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South Africa & Swaziland 2005

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pfeil  Travel

pfeil  RSA&Swazi 2005

pfeil   Shiluvari/Outpost
pfeil   Mopani/Moholoholo
pfeil   Panorama Route/               Plains Camp
pfeil   Swaziland
pfeil   Rocktail Bay

pfeil   Picture Gallery
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last updated: 17-Jul-2005

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Part 3 - Rhino Post Lodge, Plains Camp


After Moholoholo, we took the Panorama Route via Blyde River Canyon, Hazyview and Paul Krueger Gate back into the National Park, to Rhino Post Lodge (1 night) and Plains Camp (2 nights).


Panorama Route, Blyde River and Rhino Post Lodge

Blyde River Canyon From Moholoholo, we decided to take the long but scenic drive via Blyde River Canyon lookout. The piece from the mango plantations in the fertile plains up to the escarpment is done in a few minutes, through Strydom Tunnel and up the winding and steep Abel Erasmus Pass. Reminds me of my "native" Maloja Pass in the Swiss Alps. The upper plains host black people, with less agriculture, and free-roaming cattle.

The viewpoint to Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels was one of the more touristy spots on our trip, with curio shops and busses. But the vista - and the grasshopper  on the way back - were surely worth the detour. We didn't go to God's Window or Bourke's Luck Potholes. The rugged landscape was beautiful enough - until it immediately changed to endless fir or eucalyptus plantations. I do acknowledge that Sappi does a lot for the environment and education and so, but seeing these "paper fields" is still a disillusion.

Anyway, we arrived early at Rhino Post Lodge, again one of the nobler residences on our trip, with stand-alone tub, outdoor shower, excellent meals - and a good guide! On our gamedrive day we would have seen the big five in one day, if we hadn't missed the leopard while looking at the sable antelopes (which we never had seen before, contrary to leopards).


Grasshopper Rhino Post - Sable Antelopes
Colourful Grasshopper near Blyde River Canyon    Sable Antelopes in Krueger NP

  

Plains Camp


Plains Camp, the tented camp outpost of Rhino Post Lodge, was one of the highlights of our trip. Luxury in a tent in the bush still feels better than luxury in a bungalow in the bush. A team of four catered for the two of us - excellent meals and AAA game drives and walks. Felt like really genuine hospitality in a very peaceful surrounding (forget about the guinea fowls early morning).

It was low season on the plain in front of Plains Camp. But on our first drive we were overtaken by a startled rhino. And on our first game walk, through the high grass still wet from dew, we were startled by two startled rhinos. 50 or 100 m from us. Interesting experience. They left. Even without many more mammals, the walk was an experience never to forget, just because of spiders, plants, birds...

If I'd go again to Krueger, I would surely come back to Plains Camp above anyplace else. Even though we hadn't seen the leopards from neighboring, and much stuffier, Londolozi which we had met years ago. Check out this link for more pictures and details.

Plains Camp - Game Walk Rhinos near Plains Camp during walk
Early-morning game walk through the high wet grass White Rhinos during game walk

Go to Part 4 (Swaziland)
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