Oh my, Where do I start? First of all I have thought of every single one of you MANY times and wished that you could be here with me so it is not only my eyes or my memory that sees and tries to remember all of what this place and country is like.
Last Tuesday we hunted Eland in three VERY VERY OLD pickup trucks (they are called bakkies, pronounced buckies) here. The one I rode in was probably a 1980ish model. It amazed me that it still ran. Later that day, it DID catch on fire with all of the grass build up underneath. We drove on everything B UT the road. Over the bush, through the bush, and then OVER the bush again. We were able to round up 20 some Eland that day and I have the pictures to prove it. Wynand (pronounced vein nunt) was the driver of my bakkie. Oh my but you guys would have loved this adventure. We did NOT drive slow at all. We were twisting and turning and then turning the other way. You have to hang on with both hands and you wish you had more hands to hang on more. The three bakkies are in contact with radios so they really work together well coming from 3 different places behind the herd. There are also Tswanas riding on horseback in front of us. It was rainy and quite cold but still very exciting. Susan and Linda, you WOULD NOT have enjoyed this. We were right behind the herd trying to chase them into the boma, an open ended coral which the men close off with a canvas curtain as soon as the herd has passed them.
We had NO POWER on Tues or Wednesday of last week. Wednesday morning we left on our camping trip to Botswana and the Kgalagadi Nature Reserve. After going through customs to get OUT of South Africa and customs to get INTO Botswana, we began our trip. I have not seen a paved road the whole time until the one we were on briefly yesterday on our way home. When I say ROAD I use the term loosely. What we were on was more of a PATH through the bush. We did not meet any cars for miles which was a good thing because there was no shoulder only bush to drive on, The first night we stayed at Mabua Sehube. It was very windy when we put up the tents that night but we enjoyed a good supper and went to bed late. I want to tell you cynics who thought I could not "rough" it that I have used a "long drop" which is a nice Afrikaans word for OUTHOUSE. I have had to do the "veldtie in the "veld" (look it up or guess what you think that is.) It is pronounced feltie in the felt. I have taken a shower with a view and in plain view of all wild life nearby and done without a shower and electricity CHEERFULLY. We made a deal that if ONE person took a shower ALL of us had to take one or NONE of us could take one. I slept in the back of the bakkie and that night we heard several sounds of animals nearby. Jackals, and what I HOPED was a Blue Wildebeest. I found out for sure the next morning that what we had heard was a Lion roaring very near by. When we left the next morning we saw the tracks. HUGE!!!!! CLOSE!!!!! We have seen Cheetah, up close and personal. When they got separated they call to each other with the smallest chirping sound. They are beautiful and we were lucky to see them. We have seen many Oryx, Springboks, Cori Bustards, (the largest flying bird- about 40 pounds of bird), Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Black Maned Lions and then yesterday we came upon a "gang" of teenaged Lions. Up very very close. They were laying in the road and really had no intention of moving out of the way. One became intrigued with a toyota hubcap and decided he WANTED it for himself. So, he took it and went off into the bush with it in his mouth like a plate or a frisbee. Too cute. Very rare to see this many and this close. I have lots of pictures and LOTS more to tell you about this portion of our trip. The country is beautiful and if you were to ask Willem what he liked the most, it would definetly be the RED dunes!!!!!!!! Africa and the Kalahari have been all and more than I would have ever hoped they would be. The Boshoffs are very very fun and easy people to be around. I have laughed more than I have in years.
On our way home yesterday Ras had us stop at a farmer's home. I wondered what we were doing there but then I found out that there was a great BIG RED SAND DUNE right behind his farm that we were going to "Toboggan" down it..AND we did. It was just like sliding down a hill on snow EXCEPT it was sand, and it was warm and beautiful. I have pictures to prove that I went down that dune. The day was so clear and the temperature could not have been better. Karin drove her 23 year old Toyota 4X4 and I rode with her. We sang all the way home except when they needed to call us on the radio from the other vehicle.
We got home and it stormed and stormed. Ras had just burned 2 DVDs of everyone's pictures and the power went OFF, again. Went to bed and had every intention of staying home and helping Karin clean up every thing and put things away BUT, Jaco was going on another Oryx drive and we HAD to go help him. So, Ras, Willem and I visited the cattle posts and then went to help gather up 32 Oryx. Oh, my! I rode or should I say, I SURVIVED 2 trips in, through, over, the bush with Jaco driving. He is multi-tasking constantly. On the radio, talking to the man riding on the back of the bakkie, driving, looking, chasing etc. It was VERY VERY exciting to say the least. The first run we managed to get 16 Oryx. I don't have the vocabulary to describe the ride. Disney is TAME compared to his driving. We drove over bushes, holes, trees and NONE OF THIS was in a straight line. There is also a Tswana riding in the BACK of the bakkie with a stick that he directs the driver with. He holds it, I DON'T KNOW HOW, on the windshield, in the direction that the driver should be going. Needless to say, it is all OVER the windshield and I have NO IDEA how he keeps from being pitched right out of the back of that truck.
I will tell you lots more later but wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you and wishing that you could be here getting to experience what I have gotten to experience and what is every day life for the people of the Kalahari.
