Day 12 Blyde River Canyon

After a another hearty breakfast, we set of towards Blyde River Canyon.
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve - The fresh mountain scenery and panoramic views over the Klein Drakensberg escarpment are quite spectacular and give the area its name of 'Panorama Route'. Viewpoints are named for the spectacle they offer, and God's Window and Wonder View hint at the magnitude of the scenery. The 'Pinnacle' is a single quartzite column rising out of the deep wooded canyon and the ‘Three Rondavels' (also called 'Three Sisters’) are three huge spirals of dolomite rock rising out of the far wall of the Blyde River canyon. Their domed heads are iced in green and their sides are stained with fiery orange lichen. From the 'Three Rondavels' you can see the extensive Swadini Dam in the far distance, which marks the end of the reserve.

Blyde River Canyon

One of the first places we stopped was at Mac Mac Falls which are 20 km from Graskop.  The falls are 65 metres high on the river Mac Mac and these are declared a National Monument.  The waterfall was originally a single stream, but gold miners blasted it with dynamite to divert the river in an attempt to work the rich gold bearing reef over which it runs.

Mac Mac Falls

At the side of the car park at the entrance to the falls, there were some craft stalls selling wooden carvings masks, spears, shields and carved hippo's and rhino's which were similar to the one called Chummie that we bought in Zimbawbwe years ago.  Lynn has always liked our Chummie and was looking for something similar but could not decide, all the hardwoods are not the same for the colouring and grains.
From here we continued along the main panorama route taking in the magnificent views along the way. Their were many stopping places along this route with each one making a different picture.

Pinnacle

The views above are of the Pinnacle which is self explanatory,  followed by another view called Gods Window and we have pictures of Kath and Jeff at the viewing platform, I took up as different position for a more daring picture.

                                                                     Gods Window

Not daring enough !!

I'm sure Kath said back a bit further!!

Kath went for the dare aswell!!

Our next town was Sabie, and although Mpumalanga's little farming town of Sabie owes its origins to the 1870's gold rush , today it derives its wealth from the forest industry. Sabie's market square is the hub for the surrounding farming community and the centre for the activities offered in this region. Also in the market square you'll  find the lovely little anglican church of St Peter.

                                                                        St Peter's Anglican church in Sabie

                                                                      Taken in the bushes outside St Peter's

This town is really quaint and we all enjoyed looking round the shops and art galleries, Kath and I both chose a picture of zebra's which we decided would be nice in our dinning room.  Lynn and Jeff also picked out a picture of the Three Rondavels which they bought.
The town is also famous for "Jock of the Bushveld" South Africa's most famous pouch, is commerated by a plaque in the market square marking the arrival of Percy Fitzpatrick (Later Sir Percy) and Jock his trusty little dog in 1885.

The book "Jock of the Bushveld" was written by Sir Percy for his young children and tells the story of his dog  Jock  who was his faithful obedient companion, as well as a champion fighter and hunter and their adventures over the past 20 years.
Further along the panorama route we stopped at the Tree Rondavels were you can also see the Swadini Dam in the distance.

Three Rondavels

Kath and the Rondavels

Right on the edge !!

The next picture is of little lizard with an orange tail and a vivid green body, he was quite happy posing while I took some pictures of him, before he skittered away across the rocks.

Friendly little guy

Further round this magnificent route we passed through Pilgrims Rest and Graskop which were typical of the gold rush towns in the Mpumalanga's province.
This wonderful journey that took us well into the afternoon, and on our return to Hippo Hollow, Jeff decided to have a rest before the evening, although Kath, Lynn and myself were still up for it.  So off  we went to Kruger National Park on our own for another game drive before it got dark, Kath drove for a little while in the park area, as I wanted to take some more pictures.

Not the Big 5, but 5 all the same !!

Still looking for the Hippo's

Day 11 Kruger National Park

The staff were back at the hotel to serve breakfast, which we enjoyed, but today was were to leave Swaziland and head off to Hazyview in the Mpumpalanga district.
First we travelled to the capital of Swaziland, Mbabane, where the King Mswati III has one of his residences called the "Lozitha Palace".  In the kingdom of Swaziland the King Mswati III is the last absolute monarch in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He was born in 1968 as the second of 67 sons to the elderly King Subuza II and the only child of Queen Ntumbi Tfwala one of the Kings wives.

King Mswati III

King Mswati III with 1 of 13 wives !!

In Spain they have Pamplona's running of the bulls, in Swaziland they have the Reed Dance. Instead of nervous townsfolk running through the streets pursued by temperamental bovines, 50,000 nervous, bare-breasted virgins frolic in a stadium before their hot-blooded King Mswati III.  Since 1999, the event has operated under the guise of honoring maidenhood, but the not-so-secret secret is that it's more like The Bachelor meets The Real World Denver for royals.  Apparently the absolute monarch has used it as a way to select who will be his next wife.  Last year, for instance, the then 37-year-old king chose a 17-year-old spouse from the line-up of tens of thousands.

That time again to pick another wife !!

Enough of the history lesson and what royalty get up to!!
We checked out the Mbabane Market which is renowned for its glass works and authentic crafts especially their weaving of baskets, and traditional Swazi medicines. This was like no street markets that we have at home, these people looked liked they lived in the same sheds, with children running  around and their parents cooking and making their crafts.

