The drive from Jo-burg to Kruger Park is taking me through the countless different types of biomes and ecosystems. The Highveld area that Jo-burg is has very different characteristics, and in Rustenburg the same characteristics are prevalent with minor changes in the number of rocks and mountains. The felt has been flat for most of the way, sparse thickets of forests mostly made up of the invasive blue gum tree (eucalyptus) and the handful of different species of Acacias.  Being in the end of winter much of the land is dry and golden, patches from firebreaks are darkened from the instructive fires that pave way to new grasses and fewer trees. I am not of control fires, but for some it has a higher meaning. Most of the land is spread with spear grass, guinea grass, natal grass, and where there are grazing animals there is buffalo and sweet grass. The drive to Kruger is mostly on the N4, and we are currently on the road to Nelspruit then on to go through Middleburg. The northeastern road first started through the flat felt, dried, golden, and naked. Most of the land that we drove past resembled the farm fields of the Midwest, arranged in rows of chopped down crops, abandoned plows sitting in the sun rusting and gathering crop dust waiting for the summer rains. Over some hills the landscape changed, the clouds drew near as we made our way through a mountain range. Man made forests of African Pine used for timber and paper are arranged in thick orderly lines covering vast acreages on both sides of the highway in and pas the mountains. I was astonished with the sight of the forest. It reminds me of the tall forests in the hillsides of central California and Southern Massachusetts. We stopped half way in our journey at a restaurant called Milly’s.

            After falling a sleep baking in the sun on the way to Milly’s, I awoke a couple minutes before our arrival. Gray clouds shouldered the surrounding mountains and the smell of wet asphalt and felt filled the air. Stepping out of the car once we arrived at Milly’s I found an inviting chill breeze from the eastern storm that was racing us to Kruger.

            Once back in the car I was wired from the coffee I has just downed with my soup and sandwich, I stared out of the window as we drove past more hillsides and Rocky Mountains. The landscape had changed once again dramatically. There was a presence of opulence in the amount of foliage found covering all the land around us. Acacias, Coral trees, Common Currents, and so many other different types of species made a thick forest with naked branches that meshed the true rocky nature of the mountains they inhabited. The barren sides of the mountains hade smooth block like attributes, almost if they were built chaotically with different sizes of Legos. The gray clouds are still accompanying us on our journey and the drive through the valleys is calm. Along the road sides there are Acacia umbrellicas that droop over to create a canopy and in a rhythmic beat they stop the rains from hitting the windshield of our car. 

            After spending months at Kedar with only one trip so far to Durban, which was unlike anything I have experience so far in terms of scenery. This journey to Kruger is refreshing especially with rain clouds ushering us into the park. I believe it is a wonderful omen. The rains mixed with patches of burnt land will create a new generation of grasses, a fresh meal for the grazing animals, which will mean a warm meal for the teeth of Kruger.

            Many of the townships that are scattered along the way are farm communities. One stood out the most. From my seat I saw rows of oranges, lemons, and mango trees. The border of the farm was made up of Coral trees, whose bright red flowers hung from stark naked branches. The Coral trees soon were replaced with palm trees. The valley in which this farm was situated is a healthy biome. The heavy rain clouds gathered at the crests of the mountains and I could see the rain fall on the tops of the trees, I envisioned the rain running down the sides of the mountains bringing with it the rich nutrients of the tropical soil down in to the valley where the farm is. The further north we drive into Kruger the more tropical the climate is becoming, All this change within a five hour drive. As I look to my right now I see a plantation of Suger Cane, and on the left lemon grass. The mountains are flat and rigged, having the shape of turtle shells.

The younger generation is including my own, is in for a treat. Technology has already ruined our interaction with nature and I have to battle with myself to enter natures sanctuary without my iPhone or other technological appliances. Megan who is eleven and has more imagination than her older sister Kaitlin has no problem seeing the beauty with nature. Her father showed her how to make swords from dried out flower stocks from large aloe trees.

This Sunday morning Julie woke me up to tell me that there were Zebras and Kudus below the cabin. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and shook my dreams from my head and made my way down the first set of stairs to go and have a look at these African animals. Below the cabin sure enough Megan and Granny had began to feed the Zebras and the one Kudu bull. Apples and carrots seemed to draw their attention. I grabbed a handful of both and went down. I have seen the damage a good well placed zebra kick can do, but seeing a ten year old girl being adamant about feeding them restored faith in me and also gave me courage. So I fed the three zebras around me. Their yellow teeth and smelly hides were enough to make me smile and feel gracious for nature to give me this experience.