15th Lower Sabie to Mpila Imfolozi
We were packed and out the gate minutes after it opened and I had my normal “leaving the park blinkers” on much to the Cow’s horror who likes to take detours on the way out, but it was still dark until around 6:30am so one couldn’t see anything unless it was in the road anyway, so soon she agreed it was better to duck straight away. We did stop for a few locals as it got light enough for pics though.
We arrived at Croc Bridge at around 7:15am, so the stress levels were up again and as it was a week day the roads were much busier in Swaziland then normal, so we only arrived at Hluhluwe’s Memorial gate at around 12:30pm.
The Cow went to sort out the gate politics while the rats and I organized the cameras to save time and soon we were in the park.
We had seen a large ellie herd on Lower Magangeni while at the gate so I was meant to turn immediately at the gate onto the dirt but forgot about the turn, however the first 5km from Memorial Gate always produces plenty general game and today was the same, so we forgot about the ellies.
A few km later the other end of the Magangeni loop appeared so we ducked down it and took the upper loop at the fork in the road which produced a few lion in the distance who were checking out a buffalo herd
I could see the lower Magangeni below the lion and thought we may be able to get closer so started to turn on the small dirt road, but we were on the side of a mountain, so the Cow and Hawkeyes, who are both afraid of heights, began squealing at me so loudly that I couldn’t concentrate.
Eventually I made the turn and Hawkeyes broke the tension “I nearly wet myself!” which had all laughing again.
To be continued