Day 6
Don't talk too soon about any rain - we woke up with rain on the tent....and today was "pack-up day"! As we got out of the tent, 5:30 am, the 2 boys were sitting in the rain waiting for us still begging for food and money. So with intervals of rain and packing we got up and continued towards Thaba Tseka. The 60 km dirt road was wet full of holes and slippery ditches.
In Thaba Tseke we had the most divine lunch at a Pizza and grill shop - "mutton pap and veggies". After filling the bakkie we took the A3 to Mantsoyane and stopped at Marakabei lodge (camping R390... Chalet R500 with breakfast). We obviously chose the chalet. We braaied our trout, which was caught the day before.
We went fishing down the Senqunyane River just below the lodge - Good waters but it was muddy from the rain.
Day 7
We got up early, tidying the bakkie (packing away loose stuff) and left to go to Mohale Dam. We planned to fish the dam wall, but found a promising spot under the bridge below the dam wall with good fishing waters.
After a hair-raising 4x4 downhill track we set up camp under the bridge and had to track down a steep hill to go fish. Around lunch time the river come down as they opened the dam gates ... Brown water ......lots of debris..... By the afternoon the water had already started clearing up though.
We had lovely sighting of the Bald headed Ibis on the river cliffs
No fish today. We had a braai and went to bed.
Plan was to get up at 3 am to be ready to go fish by 4 when it gets light but we ended up only getting up 5:30am.
We managed to spot a Rock kestrel this morning. No fish again so we decided to pack up and head on, but first we had to get out under the bridge. Even with lots of planning to get out we got about halfway before the cruiser got stuck in a hole and almost went over the cliff. With more planning (and some luck) and the winch we got the cruiser out. So we took the road that goes around the dam....not too long before we found a split in the road that says: "steep downhill and sharp bends"....the earlier experience obviously long forgotten we took this road....hey this is a Toyota Land Cruiser......!!!!!!
So we winded up and down the mountain and stopped at the Jordane River for lunch. We ended up staying here the evening.
Day 8
34 SeriousFun@JFFC MAY 2018