Day 3 – Drifters South Africa 18-day Tour

Andy’s Camp to Hazyview

1 September 2011  

We packed up our bags and said farewell to Matisse and our tent. Our two nights at the game lodge were over and we would be heading south to Hazyview for a night at the Drifters lodge there. 

Once our bags were loaded we had tea and coffee and a light breakfast. A couple of giraffes could be seen beyond the waterhole. I was really going to miss this camp, and when a warthog came trotting along I almost changed my mind and stayed behind. I was going to miss Joostie as well. He was always happy – how could he not be with his gorgeous backyard – and his sense of humor was only rivaled by his knowledge of the bush.

The view from Joostie's patio  

We left the camp at 8 and needed to be in Hazyview for 11 so we could see the reptile presentation. We drove past Hoedspruit, where we were supposed to do a shop, and spent the next 130 kilometers inching our way through various construction zones. Ramshackle huts dotted the landscape, but many came with new model BMWs so it was hard to tell the exact quality of living. 

We pulled in to the parking lot of Perry’s Bridge Reptile Park with 15 minutes to spare. The snake demonstration, where 3 of Africa’s deadliest snakes were presented to us, would begin at 11.

The entrance to the Reptile Park  

The snake handler, a male in his late 20s, walks out carrying 3 buckets and climbs into a short-walled enclosure where they normally keep turtles. He shows us a puff adder first and shows us, using the handling stick, just how difficult it is to be bitten by one. It appears it is extremely difficult. And most bites happen on the hands and arms so it is usually drunken idiots trying to catch them that get bitten. The next snake on display was the snouted cobra. The Mozambique spitting cobra is the deadlier snake, but for obvious reasons it remained in its glass enclosure. We were all watching the snake when Kirsty and a couple other women shrieked, temporarily shocking us all. A pot bellied pig forced his way through the crowd bumping into legs and stepping on toes as he went. When you are focused on snakes, a giant pig trying to knock you over can be quite alarming. 

The third and final snake was a small rock python. We could all touch the snake and for a small fee (less than $5 US) hold it and have our pictures taken. Both Kirsty and I did, as well as Melanie and Ricky, who was originally frightened but summoned up the courage to smile. The snake’s body felt weird as it moved – you could feel the muscles contracting as it coiled and bent.

Kirsty and the snake

A snake posing with an idiot!  

After a quick shop for junk food, biltong, and beer (for the next night in Kruger Park), we headed for the Hazyview Drifters Lodge on the banks of the Sabie River. Set on its own private expanse of land, the property had its own herd of nyala, a larger breed of antelope. The lodge was immense, a stunning array of woodwork and tall thatched roofs. A large deck encircled the back of the property overlooking the dense vegetation offering glimpses of the river beyond. There was a swimming pool and braai pit down the stairs from the deck.

The large wooden deck 

The pool we didn't use  

We met Caroline, the lady in charge for the last 7 years, were shown our rooms, and were told to lock the gates when we left or entered the lodge to keep Napoleon, the 210 kilogram wild pig from damaging the property. 

A quick lunch of hotdogs and chakalaka (a South African chutney) was served before we went on a guided walk by the river. The river is home to hippos and crocodiles, and the leopard is predominant in the region, but we saw nary a sound of any of them. Well, there was one instance when we heard something rustling through the bushes but it moving away from us.

The Sabie River at the start of our walk

The group minus me on the bridge

Into the wild they continue... 

We sat on a giant rocky outcrop by the banks of the river listening to the sounds and listening to Milton describing the trees, the shrubs, and the flowers, each word dripping with love for his surroundings. We followed the same path back, each step as wonderful as it was on the way to our resting spot.

Enjoying the view from the rock

Waiting for the crocodiles that didn't show up

The African Sacred Ibis x3 

We had some time to kill before dinner so the 7 of us took to the walking trails on the property. We had barely left the vicinity of the lodge when Napoleon decided to make an appearance. He came tottering towards us, this massive piece of bacon not intent on sharing the road. We all snapped off a couple of photos before giving him the space he required.

The BIG PIG  

The walk took us around a couple of small ponds and along tree-lined paths, and brought us closer to warthogs and the nyala, including the big buck, than we thought possible. The big buck was proving to be a challenging photo so we set off on a tracking mission, finally culminating in me catching his attention for long enough so Ricky could get her perfect photo.

The big buck trying to stare me down

Some of the beautiful flowers on display

Kirsty's first African sunset photo!  

Milton had prepared roast beef, gravy, and potato wedges roasted with rosemary and a fine amount of cheddar cheese. Again, the meal was fantastic. The milk pudding and custard for dessert just topped it off. Dinner was washed away with a beer by the fireplace before we called it a night. Tomorrow we would enter Kruger National Park!