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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...

Saturday 31 December 2011

Kruger Park Safari with Catrien and Cor Van Der Blieck 29 December to the 1 January 2012 Day 1 - 3

we picked up guests in Johannesburg and travelled eastwards to the city of Nelspruit and then on to the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park. Guests arrived at the camp of Pretoriuskop, and after check inn procedures and time given to have lunch, it was out on the road at 15h30 to see what we could find. As we turned onto the Napi Road, we were contacted about a female lion walking on the road. We turned our Open Safari Vehicle around and made for the sighting, it was not long before we found her and followed her along the road. Other sightings while on the drive was giraffe, elephant, impala, kudu and rhino. Guests got back to camp and had a good dinner at the camp restaurant.


We left camp early the next morning getting good sightings of rhino, buffalo, hyena and elephant. We made our way to breakfast and as it was some guests last drive, before returning to Johannesburg, we decided to take another route back to the camp of Pretoriuskop. We made our way down the Doispane road, before turning onto the "Albasini Road" in the direction of the camp. We came across a good sighting of a leopard in the tree. After spending some time on the sighting, we made our way back to the camp in order for the guests to be transferred back to Johannesburg.
The afternoon drive saw great sightings of elephant, rhino, buffalo, kudu, impala and a number of good bird species. Gusts arrived back at the camp and enjoyed a great dinner in the camps restaurant, before retiring to bed for the next early morning.


After early morning tea and coffee, it was back on the road to see what the day would bring forth. We made our way down the Napi road and it was not long before we ran into a great sighting of rhino which consisted of a big male, two females and a rhino calf. After spending some time on the sighting, it was off again to see what we could find. Other sightings encountered we're impala, kudu, wildebeest, buffalo and elephant. We decided to make a turn at the Sabie River before breakfast, and as we drove down the bravo loop, we heard lions roaring. We decided to try and find them, and it was not long before they appeared from the "No Entry" road. They lay down close to the vehicle and we were treated to a wonderful sighting with some good photos been taken.


We made our way to breakfast for a welcome stop. After enjoying a good breakfast, it was out again onto the road. We received a radio message of a cheetah sighting, so we decided to go and have a look. We drove down the H3 and onto the S112, we're we found her walking on the road. She left the road and walked next to our vehicle and proceeded to sit and watch some zebra close by. We spent about forty five minutes with her, all of a sudden there was an explosion of power as the cheetah crossed over the road in a fast stalk and then into a full charge, closely missing the zebra foal by a very short distance. She went and sat down under the tree for some rest. While all of this was going on, a large build up of traffic had taken place so we decided to take our leave of the sighting. We made our way back to the camp, getting good sightings of rhino, impala and kudu on the way back to camp. Guests had a good afternoons rest, before leaving on a wet afternoons sunset drive.



Kruger Park Safari with Sanjay and Sarah 27 - 30 December 2011 Day 1 -4

We picked up Sanjay and friend from Johannesburg International airport and made our way in an easterly direction to Nelspruit and then onto the "Numbi Gate" of the Kruger National Park".


After giving guests time to have some lunch, it was out on there first game drive. While on the drive, good sightings of rhino, impala, kudu and elephant were seen. Guests returned to camp and enjoyed a good meal in the camps restaurant.


The next morning, it was up early and after enjoying tea and coffee, it was out of the camp at 04h30. The day turned out to be a quite day on the cat front, with still good sightings of rhino, elephant and buffalo being seen from the "big five", and numerous antelope species also being experienced. Guests had a good dinner, and left for bed early as it was up early the next morning to find more animals.


The next morning, we left camp the same time and made our way down the "Voortrekker road", getting good sightings of buffalo, rhino and hyena. After turning onto the H3, we came across a cheetah crossing the road. We made our way northwards in the direction of Quagga Pan coming across some more rhino and buffalo. It was not long before we got a message about some lions that were lying around "Rhino Koppies Dam", so we made our way in that direction. The sighting turned out to be very distant with lions lying under a tree. We made our way to breakfast, and then it was back to camp for a rest, before going out in the afternoon again. The afternoon was also quite with rhino and elephant being seen.


