17-Nov-2004 -- Four of us - Peter McGaffin, Mike Stumbles, Henrietta Bocchio and Tony Long - set out to record this Confluence on 17 Nov 2004.
Reaching the Confluence, which lies in an unfrequented part of the north-western section of the Kruger National Park in Limpopo, required the blessing of the Park authorities. Ranger Kobus Wentzel arranged that game guides Magezi Bila, Carlos Mujovo and Robert Mashala who have some 40 years experience in the area between them should accompany us. They were suitably equipped with a .458 and two .762 rifles in case any elephant, buffalo or rhino attempted to interfere with the project.
We travelled 30 km from Punda Maria camp, mostly along the western boundary of the Park, where we noted that the boundary fence had been badly damaged by elephant north of the Mphongolo River. This has resulted in buffalo escaping into the farming area and has given rise to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle there.
We then turned east for 7 km along a firebreak following the south bank of the dry Phugwane River course, and discovered to our amazement that the Confluence was just 3 m south of the track. We were also lucky with the weather which was overcast, with the temperature a balmy 27°C, as opposed to the next day when the temperature reached the high 30s.