tastes like a cold drink - not a trace of alcohol taste. But - my gout - good grief - my gout. Every two seconds a stab of pain. I have a strong feeling that I may become a teetotaller.

Anyway, after a few days we departed for Kruger. We were surprised to see the damage the rain which fell earlier in the year had done. In fact there was considerably more standing water than we had seen at this time of the year. Through Pafuri gate we crawled (speed restrictions) and on arrival at Punda Maria found our friends had arrived. Two undone clips later, a push and an attaching of the ladder and we were done. I always like Kruger.

The next camp was at Letaba where we met other friends who on seeing us immediately informed us of their imminent departure - at latest the next day. More unclipping, pushing and laddering and we were done. It was not that warm so early to bed with electric blanket.

After Letaba we went to Tzendze which is a camp which does not have electric power and here for the first time we saw that the fridges remained working for a few days (lots of daily driving and not hot nights).

New paragraph - we had ICE. This is significant for personal reasons but we did have ICE.

At Tzendze we said goodbye to our friends and a while after they left we headed for Die Eiland. I always thought it was tar all the way but it was not via the route we took.

Die Eiland is an ATKV resort and it es extremely well run. On arrival you are given a campsite which is ready when you arrive with electric plug and a water tap and rubbish bin nearby. It was still cool at nights and the electric blanket was used a few more times.

They also have a large, quite large - no very large water slide. As soon as the children were out of the way guess what?

We both went down the slide - that is Sylvia and I (separately). Wow it was fast - I thought I was going over the side - flat on my back I hurtled doom I mean down. The second time I tried to sit but eventually (a few milliseconds later) I was on my back again. Twice was enough.

A day or so later I said I would try the slide again. Up and up I climbed. (the Jack in a Beanstalk idea could have come from this slide) At the top I lowered my posterior into the water and held the bar which I have to duck under to start the slide. Sitting and with claws outstretched I tried to slow myself down by pressing the sides. Suddenly - really suddenly - my left hand hit a slippery patch while my right claw encountered a sticky bit. Instantaneously I spun round and headed headfirst on my back down the shoot - all the while screaming (whimpering if the truth be told) when will I ever reach the bottom. Suddenly the nanoseconds seemed to become hours - almost days as I bumped from side to side.

On reaching the bottom Sylvia was concerned whether I was all right. I said yes. This was going to be Voltaren night I thought. But I was OK.

The link for the pictures below is https://picasaweb.google.com/SiggyBishop/TshipiseKrugerNationalPArkAndDieEiland?authkey=Gv1sRgCPryleO909vnnwE