The next morning brought another day for some great game viewing, with good sightings of rhino, buffalo, hyena and elephant. The afternoon game drive brought a great sighting of lion close to the camp of Pretoriuskop as well as rhino, buffalo and a possible leopard sighting that got out the tree before we got there. Guests left on a night drive, and returned at 20h00 to enjoy dinner in the restaurant.


We left camp early the next morning getting good sightings of rhino, buffalo, hyena and elephant. We made our way to breakfast and as it was the guests last drive, before returning to Jphannesburg, we decided to take another route back to the camp of Pretoriuskop. We made our way down the Doispane road, before turning onto the "Albasini Road" in the direction of the camp. We came across a good sighting of a leopard in the tree. After spending some time on the sighting, we made our way back to the camp in order for the guests to be transferred back to Johannesburg.


Guests said they had a good time, and would like to return on another safari to the Kruger National Park.



Wednesday 28 December 2011

Kruger National Park Safari with the Davids family 24 - 27 December2011 Day 4

The day started early as normal with guests enjoying tea and coffee before leaving on the final game drive of there safari.


Soon after leaving camp and traveling down the Napi road, we came across a great sighting of rhino standing next to the road. We carried on in the direction of Skukuza getting more good sightings of rhino, elephant, impala and kudu. We received a radio message of a female lion lying close to the camp of Skukuza and decided to take a look. Upon arrival at the sighting, the lioness was lying close to the road, so a good sighting was enjoyed by all.


After leaving the sighting, we made our way to the Skukuza Golf Club for a good breakfast, after which we made our way to the Numbi Gate getting great sightings of more elephant, rhino and giraffe..


Feedback from the guests was that they had a great time, all want to come back to experience a different part of the park on another visit to South Africa.



Monday 26 December 2011

Kruger National Park with the Davids family 24 - 27 December 2011 Day 1- 3

We picked up the Davids family from the Holiday Inn in Rosebank. We left Johannesburg in the direction of Nelspruit, stopping off at Millie's rest stop along the way. We arrived in Nelspruit were we changed over our vehicle into an open safari vehicle, before completing the journey to the 'Numbi Gate' of the Kruger National Park.


After check inn procedures at the gate, we travelled down to the camp of Pretoriuskop, we're the guests were checked inn and given time to enjoy some lunch before leaving on there first game drive.


We left the camp at 15h30 and made our way down the Napi Road. Sightings enjoyed on the first game drive was rhino, impala, kudu, leopard and lion. A truly great way to start an African Safari. Guests got back to camp were they enjoyed a great dinner in the camp restaurant, it was off to bed early as it was an early start the next morning.


After enjoying tea and coffee, it was off to see what we could find. It was not long before we ran into some rhino, wildebeest, zebra and impala. We turned onto the S112 and found a mating pair of lions on the road. After spending some time on the sighting, we made our way onto the S114, we're we had a quick sighting of a leopard female as she made her way between the rocks. On the way to breakfast more wildebeest, impala, zebra, warthog and giraffe were seen. After enjoying breakfast, we made our way back to the camp of Pretoriuskop, arriving back at about midday.


The afternoon game drive was a bit on the slow side with rhino, zebra, impala, kudu and lion been seen. Guests got back to camp and enjoyed a good Christmas dinner prepared by "Nhongo Safaris". After dinner, guests decided to get a good nights sleep as we were leaving again at 04h30 when the gates opened.


We left camp after everybody had enjoyed tea and coffee. We made our way down the Voortrekker road, and it was not long before we found buffalo, rhino and a pack of seven wild dogs walking in the road. We continued on and were rewarded with a good sighting of elephant, and two sightings of lion on the S23. We continued up to the camp of Skukuza getting more great sightings of wildebeest, zebra, impala, buffalo and elephant.


