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Some of Nhongo Safaris Fleet of Open Safari Vehicles

The photo shows some of our fleet of Open Safari Vehicles used while on safari in the Kruger National and Hwange National Parks. These ve...

Monday 16 August 2010

Kruger Park Safari with the Challenge Group of 25 Australians from the 15th - 18th July 2010

We left the Nhongo Safaris offices at 05h30 in order to pickup the group at 06h00. After an early morning pickup, we made our way through the already increasing traffic volumes towards the eastern side of Johannesburg that would take us in an easterly direction to Nelspruit and then on to the Kruger National Park.


After passing the town of Witbank, we stopped off at the Ultra City to give the group time to have some breakfast at “Steers”, before continuing on to Nelspruit. After bypassing Nelspruit on the new road opened for the 2010 Football World Cup, it was on to the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park. After checking all of the vehicles through, we made our way to the camp of Pretoriuskop which would be home for the next three nights while on safari.

After a short break, and time to settle in, it was onto the open safari vehicles. Firstly a time to hear the do’s and do not’s while aboard these vehicles, so after a nice chat, it was off out of the camp for an afternoon game drive. We decided to take a ride down the Napi road to see what was going on. Not too far down, we came upon a herd of elephant close to the road. After checking these guys out, we made our way further down also finding some impala anf kudu on the road. I decided to go down the Boulders loop as there were earlier reports of some rhino in the area. After a short distance down, we managed to get a distant visual as tow rhino made there way deeper into the bush. We made our way further down the Boulders loop, only to come onto a good herd of buffalo across the road. We decided to stay a while and watch what happens. Mark and Elkana also came around to join us, and we spent around half an hour with them. The radio in the vehicle suddenly came alive with a broadcast from one of the other rangers “Jan”, who let us know that he had found a leopard lying on a termite mound with her cub. We decided to take a look, and began making our way in that direction. After arriving at the location, we quickly identifies where she was and proceeded to point the guests in the right direction. Some of the guests picked it up quickly, and others could not see it, as she was lying with most of her body behind the termite mound below the cub. After being on the sighting for nearly half an hour, we decided to make our way further down the Napi to see what was going on before turning back for camp in order to get back before the gates closed at 05h30. We managed to find some wildebeest as well as zebra a bit further down the road, after which we turned around bound for the camp of Pretoriuskop.

Dinner was prepared and everybody was off to bed early in order to get up early for an early morning start.

After tea and coffee being enjoyed by everyone, it was off and out of the camp for the mornings game viewing. We made our way down the Napi road, looking for any animals especially the leopard that had been seen the previous afternoon. Without luck, we made our way on finding good rhino, elephant, impala, kudu, wildebeest and Zebra. We made our way to the Skukuza Day Visitors area where Verity and Kerilouise had set up and were cooking breakfast. After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we made our way back onto the road to see what we could find. Good sightings of rhino, elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, crocodile and lion were enjoyed by all. Soon it was time to return to Pretoriuskop camp for some good dinner and a time to rest and reflect on the sightings of the day.

After a good meal prepared by Verity and assisted by Keri-Louise, it was time for some shut eye before leaving early in the morning again.



The next morning, it was up early again to had out of the camp in order to see what there was to find in the African bush. Guests enjoyed tea and coffee and then it was off, all wrapped in blankets due to the cooler weather that was being experienced. We made our way down the Albasini road and then onto Doispane which enteres the park from the Phabeni gate just outside of Hazyview. Good general sightings were encountered along the road. We made our way to the Nkulu Picnic spot, where Verity and Keri-Louise had prepared a continental breakfast for the group. After enjoying the breakfast, it was decided to return back to Skukuza in order for the group to do some shopping at the the Skukuza shop, before starting another game drive which lasted until our return to the Pretoriuskop camp late in the afternoon.

Everybody had a good time aboard the open safari vehicles that day, with many good sightings being seen. It was now time to rest, download all the photos to the laptops and also enjoy some dinner, before tucking into a warm bed for the night.

Some of the group decided to stay in camp the following morning and sleep inn, however there were a few die hard fans that decided to go out and see what they could find. They were dully awarded with a wonderful sighting of one of the male lions right next to the vehicle roaring and looking for his friend. After this wonderful sighting had been experienced by those die hard fans, everybody returned to camp to enjoy a hearty breakfast in the camp restaurant. After this, it was time to bid the camp and the Kruger Park farewell, before starting our journey back to Johannesburg.

The group got back to Johannesburg at 16h00 and all said that they had a wonderful time, and were looking forward to returning next year for another visit.


Monday 9 August 2010

Kruger National Park Safari with Javier and Hector from the 2nd - 3rd July 2010

After picking up all our guests in Johannesburg, we made our way through the traffic and out of Johannesburg on route for Nelspruit and the Kruger National Park. After a good stop a long the way it was off again to Nelspruit. The group arrived in the park around 12h30 were we transferred them to Pretoriuskop camp, there home for the next 3 days. 

