Leopard’s View
Sadly, last night would be our last night here; we should have booked more days. However, Neil and Ann have probably had enough of three of the five Marx siblings by now. Plus, we’ve likely drank all of Neil’s wine anyhow.
On the morning of departure from a lodge, guests often get in one last game drive with their professional guide before moving on. However, this morning we would do something that we’ve been thinking about for the past year – a bush drive again with Neil and Ann. This isn’t saying that Neil and Ann don’t have “professional guiding” skills – they are fully capable in the bush. But this is “just going for a drive” – where you may see elephant, antelope, or jackal. Leisurely, no itinerary, and great discussion. One possibility would have been to spend some time at Neil’s friend's hide on the banks of the Olifants River. Next year we hope.
Our transfer picks us up, and once off the reserve we head six miles south on the R40 into town. Two-lane paved roads, open right-of-way (to look out for animal crossings), and mostly game estates on either side. A good place for me to start learning to drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road – it went pretty well last year!
Hoedspruit.
Hoedspruit is an Afrikaans word translating to “Hat Creek”. There are no traffic lights (or ‘robots’ as South Africans refer to them). Road-side vendors are here and there, selling carved statues and metal-work; produce (citrus, mangoes, and avocados); or maybe tombstones (we haven’t seen these though).
For the next six nights we'd be staying at a house in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. This roughly 1500-acre residential estate includes many “bush” homes, as well as an array of wildlife. In a future post, I’ll explain more about the variety of game estates in South Africa. Town is close by – a long walk, or short bike-ride away – although we’d likely take the rental car to stock up on food and drink at the Pick n Pay. The Pick n Pay (word on the street that it’s a POSH one, since they supply many safari lodges) has been doing a great job keeping the community safe from COVID while they shop. I follow the wonderful community of Hoedspruit on FaceBook. We’d also likely venture into THE fruit and vegetable store in town, La Bamba, where we didn't shop last year.
Besides tomorrow, we'd have no set plans for the next six days. We do have a list of possible agenda items, which I’ll cover in the next few days.
Balule Game Reserve, South Africa, 2019. Black-backed jackal.
Recipe for African Groundnut Stew. I actually have no idea if this is an authentic African recipe or not. I am pretty sure though that "groundnuts" are peanuts. Recipe is from the New York Times Magazine, sent by Sister #1 back when people sent things through the actual mail. One of my favorite recipes. Lots of chopping, but is SO GOOD! And it's vegan.
When we get out there, we need to buy some roadside mangoes and avocados :)
Saw a squirrel, two cats and several birds in my garden this morning, but would swap all of them for a lion, giraffe, jackel, cheetah, elephant and maybe a wild dog! Enjoyed reading latest blog so much I asked my neighbour to pick up a bottle of South African wine from the grocery store for me!
Great post! I cannot remember sending you that recipe.