Kruger National Park Adventure

On June 6, we locked the office and left Johannesburg with the Leavitts and headed for Kruger National Park, one of the biggest game reserves in Africa.  There isn't any scenery to speak of until about three hours out which takes us to Nelspruit where we have Senior couples and elders assigned.

Then there were miles and miles of man planted evergreens.  You don't normally see pines growing in rows but here you do.  They harvest the lumber and then replant.

We went to a scenic tourist site called God's Window but unfortunately we'll never be able to look through God's window because it was a bit foggy that day.  The clouds were so low and some places on the road we couldn't see where we were going - just followed the lines.  I'm sure it was spectacular but we couldn't get our heads out of the clouds

But we could see these beautiful blooming cactus trees

We drove away from the clouds and found these beautiful falls

 Elder and Sister Leavitt can't break away from their missionary attire

But Elder and Sister Bishop sure can

We continued on our journey to a little town outside Kruger Park called Hazyview - can't imagine how it got it's name

I made reservations over the internet so really didn't know what our accommodations would be but we drove for about two miles down this road - but it was dark so didn't look this inviting.  We were sure "Sister Garmin" was taking us on a wild goose chase.  It wound and twisted and turned....

Remember it was dark......

But we finally came to this quaint delightful place called the Hamilton Guest Lodge and was graciously welcomed by the owner

This was our room

And this was the surrounding area

Absolutely beautiful

 

The owner is in the middle.  He made us the most amazing breakfast and sent us on our way sure to tell all of our missionary friends about his beautiful place down the scary long driveway.  Not bad for $60 a night

Then on to Kruger where we saw many of my favorites - giraffes

They like to pose for the cameras

Is this Timone or Pumba?  Never got this close to a warthog before

You think these turtles are sitting on a rock don't you?

Surprise - it's only a hippo - first time to see hippos in the water

Many hippos out.......

Many hippos in

They come up for air every two or three minutes

Yup two crocodiles 

This could be a Burchill's Starling

But this one is definitely a Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

 

We've not seen these Vervet Monkeys before.  They were cute as can be

 

 

Kudu

How about those horns?

What would you do if a big elephant was walking down the road right toward you?

 Be very relieved that he decided to make a right turn!

The Sabie River is the beautiful part of Kruger

Oh no, someone's been on a lion hunt!

Who would do such a thing?

Let's take a closer look

Would they look this content if they had been harmed?

It appears they are the ones that have been on a hunt and they're so full and happy, they just dropped right in the middle of the road:)

Two of them didn't make it to the road

There are so many flowering trees in South Africa - something is always blooming - year round

Then the famous Acacia tree - almost the symbol of Africa

We hated to say good bye to Kruger and all of the thousands of Impala that are throughout the park but it was time to go

We drove through miles and miles of sugar cane fields, banana plantations, and orange orchards

We stayed in Komatipoorte, a very tropical, beautiful town

at the Acasia Guest Lodge

This was our room

It was literally a tropical paradise.

We hated to leave

Elder Bishop had an encounter with an obnoxious Cockatoo at a roadside stand

He clamped onto his thumb and wouldn't let go - guess he didn't want to be put down - liked all of the attention.