S1 - Ep 431 - Olifants Rest Camp!

Our visit and overnight stay at Olifants Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park were a nostalgic adventure filled with breathtaking moments. The scenic drive down the H1-5 from Letaba, followed by a left turn on the H8, brought back cherished memories of past visits to this remarkable area. The view from Olifants was nothing short of stunning, perhaps even more captivating than we remembered. Opting for an early lunch, we were treated to delicious traditional cuisine that satisfied our taste buds completely. After checking into our bungalow, we embarked on a mesmerising late afternoon drive through the surrounding area, revelling in the beauty of the landscape and the exciting wildlife sightings. It was a day filled with joy, scenic wonders and the simple pleasures of being immersed in the natural beauty of the surroundings. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #krugernationalpark #olifants
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[@tillabezuidenhout6460]

Thanks to my daughter's generosity i am able to enjoy this trip with you. The wifi makes everything a holiday for me!!!!

[@henrymanthe4368]

😅❤

[@markusdippenaar331]

The helmet"" is definitely The Boss

[@terrimeyer3815]

Hellooòoo lapa side...🎉❤🎉 So I have a request. Could you give us an idea of how much it would cost to do a trip like yours. From the time you enter the first gate .... number of days in the park... till you exit. Including meals and accommodation. I think this would be of great value to many including myself. I would love to do what you just did and I'm wondering......Mmmm how much? You are capturing the African feel beautifully and showing off our stunning KNP with so much joy and enthusiasm. I'm loving it 🎉❤🎉. Get you at the gate Mr C

[@DustBugsTravel]

You ask a tough question. 🤔 To be completely honest, Sonia and I aren't the greatest at budgeting. I still haven't worked through the stack of slips and receips from the trip, but a rough guide would be to work on around R2k per day on average, depending on what type of accommodation you choose. Our biggest expenses were accommodation, our rental vehicle and fuel. We drove about 3800km just to the Park and back and spent 21 nights in the Park. Food and drinks are extremely expensive nowadays as we all know, so even the simplest meals can get pricey very quickly. I suspect we ended up at about R3k per day, all included. And it was worth every cent! 🚙😁

[@terrimeyer3815]

@@DustBugsTravel thank you Curtis. Yes everything is expensive these days. Thank you for this info. I won't be renting a car so I have a good idea how much to budget for. Worth every cent. It was a fantastic trip. I'm loving all the videos. Happy and blessed new year to both of you....2024 🥂

[@tillabezuidenhout6460]

A new rest camp. Exciting!!!!

[@lynettewilleston1812]

Our turn end Feb for 21 days! Cant wsit snd thanks guys for getting us very, very excited. We're staying at 4 of the camps up north that you also did. A first for all of them. Enjoy and safe travels forther rest of your DUSTBUGS days! We've watched many many KZbin videos of Kruge, and mo one weve seen so far has ever covered the expanse and or been half as thorough as you have been Curtis. What a fantastic overview of each camp. Thanks so much!

[@caroleparker8063]

A BIG thankyou for not adding awful music as some do which spoils the whole bush experience. I loved your video. My heart was full. ❤

[@MK-gn1nz]

Sunrise view stunning!

[@dirkhuman4087]

Mal oor julle channel. Your patience, engagement and detail is amazing. Perhaps my favorite channel of them all. Thank you!

[@beryl9538]

I am homesick looking at the beautiful nature. Best ever.❤

[@mrstukutela5126]

Olifants Camp has just slipped into the top spot as far as my dream destination in the Kruger goes. You both make it so interesting to watch. I now have my own armchair view of various places in the Kruger. Thank you so much!

[@mariusroos]

Thank you well done. I enjoyed this trip so much. So nice to go from camp to camp and experience the vegetation and animals. Next one i am on board

[@12herr]

There is an historical Baobab tree near the confluence of the Olifants and Letaba Rivers (near Olifant's Restcamp), where GR Von Wielligh and company set up their camp number 19. Von Wielligh was one of the original surveyors in the area, and who carved his name on the tree in 1891. The Von Wielligh Baobab tree can be found about 8km north of Olifants Rest Camp in Kruger Park, next to the S93 gravel road near the junction of the S44.

