Day 4 Tuesday BonAmanzi St Lucia

A Very Special Day

(Written by Mandy)

Here we are, day 4 already, and everyone is very exicted for today's activity.

Horse Riding on the Beach.  Something that has been on my personal bucket list for many years.

So today I get to tick that one off.

We all crawled out of our tents at 5h00am, to leave camp at 6h00am, to arrive at the Main Beach in St Lucia, for 7h30, which is an hour's drive from our camp which is situated smack bang in the middle of the bush.  A really very beautiful enviroment lush bush with Impala, Nyala, and a very cocky old warthog wandering through our camp right in front of our tents.

So off we went.  Although only 16 of us were doing the horse riding, the entire group had planned to go

down to the beach as there was a special event going to be taking place.

Arrived at the Main Beach, the first group,{Justin, Sam, Melanie, Shaun, Donovan, Tammy and Richard} 

 mounted their horses and rode off onto the beach.

What a Beautiful site.  An hour later they returned, and the second group {Percy, Mandy, Dirk, Norman, Chris, Natasha, Wouter and Chanelle} mounted up and off we went.

Now this is where the special event unfolded.

Pre-arranged with the guide.

Wouter had prepared a message in a bottle, which he handed to the guide.

Once we were a little way out along the beach just where the waves roll up onto the beach,

the guide rode out a little ahead of the group and dropped the message in a bottle.

Unnoticed by Chanelle.  when we got closer to the bottle the guide pointed it out to them.

Wouter dismounted he's horse, picked the bottle up and handed it to Chanelle.

She opened it and read the message, a marriage proposal from Wouter.

She said Yes. WHOOP WHOOP.

After this we turned around and returned back.  Where the rest of the group had erected a

Gazebo on the beach and had the Champagne standing ready, for a very surprised and over whelmed

Chanelle.

After this everyone went in different directions to explore the town of St Lucia for the rest of the day

before returning to camp.

Off Course the winners of tonights voting for the immunity necklace went to

Wouter and Chanelle.

Last night's winner of the Immunity necklace went to a very well deserving Cheyna
for over coming her fear and doing the kayaking, rowing in the river with Crocs and hippos.
Cheyna at first decided she did not want to do this, everyone was ok with this and said there
was nothing wrong she could wait for us in the bus.  But then she very bravely said she would
go with if she could go in the kayak with the Guide.

After everyone was done exploring St Lucia.
At 16h00 we all went to the nearby Cat Sanctary, housing
Caracal, Wild Cats, Cheetahs and more.
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE, to be able to interact and touch such a wild cat as a Cheetah.
Everyone was so over whelmed with this experience, very very special.
Well see for yourself....see pics....

After which, we returned to camp only to find that the monkeys and the hooligan warthog had
invaded the Myburgh's tent and caused havoc in there.

Shaun

Melanie

Tammy

Justin

Donovan

Sam

Chris

Norman

Percy and Dirk

The guide dropping the message in a bottle

Wouter picking up the message in a bottle

Chanelle reading the proposal :)

Chanelle completely overwhelmed and in tears

Up close and personal with a Cheetah, HOW AWSOME

Sam

Cheyna and Tammy

Richard

Justin

Havoc in the Myburgh Tent

Cheyna receiving the Immunity necklace

 Cheyna with her necklaced

 Chanelle and Wouter receiving the immunity necklace

Day 3 Bonamanzi

Full Day Activities Ahead

(Wrtiten by Mel)

Right so we were off to a very early start, 5AM sharp every one was already excited as this was our first full day of  Adventure.

We Arrived bright eyed, bushy tailed at St lucia Awaiting our chariet. As the tour guide arrived with his big bus that can fit 17.  So, exited we all jumped at the chance to get in and await our activities.

First stop or should I say one of many was the amazement of watching wild life, Buck, springbuck and many other animals. Uncle Dirk as you all may have come to know as the (photographer) could not help him self with the double trigger snapshots that were taken, after a long ride through the game reserve low and behold a beach apeared out of nowhere, all the kids had there doubts about the beach being in such a lush bush land, we had finally arrived at the St Lucia Beach.

