Moggie in Africa: 2016

Friday, 18 March 2016

FINALLY !!! Got the Big Seven. Lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, wild dog, buffalo and cheetah. Now we can go home.

Early morning drive. Thought there might be some action.

Thursday, 17 March 2016

Another good day at the "Office"

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

This looks like a different KNP.

Finally found the leopard all by ourselves.

Saw the Big Five within half an hour.

We found the green corner of the Kruger Park.

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

The drought is far from over. Even after some good rains a week ago.

This is what the drought has done to the Kruger National Park.

KrugerPark

We arrived late on Sunday afternoon 13 March and camped at Punda Maria. This is where our adventure started with Willem and Moira and Tom and Hannelore on 13 September 2015.

The KNP is very dry with very little grass from Punda Maria down to Skukuza.

On the way down we had a good lion sighting, 6 lionesses on a fresh buffalo kill with a good number of cubs. It was difficult to see what was happening as they had dragged their kill into a thicket just off the road. We also saw elephant, buffalo and a single rhino. Wild dog, leopard and cheetah continue to evade us.The second night we camped st Satara and tonight Skukusa. Tomorrow we will camp at Pretoriuskop apparently more grass there.

All is well with us and Moggie.

Returning to normal home life will be a challenge. After 22 000 km, and more than 4 000 litres of diesel we are ready for this challenge.

Tom and Eva

Sent from my Samsung device

Monday, 14 March 2016

GPS Update - March 15, 2016 at 05:52AM

Lat-24.392300 Lon+031.776283 Alt +895 ft (0s ago) 14-Mar-2016 16:52:04 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-24.392300&lon=031.776283

Sunday, 13 March 2016

GPS Update - March 14, 2016 at 05:34AM

Lat-22.693216 Lon+031.016400 Alt +1509 ft (0s ago) 13-Mar-2016 16:34:05 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-22.693216&lon=031.016400

SMS Update - March 14, 2016 at 12:37AM

We are back in SA. ;) Beitbridge as breeze.

Saturday, 12 March 2016

Arrived in Bulawayo

We have arrived in Bulawayo.

Hwange yesterday was very green, the bush is lovely and overgrown but little game probably due to all the rain. Tomorrow we cross into SA at Beitbridge and then through the Kruger Park for a few days heading south. Will be home by Friday.

Sent from my Samsung device

GPS Update - March 13, 2016 at 03:57AM

Lat-20.190233 Lon+028.608866 Alt +3766 ft (0s ago) 12-Mar-2016 14:56:53 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-20.190233&lon=028.608866

Friday, 11 March 2016

GPS Update - March 12, 2016 at 05:41AM

Lat-18.732766 Lon+026.952400 Alt +3500 ft (0s ago) 11-Mar-2016 16:41:34 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-18.732766&lon=026.952400

Mog crossing the Zambezi inti Zim.

Mighty Zambezi meets Mighty Buffalo.

Thursday, 10 March 2016

Happy Birthday Craig for 9 March. Sorry was not sent yesterday.

Sent from my iPad

Eagle in the sky. Tuesday evening.

Waiting for the sunset.

GPS Update - March 11, 2016 at 03:56AM

Lat-17.886866 Lon+025.842916 Alt +3241 ft (2m4s ago) 10-Mar-2016 14:54:00 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-17.886866&lon=025.842916

SMS Update - March 11, 2016 at 03:16AM

We have arrived at a very wet and rainy Livingstone. We will camp at the Waterfront and push on tomorrow. Seems like the weather of the last week will continue. 😰

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

SMS Update - March 10, 2016 at 03:24AM

We will be heading down to Livingstone tomorrow around 500 km. Will make an early start.

SMS Update - March 10, 2016 at 03:23AM

We have arrived safely in Lusaka at Eureka Camp Site. Were impressed by the Spar in Lusaka and in general how large the city has become. All well.

GPS Update - March 10, 2016 at 01:42AM

Lat-15.503833 Lon+028.265216 Alt +4183 ft (0s ago) 09-Mar-2016 12:42:34 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-15.503833&lon=028.265216

Tuesday, 8 March 2016

GPS Update - March 09, 2016 at 06:33AM

Lat-13.722700 Lon+029.156566 Alt +3786 ft (0s ago) 08-Mar-2016 17:33:23 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-13.722700&lon=029.156566

Wild animals crossing !

Early morning swim in the hot spring.

Spent the night at Kapishya Hot spring Camp site.

Monday, 7 March 2016

GPS Update - March 08, 2016 at 08:43AM

Lat-11.169633 Lon+031.599833 Alt +4718 ft (0s ago) 07-Mar-2016 19:43:04 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-11.169633&lon=031.599833

Sunday, 6 March 2016

GPS Update - March 07, 2016 at 04:03AM

Lat-10.132066 Lon+032.672150 Alt +4330 ft (0s ago) 06-Mar-2016 15:03:04 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-10.132066&lon=032.672150

We are mobile.

Sent from my iPad

Saturday, 5 March 2016

GOT IT !!!

Friday, 4 March 2016

SMS Update - March 05, 2016 at 03:58AM

DHL Web page says our parcel has been forwarded for delivery. If all goes to plan the parcel will arrive in Mbeya by air tomorrow Saturday and we can collect from their Agent Office in Mbeya.

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

Restaurant At Utengule

The Camping Area at Utengule

View from breakfast at Utengule Restaurant

Life at Utengule Coffee Lodge

We are camped in Mog on a green grassy field with a helipad, tennis court, volleyball court and ablutions at one end. We have an electrical connection and plenty of hot water. Generally we have breakfast and lunch in Mog and dinner in the restaurant.
We have done some reading and deleting of unwanted photographs. The weather is around 30 degrees with high humidity. We have had one heavy rain storm and a few lighter showers. Yesterday we walked to the coffee plantation for a tour. We are up on a hill with a nice view, everything is green and scenic.
We await our parcel by DHL. It should arrive in Dar es Salaam today and delivery seems sets for Friday. If all goes according to plan we will then be ready to leave by Saturday lunchtime or Sunday morning (my visa expires the next day, whilst Moz has 3 months ?).
This morning we need to go into Mbeya to do some shopping and buy more data for the iPad.

Sent from my iPadL

Sunday, 28 February 2016

Waiting for DHL how convenient

Saturday, 27 February 2016

Delay in going Home

Bad news. The front left wheel bearing failed again and in the process damaged the drive gear. Have spoken to Willem and as usual he has kindly offered to supply spares.
Rodney is again helping with the DHL part of the equation and Dieter has offered to do the running around. Thanks all. We will be doing something for a few days that we are not good at ..... nothing just relaxing. Eish that will be hard.
We are at Utengule Lodge and Campsite. This is part of a coffee estate in the foothills just outside Mbeya in the south of Tanzania (100 km from Tanduma, the border with Zambia). We are parked on the edge of a helipad so will be easy to fly in spares hehehe.
We could not have picked a better spot.

Sent from my iPad

Oh nooooo not again!

No it's not volcano 😉

Friday, 26 February 2016

GPS Update - February 27, 2016 at 06:31AM

Lat-08.885366 Lon+033.319983 Alt +4508 ft (0s ago) 26-Feb-2016 17:31:34 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=-08.885366&lon=033.319983

Thursday, 25 February 2016

SMS Update - February 26, 2016 at 06:43AM

Arrived at Dodoma earlier today. Travelled just over 500 km and I only got 1 speeding fine. About R200 I will try a bit harder tomorrow. Booked into a pretty good Hotel for the night and will proceed to Mbeya tomorrow. Nighty Night. All well.