| Tulasana Safaris HI THERE EVERYONE!This is Nikki reporting on my recent January Safari. We had a lot to see and do during this time so did an enormous amount of travelling, as you will notice as you read on. Our “Singles Safari” coming up on the 3rd of March 2009, will be slightly different in that we will be doing less travelling, we’ll take things at a slower pace, see all the Wildlife and also have time to get to know one another well and enjoy our time together, wining and dining, exchanging stories around the campfire and who knows we might even do some rain dancing in the wilderness. I guarantee, you will have heaps of fun with the three of us. Debbie is an expert organiser, a perfectionist who gives great attention to detail, so you’ll be in good hands with her; Dawn is an excellent communicator, with an artistic background and great fun; And I love life, love people and love adventure, and of course all three of us LOVE THE BUSH! And can’t wait to experience a slice of South Africa with you. Well here’s what happened on my January adventure……………….. Day One O n Saturday the 17th January 2009 the entire group meets for the first time in Edenvale, Johannesburg. Eight people from New York, two from Colorado, and I. After brief introductions and how do you do’s, we are all set and ready to experience a portion of sunny South Africa, and drive a total of 2 200 kilometres in ten days. Beginning with our trip to “Dullstroom” north east of Johannesburg. In between the excited chattering, my eyes scanned the gorgeous countryside, refreshing rivers and streams meandered magically on land, which seemed to stretch for miles on either side of the road. Sunflowers grew in patches and swayed soothingly beneath the hot blue midday sky. I could tell the area had experienced good rains recently, plump cattle and sheep could be seen grazing the lush green grass here and there. What a tranquil and beautiful picture the landscape presented with its rolling green hills and dales. At 3pm that afternoon we pulled into the very pretty town of Dullstroom; - Whitewashed buildings with green tin roofs, old stone buildings with dates emblazoned on walls dating back to 1869 lined the main street. Pink purple and red Petunias in baskets dangled brightly and enticingly, outside the numerous curio and home industry shop entrances. Pottery, Candle making, Silk, Fabric, furniture and other quaint and interesting shops; too many to mention had the group craning their necks to see more. With wetted appetites they were anxious to stretch their legs and explore. At last, the vehicle pulled up under two shady trees outside the Dullstroom Inn, all clambered out hurriedly with expensive cameras hanging heavily on their breasts. Luggage was handed out and rooms allocated. This town is the trout fishing capital of South Africa. The fireplace in the Inn’s pub has burnt without interruption for twenty five years. By all the excited “Oh wow’s!” I can tell that the group is truly “hooked” by the quaint Dullstroom village and Inn where we will be spending our first night. That evening in the pub who should be seated next to me is Mr Ted Brown, who at 86yrs old is one of Dullstrooms oldest residents. He arrived in the village in 1949 “when there were only sandy roads, no dams, and in those days…” he informed me in-between sips of ice cold beer “it was very rural, rough and tough. It was mainly sheep country and sheep farmers. We had the best of it then….” He mumbled dreamily. “I was a trout farmer; there are two main types of trout here in Dullstroom. Brown trout from Europe, and Rainbow trout, which is what I farmed. These are a hybrid from America; they’re hardy and withstand the temperatures well. Dullstroom is the perfect place with the perfect environment for anglers and people who enjoy fly-fishing. Most of the lodges and Inns have staff who teach trout fishing and provide the equipment for learners. In my time, there was nothing here except the garage on the corner, a mill, a café, a national co-operative dairy shed and of course the railway, police station and post office, now as you can see, the main road is lined with all sorts of arts and craft shops which our visitors love. People never get bored here, there’s horse riding, beautiful walks and drives, we have a fantastic bird life and exquisite flowers, have you ever seen a yellow arum lily? We have them in Dullstroom. Do you know that because of our high altitude which is 2100 metres above sea level, Dullstroom attracts professional marathon runners from around the world who come to train here and go back to Europe and win all their races.” He chuckles and takes a sip of beer. “Oh yes, us people from Dullstroom, we are naturalists, conservationists and fishermen, with only a small resident population of about 200 rate payers. Do you know, Dullstroom was a hidden secret, nobody knew about us until 1989 when a South African newspaper “The Sunday Times” ran a one million rand “finders keepers” treasure hunt competition. Each week they gave the readers a clue as to where the one million rand was hidden, and guess where it was hidden? Right here! In the Dullstroom Inn, that’s when people from all over the country flocked in and discovered Dullstroom our hidden gem of a village, and now of course we have many visitors and