[@kurtwaurich]

You Guys are amazing . Thanks for the effort you put into all these episodes. Good Blessed

[@olivehattingh9764]

Beautiful area to visit. Nice to travel with you in the Kruger National Park. Enjoying your trips. 👍😊

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

Een grandioze maaltijd op een prachtig terras met fantastisch uitzicht over het Kruger Park, echt geweldig om te zien! Dat is een goede ‘bodem’ voor jullie 29e huwelijksjaar. Die worst met pap, de feta spinazie kroketten, oh het water loopt mij uit de mond bij het zien ervan. En dan die stilte van jou na de eerste hap … dat zegt alles over de heerlijke smaak ervan. Trouwens Sonia is goed in de uitspraak van volgens mij alle talen maar het valt mij op dat het praten in woorden van de lokale taal jou ook steeds beter af lijkt te gaan, bravo. Ook nu weer zoveel ademloos mooie vergezichten op de natuur en de vele dieren. Je hebt een ‘vaste hand’ van filmen, ook als het duidelijk hard waait. Die foto van aapje met baby, dat kan zo in een natuur tijdschrift, heb je wel een gedacht om die op te sturen naar een foto wedstrijd? Je zou goede kans op de hoofdprijs maken denk ik. Jaja hoe hilarisch dat de giraf op de weg gewoon rechts houdt, walking with continental vibes 😜, en ondertussen steeds een oogje op jullie blijft houden wat ook voor ons leuk kijkplezier oplevert 😂😍. Goede jaarwisseling voor straks 🍾 en voor 2024 weer veel nieuw reisplezier 🚗🦓🦒🐘🇿🇦

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the compliment on the pic of the little monkey, it's been a favourite of ours since I took it. 😍🐒 I don't think it's quite good enough to enter into a competition though! Happy 2024 to you too! 🍾🥂

[@Mankind0112]

Many memories in Olifants, next time, I visit there, I won’t miss out on traditional meals.

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

Vandag se kameelperd-familie was vir my die hoogtepunt!! Ek is màl oor hulle! En hulle was so rustig...maar jy kon sien hoe die grotes julle dophou...! Baie dankie vir vandag se saamry!!❤👍👍👍👍🌹🦒🦒

[@dawnf6617]

Thank you for another fantastic video. I wish i was there now.

[@susannaemmerich1166]

Thanks guys, another lovely trip!! Love it, hope 2024 is full of lovely surprises for you.🙃🙏❤🎶🎶🎶👍

[@naomijansen9544]

Beautiful

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys another awesome video love your accommodation with the most amazing views. The food looked great my mouth was watering like the bit about having a sip of beer between the next round lol .I noticed in the rondevelles they have crittel iron windows they must have been there a long time. The views were stunning as far as the eye could see 👀. Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@lee-anneadams9222]

Happy new year Curtis Sonia and Dusty, oh yes I spot him in the back window 😀. May you have a year filled with abundance and may you continue to enjoy safe travelling mercies, wherever you take us❤. I'm loving this Kruger Park experience ❤

[@guillaumedeswardt6876]

The water in the river at Olifants lookout is already part of Masangir dam pushing back.

[@annawitter5161]

I love samp and beans and have often made it with curry. You certainly scored a winner with that view. Some nice hairy roads to try. You guys certainly are having a very good time. Happy new year!

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

Ha Anna, vanuit de Lage Landen wens ik jou en je geliefden een heel goed, gezond en gelukkig 2024 toe 🎉🍾🇳🇿🇿🇦. Jullie zijn inmiddels al in het volgende jaar beland, voor ons duurt het nog wat uurtjes😊. Er gaat hier in Den Haag nu al heel veel vuurwerk de lucht in. Veel groeten van Ingeborg

[@annawitter5161]

@@ingeborgvanderveer789 Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar 2024. Mag net alles van die beste voorleggen. Baie liefde vanaf Nieu-Zeeland♥️♥️🤗🤗

[@AudreyR458]

Olifants was my worse experience last week over my birthday. I checked out & headed to Mopani! Best move ever! Letaba was an awesome place & got to meet a current tuskers not far on the Mopani/Letaba Road just outside Letaba gate.