Oh my,
ReplyDeleteWhere do I start? First of all I have thought of every single one of you MANY times and wished that you could be here with me so it is not only my eyes or my memory that sees and tries to remember all of what this place and country is like.
Last Tuesday we hunted Eland in three VERY VERY OLD pickup trucks (they are called bakkies, pronounced buckies) here. The one I rode in was probably a 1980ish model. It amazed me that it still ran. Later that day, it DID catch on fire with all of the grass build up underneath. We drove on everything B UT the road. Over the bush, through the bush, and then OVER the bush again. We were able to round up 20 some Eland that day and I have the pictures to prove it. Wynand (pronounced vein nunt) was the driver of my bakkie. Oh my but you guys would have loved this adventure. We did NOT drive slow at all. We were twisting and turning and then turning the other way. You have to hang on with both hands and you wish you had more hands to hang on more. The three bakkies are in contact with radios so they really work together well coming from 3 different places behind the herd. There are also Tswanas riding on horseback in front of us. It was rainy and quite cold but still very exciting. Susan and Linda, you WOULD NOT have enjoyed this. We were right behind the herd trying to chase them into the boma, an open ended coral which the men close off with a canvas curtain as soon as the herd has passed them.
We had NO POWER on Tues or Wednesday of last week. Wednesday morning we left on our camping trip to Botswana and the Kgalagadi Nature Reserve. After going through customs to get OUT of South Africa and customs to get INTO Botswana, we began our trip. I have not seen a paved road the whole time until the one we were on briefly yesterday on our way home. When I say ROAD I use the term loosely. What we were on was more of a PATH through the bush. We did not meet any cars for miles which was a good thing because there was no shoulder only bush to drive on, The first night we stayed at Mabua Sehube. It was very windy when we put up the tents that night but we enjoyed a good supper and went to bed late. I want to tell you cynics who thought I could not "rough" it that I have used a "long drop" which is a nice Afrikaans word for OUTHOUSE. I have had to do the "veldtie in the "veld" (look it up or guess what you think that is.) It is pronounced feltie in the felt. I have taken a shower with a view and in plain view of all wild life nearby and done without a shower and electricity CHEERFULLY. We made a deal that if ONE person took a shower ALL of us had to take one or NONE of us could take one. I slept in the back of the bakkie and that night we heard several sounds of animals nearby. Jackals, and what I HOPED was a Blue Wildebeest. I found out for sure the next morning that what we had heard was a Lion roaring very near by. When we left the next morning we saw the tracks. HUGE!!!!! CLOSE!!!!! We have seen Cheetah, up close and personal. When they got separated they call to each other with the smallest chirping sound. They are beautiful and we were lucky to see them. We have seen many Oryx, Springboks, Cori Bustards, (the largest flying bird- about 40 pounds of bird), Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Black Maned Lions and then yesterday we came upon a "gang" of teenaged Lions. Up very very close. They were laying in the road and really had no intention of moving out of the way. One became intrigued with a toyota hubcap and decided he WANTED it for himself. So, he took it and went off into the bush with it in his mouth like a plate or a frisbee. Too cute. Very rare to see this many and this close. I have lots of pictures and LOTS more to tell you about this portion of our trip. The country is beautiful and if you were to ask Willem what he liked the most, it would definetly be the RED dunes!!!!!!!! Africa and the Kalahari have been all and more than I would have ever hoped they would be. The Boshoffs are very very fun and easy people to be around. I have laughed more than I have in years.
ReplyDeleteOn our way home yesterday Ras had us stop at a farmer's home. I wondered what we were doing there but then I found out that there was a great BIG RED SAND DUNE right behind his farm that we were going to "Toboggan" down it..AND we did. It was just like sliding down a hill on snow EXCEPT it was sand, and it was warm and beautiful. I have pictures to prove that I went down that dune. The day was so clear and the temperature could not have been better. Karin drove her 23 year old Toyota 4X4 and I rode with her. We sang all the way home except when they needed to call us on the radio from the other vehicle.
ReplyDeleteWe got home and it stormed and stormed. Ras had just burned 2 DVDs of everyone's pictures and the power went OFF, again. Went to bed and had every intention of staying home and helping Karin clean up every thing and put things away BUT, Jaco was going on another Oryx drive and we HAD to go help him. So, Ras, Willem and I visited the cattle posts and then went to help gather up 32 Oryx. Oh, my! I rode or should I say, I SURVIVED 2 trips in, through, over, the bush with Jaco driving. He is multi-tasking constantly. On the radio, talking to the man riding on the back of the bakkie, driving, looking, chasing etc. It was VERY VERY exciting to say the least. The first run we managed to get 16 Oryx. I don't have the vocabulary to describe the ride. Disney is TAME compared to his driving. We drove over bushes, holes, trees and NONE OF THIS was in a straight line. There is also a Tswana riding in the BACK of the bakkie with a stick that he directs the driver with. He holds it, I DON'T KNOW HOW, on the windshield, in the direction that the driver should be going. Needless to say, it is all OVER the windshield and I have NO IDEA how he keeps from being pitched right out of the back of that truck.
I will tell you lots more later but wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you and wishing that you could be here getting to experience what I have gotten to experience and what is every day life for the people of the Kalahari.
Love you all,
PL