After a good breakfast at the Skukuza picnic spot, it was off back in the direction of Pretoriuskop, we're on the Napi Road, we came across two cheetah which had just killed a warthog piglet and was walking with it in it's mouth. Unfortunately the sighting had so many vehicles around it, that not a lot of time could be spent on it. Guests got back to camp in high spirits, and after a good afternoons rest have gone out on a sunset drive,



Thursday 22 December 2011

Kruger Park Safari with Ryan, Stephanie, Fernando and Jeff 18 - 22 December 2011 Day 5

Today started off at 04h00 with tea and coffee, and then it was time for Fernando and Jeff to go out on there bush walk that left at 04h30. After handing the guests over to the Kruger Park Rangers, Ryan and Stephanie took a drive with us to see what we could find on the last game drive before leaving the park.

It was not long before we found another good sighting of rhino lying next to the road, after a good time spent on the sighting, we took our leave to see what else was going on. Things seemed to quiten down until e ran into another cheetah walking next to the road, this proved to be a quick sighting as he moved quite quickly into the bush.

We carried on and made our way in the direction of were some large male lions were lying yesterday with a kill just nine hundred meters from Quagga Pan. We turned onto the H3 and made our way in that direction. When we got to Quagga Pan, we saw quite a large number of vehicles parked next to the road, and as we got closer saw that irt was our lions lying about thirty meters from the road in full view of everybody. We turned the vehicle around and took our time at the sighting, spending about forty five minutes watching the lions while they moved around looking for shade from the already hot sun. Soon it was time to make our way back to the camp of Pretoriuskop to meet Fernando and Jeff.

One the way back to camp some good bird species were seen.

Guests enjoyed a good breakfast at the camp restaurant, before we loaded all the luggage and made our way out of the Kruger National Park. We made our way back to Nelspruit were e changed our vehicle over to one of our closed transfer vehicles and then proceeded to make our way back to Johannesburg.

Feedback from the guests were that they had a wonderful time and want to come back with other family members to experience another safari to the Kruger National Park.



Wednesday 21 December 2011

Kruger Park Safari with Ryan, Stephanie, Fernando and friend 18 - 22December 2011 Day 4

We left camp again today at 04h30 after enjoying tea and coffee. I decided to take a drive down the Voortrekker road which would free us up from any South African tourists in the area. After a short distance of about five kilometers we came across a nice herd of buffalo lying next to the road, after having a short discussion on them, we drove on finding a short distance down the road a nice male, female and young rhino calf standing in the road. These guys were enjoying our company and only moved away after a good fifteen minute sighting. We continued on down the road and a we came around a bend in the road we found a cheetah walking towards us. He walked past our open safari vehicle and walked up to the "No Entry" marker and jumped up to smell what was going on. After a few minutes of standing there, he jumped down and came to sit in the road in front of our vehicle. After a short while, he was off into the bush and away from the road.


We travelled on down "Voortrekker" road with everybody in high spirits, when we came across a nice elephant bull next to the road. We watched this guy, and as we were coming to the end of the road, we watched him cross the H3.


We turned right on the H3 and got to have good sightings of wildebeest, warthog and zebra on the gabro plains, before another tourist stopped next to us and told us of a leopard that had been seen on the main road. We decided to go and have a look, about one kilometer down the road, we came upon a male leopard trying to hunt some impalas, we watched anticipating a kill was going to happen, but unfortunately the impalas saw the leopard and disappeared into the bush. The leopard slowly made it's way to our open safari vehicle and proceeded to walk next to it in the road for the next two hundred meters, before moving off the road and making it's way in an easterly direction into the bush.


We made our way back towards the little Jock road and heard a messaage on the radio about some lions that had been spotted there and thought we would take a look. We travelled down the road for about three kilometers and found two lionesses lying near to the road with another seven lying deeper into the bush. After spending some time on this sighting, we decided to make our way in the direction of Skukuza for breakfast. We made our way back to the H3 and had not gone three kilometers in the direction of Skukuza, before we ran into a pack of nine wild dogs lying in the road. We followed them for a while, until they diappeared into the bush in the direction of Stolsnek.


We turned around and made our way in a northerly direction. After a short distance, we found more rhino and buffalo next to the road.


