What an amazing time I have had these last days in Mpumalanga Province.
Yvonne left work early on Friday to take me to see some of the sights. Val came along too so there were three of us in the car enjoying the Aussies humour, as only Aussies can. Yvonne had planned to take the scenic route from White River to Sabie in the north but due to all the distractions and chatter she took the back road circling back to Hazyview which is just up the road from us. We all laughed. We should have been in Sabie but instead we had headed east in the opposite direction. Never mind it was a lovely afternoon and the drive was scenic just not the one Yvonne had intended. Taking the road west we drove along the Sabie River stopping just before town at the Riverbend Farm where they grow and produce Sabie Coffee which is well known throughout S. Africa. 
Unfortunately it was too late for me to enjoy a hot cup of coffee (I can’t sleep at night if I have one after 1pm) so I bought a packet instead.
Cutting through Sabie we headed north and stopped first at Mac Mac Falls. There was an entry fee for the car and small stalls selling artefacts to the tourists. Both Yvonne and Val wanted to wander around these stalls looking for items they could take back to Aust for family, friends and supporters. I was the only one wanting to see the falls and as there was a large group of tourists ahead of me I raced ahead, down the cobbled rocky track, to view them in solitude. It was amazing. The falls fell off a plateau into the gorge hundreds of feet below.
Continuing north we passed through the township of Graskop. It was getting late which meant there may not be enough daylight to take in the view but we thought we might just give it a go. So after a slight confusion of which direction to take we found our bearings and travelled another 7km north passing the Pinnacles to God’s Window. Yvonne was pleased to see there was a tourist bus here as she had mentioned there had been several incidents of theft and muggings here. Once again I left my two companions resti
ng in the car and raced up the winding path, jumping up the steps to the first viewing point. There was a jaw dropping view down the Motlastes Canyon which stretched before me as far as the eye can see towards the eastern horizon. I had heard that if the weather was right I would be able to see the sea and Mozambique. Today due to the haze I could only see as far as the Injaka Dam it was still an amazing view. I headed further along the trail towards the Rainforest lookout. A large group of French tourists were coming down and I suspected they were the last of the tour group to descend, and as I was cautioned about going alone, I decided even thought I was nearly at the top I should return with the group. What a disappointment! Then just before we reached the bottom a local family was coming up. I asked if they were going to the top and would they mind if I joined their group. Then together I retraced my steps and found it I had been only meters from the final point. Again I was amazed at the view. Here I took my last panoramic shot looking over the gorge before beginning our decent.
Even though it was late we decided we would take Yvonne’s original scenic route home which wound its way through the hills to White River reaching home at dusk. It had been a very full afternoon and we were all exhausted.
Saturday Jenny, Yvonne a
nd I were up early as we had planned to leave at 6:30am for Kruger National Park. Jenny had suggested we take the ASM four wheel drive so that we could take some of the dirt trails while in the park. Yvonne had packed a week’s worth of snacks and lunch just in case we got hungry, we also packed maps and books on wild life we might see, both Yvonne and Jenny took their fancy cameras and I took my phone camera.
We set out north through Hazyview to Phabeni Gate. There are many gates into Kruger National Park we had planned to take this gate and return through Numbi Gate which is very close to ASM. Once again due to distracting Jenny
while she drove she took us another way instead of the one she had planned for the day but it was all and well as we could also come back that way so didn’t miss anything. Before entering Phabeni Gate we had to pay individually showing out ID and insuring these three mature ladies weren’t carrying any fire arms. Guns are prohibited due to poaching and in particular rhino. Once we were cleared we headed towards Skukuza. We had only gone a few meters when we saw the first of the big five. An African buffalo and within meters from them was a lone giraffe. So majestic, so grand. I just love giraffes. My two guid
es were discussing how to distinguish between a male and female by noting whether or not their horns were worn or not. The male’s horns were warn due to fighting whereas the females were still hairy. Something worth noting.
Impala being the lowest on the food chain were nearly everywhere we looked. Such graceful creatures which had become use to the vehicles travelling along the road that they were hardly disturbed by them. Tortoise crossed the road or just stopped in the middle causing us concern that they might be run over by vehicles unaware of their presence. There were two types of tortoise one being amongst Africa’s small five, we were privileged to see both.
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topping at a place on the Sabie River we saw our fist hippo amongst the wild ducks and birds who were enjoying the water. It had rained as we were leaving ASM and had continued to drizzle during the morning and we had hopped this would encourage wild life to venture out into the open.
A little further down the road just before Skukuza we spotted our first rhino. They were not that far from the car but were quite concealed within the bush which meant photography was a bit tricky even with the fancy cameras.
Then the thrill of the day. 
