September 2012 & November 2012
6am alarm - up & off, kids in tow - sleepy eyed & just (for once) doing what they are told! In car, Sat Nav set, off we go - our first family safari! How excited…. am I?!?!?
Head up towards Pretoria, past the horrid mines, then once past Dullstroom the real Africa started to present itself to us. Kruger here we come!
These are trips we did a couple of months ago - have no idea why I haven't posted these (see Time Flies!)! I am now a safari addict & my not so long suffering family come along for the ride - though I do think they enjoy it really! We have been wanting to do a safari with the children for just years - I think initially we spotted that Kuoni did "Kiddie Safaris" and thought 5 & 7 years might be a good age! Money & life got in the way so now we are here we are up & at 'em! Sheer coincidence that Squeeze is 12 & many of the Lodges & Bushcamps only take children from the age of 12 - funny that!
Naledi was incredible - found it on good old trip advisor! Over a 2 night, 4 game drive stay we saw a lot - Big 3.5 (2 sightings of leopard, one with a kill up a tree!) . I only gave the rhino a 0.5 as it was dusk & we didn't catch it on film & we missed those hard to spot ELEPHANTS!!
First safari was at a Bushcamp in northern Kruger, near the Olifants river. I'm very sorry but I'm not going to tell you where because it was so fabulous that I want to keep it a secret! Oh OK - Naledi & Enkoveni Lodges in the Balule region of Kruger. It is actually a private reserve just on the outskirts but as it is an open system you are likely to see any of the Kruger game. We loved it - even the 5 am knock on the door.
The scenery at Kruger is also stunning - even if you don't see game, which is wildly disappointing, but try to enjoy the air, views & just being in the Great Outdoors!
Safari 2 didn't really set out to be a major safari - but oh boy was it! 3 of us set out to Hazyview (Long Boy was in Argentina for a Spanish school trip) - same direction past mines etc. We were meant to be sightseeing - God's Window, Panoramic Route etc, which indeed we did, but upon discovering we were just 10 minutes drive from Phabeni Gate into Kruger we were off. Having arrived at The Rissington Inn, we turned the car around ( with a lovely packed lunch quickly produced by Chris) & headed off. Just in that afternoon (2-6pm), we saw loads!
Self drive is a little tougher, but perhaps a little more exciting. Left or right! It's a gamble….. Big 5 all the way & elephants like you wouldn't believe! Sitting in our white Fortuner with ellies fore & aft - about 70 of them…… incredible. Diving yourself allows you the freedom to take your time, make your own choices but of course you are without the guide & knowledge of the drivers & trackers.
I think we were spoilt on this trip - we have sonce been to Madikwe (near Botswana) and I must admit - the self drive beats it all. Yet to see a kill & mating but we have more time yet! Poor kids…….!!
And of course, don't forget that scenery!
6am alarm - up & off, kids in tow - sleepy eyed & just (for once) doing what they are told! In car, Sat Nav set, off we go - our first family safari! How excited…. am I?!?!?
Head up towards Pretoria, past the horrid mines, then once past Dullstroom the real Africa started to present itself to us. Kruger here we come!
These are trips we did a couple of months ago - have no idea why I haven't posted these (see Time Flies!)! I am now a safari addict & my not so long suffering family come along for the ride - though I do think they enjoy it really! We have been wanting to do a safari with the children for just years - I think initially we spotted that Kuoni did "Kiddie Safaris" and thought 5 & 7 years might be a good age! Money & life got in the way so now we are here we are up & at 'em! Sheer coincidence that Squeeze is 12 & many of the Lodges & Bushcamps only take children from the age of 12 - funny that!
Naledi was incredible - found it on good old trip advisor! Over a 2 night, 4 game drive stay we saw a lot - Big 3.5 (2 sightings of leopard, one with a kill up a tree!) . I only gave the rhino a 0.5 as it was dusk & we didn't catch it on film & we missed those hard to spot ELEPHANTS!!
First safari was at a Bushcamp in northern Kruger, near the Olifants river. I'm very sorry but I'm not going to tell you where because it was so fabulous that I want to keep it a secret! Oh OK - Naledi & Enkoveni Lodges in the Balule region of Kruger. It is actually a private reserve just on the outskirts but as it is an open system you are likely to see any of the Kruger game. We loved it - even the 5 am knock on the door.
Safari 2 didn't really set out to be a major safari - but oh boy was it! 3 of us set out to Hazyview (Long Boy was in Argentina for a Spanish school trip) - same direction past mines etc. We were meant to be sightseeing - God's Window, Panoramic Route etc, which indeed we did, but upon discovering we were just 10 minutes drive from Phabeni Gate into Kruger we were off. Having arrived at The Rissington Inn, we turned the car around ( with a lovely packed lunch quickly produced by Chris) & headed off. Just in that afternoon (2-6pm), we saw loads!
Self drive is a little tougher, but perhaps a little more exciting. Left or right! It's a gamble….. Big 5 all the way & elephants like you wouldn't believe! Sitting in our white Fortuner with ellies fore & aft - about 70 of them…… incredible. Diving yourself allows you the freedom to take your time, make your own choices but of course you are without the guide & knowledge of the drivers & trackers.
I think we were spoilt on this trip - we have sonce been to Madikwe (near Botswana) and I must admit - the self drive beats it all. Yet to see a kill & mating but we have more time yet! Poor kids…….!!
And of course, don't forget that scenery!
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