I decided to do a day trip to the crater after speaking to a SA couple at Ma & PJ’s snake park. I negotiated a price of $200, with a pick up from Keratu which is just outside the gate. The night before I had met another SA couple who said it was definitely worth it.
So at 8:30, as instructed, I was ready to go; of course the driver was late. I was sharing a Landcruiser Gameviewer with a young Austrian couple, a Danish lad just finishing an internship in Child Welfare, a Russian woman and a Nigerian guy, out of Texas. It was decidedly chilly and misty with it.
Even though we saw a lot of vehicles going towards the gate – and away from it for that matter – the scene at the barrier was quite a shock.
Dozens of vehicles similar to our own were making their passage through registration and stuff. We made it through quickly and headed up the hill to the crater lip. The itinerary was to drive along the rim, then down into the crater, traverse it a couple of times and come back up, having Had lunch somewhere.
It was quite a chilly, foggy morning and when we got to the viewpoint we were shrouded in dense cloud. No point in stopping so we headed on along the road.
The first view of the crater was amazing
and driving around it induced a sense of awe. It was a fantastic sight that really was hard to take in. This massive expanse of velds, surrounded by mountains, topped with cloud.
In the “middle” a vast almost dried-up lake with hundreds of flamingos and numerous yellow-billed storks amongst other birds.
In the foreground countless blue wildebeest and Thompson’s gazelle.
Apart from these we sighted everything the crater had to offer including lion, buffalo, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, elephant …
and even 3 of the 8 rhino.
The only thing that, detracted from the experience was the crowds;
and the traffic queues to see anything worth seeing; apparently at a good sighting, vehicles are supposed to stop for only 2 minutes and then move on. I think I’ve been spoiled!
Anyway, at the end of the day to was back to Kudu Lodge to meet the SA Army, mentioned previously, that had arrived in my absence.
Belfast-2-Belfast-By-Bike 