Last day in Pongola

Off for our last morning drive in Pongola, a few sore heads along for the ride. Tom & I still hadn't seen a black rhino, the only 2 of the researchers so far not to have been lucky enough to spot one. They are much shyer and more nervous that the white rhino and so much harder to find.

Unfortunately I chose the wrong vehicle to go out in this morning, as Tom in Blue was lucky enough to see a black rhino, so that just leaves me yet to see one! Oh well, can't be too miffed about it as we did see 2 baby white rhino that were so gorgeous!

Then it was a quick stop at the main house to dump all our photos for John & Letitia to use for ID kits and then heading back home to Thanda.

Home sweet home

Had a great time in Pongola but really happy to be back at Thanda, knowing we only have a few more days left here as we leave on Sunday. I am now wishing I had booked for 4 weeks rather than 2!

Off for our 2nd last drive at 4pm, we didn't see much but it was a lot of fun. I think Anton really enjoys taking us 'off-roading' aka demolishing any kind of vegetation that stands in our way as we plow through the bush, and this drive in particular was very 'off-road', we had to get out at one point as Anton attempted to drive up a near vertical ditch! At least we didn't have to push!

 And even though it was still early, it was one of the worst spider sweeps yet! Sat on the back row with Bruce and Maren, there was always one of us that had to duck and dive to avoid a faceful of Golden Orb. We then played rollercoaster over some strange speedbumps that had appeared on one bit of road, all hands in the air as Anton flew over the bumps (and very nearly went flying out the vehicle myself!) 

The only real sighting we had was of Majimbos one of the bull ellies. He was quietly feeding in the bushes next to us, and then at one point, ever so slowly, he crossed the road right in front of us, giving us the eye the whole time, but not unhappy to see us. For some reason it seemed quite special, as if he was saying goodbye to us, though I'm sure thats just my human sentimentality that imagined that!  




I don't think I've explained that I'm writing this about 4 weeks after these events actually happened! The days events I described above were Thursday 2nd Feb, and it is now Sunday 4th March, so apologies but at the moment I am using a hotel computer and can't use my usb stick to attach any photos, I will have to do that another time!!