Pezulu Tree House Game Lodge Hoedspruit

... and Cyprus.

This is our second night at a camp in a private nature reserve just outside of Kruger National Park. We'll go into Kruger for game drives tomorrow, including a night drive. Yesterday was a long day of driving to get here, but we made several stops at lookout points along a gorgeous scenic route across the mountains.

The temperature is warm outside as we finish our breakfast. It is going
to be warmer than the 28 C (82 F) we have had the last few days in
Johannesburg, which even at that is warm for spring as the elevation
of Johannesburg is 1753 m. (5751 ft.).

We leave the hotel at 8 AM in a 9-passenger van with the luggage towed
behind in a small trailer. We are traveling at least 550 km today. For the
first hour and a half, the landscape is similar to that along the
QE2 ...

... to go with his story. I am not making this up! This week was brush cutting. It's not my favorite type of activity at any time of the day but certainly not when we have dull machetes or saws that aren't very sharp. Good news is that we were only out there for 2 hours. Mike, the big boss, was conveniently away for the activity so we cut out early. J I know it's necessary to do this sort of work but I would much rather be out looking for ellies. No surprise there I ...

... the scenery is very different and beautiful. plus, the elephants like to hang out near Jubalapa and that's on the south! the camp at Twines is really nice. in fact, i'd say it's more luxurious than my log cabin! we have a large family room, a volleyball court, a small pool, a Braai area (used for BBQ) and a large kitchen that is a struggle to get everyone to keep clean. oh and there is laundry - super score! my room is quite nice. it has two beds and i was ...

Having had a great month with Great White Shark, I have now moved to the Kruger National Park for another volunteer programme helping out with conservation work here The work here is early in the morning normally and consists of digging sand and clearing the bush of non-indigenous plants. the sand is then used to create water barriers to stop or at least slow down errosion. It is all pretty hard especially when it gets hot, hence the early start. After this we go for a walk , yes ...

... found email, and Justin said he would meet us at the hostel we already checked into (he was flying from Cape Town). What are the odds! Then we got a phone card and were able to rent a car over the phone to be delivered to our hostel the next morning. We had a 3 hour drive from Nelpruit to Kambaku Safari Lodge. This is a lodge on a private game reserve near Kruger National Park. We arrived to cold towels and lemonade, extremely nice after being ...

... only light is from paraffin lamps. My bathroom has no door and no roof. The other evening there was a thunderstorm when I was getting ready for bed. Have you ever tried brushing your teeth whilst holding a torch and an umbrella?! I am really enjoying working with the horses. I have never really been close to them before and always been a bit nervous of them. It is nice to be confident enough to give them a carrot, put a head collar on and get them out of their stable ...

... to your imagination where the thermometer goes. I've also practiced injecting a horse. I never thought I would be able to do that. Another SNAKE - This time it was in the oven. I knew there was a reason I don't cook. Did some weapon handling today. Only shooting at targets but it was great fun. 1/11/07 - 19/11/05 Three new horses arriving. Got to settle them in. Great opportunity to study horse behaviour. Got a hang over this morning. Too many ...

... and at least 100 vultures follow the pick up, circling menacingly overhead. They get through 3 to 4 tons of meat a day here!! Another job we are in charge of in the night feeds for a young month and a half old rhino named Juliette... she aint small!! But she is absolutely amazing to work with. Weather is fantastic! Already getting a killer tan. There are 6 others here with me and they're all great. Our camp is close to luxury... beds ...

... we were simply awestruck, to be so close to a lion, in an open vehicle, in the middle of nature, we couldn't stop staring and snapping pictures. The lions walked for a couple minutes then start roaring, laid down, continued roaring and then passed out in the road. They just might be the laziest creatures, sleeping for 20 hours a day, no wonder it's so hard to spot them. We're about two feet from a humungous Hippo, one of the most dangerous animals, very fast runner, will trample ...