6th July Croc Bridge
I woke feeling that I was in a different time zone as the sleeping tablet was still in high gear, especially since I mixed it with a few dops, but eventually wobbled off to the shower, while the Cow went to wake the rats.
We only made it into the car at around 6:10am due to the lazy start. We were also slightly confused as it was still pitch black and freezing cold, around 4 degrees I think, which is like the North Pole for a KZN clan.
The queue of day visitors coming in Croc Bridge was the first thing we noticed and I couldn’t help but wonder what happens if they all decided to leave at gate closing.
A few km up the H4-2 we realized that it was a complete waste of time without a spotlight as you couldn’t see a thing, although the odd hyena cruised in front of the car lights a few times and we managed a “proof” pic once.
The sun eventually started to rise at about 6:50am, but we were already 5km away from Lower Sabie before we could see anything and it was overcast with potential rain looming.
We stopped a Lower Sabie for a loo break and I had a small run around the car park to defrost before moving on.
The usual gang were all out and about at Sunset Dam, so we checked them out for a few minutes before stopping for an ellie who crossed the road behind us.
As we approached Lubyelubye we found a few cars stopped so asked what was happening “You just missed a pride of lions crossing the road”, which resulted in pelicans in the back from the rats, but we hung around for 10 minutes and eventually spotted them through thick bush down by the riverbed.
The rest of the drive to Nkuhlu produced a few locals, but it was generally rather quiet and there’s something about KNP when it’s cold, windy and overcast that doesn’t work for me, so my beak was out, therefore after a pit stop we headed back to towards Croc Bridge.
A few km later on the way back we spotted 2 cars stopped when suddenly a male and lioness walked past, which set the panic in motion again “There!!, take a pic, where’s the #^@# camera, that’s the wrong camera again!!”
We eventually got a bush and bum pic.
Halfway back to Lower Sabie we found an old leopard kill in a tree, but no leopard or cars, which freaked me out, although it didn’t take long before the gang started gathering behind us, so we moved on.
Just before Lower Sabie a “snot box” landed in the road which got the Cow highly excited so I had to pay the required attention to avoid the pelican and therefore chose to stop.
Just south of Lower Sabie a few ellie pulled in for a drink, then a few kudu arrived next to the road and some warties decided to live up to their food reputation by chowing something suspect.
The rest of the drive lacked enthusiasm and sightings, so we were back in camp for breakfast, but I soon lost my cool with the stove, so the Cow and Hawkeyes finished the cooking.
The rats had to make supper tonight as part of the deal for getting their own spot, so after our lunch/breakfast I listened quietly to the menu discussion and it turned out we were getting minute steak braaied by Bushpig, a salad made by Hawkeyes and toasties made by Albert. A few minutes later Bushpig and Albert had the wood packets open and they were getting things ready as dad does, so I decided to crack a beer and relax on the bed.
My relaxation was short lived as I heard a bang outside and then Albert’s fire engine started.
She had dropped a piece of wood on her toe and now the entire camp knew about it, but it was a serious ding for a junior.
After a greasing from the Cow for not showing enough concern for the toe, peace returned and I enjoyed a second dop while supervising the remaining fire preparation, but Albert wasn’t going near the wood again and sat with a long face watching.
This preparation from the rats felt like a potjie at a mate’s house and soon my teeth were hanging out from a few beers, but then I was brought back to reality by the Cow “It’s nearly 4pm, when are we leaving!!”
I complained about the traffic and how nice an early supper would be, but the Cow started packing the car, so it was time to duck for a short drive.
We chose to duck down the S25 towards the Biyamiti causeway, which is just before the private road turnoff, with the hope it would be quieter, although it didn’t look the same as April and many others seemed to have the same idea as the traffic was still hectic, but not as crazy as the tar.
We also found some legavaans getting intimate and a few giraffe cruising through the riverbed, but soon had to move for other cars, which became frustrating, so we ducked back to camp early for the rats to prepare supper.
As we hit the H4-2 I thought that we had missed some action as there were just cars everywhere, so didn’t know whether to turn left or right, but things seemed more concentrated towards Croc Bridge camp, therefore chose to turn right.
After 5 confused minutes we realized that there was nothing happening and this was just the queue of traffic moving towards the exit gate. Crazy stuff and one reason I will never stay in Croc Bridge again, as fighting this traffic every evening just trying to get back to camp isn’t my cup of tea.
Drama struck at our unit as the vervets had got their little fingers through the fridge cage and had stolen all our bread for the toasties off the top of the fridge and the kitchen was a complete mess, so the rats developed instant pelicans, therefore I ran off to the shop, but no bread, although I did find the last 6 rolls, so supper ended up minute steak hamburgers and salad.
The dogs started again, so the cotton wool and sleeping tablet made an early appearance.
To be continued
So go and check if it is the same one 
Pumbaa, We have a few years still before we can visit again outside the school holidays 