[@flodillon991]

I must say this episode is so good those 3 buffalo bulls in the beginning were so big and shiny extraordinarily beautiful. The giraffe walking so casuly and taking a detour so awesome. Most of all loved that lone hippo in the water. Not forgetting those amazing sceneries that seem to go on forever. Wow. 😊

[@andremare1127]

Hoe verlang ek nou na Olifants ! DIE beste kamp in die Wildtuin !

[@joeyvanzyl9571]

Baie dankie vir die mooi filmwerk van veral Olifants Kamp. Ek geniet altyd julle videos ook veral omdat daar nie musiek die rustige klanke van die bos verdoesel nie. Ek geniet die bosgeluide en rustigheid

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you very much. I'm happy to hear you enjoy travelling through Kruger with us, it's just the most magical place! 🚙😍

[@MaxineMeyer1995]

Love your videos! Question: what video editing program do you use? Particularly for the map animation in the beginning of your videos?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you. 😊 I use the free version of DaVinci Resolve for all the editing of our videos, including the map animation.

[@frederikbrits9559]

Ain't they call the helmet of buffalo a boss?

[@DustBugsTravel]

I believe that is indeed the case. We've learnt something new! 😁🐃

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

What did Sonia have for lunch?I want to see more of the menu.....(as a Cape Town girl,I was never fond of pap and wors!).So! ?

[@DustBugsTravel]

So. I thought it was quite obvious that Sonia and I were sharing the three dishes. Whenever we remember to, we'll show snippets of the menu once we've decided what we'd like to order. We order what we enjoy eating and don't take others' preferences into account during this process. The fact that you don't enjoy pap-and-wors, is quite frankly your problem. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dawnbarnes1361]

A HAPPY AND BLESSED 2024 TO YOU BOTH 🎉❤ CHEERS 🍻 🎉🥳

[@RossVE-ut3ui]

Hi Could I ask what equipment you use to document your travel? Thanks

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sure! I film with my everyday cellphone, a Samsung S22 Ultra, mounted on a regular selfie-stick. No fancy equipment here, that does the job just fine for us! 📱😁

[@michellerae5711]

What month was this ?

[@DustBugsTravel]

December 2023. The date is at the beginning of the video. 😁

[@guillaumedeswardt6876]

Sorry dagha

[@dawnbarnes1361]

I'm so envious 😂 what a lovely camp! Was sorry to leave 😢 Loved the Giraffes 🦒 ❤️ Wow I can imagine the Olifants River in flood 😮 Thank you 🙏❤ Bless you both!🎉 I was so ingrossed in this trip that when I heard sirens I was wondering what was going on😂 but it was coming from the highway near me, going to King William's Town. It's the 30th December and raining in East London 😊

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! Another fascinating trip, thank you! Those river views are really beautiful. And that giraffe showing off on the road! Pap en wors followed by a spectacular sunrise! And, and... and... . Thank for showing us the real wildtuin. Until next time, keep safe!

[@beryl9538]

You appreciate every sound of every insect or animal. Thank you so much.❤❤

[@frederikbrits9559]

In the dry season most of the Olifants River's [in the Kruger] water is coming from the Blyde river

[@laliedutoit]

Alles is net ongelooflik mooi. Dankie julle!

[@franspistorius1886]

Hi Sonia and Curtis, Like I have said so many times before thank you for amazing footage. You bring back so much good childhood and more recent memories. In the 60s my dad bought a new Chevrolet single cab bakkie. Hoe ordered a steel canopy, the first canopies at the time, similar to the ones the police used on their utes. The canopy did not arrive in time before our holiday trip to LM and the KNP. On our way back from LM Dad bought 2 big bunches of bananas. I think you can guess already what is coming. Because of lack of room in the single cab, my brother and I had to sit at the back under a tarpaulin. It was illegal at the time but my dad explained his predicament at entrance gate, they allowed us in. The moment we met up with the first baboons, they swarmed the bakkie and jumped in hordes on the tarpaulin. Dad had to exceed the speed limit to get rid of the visitors. Next were the elephants, but this time Dad was prepared as two big bulls stormed the bakkie, I can still hear the trumpets and see the shaking heads in my memory. Then there was a episode where another guy was towing a Venter trailer and lost its wheel. Dad always had a whip in the bakkie. So he volunteered to go and look for the lost wheel in the bushes, I went with and found the wheel where it rolled against a Maroela tree. Just another observation, maybe you are aware of it. The beautiful monkey photo inserted has a story to tell. The baby was freshly born, the mother was exhausted and is lying next to the foster mother whom was taking care of the baby, making sure baby was breathing. Not sure if you witnessed the birth, if not then you must have missed it just. Such an special moment captured in time, thanks for sharing with us. Still travelling with you all the time, and please don’t leave your binoculars on the roof of your car. Got worried when saw them on the table where you had your yummy pap and wors. Safe and happy travels my friends. Frans

