Pafuri

Mark, our head instructor, has a sister who works at a private 5 star lodge in Northern Kruger National Park called Pafuri. She offered to give us a discount if anyone wanted to go for a few days to do some hiking and game drives. At first everyone wanted to go but when they realized the price it cut back to only 4 people Tim, Marty, Declan and I. I personally don’t think it is that expensive about $600 for 3 nights in a 5 star lodge with meals included and guided hikes sounded like a great deal to me. So we left Monday morning after morning lecture.

The place is amazing! Arrived from the 3-hour drive to be offered a refreshing juice and a cool facecloth. We’ve been here for one afternoon and already we have done and seen so much. The room for a start is gorgeous! You walk into the room to see a king size bed elegantly draped in a mosquito net as the white curtains billow in the breeze. The shower is like a tropical rain and you can choose to shower outside as I did or inside. All this and I haven’t even mention the view. Looking out onto a river were a herd of elephants and their calves are feeding. A waterbuck carefully drinks from the river keeping an eye out for the Crocodile swimming past as a Fish Eagle soars by. As we walk along the board walk back to the main area we are greeted by a Nyala grazing on the grass below and not to mention the Vervet monkey’s hanging around in hopes to get some food. We go back to the main area for 3:00 tea and snacks and we are informed that Lions have been sighted just at the edge of the boardwalk. We all race down the path and catch a glimpse of a young male and female walking by. All this and Mark hasn’t even taken us out of camp.

We leave for an afternoon drive with Mark as our guide. Driving through the forest of fever trees we only encounter all the usual game, more Nyala, Zebra, Waterbuck, Warthog, Impala, Kudu, but that is fine we also see some crested guinea fowl and a bee eater lands on a tree right next to us. Mark takes us to a very old and ancient Baobab tree it must be a thousand years old. We all get out and climb up to take a photo. Its grandeur is astonishing but it is great for rock climbing. We stop for sundowners by a river with Zimbabwe just on the other side and head back as the sunsets. Spotting 3 sightings of genet. Once arriving back dinner is served! Lamb chops and roasted potatoes with a perfect lemon mousse for dessert. Now off to bed as it is an early start to another full day.