Traditional woven baskets

After rummaging around the market, we continued to travel through Swaziland to the border crossing back into South Africa, and onward to Hazyview where our accommodation for the next 2 nights was to be the Hippo Hollow Country Estate.

Hippo Hollow Country Estate

Checked in and collected the keys for our log cabins overlooking the Sabie river, where it is reputed that you may see Hippopotamus.  Our cabins were over 2 floors with a balcony looking out over the Sabie river, Kath sat there there pondering if we would get to see the illusive hippo's.

Hippo Hollow log cabins

Out to the balacony

Looking over the Sabie river for the Hippo's

Strolled around the grounds taking in the views by the Sabie river, and admiring some of the different styled thatched rondavels.

Thatched Rondavels

Jeff  Lynn and Kath

It was lunchtime so we headed off to the bar down by the reception where we sat out on the lawns over looking the river with a drink and a sandwich, which was sufficent as we had all had hearty breakfasts most days.
It was then time to climb aboard our 4 x 4  complete with guide and spotter to drive out to the Kruger National Park for another safari game drive in the hope of spotting some of the Big 5.

Family of Elephants

Baby and menacing Matriarch

Back to the food after crossing the road

Tortoise crossing the same road

Huge White Rhino

Getting too close now

Male Kudu

An excellent afternoon wonderful to get so close to all these wild animals.  We did hear lions and our guide drove us round some small hills where the lions were lazing away the afternoon.  They are usually sleeping at this time of the day, we did manage a glimce of the male lion in the long grass, but there was that much vegetation, we had little chance of getting a clear photograph.

                                                         Not one of our pictures !!
On our return to Hippo Hollow we rested, showered and changed and had a glass of champagne on our balcony, looking out for the ever illusive Hippo's in the Sabie river. After our aperitif  it was time to go down to the restaurant for our evening meal.

Not that we're swingers !!

All still looking for the Hippo's

Jeff and I dinned on wild game, while the girls favoured steak and chicken, again washed down with some excellent South African wine, we actually did see a Hippo swim by, and then venture onto the lawn infront of the patio where we were dinning, hope Jeff has a photograph, as I recall I dropped my camera in exitement and never did manage to take the picture of the ever illusive Hippo's.
A great night and a perfect way to finish a splednid day, this young waitress supplied us with all our requirements for the even and didn't mind smiling for a picture.

Smiling waitress

Think Jeff was saying it's warm !!

Day 10 Swaziland

This morning we were booked on a game drive through our lodge, unfortunately this was cancelled as there had been heavy rain during the night, which made the off road activites impossible with flooding in areas of the reserve.
Kath looking out from our veranda over the Ubizane valley, watching the rain clouds in the distance, we were fortunate with our room as Lynn and Jeff  had rain coming into their bathroom during the night.

View from our Rondavel

Ubizane valley

This morning we were booked on a game drive with lodge, unfortunately this was cancelled as there had been heavy rain during the night, which made the off road activites impossible with flooding in areas of the reserve.
Disappointing, but at least we had spent time driving through the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve last night and had seen lots of wild game. As the girls were checking out at the reception, Jeff and I carried our luggage out to the car park and to our suprise we found more antelope feeding off the shrubs and bushs.

Adult Male Nyala rather shaggy coat

Male and Female Nyala's  feeding in the carpark

As the girls were leaving the reception to come out to the car, I noticed this insect, that looked more like a frog, than a fly type creature!!

What is it

Not to disappoint the wildlife were still grazing as we drove down the single track back towards the N2 main road.  This had still been a wonderful experience.

More Male and Female Nyala's

Male Nyala

Once we crossed the rail track at the bottom of the reserve drive, we headed north for Swaziland, to a town called Malkern's where we were booked into the Malandela's Hotel.
The border crossing was very informal with guards just hanging around smoking chatting and not really bothered with the normal border checks, and we had to ask several guards for a lend of a biro, before we found one that had a pen. Once we had completed the forms paid the due fee, we entered Swaziland.

Border crossing to Swaziland

While travelling in Swaziland we still managed to spot some zebra grazing at the side of the road.

More Zebra

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We arrived at Malkern's just before lunch time, all the staff in the hotel apart from the receptionist were away celebrating their Christmas lunch. What in February!! Apparently Christmas was their busiest time and this was the first opportunity for the management and staff to get together. Just our luck, bar shut and no restaurant facilities this evening.

Weird entrance to Malendala's Hotel

Malandela's Thatched Huts

Lovely grounds and gardens

The rooms were colourfully decorated especially our bed headboard, as you can see in the picture below, Kath wasn't sure about the headboard,  I thought it was quite quirky and fitted in with the other decorations in the room.

Snakes and Ladders

Relaxing before we go looking for lunch

We drove into town and found a small shopping parade, where we had lunch in a cafe, serving delicatessen sandwiches and snacks, very quaint and old school types of people were also dining in the cafe.  I would guess that these types were the local land owners and farmers, and that they were used to being pampered.
We returned to Malandela's, for a lazy afternoon, catching up with some sunbathing and cooling off  in the pool, and of course one or two drinks as we always had our own supplies, which was just as well, what with the bar been shut.

Pool all to ourselves again

More thatched huts around the grounds of the hotel

Lynn Kath and Jeff on the right taking picture

This evening we drove, not too far to a local pub, with pool and snooker tables, none of us really excelled at either game. After some pub grub we returned to continue with our card game of "Nomination Whist" which would hopefully last for the 2 weeks, for us to see who the eventual winner would be.