Before sunrise, we found ourselves again climbing into open air vehicles for our day of game drives in Kruger National Park. Again facing very cold temperatures, these vehicles were equipped with nice blankets that I wrapped around myself a la Indian style. It never occurred to me to bring a heavier coat other than a windbreaker, which was not enough in the midst of a cold front.
Kruger National Park is referred to as the jewel in the crown when to nature preserves, and it lived up to its reputation. The topography was not as beautiful as Hluhluwe, although I fell in love with one particular river bed, but although we were only in a small section of this large park, we encountered more animals and in greater number throughout the day.
It occurred to me that the wild life in the park must be abundant because we were on either paved roads or well marked dirt roads so the animals must be aware of human proximity and, logically, many of them would avoid those areas, but we still encountered so many, including several hyenas just sunning themselves on the side of the road that could barely
be bothered to lift their heads to look at us. Or maybe they are just used to us pesky humans gawking at them.
We encountered giraffes for the first time at Kruger, and they were beautiful! The lions were also a first sighting and magnificent! I so wish I had thought of taking a pair of binoculars with me. Tsk. Tsk. We even encountered a hyenas feeding frenzy of a prey they stole from a leopard. Unfortunately, although we were told the leopard was probably nearby, we never encountered it or a cheetah. The vegetation is thick, and I we could have passed many hiding in the trees without being noticed.
We divided the game drives into three parts. On stop mid morning to eat our bagged breakfast at a camp that was even more elaborate than at Hluhluwe, and a lunch break at the Cattlemens Club, a restaurant that seemed incongruent in the middle of a wildlife park for its upscale setting. We had selected from the Menu what we wanted to eat the day before, and early enough to not incur a long wait for our meals. My steak was excellent, and the fries didnt
let down a fry aficionado like me. I ordered the pepper sauce with it, because the monkey glands one was too much of an unknown, even though I was assured it had nothing to do with monkeys, or glands.
I could have spent an entire week at the park. I would have loved to have visited different sections of it.
But, at least, we left the park with enough daylight to enjoy some of the amenities that the hotel had to offer, and relax with a cocktail on the beautiful pool deck. I wish it had been warm enough to enjoy the infinity pool overlooking the wild beyond, but it was not to be.
