We travelled to a different location in Kruger National Park today. This place is huge.
We are currently in Hoedspruit at the Radisson Hotel. It is certainly a step up from luxury tenting although I totally enjoyed sleeping so close to nature. This hotel property is huge! We were housed in the same building and can call for a golf cart to get to the main lobby which is where all our meals will be.
We have a scheduled afternoon game drive on a private reserve. Once we get our keys, we have 30 minutes to get back to the lobby to meet the safari jeeps.
Private Game Reserve – What a SNAFU!
The weather has turned with a dip in temperature to 15C with rain. We meet the safari vehicles by the main hotel lobby and quickly jump in. Shannon and I take the back seat. We are given ponchos to protect us from the rain. The jeep is open on all sides.
We drive along the highway past the town of Hoedspruit (Head Creek) and even with ponchos and 3 layers of clothes, it is cool and wet. We hit some rush hour traffic which is welcome as we are moving slower in our open air vehicle, but as soon as the jeep speeds up, spray is wetting our faces.
I have a tracker sitting next to me and he isn’t wearing a poncho. The poor kid is glistening from the water.
We turn down a dirt road that is perpendicular to the highway. It was a little scary riding down that highway with no doors or seatbelts unlike other vehicles we have travelled in.
Once inside the private game reserve, the rain continues with puddles growing wider and mud becoming deeper and messier.
The tracker who is sitting next to me, takes his place on a seat at the front of the jeep.
We start down the road that has been forged through thicket and bush. A body of water is spotted and a heron.
Cristiana excitedly asks if we can get closer, and the driver takes us down a hill to get a good photo. It is a cool heron with a red and black bill and banded legs.
He turns the jeep around and starts back up the hill, but the wheels just spin. Oh no, we are stuck!
Our driver tries different routes to gain traction, rocks back and forth but to no avail. We end up having to get out of the safari truck.
Lion Bait
Walking along the muddy road in my running shoes was treacherous. I was slipping and sliding and doing everything to remain upright. Thankfully I did.
My shoes were covered in mud. I wore them never intending to get out of a jeep in the middle of a safari! I’m currently regretting not bringing my hiking boots.
Needless to say, as we stand as a group, we are all exposed to lions, hyenas and rhinos while the men try to figure out the situation. We nervously joke that no one should stray as the lions go for the stragglers and watch for eyes watching us.
After 30 minutes, they manage to get the truck up and over the hill. Roger, one of our tour mates showed the driver how to turn the hub nut which did something to allow the truck to get traction. Roger is our hero today!
The experience today left a bit of a bad taste in our mouths. We have been placed in a few unsafe situations today.
They drove us around for a bit but we didn’t see much Not even a positive attitude could change the mood of our jeep occupants.
Weather is unpredictable today and the cold drizzle and the wind whips our faces. We finally had enough, and asked that we head back to the gate. We saw this rhino before the drive ended.
The game drive ends but we now need to get back to the hotel. First, the dirt road that never seems to end, then the highway in the dark. Remember, no doors and no seatbelts!
Cristiana and Néstor got an earful when it was over from a few of the tour participants. No one should feel unsafe on a tour. It’s okay, they will fix it.
Game Drive #5 – Shannon and Shane sitting in a tree
We received terrific news that this morning’s game drive would be at a different location and doors on the jeep were promised. Also, instead of taking the jeep from the hotel and travelling down that horrible road, a bus will take us to the gate of the reserve.
We had to be on the bus for 5:30 am. It’s 14C and raining but Shannon and I refuse to give in to the weather. The game drives are the reason we are here.
Our driver, Shane was knowledgeable and a good sport. Shannon had fun with him and we all enjoyed this game drive. We couldn’t get enough cows together for her wedding dowry.
At the 2-hour mark, our jeeps gathered for a hot drink and a rusk. The warm coffee is welcomimg in the chill of the morning.
We have seen a lot this morning:
Nature called so I had to squat behind a rock outcropping. No lavatories. Talk about being on high alert! 😳
Reminder – purchase a She-Wee so I can pee standing up.
Game Drive #6 – Nature of the Beast
We came back to the hotel in time for breakfast and a rest before setting out on the afternoon game drive. This will be our final Kruger National Park game drive.
We have one more planned in Chobe National Park in Botswana. We are still looking for a leopard but with the weather, it might be hard to spot today.
We have a new driver this afternoon. Shane will not be joining us this time but our new driver was as knowledgeable and willing to marry Shannon or maybe he just wants to come to Canada. We had a full jeep this afternoon which made it fun.
The sun is trying to come out and the rain stopped for a bit and just in time for us to see a pride of lions feasting on a water buffalo kill.
What an experience seeing nature in action. We sat there in awe watching the male pick up the carcass and turn it over to get to the tender bits
A baby lion was practically standing on his head trying to get to the meat. He looked like he was going to flip over.
As gruesome as it was, it was fascinating watching the hierarchy of the lion pride.
The weather was starting to turn again We drove around for another half hour until we had enough. We forfeited the beverage break and started to head back to the gate. On the way back, we saw this beautiful, gentle giant.
Back to the hotel, we grab some dinner at the buffet and I return to my room to pack up and get some rest. I can barely keep my eyes open from all the fresh air and excitement today.
I really enjoyed our stay at the Radisson. My room was lovely and modern. If the weather had been nicer, the pool would have been lovely to enjoy.
Tomorrow, we have a long drive to Pretoria.
