Kruger Park Experiences

(Have not had wifi service for last 6 days. Below written 4 days ago.)

We’ve had a great few days in Kruger with many wildlife sightings. Over the top, really. As mentioned in previous post, driving here is very easy. We (and everyone else) cruises along at 30 – 45 kph as this is what you need to do in order to spot anything. Everyone’s quite friendly and will often wave as they pass going opposite way. Many slow down as you approach and offer tips on what they’ve seen and we do our best to reciprocate. Atmosphere here (people-wise) is so unlike the experience outside the park with zero concerns for personal safety. Many Germans here as well as South Africans. All seem to have a deep reverence for the nature we are experiencing. With one exception, perhaps. We saw a guy at breakfast one day wearing tee shirt reading “Born, raised and protected by God, guns and guts”. I decided not to engage.

Speaking of tee shirts, we were sitting on our unit’s patio one day and I noticed one guy 2 huts down was doing some hand laundry and had hung a few tees over the fence to dry. One of them had a Canucks logo on it so I went over to check it out. Turns out our 2 immediate neighbors are from Vancouver – friends traveling together. One couple had immigrated to Canada about 25 years ago. The fellow told me that he and his wife simply couldn’t take the stress and fear of living in South Africa and were able to come to Canada. Like me, he’s profoundly grateful to be a Canadian. In so many words, he said upon arrival, he sought out PTSD treatment in an effort to put his previous life behind him. That said, they have a great deal of affection for the land and its people as evidenced by their regular visits.

Our unit in this 2nd camp is very much like the first: very basic with traditional round hut style and thatched roof. The view of the Olifants River from our patio is to die for.

Drove up to a nearby viewpoint the other day to see spectacular countryside. Although I certainly won’t call it a highlight of the trip, couldn’t resist taking a picture of this monkey with very colorful male junk (may have to expand picture to see).