Swaziland - June 2006

The pictures below are large thumbnails and if you click on them they should enlarge. To return to this page you will need to go to the previous screen (back arrow on the browser).

Swaziland is a magical place to play in a 4x4. We usually go with the Four Wheel Drive Club - Swaziland and they are magnificent hosts. Often we have camped at their camp site but this time we stayed in a lodge. On the way we stopped off at Badplaas where they have hot springs and also a 4x4 route in a game reserve.

A track in the game reserve at Badplaas.

Kudus.

Mountain Rhebuck.

Black Wildebeest.

Blesbok flanked by Wildebeest.

Springbok on the left.

The rivulet.

Eland looking.

Our camp site showing our small two man (or man and woman) tent.

Rhinos dozing together.

Back across the small stream.

Rhino doing what the like doing best - grazing.

Wildebeest in the late afternoon light.

Rhino in the path ahead.

The chalet where we stayed in Swaziland. (Izulweni Valley)

Breakfast at the chalet.

Bonnet open and lots of knowledgeable chaps looking on.

River crossing. These can be deep and treacherous in Swaziland. Better to let someone else go in front.

The scenery.

The track - off-road.

Nose down.

In deep.

And out.

Up - steep.

You go first so I can see how deep the water is.

A tree where the base has grown over a boulder. Often trees flourish between the rocks as this protects them from fires. The rocks sometimes form a collar and protect the tree from the flames as they pass through.

Between the rocks.

Not fitting so well.

The view.

Aloes in flower between the rocks.

Very steep down.

Looks easy - we are out.

But not everyone got out easily.

More view.

The view below.

The terrain.

Driving in the wet river bed. Good place to get stuck if you make a mistake.

Wet sand in the river bed.

Sylvia showing how it is done. (Not everyone succeeded and some did not even try.)

Swaziland is a special place where there is lots of very technical driving in places.