As we made our way up, we got a message from another open safari vehicle about six male lions that were lying next to the road, nine hundred meters before Quagga Pan. We made our way in that direction, and it was not long before we had them in our sights, lying next to the road. It was a great sighting as guests could also get some great photos of male lions.
We spent quite a time on the sighting, before leaving and making our way in the direction is Skukuza, stopping off for some good bird sightings.


We got in for breakfast at about 08h45, and after enjoying a good breakfast, it was out back on the road to see what we could find. We took a drive down Elloff Street towards the high water bridge. We got a good sighting of baboons, before we were told of a possible black rhino sighting. We made our way in that direction and found a black rhino walking towards the road. We got a great sighting of this male rhino as he crossed the road. We carried on with the rest of the drive been on the quiter side as the temperature had started to rise into the late thirties. We stopped off at the camp of Skukuza as the guests wanted to do some shopping at the camp shop, before returning to camp.


After leaving the camp of Skukuza, we made our way back to the camp of Pretoriuskop for a rest before guests would go out on a sunset drive. On our way back to camp, things had got really quite with only a sighting of more cheetah lying under the trees about five and a half kilometers from "Transport Dam".


Guests had a wonderful day, and as some are going on a morning walk and some are taking a drive, it remains to see what will be seen tomorrow.

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Kruger Park Safari with Ryan, Stephanie, Fernando and friend 18 - 22December 2011 Day 3

Today, it was an early start again, and after enjoying tea and coffee it was back onto the open safari vehicle to see what we could find. We left camp at 04h30 and it was not long before we had our first sighting of rhino, impala and kudu, we continued down the Napi Road and came across some wild dogs lying next to the road. We spent quite a time with the dogs as they were starting to look for something to eat. We followed them down the road for a while. We left the wild dog sighting and made our way in the direction of Skukuza, stopping off for more sightings of rhino, elephant, hyena, kudu, impala, wildebeest and zebra. We continued on down to the Sabie river to see if we could find some hippos, this was not the case as all seemed to be hiding from us. More elephant and rhino were seen with also good sightings of baboon. We decided to make our way to breakfast.


After a good breakfast was enjoyed by all we made our way back out onto the road to see what we could find. It was not long before we got a call on the radio telling us of a leopard that was up a tree close to quagga pan south of the camp of Skukuza. We made our way in that direction. Upon arriving at the sighting, we were greeted by a male lying in the tree with a young warthog kill above him in the tree. Guests got to see a wonderful sighting with some wonderful photos of him moving around in the tree as well. After finishing at the sighting, we decided to return to camp for a rest, before departing at 15h00 on an afternoon game drive.


Guests had chance to have some good lunch and catch up on some sleep before going out on the afternoon game drive. We departed the camp looking for a good herd of buffalo which proved to be ilusive, but we managed to find giraffe, rhino, elephant and three different lion sightings.one which was of a mating pair.we decided to stay there for a while after which we returned back to camp after the gates closed.


Guests then had a good evening meal at the restaurant before retireing to bed for a well needed rest.


Monday 19 December 2011

Kruger Park Safari with Ryan Patterson and Stephanie Cicconi 18th to22nd December 2011 Day 1 and 2

We picked up Ryan and Stephnie off of there flight at Johannesburg International airport and left Johannesburg for Nelspruit. After a stop along the way we arrived in Nelspruit. We changed from our closed vehicle into one of our open safari vehicles and undertook the last part of the journey to the "Numbi Gate" of the Kruger National Park. After check in procedures, we made our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop. After checking in, guests were given the chance to get some lunch, before leaving at 15h30 on there first game drive. After leaving the camp, great sightings of rhino, elephant, impala, kudu and waterbuck were seen. Guests also got to see brown snake eagles, pearl chanting goshawks and many more bird species while on the drive. We arrived back at camp at 18h30 and after enjoying dinner in the restuarant, it was off to bed before and early start this morning.