they are more than welcome” Day Two The group are happy after a good nights rest, and superb dinner at “Mrs Simpsons Restaurant” walking distance from the Inn, which consisted of…wait for it…a tender freshly caught trout! After a delicious English breakfast we’re on the road again and its Timbavarti here we come! The drive through magnificent mountains and spectacular scenery was fascinating, the landscape transformed before our very eyes from lush green gently rolling hills to stony, rocky, mountainous terrain, dotted with aloes, t shrubs and acacias. What a contrast. We stopped occasionally for the “bathroom” as our American visitors put it and to look at curios at local craft stores, where “lucky bean” necklaces and soapstones were purchased. At least half an hour of our travelling time was spent browsing and admiring the craftwork at the curio shop immediately before the long tunnel, which had been carved by our forefathers, in the good old days, through the majestic Drakensburg Mountains whose peaks looked as though they’d been dipped in pots of green and orange paint. The weather was in our favour; it was lovely and cool on arrival at Timbavarti Safari Camp. Grey clouds were definitely not what we had been expecting and we were all very grateful for them. The Timbavarti Reserve falls within a subtropical region. The vegetation is made up of fine bushveld trees and Mopani shrub terrain. Recommended months to visit are January, February and March the summer months, the winter months are a bit dry and not quite as green, so we had arrived at the right time of year. Each group member was shown to his or her tent by Andreas Liebenberg our host and expert guide. Andreas pointed out the “roofless” hot showers (which enable you to look at the birds flying in the sky and roosting in the trees in the evening whilst you wash, an exquisite experience I discovered, during my stay) and flush toilets which were a short way from the very spacious luxury tents which housed two single beds with the most comfortable mattresses I might add. The tents are fully gauzed against bugs and must remain zipped up at all times to keep out the marauding monkeys who come looking for food. Inside the tent is a whistle (to call for help if necessary or ward off snooping wild animals) a lamp and a torch. The most wonderful peaceful atmosphere abounds, we are in the wilderness, the cacophony of bird sound is music to the ears, this is the bushveld. I felt suddenly at one with nature, totally and completely. Miraculously, thoughts of hairdryers and makeup and clothes had evaporated, this is simple, this is the truth, the real thing, and this is glorious. After introductions and cold drinks lunch was served, we were hungry, so the homemade pizza and leafy green salad were an answer to a prayer, everybody tucked in chattering away madly like the bunch of excited “Starling birds” in the nearby Msasa tree. The dining room consisted of a very large tent and one long table, which all the guests were seated around for each meal. As this happened to be a first time Safari and camping experience for the whole group, the rules of the camp were read out for our own benefit and safety by Foreman Matabula the manager at Timbavarti. At 4.30pm, after freshening up we were invited to board the two smart land rovers for our first evening game drive. Refreshments were firmly packed into cooler boxes at the rear of the vehicles and off we set into the sunset. Very romantic! It was thrilling to see Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and a variety of birds close up on our first outing. Near the watering hole we stopped for evening Sundowners. It was dark by the time we set off back to camp, suddenly the vehicle was drawn to a halt and our guide Foreman shone his torch on a thick snake slowly slinking into the long grass, “A Puff Adder” he told us and there, he pointed his torch towards a shrub “A Wild Cat” What a wildly breathtaking experience, and this was only our first day Sunday, we still had the whole of Monday and Tuesday at Timbavarti. We drove back to camp beneath the stars, with frogs croaking in nearby ponds, a really happy experience. Back at the camp we sat in a circle around the campfire listening to the guides recall riveting bushveld stories “close encounters with the big five” Supper consisted of Potjie (A stew cooked slowly over coals in a round cast iron three legged pot) This traditional South African meal was served with pap (a maize meal dough) and corn on the cob. Day Three Monday the 19th Jan, 5am wake up call “The morning game drive” We’re told that the assemblage of wildlife at Timbavarti which lies on the outskirts of the Kruger National Park is particularly rich and boasts not only the big five experience; Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard but also an extraordinary profusion of bird and diverse animal life. Since there is no enclosure between the reserve and the National Park, animals move freely in and out. On this particular morning we saw a herd of Buffalo and three male lions resting together under a tree. The guide showed us the black and yellow “Golden Orb” Spider, we touched the strong threads of its web, and he pointed out Impala drinking with the Water Buck. We watched, looked and listened until it was time to get back