
Just north of the Swaziland border are several banana plantations. There are large sugar cane fields on both sides of the border.
We picked up Jonathan about 6:15 and made it to Mananga (Border Gate) about 7:30. The roads in the north part of Swaziland are like superhighways compared to the bone-jarring gravel roads that we traveled less than 30 years ago. The speed limit is some places is 120kph (75mph). There are pedestrian congested areas that the speed limit is reduced to 60kph (37mph) with speed bumps for which one needs to slow to a crawl to avoid damaging the car’s suspension. Sometimes these are well marked, but not always!
We reached Crocodile Bridge before 9am where we entered Kruger Park for a two day stay. Here are photos of a few of the animals that we saw:

A simple, neat way to keep baboons, and other animals out of the garbage. The pipe is slotted to keep it from swinging out of the way until it is lifted about two feet.

Baboon on roof at Nkuhlu Get-out point — one of the few places, apart from camps, where you can get out of the car.

This is the closest I have ever been to one of these buffalo. They are so huge that they can chase off lions. Buffalo are responsible for the death of many people throughout Africa.
After a stop for a picnic lunch at Lower Sabie Camp, and a break at Nkuhlu Get-out, we arrived at Skukuza Camp about 4pm, where we checked into our bungalow. We then went on an hour drive along the Sabie River, where we happened to pass through a herd of over a hundred buffalo. In the past, we have only seen a few in the distance, but these were close up and they are huge and look dangerous!
Cool!
My favorite animal was the giraffe! The blue eared glossy Starling looked fake 🙂
I love you! Bye!
P.S. The big kids just left for camp (at 5:24 this morning!) I am starting Mommy Camp!
I love you!
I thought the same thing when we saw these starlings! They look unreal!