We left camp at 04h30 this morning and were treated to four sightings of rhino as well as buffalo and elephant. We also took a drive down the S112, we're we found nine lions lying next to the road, we had a great sighting, a d after they moved off into the bush we went on finding more lions lying on the rocks on top of the lope as well as more elephant. We went on to breakfast as the Skukuza Golf Club. After a great breakfast, we made our way out were we ran into a large herd of elephants as well as hyena, impala more elephants and buffalo on the way back to camp.

Saturday 17 December 2011

Eleven lions killed a Zebra right next to our Open Safari Vehicle


Eleven lions killed a Zebra right next to our Open Safari Vehicle on the Napi Road
between the camps of Skukuza and Pretoriuskop.

A nice leopard walking on the Napi Road between the camps of

Male Lion Lying in the Grass next to the H3 just South of the camp of Skukuza


A lion lying in the grass next to the H3 just south of the
camp of Skukuza. Taken while on safari in the Kruger

A Nice photo of a Kudu Bull while crossing the road near to the camp of Skukuza


A nice Kudu Bull crossing the road while on safari in the Kruger National Park

Thursday 24 November 2011

A nice photo of a pied Kingfisher

A nice photo of a pied Kingfisher taken on the high water bridge between the camps of Skukuza and Lower Sabie.


A Pied Kingfisher on the high water bridge.

Two great Kudu photos taken early in the morning

Below are two photos of a kudu bull taken early in the morning on the Napi Road between the camp of Pretoriuskop and Skukuza


A nice Kudu Bull looking at us



Another nice photo of the same Kudu Bull on the Napi Road

One good photo of mating lions

The below photo of two mating lions was taken on the H10 close to the camp of Lower Sabie


A lioness and Male Lion in the act of mating.


Some photos taken while on safari in the Kruger Mational Park

Below are some Cheetah photos taken while on safari to the Kruger National Park with visiting tourists.



A nice Cheetah standing on a road marker.



Another nice photo of the Cheetah



Cheetah looking at around for something to eat.

Eleven Lions eating on a buffalo killright next to our open safari vehicle


A video clip taken of eleven lions eating on a zebra kill
that they had killed right next to the road on route to the camp of Pretoriuskop

Monday 24 October 2011

A Female Lioness eating on a Hippo Carcass

                                
A female lioness busy eating on a hippo kill close to the camp of Skukuza


Some more photos taken of African Lions while on safari in the Kruger National Park in September 2011

Some more photos taken while on safari in the Kruger National Park southern section of the park.



Leopard crossing the road while on safari in the Kruger National Park

Below is a video of a large male leopard crossing the road in front of our open safari vehicle while on safari in the Kruger National Park.



Some photos taken while on safari in the Kruger National Park

Some  of the above photos ere taken while on safari with Evelyne on the road btween Skukuza and Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park Safari with Evelyne from the 22nd - 24th September 2011

We picked up Evelyne from her hotel and transfered her through to Nelspruit ere we changed over to our safari vehicle and travelled the last bit of the trip Numbi Gate. After check inn proceedures we made our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop were Evelyne would stay for the next two nights. After a break for lunch, we left camp at 15h30 for her first game drive. Good sightings ere experienced on the game drive with good sightings of rhino, elephant and buffalo. We got back to camp at 18h00 and after a short break, enjoyed dinner at the camp restuarant.

The next morning it was up early and after enjoying tea and coffee, we left camp and made our way out on the Napi Road, good sightings were experienced throughout the day with great sightings of lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard. After a good day out, it was back to the camp for a good rest and some dinner before retireing for the night.

The folloing morning, it was up early again and after the normal tea and coffee, it was back on the road for the final game drive before returning to Pretoriuskop for breakfast and then on to Nelspruit to change over vehicles, before returning to Johannesburg. Great sightings were experienced on the morning drive.

Feedback was that Evelyne enjoyed her safari, and wants to return on another one, but only longer next time.

Sunday 16 October 2011

Kruger Park Safari with Mike Easterly and Friends from the 8th - 12th September 2011

Picked up Mike, Josh and there wives for a five day safari to the Kruger National Park. We made our way to the park via Nelspruit. Arrived at the park entering through the Numbi gate and making our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop, were guests were given the opportunity to enjoy some lunch before going out on there first game drive. While out on the game drive good sightings of rhino, buffalo and elephant were experienced as well as great sunsets.

