Day 4. After breakfast we were driven to the Moholohol Rehabilitaion Centre. There was a pied crow (with white collar) near the entrance. of Tremisana lodge as we left. At the rehabilitation centre there are many rescued animals and birds which are healed. Most are kept because they wouldn’t cope in the wild any more. They breed these animals and have a program to get the young back into their normal environment.
The staff brought out a cheetah which we were all able to pat! Further on were Honey Badgers, which we’d seen first at the Braai on Day 1. These are interesting creatures and they stretched up against the wall to be fed! They are also able to climb up a ladder to rest in the sun on the top platform. There were so many different birds here: a Marshall eagle, vultures, guinea fowl, an African Harrier Hawk, an African Fish eagle, Southern ground Hornbills (beautiful black and red bird), a drongo, lilac breasted roller, green wood hoopee, black headed heron and some Marabou Stork. It’s an amazing variety and we were close to them all! Some birds are in large “cages” but others in the large enclosures (with electric fences) with other animals. I loved the signs saying the fence will bite! There was a baby cheetah which tried to climb the fence while we were watching. In one enclosure we saw spotted hyenas roaming around and then a leopard in a tree with a lion resting below in the shade of the tree. They are doing wonderul work here.
After a light lunch at Tremisana, we were taken to a private game park - Tshukudu Game Lodge. The family bought the former cattle property 27 years ago and are gradually returning it to its normal condition. There was a beautiful blue Cape Starling perched on the top of a tree as we drove in. There was a semi-tame cheetah lying at the back of a sheltered area. It had killed an impala and part of the leg bone was beside the cheetah. We were able to move carefully behind the cheetah and pat its head but some other weren’t able to do so later, probably because there was too much noise and movement then. We boarded the safari vehicle which was originally an Argentinian army truck! It had no cover and was open sided.so easy viewing for all. Patrick, one of the 4 sons, drove us around generally following the line of artificial water holes. He had a sensor device to try and locate the alpha male which wore a tracking device. Before the first waterhole we saw a rhino in the bush and at the waterhole there were hippos. Next we saw a pride of 5 lions , a male and 4 females. A little later, we watched the old lion with the younger male go down to drink at the waterhole. We were driven quite close to this wonderful sight. Later we saw about 20 buffaloes with a white rhino in the middle of the group. They were all feeding on the grass which had been put out for them as vegetation is sparse because of the dought conditions in the past 3 years. Continuing our drive, we saw zebra, warthogs and giraffe. There were no elephants as they had escaped into a neighbouring reserve - electric fences are no obstruction to them! Patrick told us about the reduction in poaching after they instigated a system of dehorning the rhinos. The horn, of material like our fingernails, grows each year and they cut them down to 10cms. The poachers sell horn to traders for medicines in places like Vietnam.
Another evening relaxing in the lounge having a pre-dinner drink.
Day 5. We were programmed to return to Kruger for another day but we both felt we’d already seen lots there and didn’t feel like another long hot day with lots of driving. So we had a relaxing morning and in the afternoon returned to the Tshukudu Game Park. The cheetah was still where we’d seen her the day before. The bones were still in the same place too. On this drive with David, the second son of the owner, we saw a number of impala and some spotted hyenas among the trees. We came across the alpha male lion and when David revved up the engine loudly, the lion responded with some very loud roaring. Wonderful! There were several rhino around and we saw more birds here - lilac breasted roller and grey parrot. When we parked near one waterhole, two large crocodiles ambled out of the water towards us. Two crazy Italians jumped down to take photos closer up but were quickly told to get back in the truck as the crocs can run faster than a man! Another great day and the last day of our safari time at Tremisana Lodge. Tomorow we were to drive back to Johannesburg via Blyde River canyon.
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