Sign on the Highway

Ostrich

Saturday morning we headed  to Hlane Game Reserve.  On the way there we stopped at a little factory where they make soaps, oils and lotions from some locally grown nuts.  With one type of nut, they make lotions and oils and soap for any type of skin. The other type makes soap for oily skin.  I tried the lotion and it is very nice.  They also use the skins of the fruit around the nut to make a kind of candy which is more like dried fruit. We know from living here previously, that the Swazi’s use this fruit to make beer, but this factory  did not produce that by-product. They export their products, especially ther oil to France.  They also export to other countries.  It didn’t sound like they were making big profits yet, but had sponsers to get the business started and keep it going. 

When we got to Hlane, we spent some time driving around.  We saw some impala and an ostrich. We were a little disappointed, but went back to the camp which is near a watering hole for lunch.

Potatoes and Boerewors on the Grill

The ranger built us a fire and we were watching rhino sun themselves in the wonderfully hot sun. Stever asked the ranger where we might see elephant and the ranger said,”They are at the watering hole right now.” We turned around and there they were.  We watched them drink and bathe in the water and dirt.  We watched a baby trying to do the same thing as the grownups, but not being so coorinated. They were there for about five minutes and then left.  As we were walking through camp, Steve noticed some rustling in the bush beside us.  Steve and Larry looked and there was a Black Mamba! It is a very poisoneous snake and if one bites a person, they will die without immediate treatment and then they still may not live. It was a

Can you find the Mamba?

small Momba only 3-4 feet long, but just as deadly.

After a lunch of boerewors and potatoes cooked over an open fire, we sat in the comfy overstuffed chairs under the thatched roof building (no walls) and took a nap.

When we finally roused ourselves, we took another drive through the park. We saw more impala, a warthog, a nyala, a vervet monkey and lots of birds.

We went back to the camp watering hole. The rhinos were up and moving around, the elephants graced us with their presence again and treated us to a replay of drinking and bathing.  We also saw the backs of hippos that were submerged in the pool.  Hippos are nocturnal, so it is unlikely to see them in the day time.  The weather has been dry and most of the watering holes had no or very little water in them.  As a result we were able to easly see these animals.

Larry after naptime in the Lapha

After a wonderful day of enjoying God’s creation, We came home ate supper and went to bed.  Another day in this beautiful country.

Rhinos and Elephants at the Waterhole

Rhino and her

Larry with Kudu Horns -- What a Rack!

Virginia with Rhino Skull

Can you find five impala in this photo?