After an early start the following morning, we drove through out the day on game drive making our way northwards to the camp of Olifants. Sightings were good with great sightings of lion, buffalo, rhino and large elephant being experienced throughout the day. Large herds of Zebra and Wildebeest were also encountered. After a good dinner and game drive in the evening, it was off to bed for a welcome rest.

Early next morning, it was back on the road in a southerly direction making our way through the park. We had wonderful sightings throughout the day with numerous sightings of lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard finally coming through. later in the afternoon while making our way to the camp of Pretoriuskop to pick up Paul who was joining the safari, we came accross to cheetah lying a short distance off the road. Another great photo opporyunity was enjoyed by all. After a break after checking inn to the camp of Pretoriuskop, we left again on the afternoon safari, going directly back to the area of the cheetah were they were stll lying it up. We also encountered a large herd of buffalo on both sides of the road as well as a good sighting of rhino. Not bad for an afternoons game drive.

The following morning, it was out early again on game drive before breakfast to see what we could find. Josh, Mike and there wives were leaving us today and making there way back to Johannesburg with one of our transfer vehicles and Paul was staying on for another night.
After the game drive the group said goodbye and left on there way back to Johannesburg, and e went out onanother game drive managing to find good sightings of lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, rhino and more cheetah. We got back to camp late afternoon as Paul was going out on his night drive and needed to have dinner before he left.

The next morning it was out early again to see what we could find and after enjoying breakfast, it was time to leave the park and make our way back to johannesburg.

Feedback from guests was that they all had a onderful time and all want to return to  bring other members of there family on safari in order for them to experience the onderful animals that we have in the Kruger National Park.

Kruger Park Day Safari with Mr and Mrs Witzenburg 7th September 2011

Mr and Mrs Witzenburg ere pickup from Rissington Inn in Hazyview for a day safari in the Kruger National Park. Guests were picked up at 05h30 and we entered the Kruger National Park via the Numbi Gate. The day was spent driving around the park looking for as many of the african animals found in the park as possible. We enjoyed a breakfast break at the camp of Pretoriuskop, after which we made our way in the direction of the main camp Skukuza and then onto the sabie river road finding large numbers of animals as we went.

Throught out the day we came accross numerous sightings and at the end of the day safari, we had got to see all of the big five.

We left the park at around 16h00 and made our way back to Rissington Inn were the clients were dropped off as they were carrying on with there self drive holiday through South Africa.

Feedback from the guests were that they had done previos safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, but had never experienced such a day safari as they had done with Nhongo Safaris having seen the big five as well as numerous other animals all in one day.

Kruger Park Safari with Charlie Heron, Claudio from the 2nd - 6th September 2011

Guests were picked up in Johannesburg and transfered to Nelspruit, were we changed our closed transfer vehicle for on of our open safari vehicles. We travelled the last leg of the journey to the Numbi Gaye of the Kruger National. After check in proceedures, we made our way down to the camp where clients were checked into there accommodation and given a chance to have some lunch and a break before going out on the afternoons first game drive.
Good sightings ere seen on the afternoon safari.

The following morning it was up early and after enjoying tea and coffee, e left camp to see what we could find. Guests got to see a lot of animals while on safari, with good sightings of lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant and numerous other game species. e got back to the camp in the late afternoon in time for the guests to have a break, something to eat and then leave on a night safari that returned back to the camp at 21h30.

The following morning, it was back up early and after packing Charlie Herons baggage as she was only on a two night safari, we left camp to see hat e could find.Great sightings ere experienced. Charlie met her transfer vehicle at the Numbi gate and made her way back to Johannesburg, before going onto Mozambique for a diving holiday. We left the gate after dropping off Charlie and made our way out on another game drive. Numerous sightings were experienced.

The following morning it was out on the road early again ith good sightings being experienced by all. We returned back to the camp late afternoon and after enjoying dinner, it was off to bed for a good nights sleep.

