The part of Kruger where we are headed is about a 10 hour drive from our home in Eshowe. We decided to take the slow scenic route to the park with overnight stops along the way. The first 2 nights we stayed near Piet Retief, a small town surrounded by vast stretches of farm land. Our accomadation was a very nice working farm/ B&B, Dust to Dawn, that received a great review in a recent edition of the Sunday paper travel section. We saw lots of different farm animals and heard the uniform squeal of 7,500 pigs at 5am calling out for breakfast, but didn't get to see them. For health reasons the pigs are not allowed visitors. The 5th generation German couple who own the farm are very hospitable. In particular we loved the home made German Bread and delicious home cooked meals as well as the elegantly decorated and comfortable rooms.
On Sunday we took a very long drive into Swaziland looking for a hike which we never found. Although, we did enjoy driving thru the tiny villages and did take a short meander thru the fields despite the scary looking cows! Swaziland has a very different feel from South Africa, there is no great disparity in wealth, where we drove it looked like everyone was equally impoverished. We stopped at the Swaziland Candle and Craft Market to find busloads of Europeans and a few gifts for our friends at home. 
After a full day's drive north, we settled into our penultimate destination at Idle & Wild lodge in Hazeyview. The climate here is definitely more tropical than what we are accostumed to. For the first time in several weeks (months?) we enjoyed a day of heat and sunshine. Fortunately, much of the day was spent on or in water: beginning, first with an early morning raft ride down the scenic Sabie river. Beware of hippos and crocs! After the big buildup, we only saw a solitary crocodile resting along the bank. We then drove 40 Km, past the town of Sabie, for a short walk in the midday heat at Mac Mac pools, as highlighted in the Lonely Planet guide. During the walk, we spotted some suggestive animal tracks that are presented here for possible identification. The payoff for enduring such a vicious (albeit brief) walk was a plunge in the Mac Mac pool. Shockingly not everyone participated, even though Lyn assured us there was no Schistosomiasis/ Bilharazia in the water.
After another long drive thru small towns and down dirt roads we arrived at Elephant Plains, an all inclusive luxurious game lodge overlooking a watering hole in Sabie Sands Private game reserve. It was amazing and wonderful to be so close to these magnificent animals! We went on 2 three hour game drives per day, at 5:30 am and 4pm and saw 4 of the big 5, all except the cheetah. During the day we lounged by the pool watching and hearing animals and birds all around. The animals are accustomed to the Safari Jeep and allowed us to approach very near to them, almost within touching distance! The young elephant in the photo had to come check us out, but backed away after a warning from the mother elephant. It is rather scary to be in an open vehicle sitting next to a pride of lions. One could have easily had us for a snack.
Housing Update
We have moved out of the rundown dilapidated Hospital housing, would not recommend to anyone. Brandon and I will be staying in the Eshowe Louries B&B run by our recently acquired friend Elsa. She has several rooms in her house that she rents to short and long term guests. There are many benifits to staying with Elsa, primarily she will be home at night to look after Brandon when I am on call in the hospital. All meals and cleaning are included so I will be free in the evening to hang out with Brandon. He is excited that the other boarder, Carl has a huge flat screen TV and an XBOX 360. Mike will be home in the states planning our next great adventure in the Fall (or Spring), depending on where you live in the world!