1- Snorkeling

As we arived on the hot hot sand there it was, The big Blue, what a sight, every one waiting patiently for the guide to give us the go ahead and jump right in, but obviously we needed to be told the do's and don'ts about the sea and what can harm you, as soon as the guide had finished his sing song, gear was handed out and just like that every one was in the water smiling and just having plain fun with many things to see at the bottom of the ocean, some were more cousiouse than others.

This was for most of the morning, from about 9:00AM to  11:00AM

We all had such a blast soaking up the sun we had no idea of time date or any other worries, we all rallied up again excited for the next adventure where we hopped in the bu,s on to the next tour, but as you all might be wondering where were the snacks, we thought the guide could be our lunch by then, we had been driven to a nice relaxing little picnic spot close to the beach were we enjoyed our lunch and refreshers.

I think most would say here, that, that was the best lunch ever, the hunger had set in.

2- Hippo and Croc kayaking

Now i know you all are thinking what the freak this is madness, Yes we would all agree with you, But boy was this a thrill.

We were taken to a river close to the beach, some of you might know this as a mouth.

Every ones nerves and hearts wear racing, signs saying caution HIPPO and CROC waters. Well that was the whole point, we all helped carry the kayaks out each trembling with fear, Chey was not impressed with the fact that this was actually her worst fear, this little lady was our star even though she never wanted to go on the canoes she had some how managed to get in that water.

What an amazing ride paddling right next to such preditors, Once in a life time.

Jus and Tam all Bright Eyed and Bushy tailed.

Shaun is eager (come on guys)

Donovan always trying to catch the ladies

Our group had arrived at our first destination

All of us were so excited and ready for the adventure

Dirk and his live stock

Chris could not help but feel over exited, COME GUYS

Norman had saved us with his presence and COLD coldrink

beach waves what more do you want

Okay what happend to the snorkler!!!!!!!!

2 tons of white rhino

Shaun and Mel, Very tiered

2010 Road Trip DAY 2 Bonamanzi St Lucia

 Trip Becomes Reality!

[Written by Cheyna]

After an early wake up call from Aunty Mandy and her old bicycle horn we were quickly thrown into action by the peacock and Aunty Ria with "morning excercises,everybody up,1,2,3". Tents were hastily put down and trailors packed.On the road again...

Driving for miles through potholes, rutting and roadworks was tiring but amusing at the same time with jokes and clever comments flying from one two way radio to the next.Are we there yet?

Finally arriving at our destination I decided I liked this place, warm, abundance of animals and sun streaked grassland. I was clearly unaware of what lay ahead of us and what my first proper camp setup experience would be like...

With rain bucketing down we all scurried about building tents, unpacking trailors and getting all "muddied" up! Like Murphy's Law as we all finished and could only stand around and stare at our mud filled hands and feet the sun hastily made an appearance...

In true HKGK style we rewarded ourselves with ice-cold drinks around a very friendly camp warthog. An old female warthog made herself at home around the campsite causing great amusement. After deciding she had had enough she reminded Uncle Percy who was boss and he looked like a cartoon figure running, legs spinning at 100km per hour!

After sitting down to a delicious supper provided by Aunty Mandy and Uncle Percy we all voted and Uncle Dirk was crowned king for 24hours.

A long day for all ended with lots of excitement for the next day and an early night.

Finally arriving...

A welcome from the wildlife.

Our camp warthog.

Relaxing with a drink after setting up in the rain.

Uncle Percy just before running for his life.(hehe)

The nonsense begins...

Prevention is always better than cure...much to our amusement!

The voting begins...

This is when we know it's time for bed.

A very happy camper with his immunity necklace.

2010 Raod Trip DAY 1 - Piet Retief

AND WE'RE OFF .......

