Day 07:
Maroela to Balule

Date: 2024-08-08

Departure From:  Maroela Rest Camp

Departure Time: 06h00

Destination Name:  Balule Rest Camp

Arrival Time: 09h30

Total Travel time:  3:30 hours

Weather:

I left camp at 06h00 and the temperature was 6C with clear skies but the day warmed up quickly to peak at 30C.

Odometer Reading (km):

Start:   237 455
End:  237 597
Total Distance: 142  
Includes 104km drive and  39km day drive.

Trip Summary:

Due to camp site availability, I could not sequence the Rest Camp dates in a logical order to avoid repeating roads already travelled.  Todays drive would take me from the east side of the park back to the west side and northwards to the Olifants Rest Camp.  I took a route to include the S39 and S91 as I had not covered these roads.  

I saw the common sightings, however the highlight was the Lion sightings.

This was the first time that I had a good Lion sighting of 2 lionesses.  They were too far away to get a good photo of them.

When I arrived at the Balule Rest Camp, Vivian, the Balule Rest Camp supervisor,  welcomed me and helped me find a camp site along the Fenceline.

After my day drive, I setup camp including my solar panels to charge the lithium battery.  The battery could last without the need to charge it but I decided to charge it regardless.

My neighbour had a 6x6 Toyota camper van that he had built and this appeared to be his first test-run.