to camp for a full “help yourself” breakfast, which included fruit, yoghurt, bacon, egg, sausage toast followed by tea and coffee. Timbavarti Bush Camp is an educational bush safari so this was an ideal starting point for our inexperienced group. The guides teach everything one needs to know about the bush, including tracking, bush survival, conservation and flora and fauna, after breakfast we gathered together under a big shady tree for Andreas bush education talk in which he told us what fruits we could eat in the bush if we were ever stranded e.g. the sour plum, the fruit from the Marula tree, he showed us how to make a fire using the hand drill method. He showed us what a Leadwood tree looked like and how we could use its dry leaves for medicinal purposes, they contain relaxation properties. By inhaling the smoke, one can obtain relief from headaches and sinus’s can be cleared. The smell of the smoke was surprisingly refreshing and sweet smelling. He told us that the ash from the Leadwood tree could be used safely as toothpaste. We were shown how to make a “fire carrying parcel” and how dry buffalo dung is perfect to use in fires as it smoulders for a long time. He showed us what a “Russet bush Willow” looked like and told us that it’s dry leaves were just the answer to boil up, and make into a refreshing cup of tea, which was full of anti oxidants. We were shown how to make rope from the bark of a tree, and how to trap birds, amongst other things. The game drive that evening was a truly spectacular experience for all. In one trip we managed to see White Rhino, Lion, Elephant, Buffalo and finally a Leopard. Foreman with his eagle eyes spotted the tail of this majestic beast hanging out of a tree to the left of the vehicle, very quietly he drove to about forty metres of the tree; he turned off the engine, enabling us to gaze at this beautiful specimen in silent awe for a lengthy time. Binoculars brought him that much closer, his eyes, his exquisite face, his leopard spots, his relaxed body draped in the fork of the tree, what a truly handsome creature, the group managed to get some great shots with their cameras. Everybody was over the moon, we had all seen the big five, had learnt so much about the bush and by this stage we all knew the difference between the various antelope: - the Impala, the Sable, the Waterbuck, the Kudu the Nyala. Satisfied sounds resounded all around. Day Four Can it get any better? Unexpectedly on the morning game drive we turn a corner to find a pack of about twenty Wild Dog! Each and every one of us nearly burst our seams in sheer excitement. Wild dog are so rare and hadn’t been seen in the area for months. We are told that there are only about 2 000 wild dog remaining in the whole of Africa. The group were in their element, we were so close we could’ve reached out and touched them. The photographers were going frantic snapping up every twist and turn every breath. I for one, fell in love with them, their unique patterns and colouring, tan, black and white and beige, their black faces, it unbelievable how the markings on each dog was so different, this had me mesmerized, I couldn’t take my eyes off them. What another awesome sight. That evening, we had secretly arranged for some tribal dancers from a nearby village to creep up and surprise the group whilst they were having drinks on the dry, sandy, river bed in front of the dining area. In the meantime, the guide mentioned in a very serious, worried tone to the American visitors, that there was a bit of tribal warfare in the area and rumblings of discontent (which was of course was far from true). The tribal dancers arrived quietly, brightly adorned in traditional sarongs, carrying drums and other musical instruments. I went to greet them silently, hiding with them around the corner, whispering our plan, in which they should pretend to chase me, screaming, down into the river bed in front of the guests. They loved the idea, and this is exactly what we did! Our American visitors jumped up at the sound of the blood curdling screams, me running for my life towards them with the villagers racing after me, but the happy smiles on the tribal dancers faces gave us away, the group weren’t convinced, bar one or two, and we all ended up laughing. The dancing began what a lovely, enjoyable evening we had! Day Five Wednesday already the 21st Jan, How time flies when you’re having fun! Three days in the bush and we were changed people. A huge transformation had taken place; nature had restored our balance and harmony. Wound up city slickers had become relaxed, calm individuals with a focus on nature and conservation; we had all learnt such a lot and you could tell each person was loving every minute. The day we had to leave Timbavarti, which had taught us such a lot, had arrived. It was time to embark on the long journey through the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest Wildlife Sanctuary and head South for Berg-En-Dal Camp where we would be staying the night. The trek is only 185 kilometres but one is only allowed to travel at 50km’s per hour max because of the animals in the park. This is a beautiful drive through wildlife country so what’s the hurry. The vehicles are packed with water, cool drinks, snacks and sandwiches and of course binoculars and