3. Off into the wilderness

Well, it was time to be more independent and adventurous.

We went off for our first shop to “Super Spar“ and started our drive through the Hluhluwe National Park for our stay at the Mpila Camp in iMfolozi, the even less pronounceable southern section of the park. We were a little nervous about the drive  through the park in our little hire car because of  the road surfaces we might find and indeed the route as we had been told that our intended route had been blocked by some local protesters who could turn violent.

African hoopoe outside our cabin

In the event it was a great drive through the park, not so much for the game that we saw but just for the changing scenery. When we reached the camp we had time for our “own” game drive as well.

We had a cabin at the Mpila camp and enjoyed our first home cooked meal. It was our first experience of staying overnight  in unfenced (and unlocked!) accommodation  where you had to be very careful about leaving your room after sunset.

We came to Mpila for the start of our Wilderness Trail walking safari. We met our guides, Iander, who after life in the anti poaching patrol had been guiding in the park for the last 8 years and his backup, Nontoo, both armed with rifles, drove off into the bush and started walking.

We were accompanied by a pleasant SA family, the husband, a retired plastic surgeon, his wife and their son and his girlfriend both living in London.

Iander gave us a very serious talking to before we set off as to the real dangers we could face and how we must behave in the park,ie on trek,  walk in single file silently and to do what ever he said, immediately. He showed us how they tracked the animals and the detail of our surroundings.

warthog

We carried only day packs, donkeys taking the rest, albeit not very much and by the afternoon we arrived at the camp, 

Actually quite comfortable tents though bucket showers and a spade and matches for the loo ( plus a watchful eye for any wildlife).

Dinner, cooked for us by Thomas, was around the campfire, though at one moment we had to run from the main cooking fire when a " curious" elephant emerged from the shadows.

The next day was a good long trek into an even remoter area overlooking a dry riverbed with some water holes. We were able to walk up really close to a group of white rhino and as we had our lunch overlooking the river bed watching  the game move below us. This included the suspense of giraffes walking up to a concealed croc waiting for them...

picnic lunch with a view

Iander had warned us that late afternoon was the most dangerous period of the day, with the predators out when the group became tired and that the reedbeds by the river was where the predators gathered but despite his precautions we surprised a large elephant as we came on to the river bed which trumpeted ( incredibly loud) and charged as soon as it saw us.”Run”,shouted Iander but there was nowhere to run too and then someone fell and Iander turned and shot ; there was a ear splitting crack and the elephant veered off.

Just after the shot ; son stooping down to pick up his mother, Iander happy to watch the elephant, thankfully unharmed,running off.

Everyone was very shaken including Iander ; it was the first time he had had to fire his weapon in 8 years.

He looked for blood spots but his shot had missed.

We all knew that if the elephant had reached us it would have been life threatening. Everyone was on edge on the walk back. We all had a drink that night!

The walk back the next day was a lot calmer.

Being out there in the bush and walking in the wilderness was one of the highlights of any of our trips.

Dressed for the part at least !

self made home of trapdoor spider