Kruger & Canyon Day 34-38

Today we cross the border to South Africa, an easy border as we we make camp in Polokwane, North in South Africa and a strong area where racial hate is still a very observant thing, between street names and suburbs meaning racial slurs like white hate and discrimination. We learnt that slowly suburbs and streets were being renamed to represent things like 'Nelson Mandela boulevard'. We have spotted our first Shopping Centre in over a month some of us got lost, it was so different from the normal supermarkets we were used too. Camp was good, flat ground and cute little jack Russell dogs wanting to play with a ball, which they destroyed! And then resorted to playing with rocks. So there we were throwing rocks at dogs and they kept bringing them back to us. We had what our coldest night so far in Africa. Despite the rain in Kenya and Tanzania.

We had the temperature drop below 10 degrees. The dew set down on the tent overnight and our tent was just as wet as it was when it had been raining. We packed up early and headed for Kruger.

On the way we were visiting Blyde River Canyon the view was spectacular and it was just the first of 3 vantage points.

The last was known as 'God's Window' a view from the mountain over the valley and in the horizon the Indian Ocean.

We also had a change of currency we're now onto the South African Rand. I went to the chemist at the shopping mall needed some moisturiser, cold and flu tablets, new earrings as 1 of mine was lost and a SIM card for my phone it came to 109 Rand, Conversion is 10.91 to 1 AUD Total of $11.01 Crazy!!! Cold and flu back home would be at least $24.

We arrived into Kruger around 2:30pm and with an evening game drive booked we headed into the park at around 4pm. While we were looking forward to our first night game drive, sad to say it was pretty disappointing we saw only 2 giraffes, a shrub hare and a spotted genet. Even with a spotlight, sightings were very difficult and with the temperature reaching close to 10-12 degrees we were so cold we were just about ready to call it a night within the first 2 hours.

We reach camp around 7:30 and all of us pulled out the warm clothes for a hot dinner. It was a hot shower and an early night for me as I have a cold now and my head was pounding. Tomorrow is an early start for a full day off game driving. Awake at 5, best part of the day today already was not having to pack down a tent, and neither will it be for the rest of our trip. We upgraded for our last 2 nights of the tour. It was about $80 USD for each night between us, but with 2 hot showers in the room, one outdoor and the other indoor, Air Conditioner/Heater and mosquito nets, comfy beds and pillows it was worth it. It's amazing to see how much you really have when you don't have them for a while.

We moved out to the park at 6am and spotted about 9 White Rhino, Hyena, Lions and plenty of elephant, giraffe, and zebra. It was a great day, we were still on the look out for while dog and even the Elusive Leopard as some haven't yet seen one.

We have our final dinner together tonight and head back to Johannesburg tomorrow where the group will depart and we make tracks for our next part of the trip (Card number 4) which Aaron is about to receive and you will see this shortly. I'm really excited for the next 10 days. Loads of comfort, Pillows, Beds, Hot showers, clean clothes and Amazing food and shopping! That's it for Kruger and for our 30 day overland Safari. The tour of East & South Africa is 90% done we have 5 nights left in Africa. Then onto Card number 5. Before our long business class journey home. ⁃ End