MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPES & SURROUNDS

In the relatively short time we have been resident here at No.13 River Lodge in Kudu Private Nature Reserve (just over three weeks), we have had the opportunity to be witness to some magnificent landscapes, waterfalls, river and rock views, and some amazing gorges that catch the eye at every turn ... and yet I don't think that we have seen much more than about 5% of what this beautiful nature reserve has to offer. 

The animals and birds that visit the area where we stay on a daily basis provide a thrill that we look out for every day, a thrill that I don't think will ever diminish in any way, and which offer so many opportunities to witness their many and various varieties of behaviour - patterns that any amount of photographs won't ever begin to describe.

Two of the long-standing residents on the River Lodge terrace, Pieter Marais and Mike Parken, have become friends, and have thus far provided us with a wealth of information about KPNR, with the promise of a whole lot more to come. Both are very much into the history of of the Reserve, from both an indigenous peoples point of view, as well as from a Boer War point of view, and have identified a number of sites that are significant in both respects which they have promised to show us going forward.

In addition to the photographs show here I have managed to grab a quite extensive number of animal shots without the need to move from our verandah which I will be posting here shortly, so please subscribe to the page to avoid missing any postings.

 

Here and there along the gorges are little waterfalls finding their way down to the river

The river is a long way down from the many lookout points

Just one of the many Gorge views as one drives down to River Lodge

One of the many dams along the river

Trees are budding everywhere

Another waterfall

Tranquility beyond description

The rocks along the river have been worn to smooth by millennia of water treatment

A look back up the river from where we live

One of Jaap's Pools

A view across the landscape shortly before the descent to River Lodge begins

More Buds

Another glimpse at the landscape on the way down

A distant shot of one of the waterfalls

Known as Elephant Rock - worn smooth in parts from constant rubbing

Another view into the distance on the way down

Guess what? (More buds)

More waterfalls

A fallen tree across the rocks

Looking up one of the many gorges

A couple of Impala enjoying an afternoon at the pool

BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH OUR NEW SURROUNDS

Today is the start of our third week at 13 River Lodge in Kudu Private Nature Reserve, and each day has been a revelation. Most of the days have been beautifully warm, but by 5pm each day it begins to get pretty cold ... but no matter, we make a plan to keep warm.

Each day too brings us new visitors in the form of a variety of wildlife, with the Nyala being the most frequent to date. We have a large Spotted Genet (thanks for pointing my error out John - I was watching a video with a Civit while I was writing and managed to confuse myself), that has visited on two occasions (and again this evening), and quite a few Warthog families that come trundling down at various times of the day. So far we have only spotted one Sable Antelope down here, but have seen large groups on the road down from the gate. 

There are birds galore, and our neighbour, Mike, has spotted and identified a huge number of Raptors during his 5 year stay here - and after just two weeks my list is already close to 30 bird species without even trying.

There are three Zebra that regularly visit along with a big troop of Chachma Baboons and lots of Vervet monkeys. We did spot a herd of Wildebeest up near the Gate on Saturday when we returned from spending the day with Pat's sister and her friends at their timeshare in Hazyview, along with a few Kudu on the drive down to the cottage.

The 5km drive down from the gate offers a whole host of vistas and we estimate that we drop down approximately 500 metres in elevation between there and here, with the river and waterfall being another 60 or so metres below the viewpoint at the bottom of our "garden" where the swimming pool and Llapa are.

All in all a genuine little piece of Heaven - we simply couldn't be happier!

 

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