[@DustBugsTravel]

We didn't witness the birth of the little monkey, but I now so wish we did! 😍🐒 Thank you for the interesting info, we had no idea that it was quite that young! It has always been one of our most favourite pics of days gone by in the Park. Both our binoculars made it back home safely. 😁 Luckily we only left it on the roof of the car that one time.

[@franspistorius1886]

Thanks. One can clearly see the birth blood on the mother as well as on baby’s mouth.

[@franspistorius1886]

Another interesting thing about animals is the identification of their dung. Apologies, I only mention this for people that might be interesting, this might not be 100% correct but is what I remember from doing the Swene hiking trail near Satara many moons ago, and as were told by the rangers. For instance, elephant dung is usually rough and consists of a mixture of grass, seeds, bark and leaves. When opened up it is a good mixture and quite brittle, without a stinky smell. Their dung can be found everywhere the graze, also near water holes. The white rhino is a lawnmower, wide mouth, dung filled mostly with grass and surface weeds. When you spot the white rhino in the bush , their heads are down and the calf is usually behind them. The black rhino on the other hand, feed on thorny bushes. Their heads are always high and the calf in front of them. Their teeth are sharp and cut twigs on 45 degree angle. When opening their dung, one will find these inch long twigs cut on perfect angle amongst leaves etc. Rhinos use selected spots to drop their dung as to mark their territory, usually on corner of the area. The white dung of predators are also very interesting. Hyena, which are mainly bone crushers, leave white dung that has a grainy texture, like rice when dry and broken up. Chetah and leopards are cats, they can’t process or refine bones. Therefore bone fragments will be found in their dung, usually the dung will not be as white, same as for lions. Crocodiles also digest bones, but they have an extra stomach, they swallow rocks to assist in breaking down the bones. When opening their dung it will be a muddy texture, like milled maize. Chickens and ostriches also swallow rocks to assist with breaking down food. They also know when the stones become too round and then replace with more rough shaped ones. Frans

[@sicko_the_ew]

The tree in the rock face would've been one of the "rock breaker" wild fig species, so your theory about it breaking the rock is correct. A lot of them start out in life as "stranglers" too. Seed germinates on a branch of another tree, and it dangles a root down till it touches ground, or trunk reaches up into another tree, and then the fig grows around its host and eventually kills it. I've never been to Oliphants, so interesting to see what it's like. (I paid close attention, and made mental notes as you went.) Looks like a great place to base a Kruger expedition round. Views are maybe the best of any camp?

[@DustBugsTravel]

As far as views go, Olifants is tops, there's no denying that. One can literally see forever in so many directions. 🚙🤩

[@tillabezuidenhout6460]

Your enthusiasm is contagious.

[@tillabezuidenhout6460]

Love the bird songs.

[@michaelking9254]

I love your videos of the Kruger Park. It would be nice to see the two of you together

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you. 🚙😁 Sonia is just not keen on being filmed, so until she hopefully changes her mind one day, you'll only get to see me.

[@riamatthys21]

Patiently waiting for the next episode

[@DustBugsTravel]

😁 The upload speed must have a hangover today, it's a little on the slow side. Today's episode should be live between 4:30pm and 5pm SA time. Thank you for your patience!

[@chrisdalton8806]

Why do you always film Curtis eating, but dont want yourself filmed.

[@funkdunk]

It is her choice, let it be...hopefully in time to come we will see her, however for now this is how they roll, rather be impressed by Sonia's pronunciation of african names and her made for tv voice.