The small plane - piloted by a delightful chap called Bugs - lifted up at around 0830 for the one hour flight to Clanwilliam. Everything was fine for the first 57 minutes ... then we came into the landing area to find that VERY dense fog and cloud had made landing on the runway impossible. So, after flying around for another 20 minutes we went for Option 2 ... which also was not an option ...! It was now around 1000! SO - then we flew around into another valley and landed on a crop-dusting strip! We did NOT know where we were ... that is Bugs ... Tim, James or myself! We laughed a little/a lot. This was the FIRST time that Bugs had never managed to land at the Kloof .. in hundreds of flights!
We were entertained on the strip by a gorgeous pup ... and after Bugs finally found out where we were, we called the Kloof to pick us up! Sadly, we were now at LEAST 90 minutes drive away! We were picked up at 1215 by Gerrit & Jacques and whisked at great speed the resort!
Things had not started well ...
Waiting for us at the resort was the whole BK team who fed us, watered us and then we started filming! Tim went off to the Spa while James and myself prepared ...
Finally at 4 pm, we were ready for the first feature - a "game" drive with Jacques Tredoux. Then followed two hours of fun, enjoyment, education and much madness. The Kloof does NOT have the "big" five ... that's what the Kruger is about. The area around here has the small 5 ... the ant LION, ELEPHANT shrew, LEOPARD tortoise, BUFFALO weaver and RHINO beetle! Also, bat-eared foxes, porcupines (that we spotted), Springbok, Bontebok, Black Wildebeest, Puff Adders, Black Spitting Cobra, Cape Cobra and Boomslang ... Eagles ... Egyptian Geese ... Baboons and the list goes on! The scenery is spectacular ... the fauna is superb ... and we got to see most of it! There are actually 2 leopards in the Kloof who are known to be wandering ... tagged .... but yet to be spotted. The scenery ... I said spectacular ... I meant totally amazing! Sedimentary rocks in the wildest formations you will ever see ...
Jacques is a very knowledgeable guide ... has his own distinct sense of humour and made an intense drive entertaining!
We ended up at Kadoro (a cottage a few kms from the Homestead) where we were first serenaded by a choir ... singing local songs before we tucked into an awesome dinner prepared by chef Floris Smith.
I have no internet access in my suite, limited access on site and my cell gets no reception ... while I feel strangely naked about this, I also feel quite unstressed by it.
The stars are simply beautiful tonight ... I always miss the stars in Africa .. they are so unique.
Up early tomorrow ... again!
Song of the Day: I am going slightly Mad - Freddie Mercury
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb158OxerRU
Weather: Slightly mad ...
early morning
um ... low cloud/fog ...
where am i ... ?
pupster ..
happy pupster
the unforgettable jacques!
at work
the choir! brilliant!
