Day 8 – going to the African Bushveld

We were all set to leave the hotel by 8am for a day-long journey through the mountains to the African Bushveld. Most students slept for the first three hours, with minimal lectures from Kenny and Johann. The scenery was pretty bland, mostly corn (maise) fields in winter. Not much to look at after the first 30 minutes outside JoBurg. We stopped for lunch in a small town, and squeezed Kenny for 30 more minutes of shopping. It’s amazing how much the students and leaders can purchase is such a short time.

Back on the bus, Kenny told us one of his lion stories which ended in the usual groans from the audience. He should not give up his day job! As we climbed the mountain, we saw grand vistas. The gorge is the 3rd largest in the world and the rock was striated in color. Nelson, our bus driver did his best to pass up the slow vehicles on the long switchbacks through the mountain pass. Johann pointed out a tufa waterfall – one that does not erode the hillside, but rather binds with the stone and “builds” up the hillside with stone. We see a river that flows through Kruger, and at the dam spotted some hippo swimming in the water.

We reached the Tsukudu Game Reserve about 5pm. We unloaded our suitcases, fond our sleeping accommodations and had a brief orientation. We are reminded to look of spiders, snakes, and creepy crawlers in our shoes and beds, and the girls are told that they will be sharing their shower with harmless white frogs.
After our orientation, we load into land-rovers and head out for a sunset ride in the bush. First we spot some Zebra off in the distance. The road is quite bumpy and the rangers, Dave and Jake, are skilled drivers. Students have to duck as we whiz by the thorny bushes that seem to attach the vehicles. One thorn bush latched on to Ian’s hat and took it right off his head. It was quite funny seeing the rainbow-striped hat hanging 15 feet above ground. We couldn’t yell stop loud enough over the noise of the engine, but thankfully when we returned, another ranger rescued it and gave it back to Ian.

We come quite close to the White Rhinos in the Game reserve. They are amused at us, but not too interested. Just then our land rover died. After several attempts to start it again, the boys jumped out and began to push (just 35 ft from the Rhinos). After leaving the Rhinos, we found the elephants. Becky the mom, and a younger baby and “uncle”. They were a bit more curious about us, but the Uncle started showing signs that he ad enough of the humans so we left. The sun had just set.

We headed back to the bush camp for a great dinner of rice and chicken cooked in stewed vegetables. Boy do we eat so much! The ranges put in a video for the students to watch. It was the story of the game reserve and the animals on it. Afterward everyone headed to their bunks for a good night sleep. Girls in one dormitory, boys in another, Molly and Ginny shared a chalet (with icy cold water shower) Marcia and Donna stay in the newer chalet, that has solar paneled water heater. It was a great night sleep