Triumphrat

DaveB · 03-18-2009, 07:32 AM

I went away for a night the weekend before last. It was organised by one of the local Triumph riders who has a great interest and knowledge of game parks. We went to the Pilanesberg (pronounced ‘peelarnsburg’) National Park game reserve, about 120 miles NE of Joburg. The Sun City casino resort complex http://www.triumphrat.net/ride-trip-reports/99435-sun-city-breakfast-run.html is located on the edge of the park.

This game park covers an area of 55,000 hectares. It was, however, once an enormous 7,000 metre high volcano that erupted some 1,200 million plus years ago and left behind a 700 metre high alkaline ring complex. I’m sure there’s a joke here somewhere about ‘big bang’ theory.

I invited friends (husband & wife) along and they rode my Tiger. We stopped along the way (at Buffelspoort Dam) to take pics:

A sunny Saturday afternoon in decent scenery, a nice deserted road, travelling with friends to a game park. Does life ever get any better than this I wonder?

The ‘ski jump ramp’ stretch of road along the way:

DaveB · 03-18-2009, 07:40 AM

We arrived at the Manyane camp mid afternoon:

We went off on a late afternoon game drive. Unfortunately we didn’t see too many animals, but that’s the way it goes some times.

Zebra:

A Kori Bustard:

An Eagle Owl:

DaveB · 03-18-2009, 07:45 AM

Mankwe Dam, in the middle of the reserve:

These pics was taken on a previous visit to the same game reserve, during the dry season.

Rhino:

Giraffe:

Is it technically correct to call this a Zebra crossing?

DaveB · 03-18-2009, 07:51 AM

Elephants:

We had a bush braai (barbecue) in the evening:

We slept in simple tent accommodation,

On the Sunday morning we had breakfast, then lounged about a bit

DaveB · 03-18-2009, 07:56 AM

We then headed home though Rustenburg, Magaliesburg, past Maropeng on to the Hekpoort/Krugersdorp Road, turning off at Sterkfontein in to the Cradle of Humankind:

and then back towards Johannesburg:

I had just had a very pressured few weeks at work & it felt just so good to get away and relax. I surely hope we can do something similar again in the not too distant future.

Till the next time, ride safely & enjoy

.

DaveB.

Catenaccio · 03-18-2009, 09:26 PM

What a singular ride! Thanks for sharing! I would love to see where you rode in person. This thread is the next best thing!

HiDesert · 03-19-2009, 12:02 AM

I saw a deer on the ride home yesterday.

Too cool, Dave. What do you eat in a bush braai?

DaveB · 03-19-2009, 01:48 AM

Believe it or not the thatched lapa area for the barbecue is part of the main reserve and it's not fenced off

. The reserve is home to what is known as the 'Big Five'; buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion & leopard. It also has hippos, hyenas, wild dogs, snakes, scorpions etc.

We have something called boerewors, which literally translated means farmer's sausage (usually beef). That, plus chicken pieces, some lamb chops plus salad & bread rolls. Ocasionally one meets a vegetarian in this country- I know what they're missing

.

DaveB.

avion · 03-19-2009, 05:45 AM

great post Dave, seems like you had a good time. The weather here was cr@p that weekend.

Did you resize the pics at all, I know I haven't seen you for two weeks, but there is no way in hell that you've lost that much weight.

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