Our holiday in Mpumalanga was brilliant! It was blistering hot most days - sometimes up to nearly 38 degrees C.
We spent a lot of time in the swimming pools but it a lot of adventurous stuff too. Check out Mandy's Blog for a completely Day to Day breakdown of what we did. I'm gonna give you the shorter version.
Day 1 Arrival at Sabie River Camp we sourced a good spot to pitch our wee hoosie aka tent being sure to keep space for the other 12 tents' arrival the following day. We spent the first day swimming in their amazing pools and enjoying the quiet and the sunshine.
The view from our camping spot
Our Wee Hoos
Sitting by the Braai
Day 2 was a little different.
The others were due to arrive and join us!
As a group of 27 people, most of us went off early to enjoy the Skyway Canopy Tours. 10 zip slides both high over the trees and the last three zipping under the trees. Each section of the trail varies in length from 70 to 230 meters linking a total of 10 platforms, making this the longest cable trail in Africa (1,2km).
My 7-year-old Megan was not scared at all - she had a blast and one of the youngest to complete the canopy tours solo. It was exhilirating, exciting and very hot up there in the tree tops. You could see for miles!
A Daft Scots Lass swining through the treetops
After the canopy tours, the group slipt up and we all went different ways for lunch and we took the girls horse riding at The Horse Whispers Sanctuary. The girls LOVED the horse riding.
Off into the distance
KK looking tiny on the retired polo pony
Megan - Look, Ma, no hands!
After a very long and scorching day, we all met up for supper that night - all 27 of us - at The Ant and Elephant Restaurant which was amazing. I was far too exhausted, hot and dirty to enjoy a good meal so the girls and I just had dessert.
Day 3 we went White Water Tubing or Ghekoing down the Sabie River with Induna Adventures. What an awesome experience!! We got a DVD full of photos that the guide took because we obviously couldn't take the pictures! I don't have pictures as it is with the rest of the group who are still there. But I can tell you we jumped off a cliff about 9 meters down into the rapids. It was hectic. 3 hours and 10 level 3 rapids later, we were exhausted and exhilirated!!!
White Water Tubing
Walking around a large rapid.
Day 4 was meeting the Elephants and what an amazing expereince this was!
The Elephant Sanctuary in Hazyview was beautiful nd home to two young bull ellies, Casper (24 years old) and Siko (11 years old). We got to brush them down, feed them, walk with them and ride them. It was something I will NEVER forget. They are such beautiful animals, so gentle and sensitive and really intelligent. We even got a kiss from Kito.
Some of the group on the way to meet the Elephants
A Daft Scots lass brushing down the Ellie
Megan giving Kito some peanuts
A Daft Scots Lass getting a kiss from Kito
KK getting a kiss from Kito
Walking the elephants
Riding the elephants
Day 5 Was the Big Swing and Foofie slide across the waterfall.
Megan wanted to do the jump but they said she was too young. A very disappointed Meg did the Foofie slide across the gorge instead, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Bad Ass Megan.
The Big Swimg is a 70 meter free-fall down and I thought I was gonna puke and shite myself all at the same time. It was rainy and very misty and we couldn't see the bottom. It was like free-falling into nothing - very hectic!
But once you were sitting swinging in the harness it was beautiful to see the waterfall and everything was so green and pretty (under the mist). Then we had to walk up the slippery wooden steps to the top again.