South Africa: First Game Drive in Sabie Sands (Thursday 22Nov12)

I am so tired today as I didn't sleep last night with all my lap top issues. I have to say a massive thank you for all that Sally did for me in the week that I was with her. She was a star and even dropped me off at the airport. I was on the 06:30 British Airways flight from Durban to Johannesburg which was full of business people and the scheduled flight ran like clockwork. I have to say I git a few funny looks with my ruck sack and walking boots on. I fell asleep even before the hostess had come round with breakfast so the nice lady next to me gave me a little nudge.

I was met at Johannesburg airport by Mark, one of Tydon Safari's representatives. We then drove to a B&B to pick up Caroline and Michael, a lovely couple from Cambridge. Michael is a retired lecturer and has been doing research down in Stellenbosch for the last five weeks. They both decided to do a trip to Kruger before flying home. Caroline was telling me that she had recently purchased a new MAC and was having lessons so that she could use it efficiently. This was quite an impressive story for me as my Grandma Thomas wouldn't even know what a MAC was, let alone use one!!! Anyway I tried to keep up conversation but I dozed off every so often even though I had a Mugg and Bean mocha at the Alzu service station along the way.

We stopped for lunch in Sabie at a lovely little place called The Wild Fig Tree where I had a chocolate milkshake and a hawaiian pizza. I thought all the sugar would help but I still fell asleep again when we got back in the car. I had to drop my stuff off at my accommodation, Sabie River Lodge based in Hazyview, before we got to Tydon Safari Camp. I booked last minute so I have two days in the river lodge before staying at the camp as there is no room for me till then.

Gavin, the owner of Tydon, met all three of us when we arrived. We had a quick drink before starting our first evening game drive in Sabie Sands Private Reserve. There were five other American guests on the game drive with us. Michael, one of the Americans is quite funny and definitely the loud one of the group and I ended up sitting with him and the other guy on the back seat of the land rover. It turned out to be quite an interesting seat as we got charged by an unhappy matriarch elephant from the back. The small herd of elephants had a baby in the group and I think we got a bit close for the female leader's liking. I was the only one still trying to take pictures while everyone else was crouched down. Debbie, our game rancher admitted at our sun downer drinks that she stalled the land rover.

Dinner at the camp was amazing. We got back from our drive and we all sat round a fire whilst Gavin told a few stories and explained what our dinner was. Tonight we had potjiekos and it was superb although I have to say I was desperate to get back so that I could get to sleep. Gavin took the mickey out of me for nursing my vodka and sprite all night. I've come back to find a few dead bugs on my bed covers. I did get carried away with the "Peaceful Sleep" insect repellent earlier.