After checking in to there accommodation and meeting their guide Mark, it was time for having lunch after which it was off on the groups first game drive. Guests had good sightings of rhino, Elephant, buffalo and numerous plainsgame species during the drive. At 17h30 it was back to camp for relaxation, a good meal and all guests wanting to watch the match that was getting broadcast on television.

The following morning, it was up early to enjoy a cup of tea and coffee before departing on the game drive at 06h00. Guests had a good day aboard our open safari vehicles getting good sightings of most of the inhabitants of the park.

The evening was spent enjoying a well deserved meal in the camp restaurant and watching the soccer being broadcast on television before it was off to bed before another early start to the next day.

The following day took on the same itinerary as the previous one with some guests returning to camp at midday for there transfer back to Johannesburg in order for there journey to continue and for them to go to some of the games that they had tickets for.

The feedback from the guests while on safari with us, was that they had a wonderful time, saw a lot of animals and also enjoyed there accommodation and meals in the restaurant.
All of the guests said that they would like to return for a longer safari and also to be able to see more of the park especially the northern sector of the park.

We at Nhongo Safaris would like to see you all return to us someday on another safari and an opportunity to show them more of the Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park Safari with Derek Otten and Friend from the 30th - 2nd July 2010

Picked up the group in Johannesburg and made our way via Nelspruit onto the Kruger National Park. The guests entered through the Numbi Gate and made there way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop were they would be staying for the duration of there safari.

After checking in to the accommodation, it was time to have a short break in order to enjoy lunch before departing on an afternoon game drive. The afternoon game drive was enjoyed by all with good sightings of Rhino, Elephant and buffalo as well as a large number of plainsgame species.

It was an early start, after enjoying tea and coffee it was out of the camp on the days game drive. The game drive took them to the camp of Skukuza as well as Lower Sabie. After a wonderful day spend aboard our open safari vehicles, the group was happy to get back to camp for a well deserved rest and some good dinner in the restaurant.

The following morning, it was out early after enjoying some tea and coffee. The group enjoyed there last game drive, and after enjoying breakfast, made there way back to the camp of Pretoriuskop in order to meet there shuttle back to Johannesburg.


Guests had a wonderful time while on safari, with all enjoying the accommodation, food in the restaurant and above all the game viewing aboard our open safari vehicles. All said that they would be returning for another visit to the Kruger National Park





Kruger National Park Safari with Busudev Mitra, Trevor Meek x 2 and Scott Youngren x 3 from the 29th - 1st July 2010

We picked up guests in Johannesburg and transferred them to the Kruger National Park via Nelspruit. We Entered through the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park where he met Mark who was going to be there guide for the duration of the safari.

After checking in to the accommodation, it was time to have a short break in order to enjoy lunch before departing on an afternoon game drive. The afternoon game drive was enjoyed by all with good sightings of Rhino, Elephant and buffalo as well as a large number of plainsgame species.

It was an early start, after enjoying tea and coffee it was out of the camp on the days game drive. The game drive took them to the camp of Skukuza as well as Lower Sabie. After a wonderful day spend aboard our open safari vehicles. The group was happy to get back to camp for a well deserved rest and some good dinner in the restaurant.

The following morning, it was out early after enjoying some tea and coffee. The group enjoyed there last game drive, and after enjoying breakfast, made there way back to the camp of Pretoriuskop in order to meet there shuttle back to Johannesburg.

Guests had a wonderful time while on safari, with all enjoying the accommodation, food in the restaurant and above all the game viewing aboard our open safari vehicles. All said that they would be returning for another visit to the Kruger National Park.

Sunday 1 August 2010

Kruger National Park Safari with Yasuda x 3, Shuki and Gabay, Scott Shearer and Min Tran from the 28th - 1st July 2010

After picking up all our guests in Johannesburg, we made our way through the traffic and out of Johannesburg on route for Nelspruit and the Kruger National Park. After a good stop a long the way it was off again to Nelspruit. The group arrived in the park around 12h30 were we transferred them to Pretoriuskop camp, there home for the next 3 days. 

After checking in to there accommodation and meeting their guide Mark, it was time for having lunch after which it was off on the groups first game drive. Guests had good sightings of rhino, Elephant, buffalo and numerous plainsgame species during the drive. At 17h30 it was back to camp for relaxation, a good meal and all guests wanting to watch the match that was getting broadcast on television.

The following morning, it was up early to enjoy a cup of tea and coffee before departing on the game drive at 06h00. Guests had a good day aboard our open safari vehicles getting good sightings of most of the inhabitants of the park.

The evening was spent enjoying a well deserved meal in the camp restaurant and watching the soccer being broadcast on television before it was off to bed before another early start to the next day.

The following day took on the same itinerary as the previous one with some guests returning to camp at midday for there transfer back to Johannesburg in order for there journey to continue and for them to go to some of the games that they had tickets for.