CHANGES HAPPEN IN A FLASH

Thank goodness we don't own a horse!

On the 15th of July we followed up on an invitation from Noel Andrews to visit him, his brother Norman and sister Elaine, along with a couple of their friends up at his holdings in the Kudu Private Nature Reserve just outside Lydenburg. 

The drive there is even more spectacular than I remember it, through the myriad hills and valleys of Mpumalanga (what used to be the Eastern Transvaal), with the highlight being the final section over the Long Tom Pass - South Africa's highest pass at 2150M above sea level.

I did stop to take a whole host of photographs of the spectacular views from the Pass, only to find when I wanted to download them that my card had 'died'. No matter - I will get more, and there is one here that Pat managed to get with her phone.

A TYPICAL VIEW AS ONE MOVES UP THE LONG TOM PASS

We spent a really wonderful couple of days there - good food and great company - with everyone pitching in. 

As mentioned, thank goodness we don't own a horse, because Noel made us an offer we simply could not refuse: to move into the cottage we stayed in up there on a permanent basis or until such time as our Irish issues are settled ......... making this all even more attractive are this very generous man's terms of agreement: Just cover the electricity and water and provide a few maintenance services along with a bit of gardening - no rent!!!!!!! What a pleasure! Thank you Noel, you simply have no idea how much this means to us, particularly at this stage of our lives - and while we do enjoy the Van life, what could possibly compare with the natural beauty and access to wildlife in this amazing Nature Reserve. Somehow / Sometime, your amazing generosity will be rewarded.

WHITE RIVER TO PILGRIM'S REST

On Sunday 12th July we took a drive up to Crystal Springs where new friends Kevin and Zena Williams - who had camped close to us at Busa House in White River for the month of June - were spending some time at a timeshare they had there. WOW! What a development, with views that simply go on forever ... and a really great Bobotie that they had prepared for lunch.

Having last visited Pilgrim's Rest about 15 years ago when the entire village was totally shut down we were very pleasantly surprised to find that it has been almost totally restored, with little shops in every available space, and all of the Hotels, Pubs and Restaurants operating full blast.

Both the upper and lower villages were busy with people wandering everywhere - a really good sign for the future of the tourist industry in the region.

I have mentioned the beauty of this area at length, and once again I must reiterate  that the mountains, valleys and forests are beyond stunning - every inch of the way is an assault on the senses. If you have never been here and travelled these mountain/valley roads, then make a plan to do it the first opportunity you get

PAT WITH ZENA AND KEVIN  WILLIAMS AT CRYSTAL SPRINGS

 

RAINFORESTS & CHIMPANZEES IN THE LOWVELD

This amazing week starting the 6th of July 2026 saw us climb into our little Jimny on Tuesday  and drive down to the Nelspruit Botanical Gardens  to take advantage of Pensioners free day and have a look around.

Kirstenbosch needs to take quite a big step backwards ... this place is very special. With its waterfalls and one of the finest manufactured African Rain Forests anywhere in the world it managed to elicit feelings at every turn that can only be described with one word: WOW! 

RAINFORESTS & WATERFALLS (See more images below)

As we walked through this incredible park we could  simply not believe the remarkable range of trees and plants that we came across. The atmosphere grabbed us every inch of the way - we will definitely be back, and more than just once I am quite certain.

Then on Wednesday we took a run down to the Jane Goodall Chimp sanctuary, 26 odd kms out of Nelspruit on the Barberton road that we had driven the week before, following the quite remarkable road up the mountain towards Piggs Peak and the Lesotho border - a drive that rattled my sense of vertigo virtually to the limit.

RESIDENTS OF 'CHIMP EDEN' (See more images below)

The Chimp Sanctuary, known as Chimp Eden houses roughly 35 abused chimps from all over the world, and learning about how they arrived here was both interesting and somewhat disturbing - their various characters and displays obviously resulting from a whole range of maltreatment suffered in captivity.

One very sad case hurls rocks at blonde women! Why? because during his captivity in Paris he was kept in a small cage except for when he had to perform in modern day clothes, which kept him upright - if he didn't perform his blonde handler would hit him over the head with a baseball bat - he recognised his mishandler as blonde and endeavours  to hit her back with rocks hurled at blonde visitors each day.

Another trades toys found in the enclosure for food from the guide - a very definite activity bred from a need to survive in captivity.

Chimp Eden was a Jane Goodall initiative, and she visited it on her 90th birthday a little while before she died in 2025. Chimp Eden relies almost entirely on the entry fees paid by visitors to survive, so when in the area please make a point of visiting.