Here we are 5h30am hooking the trailers and getting ready to Leave on our long awaited trip.

After 18 months of planning, making reseravations and payments.

LOADS of exictment ALL round.  Everyone is bubbling with exictement.

We pulled off 6h05am from Alberton to meet up with the rest of the group

for Breakfast at the Dros in Ermelo.

After which we continured on our Journey to our first over night stop over.

A one nighter, at Sundowner Caravan Park in Piet Retief.

the reason for this one nighter was to break the long distance and eliminate

being on the road too long.

We arrived in Piet Retief around 14h30.  In a blistering heat, everyone immediately set

about putting up their tents and sleeping quarter's after which we all hit

the tiny pool in the camp to cool down.

Then around 17h00, we started the fire to prepare the first evening meal,

while that was burning, we, Percy Mandy and Norman handed out surprise gifts

to the rest of the gang.  Two T-shirts each and a cap.

the T-shirts  printed in front with our flag on.

And our cap has "HKGKKKG" printed in the front.

That stands for {Hier Kom Groot Kak Kom Kyk Gou}...LOL

Then we proceeded with another game suggested by Dirk.

Just for the fun of it.  We have a Tribal council every night, where everyone votes for someone.

The person with the most votes, gets a Tribal Immunity necklace which they have for

the next 24 hours.

While they have the necklace they get special treatment and get to be waited on for the entire

24 hours.  They also get to give orders hehehehee.. or get people to do things for them. hahahahaa

[The necklace was created and made by Dirk Percy and Norman].

Tonights Immunity winner was Norman.   So he gets to be treated and pampered for the next 24 hours.

{Written by Mandy}



The making of the Immunity Necklace

Getting ready to leave

Just before we left home

 Everyone at the Dros in Ermelo

The Group Just before  leaving Ermelo

The Convoy

 Arriving at Sundowner Caravan Park in Piet Retief

 Hitting the pool after setting up camp

 Some of the people playing ' Boulle'
a game similar to Bowles

Ria looking very dangerous supposedly making salad

The handing out of the surprise gifts

 Tammy being ordered by the Ammunity necklace winner, [Norman]
 to do the Group excercise on top of the table
everytime the Peacock 'crows' or whatever it does
the entire group stands up and does a little exercise
very funny

 And the winner for the first night of the immunity necklace



HKGK 2010 ROAD TRIP

FINALLY..... Our trip has arrived.  2 more Sleepies then we are off on our long awaited trip.

After 18 months worth of planning.  When we started counting it was 519 Sleepies.

We now have two sleepies left.

After Googling and searching and deciding which route we going to travel,

and then googling resorts where to stay and places of interest.

Communicating everything with the rest of the gang, Making all the reservations,

collecting everyone's money etc etc.

All our accommodation is now paid in full, we just need to go.

There are many fun and exicting activities to do on route.

Of all these activities we have pre-booked four of them.

A Combo in St Lucia which involves snorkeling, Kayaking Lunch and a Game drive, then

Horse Riding on the Beach.

Canopy Tours in Sabie and

Elelphant interactions and riding.

These activities have also been pre-booked and paid in full.

Our Route starts from home at 6h00am on Saturday Morning, we then meet up

with the rest of our Gang at 10h00am in Ermelo for a breakfast at the Dros.

After which we hit the road to our first over night stop in Piet Retief.

From there on Sunday we off to St Lucia, 3 days, from there to Pongola

a one night stay, then off to Swaziland also a one night stay, from there

we off to Badplaas, we will be there for 4 days over Christmas.

From there we move on to Sabie also a four day stay.

After which we off to the most exicting part.

We go to Pezulu Tree House Resort in Hoedspruit

where we will be staying in tree houses, WHOOP WHOOP....

After which we move on to Polokwane and then Naboomspruit and then home.

Now we are very busy putting all the equipment together and packing the trailer.

Here are some of the items that need to be packed.

Is the trailer going to be big enough we wonder LOL...