Eskimo in Africa

[Gromit]

Farside & I just got back from 4 days in the 'bush' (safari as most tourists call it). We were in the most northern point of the Kruger National Park, at the confluence of the Levubu & Limpopo rivers, where the borders of SA, Mozambique and Zimbabwe meet. Very out of the way and off the beaten track. The lodge where we were is virtually unheard of so imagine our surprise to meet our fellow guests being: a Yupik Eskimo and her hubby from Bethel, Alaska and a Texan lady. Not only could Texas and Alaska be more diametrically opposed, but to meet them in darkest Africa? What an amazing few days we had with them. Mary, the Texan is the most lovely, interesting, adventurous lady I've met in a long time. At 77, a widow, she's galavanting the world, kept up with the crowd hiking over rocks and gorges, drove a '69 Camaro (and instantly became my hero), boasted about how "the tail would swing out on the corners ) was in the airforce for 22 years as was her husband, is type 2 diabetic and just an amazing woman. From SA the US group is off to Victoria Falls, then on to Botswana for some real wild open camping and 'safari' then back to the Falls, on to Cape Town and finally back to the USA. The 'eskimo's' were amazing - teaching us a few Yupik words which I don't remember, telling us how they hunt moose to stock up on meat for the winter and and and and. We had a totally amazing time especially when we got charged by a huge bull elephant in musth (I nearly had a heart attack) and Mary just sat there cool as a cucumber! This was not 'big cat' country so I did feel sorry for the tourists not seeing lion, leopard, cheetah or any of the smaller cats but they had a few other experiences that they'll never forget!
What an amazing group of people! Had a fantastic time!

 

[DaveM]

Sound like it was one of those amazing trips where you really meet interesting people all round

 

[Rocky]

A wonderful story

 

[CarlS]

That sounds like a wonderful trip and one that I would surely enjoy. I admire that Texas lady!!

 

[Rocky]

That sounds like a wonderful trip and one that I would surely enjoy. I admire that Texas lady!!

Me too, she sounds like me
Gotta love the old farts who are still getting it done

 

[Gromit]

Carl, you'd have loved it! There were only the 5 of us at the entire lodge - go to: www.theoutpost.co.za and check out the rooms. There is only 1 solid brick wall - the other 3 walls are thick screen/blinds that roll up completely so when the blinds are up, it's like you're sleeping in the wide open bush! Amazing! Lying in bed looking out at the most beautiful skies and the Milky Way galaxy, hearing the animals and birds - just an experience second to none. Even the shower and bath is in the 'open' once the blinds are up. There are mosquito nets around the bed to keep the bugs out but the rains haven't come so there were no mozzies
If you're looking for the Big 5 or the big numbers of game, this is not the place to go - there are fewer animals in this part of the park but very different to what's found in the Southern area of the park. When we've uploaded photos I'll post some here.

I love going to the bush but this was really a special experience - the diversity of flora was incredible! We even went through a forest of just Fever Trees - I've never seen that before so that was a very special experience and truly beautiful! Can you tell we had a great time??

 

[CarlS]

Yep, I can tell you really enjoyed it - and I would have, too. I am


Rocky, I certainly concur with you. I admire those of advancing age that refuse to sit around rocking chairs.

 

[Gromit]

Rocky, Carl - you're both welcome anytime and I promise you the best 'safari' with the best tour guide ofcourse! I sometimes take the bush for granted and have set expectations of what I'd like particularly as I'm a big cat person. This was so different I've found a new love for the Kruger National Park.

Mary is just the coolest oldie I've ever met - I could've kept her up all night with millions of questions but since the guided game drives left at 5:30am each morning, we all needed to get decent sleep! When she was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic, she lost 110 pounds and totally changed her lifestyle - exercise etc. She's not even on medication for the diabetes - just really looks after herself. And then she started travelling - she's been hotair ballooning, wants to do a tandem parachute jump, is going to Greece later this year and then onto Tibet! Already climbed Machu Pichu - she's just seriously become one of my heroes and a complete inspiration to me! The Eskimo couple were about 16 years younger than Mary but also really interesting and "Sophie" had a really great sense of humour - we couldn't believe what they were telling us about life in 'rural' Alaska! Her husband was in the airforce and was sent to Alaska as a heavy machinery mechanic in the early 70's and he never left - just fell in love with Alaska and ofcourse Sophie! They think MINUS 22 is pretty normal! What wonderful stories and great people!

 

[Gromit]

Oh here's something I learnt! I've often smelt buttery popcorn in the bush and for the more than 40 years I've been going to Kruger park, thought it was some kind of plant or tree or flower that gave off this smell. But I've now learnt that leopard urine or leopard musth actually smells like buttery popcorn! So this is what I've smelt for years and had no idea at all! So next time we're in the bush and I smell popcorn, I'll start looking for a male leopard

 

[DaveM]

Wow that place looks stunning, do then rent out per hour as I could maybe afford 3 hours

 

[CarlS]

Gromit, you were truly blessed.

 

[otherwise]

Wow that place looks stunning, do then rent out per hour as I could maybe afford 3 hours

So Dave are you familiar with hourly rate hotels?

 

[CarlS]

So Dave are you familiar with hourly rate hotels?

:y24: :y24: :y24:

 

[Gromit]

Ha ha - those rates are very misleading. We subscribe to a newsletter from a company called Bushbreaks (www.bushbreaks.co.za) Originally these luxury lodges were aimed at the foreign tourist and were completely out of reach of the average S'African. But since the big global recession, the luxury lodges are just not getting the bums on beds that they used to SOOOOOOO if you book via Bushbreaks at the very last minute, you can get into these luxury lodges for about a 1/4 of the normal price but with all the 'luxuries' as if you were paying full price. This lodge has 12 full suites/rooms - of the 12 only 3 were occupied; 3 foriegners and 2 S'Africans! They told us that until the end of this week, they're complete empty then they'll have 8 couples in for 4 days, another empty gap of 3 days then 3 couples in for 3 days. We couldn't afford these breaks at the normal rates so we wait for 'specials' to come up!

I can really recommend that S'Africans subscribe to Bushbreaks to keep an eye out for good deals at beautiful lodges all over SA.

 

[DaveM]

Nice to see that these places are pricing it for us SA lot as well as most are just out of our price bracket

So Dave are you familiar with hourly rate hotels?

All I can afford when I go on holiday

 

[Gromit]

We went to a different lodge a while ago - we paid for 3 full nights what their normal rate was for ONE day for both of us - shows how we've been ripped off for years. They're just desperate to get people into the lodges and their previous greed is now biting them in the bum. We could never afford the normal rates for one night let alone 3 nights - I'd have to take out a loan!

 

[CarlS]

All I can afford when I go on holiday

Umm, Dave, what kind of holidays are you taking at hourly rate motels?

 

[DaveM]

Normally when we go on holiday it is someplace we can afford like this, room with a view and a place to lockup the bike just down stairs

 

[CarlS]

:y24: :y24: :y24: