31 December 2005    to      01 January 2006

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We discovered a real nice place for our new year parties in the form of the Protea Bush Camp about 40km north west of Naboomspruit. Everyone had managed to arrive by six on the Friday evening. The place has a well equipped Lappa and two spacious huts that each accommodate five people.

About 100m to the west is a game farm, and we got fortunate in that we saw four Giraffe in the late afternoon.

After our traditional braai and Garlic snails everyone relaxed and enjoyed the evening.

Next morning the whole group of eight of us set off on a bit of a hike to explore the surrounding area.

As usual, it was not long before we got lost, but after much debate found the trail again! The day was quite overcast but that worked to our advantage as it was not so hot.

Eventually you get to a small dam where we had a break.

You then cross the dam wall at which point our group looked more like the local Photographical society...

but then the scenery is quite interesting.

From here one climbs a small hill which gives one a nice view of the surrounding area.

Along the way we came across some interesting looking insects.

Here' s a little dung beetle who was on holiday at this point...but a bit more of that later!

There' s some very nice bush along this trail.

Eventually we got to a river bed and had another break...

Maybe break is not the correct word...!

Once we got back to base camp, it was time to get the "Potjies" going. Petro made a delicious chicken potjie and Silvia and myself did the Waterblometjie and Mutton potjie. OK...for the none South African readers let me explain what a "Potjie" is. The word "Potjie" is the local Afrikaner word for a three legged cast iron pot. They are usually used for making some kind of stew over an open fire. The meals cooked in one of these pots normally take on a very unique flavor. It also normally takes a few hours to cook a meal in one of these pots but its well worth the wait!

Dinner was had outside with plenty of Champagne, beer and wine!

After dinner a nice big fire was started. By this time the clouds had lifted and the sky looked stunning with all the stars. Here' s our midnight toast! Goodbye to 2005 and welcome 2006!

Next morning everyone except Silvia and myself went on another short hike. Karen Passier had requested lunch when she got back so I obliged. However when she savored the cuisine that I had so painstakingly prepared, she complained that the cow dung was over cooked and the mineral water was not quite to her taste! I suppose some customers will never be satisfied. A common problem in any restaurant, even my five star one!!

Well...round about midday we finally had to say our fond goodbye' s and face a new year. At least the year started well!