We were approaching a cluster of cars (this indicated there was something worth stopping for – like one of the big 5), people were parked at all angles on both sides of the road so it had to be something big. And it was! As we peered into the scrub, where everyone was looking, there it was a white form under the shadow of a fallen branch. It was the twitching of an ear that caught my eye. She was so well camouflaged. A leopard! I was told I was very privileged to have seen a leopard as they are one of the most difficult of the big 5 to see. She was magnificent!
We lingered here awhile before moving on to make room for others to get a better view. Stopping at Skukuza which is a commercial hub with maps of sightings, hotel, restaurants and a souvenir shop we relieved our bladders, bought drinks and hot chips to add to the lunch we had brought with us and browsed the shop for inexpensive souvenirs. After lunch in the car, the grass was still a little wet to sit outside, we continued east along a loop road which would bring us back to Skukuza on the other side of the Sabie River.
Along this route we saw a variety of bird life including the Marabou Stork, the rare Southern Ground Hornbill, a Tawny Eagle catching flying ants and one feeding on the carcass of a Guinea Fowl, there were Guinea Fowl as well as storks and ducks of various types around the water holes. We also saw more impala, hippo, crocodiles basking in the sun around the water hole and then our first sighting of elephants. Again there was a cavalcade of vehicles parked along the road. The herd was well hidden by the scrub and it was difficult to take a good shot. We were all hoping to get one of the tiny baby as it hid amongst the herd. I even tried videoing them which was just at the right time to hear a teenager trumpet as she romped back to the herd.
The Vervet Monkey which are the ones we have at ASM were everywhere too, but the baboons were not so common. We saw our first gimps later that afternoon around a puddle of water after a sudden downpour.
We also saw Kudu both a male and later a female, and then a heard of Water Buck wandering through the bush and another heard scampering across the road. You could tell they were Water Buck because of the white ring around their tails.
We spotted another giraffe close to the road 
and Zebra crossing or grazing along the verge. What magnificent creatures. Amongst one of the herds there was a baby who was very young and so cute.
Not long before we left the park we chatted to one of the guides who drove an open tourist vehicle, he told us of a lion spotting with prey. It was along the dirt trail we had intended to come down that morning and once again there was a gathering of vehicles and a shuffling and bustling for a good viewing spot. We saw the carcass of the buffalo first then the twitching of an ear under the bush of a lioness guarding her prey. After watching for a while we noticed another lioness as she stood up and chased off a bird of prey which had ventured close to the carcass. My camera wasn’t much good for distant shots but I was able to share some of the photos both Yvonne and Jenny took which was a blessing.
Ju
st after a heavy rain storm we saw a muddy lady warthog snuffling around beside the road and then a water monitor exploring a hole beneath a tree and another herd of zebra grazing along the road side at dusk. We had had an amazing day full of sightings of all sorts of animals and bird life. Visitors to South Africa are always keen to get a photograph of one of South Africa’s celebrated Big Five animals: elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo, and leopard. Seeing all five on our one day safari was a major privilege.
Sunday after church Yvonne drove me south through Nelspruit to Kaapsehoop (pronounced Karp-see-woop). As we approached the town there were road signs warning of wild horses. We didn’t see any till exploring the village streets. Here we came across a mare and her two foals who we were told had become pests as they trampled the local gardens. Kaapsehoop was a quaint little hick town on the edge of a maze of amazing rock formations. The tourist attraction was climbing through these rocks for a view of the Barberton Valley. It took us about half an hour to pick our way slowly over the most even ground we could find so as to assist Yvonne with her crook knees. We finally made it to the edge of the escarpment where our efforts were well rewarded. There was an amazing view from the top of the rocks across a landscape that plunged 1000 of metres into the valley below.
Pictures: 1. Skukuza 2. Mac Mac Falls 3. Family who escorted me 4. Panorama View God’s Window 5. Rhino in scrub 6. Leopard 7. Kudu buck 8. Lioness 9. Giraffe 10. Zebra 11. Dusk 12. Rondaval roof Kaapsehoop 13. Wild horses 14. Rocky outlook 15. Map of part of Mbambela Provence
Prayer & Praise Points:
I have certainly much to praise the Lord for. I feel so blessed to have been able to see much of His wonderful creation as I have travelled. For His provision, protection, health and healing. To be blessed by all those I have visited. Thank you Lord!
Praise the Lord for Yvonne and Jenny’s generosity, giving up their weekend to show me around especially while they have been so busy with the end of year exams and graduation for the nursing students. I am truly grateful.
Praise Him for the much needed rain. Please continue to pray there is more as many parts of South Africa are still in drought.
Please continue to pray for Yvonne’s visit and ministry in Perth and Melbourne. She is looking for supporters so she may return to works here at ASM. If you would like her support her or have her visit your church please email Rochelle Warwick at Real Life Church.
Please continue to pray for my safety. Pray the Lord protects me and my few possessions as I travel to Uganda.
Pray also that my time in Uganda will be productive.
Please continue to pray that my mother will remain in good health.