SOUTH AFRICA .... PART 1

Hello .... Hello ..... it has been a while, hasn't it !!!!
We have just returned from the most wonderful visit home ...... I wish it could have gone on forever. We got to spend time with Family. The kids got to be with their cousins, Aunts, Uncles and Granny and Pappie .... It was truly a very happy time for all of us. Visits like this, really do reinforce to me, that people in times gone by, had it right, Families were never meant to live thousands of miles apart from one another.

As I don't have anything crafty to share with you, or the inclination or desire to create anything at the moment, I thought I'd take you on a pictorial tour of Home. We'll have to do it in parts, as there's a lot to show you. So pack your suitcase, and board a plane with me, and join me on a holiday you'll never forget .......

Our home for the month. My parents live on an Estate, on the shores of the Hartebeespoort Dam. It is gorgeous and very tranquil. Boy Child was in his element of course, as he could fish to his hearts content.

Our second week in South Africa, saw us head off for a week of camping in the Kruger National Park. This game reserve is world renown. Mom and Dad, spend a lot of time visiting the game reserves of Africa .... some more remote than others. Hubby and I (and the kids when they were younger, and don't remember), visited Kruger a number of times when we lived in SA, but never did we see as much as what we saw this visit ...... we were soooo spoilt.

 White Rhino .... these animals are magnificently huge, and are under huge threat by poachers, who poach them for their horns. There is a strong possibility, that unless conservation efforts really work, our grandchildren may never see these awesome animals.

 Cape Buffalo .... we sat for about 20 mins one day, as a herd of over 500 of them crossed the road, to reach the river, to drink. The noise of their hooves, and their breathing was fantastic.

 My favorite - African Elephant. Kruger has a very healthy elephant population. We saw lots of ellie herds, a lot of them had young too.

 Cheetah - we were very lucky to see them. They were obviously not hungry, because there were Impala grazing all around them. They were enjoying the last of the days sun.

 Magnificent, and oh so VERY special. I had never seen leopard in the wild before this. They're elusive and very difficult to see. They spend their days up in the trees sleeping, while they hunt at night. We saw them 3 times this visit !!!! This picture was taken, just as the sun was going down, and he was getting ready to head out hunting for the night. While we were watching him, he let out the most magnificent roar ....... Awesome, Awesome, Awesome !!!
We saw lion too, but the pictures weren't great. So first time ever for me, that completed the Big Five in one visit.

As if that wasn't enough, we saw some other rarities ......
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 Painted Wild Dog ...... a phenomenal sighting ...

  Spotted Hyena ..... we had one that walked around the boundary fence of our campsite each night.
Others weren't so rare, but are still so beautiful to see ...

 Warthog.

 Kudu.

 Giraffe.

Zebra and Impala.

The birdlife, was just as magnificent ...

 A ground Hornbill.

 Crested Barbett .... This little guy hung around our campsite with us.

 Yellowbilled Hornbill.

 White Fronted Beeater

 Pied Kingfisher

Bateleur Eagle

We spent whole days in the car, driving around the park. It is massive. It would take many many hours (not doable in a day) to cross the park from top to bottom or side to side. There are views all around you, so breathtaking.

 Our home for the week. Dad and I at breakfast time.

These pictures are just a few of the hundreds we took this past month. South Africa is beautiful, and diverse (we'll head to the coast tomorrow). Sure, it has its problems, but so does everywhere else. They say that once Africa runs through your veins it never leaves ......... Never was a statement more true !!!!