Purple Gecko Guesthouse Lydenburg

... creepy but very cool!

Back at the Merry Pebbles camp site, we've got a really cute chalet near the river and we've just finished eating pizza near a little open fire we made out front, and using firewood supplied by the camp. Apparently Paul and his family have camped here in the past, and he tells me with pride where its the one and only time he's bet his dad at one set on the tennis court.

... to go out with Sophia, hearing her say she wanted to see animals and that she didn't want to go home.

We had one of the latest departures of our trip, leaving at 10 am and heading up to the Panorama Route. It was mostly cloudy, with occasional bursts of sunshine. We made a stop just past a tunnel to see a tufa waterfall and I made a good souvenir purchase, a wood carving of 4 ladies from a single piece of wood, and ...

... of the park, the area they were walking in was outside of the permissive zone, which was largely irrelevant as far as the lark goes, because it had gone and didn't seem in a hurry to return. A few kilometres before the gate we saw a Lappet-faced Vulture and just outside the gate was a large flock of Bronze Mannikins, surprisingly our first of the trip. We stopped for petrol and a few snacks and drinks and then set off on the two hour drive towards Graskop. Apart ...

... of the waterfall creates perpetual hurricane weather; whipping winds, soaking rain, and an overall feeling of helplessness. That is what I love so much about Africa, the wild that will not be conquered. We concluded our trip and boarded the 7 hour night train back, just in time to roll back into Pretoria before my first class on Monday, leaving 45 minutes late from Nelspruit and arriving half an hour early in Pretoria, as only Africa can accomplish.

... our vegetarian put an apple and banana down on the table for a moment while she went to get a cup of tea. The monkey swooped down and stole the banana right from under my nose. Just before we left Kruger to continue our drive to Swaziland, we spotted a white rhino, an endangered species, about 20 meters away, near the Malelane Gate. He was lying under a tree to cool down while impalas sought shade nearby. We then continued ...

... whilst leaning out. despite all the reassurances, the shock wasn't even overcome by awesome safari lodge that night, where we stayed out last night, following a night game drive. Locals sang their anthym in one of the 11 languages of this place and i fell asleep dreaming of elephants we had seen walking past our breakfast spot on their way to the waterhole. In the morning two local guides took us on a bush walk (yet another early start!!)through the 300 ha ...

... in Africa. The botanical wonders of these high altitude afromontane forests can be witnessed while walking some unforgettable trails laid out under the forest canopy. Beneath the Canyon the Blyde River also yields the unique and critically threatened Lowveld Riparian Forest, which now covers only 100 hectares in extent. There are some spectacular sights in quick succession as you follow the road along the rim of the Canyon (turn left onto the Panorama Road (R532/ R534 ...

... boys up; however, the rugby game was still in a draw and ended that way. We had another braai for dinner and again, it was really great. We sat out around the boma (corral sort of place around the braai area), My cousin and I drank wine and the kids had juice as we watched the enormous number of stars in the sky. We could not see the Southern Cross but I was able to see the constellation of Orion, which I am familiar with from the Northern ...

... unable to join us. In an effort to save money, Varad and I decide to do the backpacker thing and stay at cheaper places over the weekend. I had found a relatively nice place in Nelspruit, a small down close to Kruger, called Nelspruit Sun Lodge for only R180 ($30US) for a double room. After our 4 hour drive from Jo'burg in traffic (including getting lost due to bad directions), we finally arrived at Nelspruit around 11pm - let's just say the real thing wasn't ...

... are a few herds of wild baboons and a leopard on the property. Not to forget the guinea fowl and three cages full of rats (caracal meals), a few wild donkeys (half-bag!!) and free-roaming, but tame horses. Three meerkats show up as they please, mostly in the morning, for an egg and chicken brekkie. They enjoy fresh meat as well and so we were advised to keep our toes covered (sandals!), preferably in real shoes. Colleen ...