cameras. As we drive we test one another on our Bush knowledge and various birds and antelope this proved to be great fun. The Hippo in the river were a delight and we are told that they are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa if you get in-between them and the water. At 5pm we arrive at our over night accommodation Berg-En-Dal who’s motto is “Why rush? Stay longer, See more!” On the “Singles Safari” in March we will be lingering longer!!! Berg-En-Dal is situated on the bank of the Matjulu Spruit with a view of the softly undulating hills to the east. On the northern and southern sides dry riverbeds and a dam border the camp. There are large trees along the streams and riverbeds. The self-catering brick bungalows, which we stayed in, were very comfortable with electricity and en-suite bathrooms, just what the doctor ordered after the long drive. Day Six After waking up to the sound of a Heuglin Robin and a very comfortable rest we leave Berg-En-Dal after breakfast in the dining room, and exit the Kruger National Park altogether, motoring further south into Swaziland an independent country within South Africa. In Swaziland the plan is to visit two game reserves, the Hlane Royal National Park and the following day the Mkhaya Game reserve, both managed by “Big Game Parks” a private non-profit trust whose mission is to conserve the rich bio-diversity of Swazilands natural heritage. In 1967 the Reilly family established Hlane game reserve with the blessing of the Swazi Monarchy and has become Swazilands largest conservation area. Hlane means “Wilderness”. Big Game Parks offer very different and unique accommodation, which delighted the group in both camps. Hlane is home to the largest herds of game in Swaziland, with four of the big five. (Not including Buffalo as they fall in the TB and foot and mouth disease line) At Hlane, the thatched self-catering rondavals overlook a watering hole frequented by numerous white rhino. There is no electricity, only lamp and candlelight that enhanced the natural ambiance; the simplicity was welcome and appealing. The semi- open thatched restaurant near the watering hole offers buffet dinners and breakfasts, and provides the ideal venue for sundowners whilst watching the animals drink from the watering hole in the evening. Chatting to a game warden at Hlane I discovered the basic differences between the Black and White Rhino for the first time. Black Rhino are browsers, have pointed mouths, they are solitary animals and like the thick bush, white Rhino on the other hand are grazers, they are bigger in size they have a wide straight mouth and they enjoy moving in groups. Hlani Game Park lies to the east of Swaziland and is Swazilands largest protected area. Among its hardwood trees, Hlane boasts the highest density of free nesting vultures and the most southerly nesting Maribou storks in Africa; it is also abundant with Marula trees (the King of African trees) Best known for the delicious cream liqueur. Walking first thing in the morning at Hlani I noticed the fruit of the Marula tree lying almost everywhere. The guide on duty informed me that many parts of the tree are well known locally for their medicinal properties, but most popular is the fruits aphrodisiac qualities. In recent years, another remarkable quality has come to the fore. Inside the fruit is a very hard nut containing two or three seeds that yield oil with excellent skin care properties. It is said that African women have traditionally used the oil to prevent stretch marks in pregnancy. The Swazi’s might just have the secret to looking “forever young” with their magical oils from Marula trees. Day Seven Following breakfast in the Lapa overlooking the White Rhino drinking merrily from the watering hole, we left for Big Bend town in Swaziland. From Big Bend we drove another 25kilometres into the rural areas on a very stony road, going slowly gave us the time to observe the huts and living quarters of the Swazi people, these stick, mud and thatched houses were of great interest to our new found American friends. Many snaps of these were taken to show relatives back home in the big apple. What an eye opener these homes must’ve been to the group. By now it was mid-afternoon and time to head for Mkhaya Game Park, also in Swaziland. Mkhaya, is a haven for endangered species, Black Rhino continue to be their flagship species; while the introduction of threatened antelope such as the rare Roan, Sable, Tsessebe (which are second fastest in speed to a Cheetah), Eland and Nyala to name a few, enhance game viewing. From saving the local Nguni Cattle breed in 1979, to the current protection of wildlife and establishment of breeding programmes, the reserve is an exciting conservation success. Mkhaya accommodation is thrilling to see and experience! The unusual cottages all en-suite are made of low chunky dolomite rock walls, and high-pitched thatch roofs. Between the walls and roof are large spaces open to the bush. These charming cottages are nestled snugly in amongst a grove of tall green trees beside a river, some of which being the Leadwood, Tall Fig, Knob Thorn all somehow intertwined, with a Giant Sausage Tree forming the centre of the camp. This heavily wooded under-canopy gives the camp a year-round subtropical appearance. It truly is a