Tuesday, March 13 – Evening

Our lodging for our first night in Kruger – Letoba Rest Camp – offered a variety of places to stay. Phil and Kate reserved this place for us because of its size.

The Internet description of Letaba Guesthouse – Fish Eagle Guesthouse (On the river front) – accommodation for 8 persons. 4 air-conditioned bedrooms, each with two single beds and a bathroom in each suite (bath, shower, toilet and basin). Lounge/dining room with ceiling fan and guest toilet. Kitchen with an electric stove (with oven), refrigerator, freezer, sink, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. Open veranda, barbecue facilities, open parking.

Phil and Kate booked this for us in the fall of 2017.

The room where Cerwin and I slept.

The inside and outside atmosphere was fabulous.

There was only enough room for eight people, so Phil and Josh slept in this bungalow not far from us.

After settling into our rooms we went for a drive to see what was happening in the area.

Hippos enjoying a swim

About the time I thought there were three, another one surfaced. 🙂

Checking out what is happening below a bridge.

Blacksmith Plover

Egyptian Geese

A large turtle

We were surprised how close the plover stayed to the crocodile.

Sometimes we saw animals up close or fairly close…

…other times we saw them at a distance.

This place is of special interest to Phil, because he and Kate studied elephants during their college days.

Phil had seen this elephant in the ranger section when he studied there.

Back at our lodging area

There were a lot of monkeys running up and down trees and across the grounds.

I was trying to get a picture of this baby monkey, who was close to its mom, when it grabbed his mom and hung on under her belly.

Walking to the camp store for a few groceries.

From the Internet: The blood-red flowers of the South African sausage tree bloom at night on long, ropelike stalks that hand gown from the limps of this tropical tree.

Back at our lodge. Notice the “tree house” to the right of center. We were surprised to discover that it was a fabulous lookout for guests.

Cerwin and Jere in the lookout.

The view

Suppertime in the lounge/dining area of our lodge. The food was supplied by Kate and Phil (which we had in an ice chest).

The end of a delightful first day in Kruger National Park