After Mankwe we decided to head in a different direction than we had been the day before. Driving along we got a few nice shots of an ellie posing for us. A single lone ellie and not a very big one at that. Little did we realise at the time but we were about to have the sighting of our lives for most of us.
Before we get onto the big reveal, I think I'd like a small detour.
As we ambled along the road, it was discovered that with the exception of Amoli and myself, everyone else was a Pilanesberg virgin. It was about my 5th trip and as mentioned before, the last one was some 12 years ago.
I recall back then seeing many Sable and a lot more buck than I saw this time out. Also a lot of Rhino back then. I think it was during the 97 trip that I saw a caracal as well.
While on the sunject of then and now and maybe not entirely fair, but I'd like to do a few comparisons between Pilanesberg and KNP. No, silly tarts, not the size. The overall experience. Back in the mid 90's,it had been some time since I had last done a KNP visit, but I loved the hides at Pilanesberg. It was different. The roads were in fairly decent shape so no complaints there. Cost-wise, KNP is hugely more expensive. I don't have the foggiest as to why SANPARKS management think it's a cheap holiday. It's not. Pilanesberg is much more reasonably priced. (This is a comparison between the cost of camping for a group such as went there this past weekend. (28 and 29 January 2012).
I noticed that the grounds had deteriorated somewhat which was a great pity for me. Bakgatla was an awesome camp. It still is. It's just not what it used to be. One thing I did notice is that they no longer put fruit on nails around the trees. It used to attract the fruit eating birds which made being in camp a lot more attractive than it is.
Another thing is the potholes in the tar roads. Pilanesberg management, if you are somehow reading this drivel, please do something about the roads. You have a magical game reserve. The scenery is brilliant, the game is fair decent, but you guys are missing a trick by letting the roads deteriorate like they have. And you don't even have the lunatic truck drivers delivering goods to shops inside the reserve. Please fix the roads to make a good experience great.
Oh and one other thing, please can we have a few hints with our maps next time we enter. My SO really, REALLY,
REALLY wanted to see some cats. We couldn't find even one.
Seriously, you could maybe restock on the sable, have a few more of the general antelope and maybe a few more cats. Other than that, it was a great weekend. The ablutions were clean, the pool was sparkling and the whole place was free of litter. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. So nice to see a clean reserve for once. SANPARKS, you are missing many tricks, not just one or two. Get your act together, clean up the reserve and stop this hotel nonsense. Get back to the business of conserving nature and clean up that pigsty. I'll be a penny to a pound of ellie poo that most of it is from you diamond class visitors anyway. Oh, and one more thing, I never saw one speeding idjit either. Yep, no speeding in the reserve. If they can do it, you can too. You just have to want to. So get off your lazy boy chairs and out of your airconditioned offices and do you work.
. It is after all out taxes that pay your lazy butts.
Nice one Pilanesberg. Take a bow. Keep it up and we'll be back with our friends for sure.
(Anyone have one of those buncha flower thingamajig smiley dis tings?) Please insert here.