New Year's at Three Falls

To ring in the New Year, we were invited by our friends Bruce and Charné to visit their family farm in Mpumalanga, the "misty province"

We were joined by, from left to right: Charné, Bruce, Sally, and André (Bruce's brother). Pictures of the rest of the family to follow. Here our little party is enjoying a sundowner at the top of the farm. 

This is the main lodge at the farm, blending fairly well into the landscape. Named "Three Falls," the farm encompasses nearly 2500 acres of open fields replete with antelope, streams flush with trout, and forested areas ripe with baboons.  

The farm also produces some commercial timber for the paper industry, and this rather large blue gum (Eucalyptus) is one of the several types of trees grown there.

Upon arrival, we were ushered rapidly down to the Foofey Slide, where we chilled our bones after a 5 hour ride.

Sunset on the first day was occluded by low clouds (a recurring weather theme on the trip) but nonetheless spectacular.

The next morning, we were challenged to stock the trout streams on the property with Bruce and André's father Pierre. This meant getting up at 6am...

...getting kitted out with massive nets...

...and rushing around like crazy people moving enormous trout (this a 5-pound rainbow) from pond to truck...

...and from truck to weir...

...occasionally rescuing the odd escape artist.

After all that stocking, it seemed a shame not to try our luck in the now fully-stocked weirs.

Since fly-fishing is mandatory on the Three Falls acreage, Kelsey got a few quick pointers in the gentlemanly art of trout tickling.

After not fishing for 10 years, Jonah's skills were a bit rusty.

But Charné showed them how to get 'er done!

Here Kelsey pursues some lunkers. Good thing the scenery was nice!

Success! At our last stop of the day, Jonah's skills came roaring back and he nabbed this majestic beast:

Which Kelsey proudly held for a record 45 seconds, satisfying a challenge issued by Pierre, Bruce's father.

It wouldn't be a South African camping trip without some fireplace wizardry. Bruce and Charné cooked up a bangin' Lamb Potjie and Beer Bread for New Year's Eve... 

...and we followed that up on the next night with a chicken and chorizo paella.

Now it wasn't all fishing, we also practiced our photography. Kelsey took rapidly to the macro lens, and produced this and the following few shots:

A crab spider lurking

A woolly angiosperm

"Devil's Dice" or Fool's Gold or iron pyrite crystals in the bedrock.

This majestic throne was built for the guest's convenience at "The Platform," a prime sundowner spot at the top of the farm where we had a quick doppie on New Year's Eve.

And here's the family, from left and back to front: Pierre, Cheryl (Bruce's Aunt), Terry, Janice (Bruce's Mom), Bruce, Sally, André, yours truly, Charné, and also yours truly.

Let the festivities begin! We rang in the New Year with an Argentinian tradition borrowed from our friends Pia and Alex. First, 12 sips of a grape-based beverage, each followed by a wish for a month of the new year.

Second, an airing of foreign currency at the top of a ladder, for prosperity in the new year.

And finally, a ride around the house on a broom, with luggage in tow, to ensure a year robust with travel.

Our record-setting time: 4 minutes 10 seconds, with proof of our gadgetry.

On the first day of the year, we visited the nearby town of Dullstroom. The local Raptor Rehab Center has daily flight shows of their recuperating birds of prey. Kelsey is holding the star of the show, a Jackal Buzzard (sister taxon to the Red-Tailed Hawk of North America).

Next up was Daffy, a human-imprinted Spotted Eagle Owl who enjoys sitting on men's heads...

...and eating whole baby chicks.

Bruce and Charné introduced us to the awesome world of light-writing, where you use a long exposure and a light source to draw interesting patterns on the scenery. Here, a crocodile threaten Bruce and co.

They also showed us how to take star-trail pictures. 

A view from the escarpment on the other side of the farm on our last day, looking north and east towards the town of Nelspruit and ultimately Kruger.

Goodbye 2014! Let's have a year of travel, prosperity and champagne! Many thanks to the d'Hotman family for making it a memorable way to wrap up 2014!