| On our way to Mpumalanga for a well deserved | | | | was a game drive just after lunch, Ryno refused |
| break, Bronwyn, Ryno and I decided that we | | | | to sit in an open 4x4 in the midst of the hot |
| were going on a road trip. We wanted to | | | | weather, so we opted for the drive at dusk. I |
| experience a Kruger Park safari. We were headed | | | | didn't blame him, because although I couldn't wait |
| from Cape Town to the Kruger National Park | | | | to go into the bushveld for some game-viewing, |
| where we were going to stay for three nights at | | | | dusk has always been my favourite time of day |
| the Phumulani lodge. Now some might say that | | | | and the weather was taking some time getting |
| we were absolutely crazy, but that's what we've | | | | used to. |
| always done: unplanned road trips and outings that | | | | A bumpy ride … |
| never go according to plan, but somehow always | | | | As we got on the back of the 4x4 Bronwyn told |
| worked out and worth every minute. | | | | us about this interesting National Geographic |
| Getting there | | | | programme she watched about the African |
| The drive from Johannesburg to the Kruger | | | | Hyena. Apparently they're not as thick as I |
| National Park was not only chaotic but a true test | | | | thought. Personally the Hyena has always been |
| of our friendship. We got completely lost in | | | | least of my favourites in the animal kingdom. I've |
| Johannesburg city centre, and believe me, it's not | | | | always thought them to be weird looking animals |
| the place you want to get lost in. Taxis and | | | | with a laughing cry that is absolutely dreadful, but |
| pedestrians everywhere are there to confuse the | | | | after listening to everything Bronwyn had to say I |
| situation even more, because somehow, the | | | | almost felt bad for disliking the Hyena so much. |
| three of us managed to take the wrong turn-off | | | | According to her, they have an impeccable social |
| and instead of driving away from Johannesburg, | | | | structure where a female is the matriarch. But |
| ended smack in the middle of it. | | | | before she could finish continue telling us all about |
| So eventually, after much debate, we found the | | | | the life of a hyena, we spotted a heard of |
| right turn off that took us all the way through to | | | | buffalos. |
| Mpumalanga and to the Kruger National Park. | | | | They were in the open field grazing. My first |
| Checking in | | | | thought was whether we'll be seeing any horrid |
| We eventually arrived at the Phumulani lodge and | | | | hunting, but before I could mention it the game |
| we weren't a pretty sight. To say it was hot in | | | | ranger pointed out lions hiding in on the outskirts |
| the Kruger National Park is an understatement; it | | | | of the open field. This was it! The big moment |
| was more like walking into an open-air sauna. Now | | | | any tourist either dreads or hopes to witness. But |
| although it's nothing unusual, this weather was the | | | | after sitting there for an hour the lions decided |
| exception. We struck it lucky, or rather unlucky, | | | | that we seemed much more interesting than any |
| because most of South Africa was hit by a heat | | | | tender buffalo. Ryno was not really impressed |
| wave that was lasting way too long. Hot and | | | | with this attention. It's not that he doesn't like |
| irritated from the drive, we decided that we | | | | animals, but in his whole life he's only ever owned |
| needed some refreshing. We decided to go for a | | | | one dog. Whereas Bronwyn and I both have cats |
| swim and soon enough the air of irritation was | | | | and I have two dogs. Watching Ryno's facial |
| gone and in its place, an atmosphere of | | | | expressions was absolutely priceless. It was a |
| adventure. | | | | combination of fear and being not quite sure how |
| This was going to be three days of spending | | | | to handle the situation. But soon enough they |
| some time in Africa's wilderness, but more | | | | moved on and we were on our way again. |
| importantly catching up with old friends. Bronwyn | | | | Heading back |
| has been living in the UK for the last three years | | | | In the next few days we saw more wildlife and |
| now, and since then we've decided make a pact | | | | then of course made a lot of jokes between the |
| that whenever the three of us are together we | | | | three of us. We've always been a tightly knit |
| would spend it going on our usual road trip or | | | | group of friends; very different in personality but |
| simply just going away together for a few days. | | | | still had a connection that others found difficult to |
| After we cooled down from the swim, we | | | | understand. After our roundtrip through the |
| headed to the Lodge for lunch, followed by a | | | | Kruger National Park and a bit of sight-seeing in |
| quick power nap and then just enough time to | | | | Mpumalanga we were on our way back to Cape |
| get ready for our first game drive. Although there | | | | Town. |