24:35.40S  30:48.62E

South Africa – April 2012

Blyde River Canyon

Our first visit to this ancient continent of Africa is finally underway, arriving by plane as against under sail, so much easier than running the gauntlet of pirates and rough seas!

This area, called the Blyde River Canyon is about 500 kms NW of Johannesburg, and is the 3rd largest canyon in the world, the largest being the Grand Canyon.  We’re awe struck at its grandeur and  splendour as we drive to the Lodge nestled at the base of one of these massive escarpments. 

First David sees these buffaloes,  scurrying past him as he settles down with his evening drink, my goodness, what was that?  Wilderbeast of course –

Then the Zebras suddendly appear as we register with the receptionist, they are right in the grounds next to us,

The new thatched roof over our lodge emits that lovely new grass smell – we listen to the noises coming from the brush around us, sounds like traffic swishing past – but of course it’s not, we’re almost in the middle of the bush here, down in a deep valley between the high escarpments of the canyong and the Blyde River and its dam.  It’s the sound of the wind rushing through the leaves of the 500 hundred year old trees surrounding this beautiful site.  Then what we thought was a deer comes sauntering past us to graze on the low branches of those trees.

It’s a KUDU! we’re told by Portia, the receptionist when we ask her.  We need to do our homework, and find out what all the wonderful creatures are that we are encoutering and about to encounter as we discover this beautiful land.

The sun sets over the sheer rocky canyon face, firing it up to a brilliant glow of oranges and reds, lording over the valley from which we are admiring the spectacle.

Next morning, we disturb a family of baboons warming themselves up on the road down to the river.

The still waters of the Blyde river Dam reflect the canyon

A fast 2km walk down to the river and back warms us up, before we take a boat trip along the shores of the swollen river, and discover we’d walked right past crocodiles!

Just as well David suggested we retrace our steps when we found out we couldn’t find the way back!  I wonder what else might have surprised us had we got lost!

The three rondells, which look like giant representations of the round thatched huts the local Tsosa people live in, dominate the Blyde River Dam.

Cormorants nesting in a bare tree close to the waterfall are being spyed upon by a soaring eagle overhead

The dam spills over allowing the river to continue on its lazy course, offering good white water rafting and canoeing.