magical setting with lanterns lighting up pathways to cottages, which are quite open to the elements having no sides or windows, whilst still incorporating the touches of simple African luxury. We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the lapa that evening consisting of Pea soup, Impala stew, rice and vegetables followed by ice cream all the while singing the camps praises in its uniqueness. After dinner were we treated to traditional dancing around the campfire. Day Eight In the morning, whilst waiting to go on the early morning Mkhaya game drive I began reading through a 2008 Big Game Parks Newsletter in the reception area only to discover that Mkhaya at this time of year is a Birder’s delight! One of the most elusive birds, high on the birder’s list of “must see” – and usually a once -in –a- lifetime sighting – is the Narina Trogan. Beautiful beyond belief, with a crimson red breast, emerald green back and yellow bill, the Narina Trogan is hardly ever seen. For years now, these birds have been resident in Mkhaya’s Stone Camp, with reasonably regular sightings. I didn’t manage to see a Narina Trogan unfortunately this trip, but I did see a Crowned Hornbill, and a purple-crested Lourie and what a delight that was! After the game drive it was time to leave Swaziland behind and head for the White Elephant Bush Camp, situated in the beautiful Pongola Game Reserve in Northern Zululand. The game reserve we’re told as we drive along lies on the western side of the majestic Lebombo Mountains and the shores of the spectacular Lake Jozini. White Elephant Bush Camp is a self catering camp and we are promised an authentic South African meal that evening which one of our guides will be preparing. What a talented guy, a first class guide and now a chef, we can’t wait for dinner time! The plan is to drop the group at the camp at midday whilst he drives on into Pongola town about 40 km away to get the necessary provisions. To greet us at 12.30pm at White Elephant Bush Camp were another two young guides Skull and Armand, they were all smiles and very helpful with the bags. What a pretty, neatly laid out camp. With an open-plan kitchen sporting all the mod cons, microwave, stove, percolators, kettles, deep freeze, fridges, lovely cutlery and crockery, I loved the spacious kitchen, Right up my street! The spacious thatched chalets were airy and fresh with clean white crisp linen, all bathrooms en-suite and for the first time on the expedition “a bath” I love a bath, whilst on the other hand, the American group enjoy a shower, a prime example of “different strokes for different folks”. We gathered together around the pool to relax and enjoy a Gin and Tonic. Our guides were very knowledgably filling us in about the area, when suddenly the very distinctive call of the African Fish Eagle was heard, which reminded me of home, Zimbabwe, and Lake Kariba. Armand said Lake Jozini was very similar to Lake Kariba, in that it was the only place in South Africa that had the “Tiger Fish”. A major angling game fish which can be recognised by the bluish sheen on its back, a series of parallel longitudinal black stripes, intensive yellow to blood red fins with trailing black edges and a series of 8 large, protruding, sharply pointed teeth. It is a voracious and fierce fish although the small ones often fall prey to the swooping African Fish Eagle. Armand said that Lake Jozini offers the ideal location for a Tiger fishing experience of a lifetime, and the lodge provide all equipment. After hearing this, six in the group booked then and there to go early morning fishing the following day! They also offer Game Hunting which includes Buffalo, Elephant, Rhino and some Antelope species, plus canoeing, houseboats and game drives. They are also very conveniently situated within a 100km distance from the Natal coast. Later on in the afternoon we all went on a booze cruise on the Lake. Armand explained that Lake Jozini was the third largest dam in volume in South Africa and was built in 1960 with the plan to use the dam water for a massive sugar cane irrigation scheme. The wall was constructed where the Pongola River cuts through the Lebombo and Ubombo Mountains. But the dam was the cause of much political dissention between Swaziland and South Africa, as a large portion of South Eastern Swaziland became flooded with water as the dam began to fill. The matter has only recently been resolved when a water scheme that supplies Swaziland with water from the dam, was completed at the expense of the South African Government. The dam is referred to as a “White Elephant” as it suffers from unstable and fluctuating levels of water which is proving to be detrimental to the dam’s ecology – the fish populations are unstable, hippo and crocodile breeding sites are affected as are the nesting sites for birds. The good news is that this area is malaria free! The reserves low rainfall also allows for beautiful blue skies, many sunshine days and spectacular sunsets while the warm evenings display moonlight skies and incredibly clear galaxies of the Southern Hemisphere, the perfect environment for romantics and stargazers! What a pleasant surprise on our return to the camp after our evening booze cruise! Our guide had laid the table, the wine glasses gleamed in the moonlight, the campfire was blazing, and the aroma emanating from the kitchen made my mouth water. I was asked to decorate the table so I did, by cutting four exotic Strelitzia’s down and some of their leaves to the horrified yells from the kitchen, the poor man was bellowing “Not those!” too late they were cut! Armand very kindly told me not to worry; I told him to please tell the owner that wild animals destroyed them in the night. I did feel guilty, but they looked stunning on the table and all admired them, giggling beneath their hands. I told the group that gardeners always cut back the old to give way to the new and the guides laughed good-humouredly. The dinner was a great success, beef fillet with cranberry sauce, steak and boerewors (a spicy South African Sausage) accompanied by a large leafy green Greek salad and potatoes, followed by a scrumptious chocolate log! Everybody was impressed with our guides culinary expertise! Day Nine The fishermen didn’t have much time in the morning on Lake Jozini, and therefore were not very successful. They came back to camp looking rather hang dog and grim, but with breakfast laid out and ready and the smell of hot coffee as well as our guides freshly baked rolls teasing their nostrils, their faces lit up again and all was fine in the camp once more! After breakfast without dilly-dally we set off for Zululand and the Simunye Lodge. We arrived at our destination at 3pm.The view of the Mfule Valley and scenery was unbelievable. We gazed around in awe whilst unpacking the bags from our vehicles into the lodge land rover. Then onto horseback we mounted, for our trip down into the valley and to the lodge, (the Ox Wagon was not available which was somewhat disappointing) but horseback was just as much fun. In all honesty, words just cannot describe the sheer magnificence of this area; the rolling green hills and valleys had everybody taking photograph after photograph. It was breathtaking. Everything at Simunye has been created by Zulu’s, using natural materials from the valley. Accommodation was either a Royal suite in the village, or a stone and thatched hut nestled in a cliff across the Mfule River. My hut was fascinating decorated in thick bands of Cobalt and Tan, topped with a black triangular pattern, each room was uniquely crafted. Zulus design and build by instinct with no plans and it felt as if the room had simply grown out of the rock face. Each en-suite bathroom has its very own hot rock pool bath cum shower. Our hosts at Simunye lodge were the Biyela Clan, who are directly related to the Royal House of Zulu.They played a key role in the rise of the Zulu Kingdom. After freshening up we gathered at the entrance to the village where we were met by the chief. He invited us in to meet his family and discover a bit about Zulu culture. The Chief showed us the spears that the Zulu use and explained a bit about the “Buffalo Horn” battle tactics, that the Zulu are famous for, a tactic that they used very successfully when they defeated the British at Islandwana in 1879. Simunye is an outstanding cultural destination; the mysteries of Zulu courtship, love and marriage were explained to us. We learnt about the messages hidden in their beadwork, we tasted their homebrewed beer and sampled Zulu traditional dancing. We were told about the importance of the cattle Kraal in the centre of the village and of the precious Nguni Cattle, which are celebrated by the Zulu people for their beauty, their multiple colours, the delicacy of the cows, the strong conformation of the bulls and their expressive horns. When a young Zulu man wants to take a wife he has to pay lobola to her family, which is usually in the form of these particular cattle. The term “Nguni” describes the African tribes, which migrated down the eastern shores of Southern Africa. The name is given to the livestock they brought with them, yet it was only in the 1980’s, that the Nguni breed was recognised. Due to the environmental challenges the traditional livestock had to endure overtime in Africa, they developed natural resistance to disease and high levels of adaptability. Day Ten In the morning after a very interesting time spent at Simunye we departed the lodge and valley again by horseback. We climbed back into our vehicles and drove to “Rorkes drift” Battlefield where in 1879, a British Garrison of 125 men warded off approximately 4 000 Zulu warriors who had earlier defeated the British at “Isandlwana”. These two battles took place on the same day during a total eclipse of the sun. The Zulu’s call it the day of the dead moon. 11 Victoria Cross Medals were awarded to the British soldiers after the battle at “Rorkes Drift”. With our visit to the famous Zulu battle site done and dusted we headed back to the Battlefields Country Lodge, in the village of Dundee, in very high spirits and feeling very satisfied with ourselves. We had done, seen and learnt so much in such a short time it was incredible. This Safari proved to be a most enlightening journey. The following morning after breakfast we drove back to Johannesburg approximately five hours from Dundee and that concluded yet another successful SAFARI. HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US IN MARCH FOR OUR “SINGLE’S SAFARI” Written by Nikki Ziehl Email: niknak@mango.zw Tel: 00263 912 405 095 |