Early the next morning, after enjoying tea and coffe, it as back on the road for the final game drive before guests were going to be taken to Nelspruit for there transfer to Johannesburg airport. while on game drive, numerous animals were seen. Guests left us wanting to come back on safari and visit the Kruger National Park again although they had seen so many of the animals. Feedback was that they had really enjoyed themselves while on safari with Nhongo Safaris.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

A Nhongo Safaris Video Clip of Elephants Drinking

The following video clip was taken of some large elephant bulls busy enjoying the water at "Ngotso North" waterhole north of the camp "Satara".



Kruger Park Safari with Anna Liew and twelve friends 25th - 28th August 2011

We picked up Anna and her friends from the Johannesburg International Airport and made our way to Nelspruit, were we changed over to two of our open safari vehicles. we traveled the last leg of our journey to the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park. After completing checking in procedures  we made our way to the camp of Pretoriusop for a lunch stop so that the group could have something to eat. After lunch, we began making our way in the direction of the camp of Skukuza. Many animals were seen on this game drive, with good sightings of rhino, elephant and buffalo being seen. We arrived at Skukuza just before gate closing time and after checking in to camp and getting everybody into the chalet accommodation, it was time to visit the restaurant for a good dinner. The group were great wine lovers, so many bottles of wine were enjoyed over the course of dinner. After dinner, it was off to bed for some and another bottle of wine for others before all went off to sleep due to the early morning wake up for tea and coffee before leaving on the game drive.

Next morning after finally getting everybody together, the group enjoyed tea and coffee and then it was off to see what we could find. We made our way northwards in the direction of Mahlemale Dam stopping off for good a great sighting of a male leopard as well as sightings of rhino, elephant and buffalo. At the dam we found some good sightings of Hippo and a huge herd of approximately 800 to 1000 buffalo. ZThis was quite a sight to behold as the buffalo just kept coming. We then made our way to the picnic spot of Nkhulu were the staff had prepared breakfast for us. After enjoying a good bush breakfast of cereal, yogurt, eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, toast, orange juice as well as tea and coffee, it was off again looking for animals that we could find for the group.
We came accross great sightings of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, sable antelope with more rhino and elephant sightings as well. We got a radio message about a breading pair of lions that had been spotted on the bravo loop, and so we decided to make our way in that direction to find them. After arriving on the scene, we were entertained to some wonderful roaring by one of the male lions that was showing some dominance to his friend lying close by. He was in the process of mating with the female. We occupied the sighting for about half an hour, before making our way back to the camp of Skukuza for lunch and an afternoon break before going out late in the afternoon again. At this stage the group was in high spirits as they had already seen the big 5. We left camp at around 16h00 and made our way down Doispane road, were we found another leopard busy eating an impala in the Marula tree. Regrettably this sighting was a far away from the road for any great photos. We made our way back to the camp and got back to the camp with only 2 minutes to spare.
Guests enjoyed a good dinner, with again a large amount of wine was enjoyed by the group. It was then off to bed as some were really feeling tired from getting up early.


The following morning, it was up early again and after enjoying tea and coffee we left camp to find some animals. We made a turn at the lions that we had got the day before and were again entertained by the male as he was bust mating with the female. We made our way onto breakfast again enjoyed at the Nkhulu picnic spot. After breakfast we made our way in the direction of Kwagga pan and got to see some really great sightings of Zebra and wildebeest as well as warthog drinking at the waterhole. We made our way back to the camp around lunch time in order for the group to enjoy a relaxing afternoon shopping and having some down time. The group enjoyed another good meal in the restaurant, before making there way back to there chalets and off to bed.


The following morning, it was up early and after packing all the bags and enjoying tea and coffee we made our way out of the camp and back onto the road to see what we could find on route to the camp of Pretoriuskop were the group would have there final breakfast before leaving the park on route back to Johannesburg. We left the park at about 10h30 after experiencing a quite morning aboard the op-en safari vehicles. After arriving in Nelspruit, we changed vehicles into our transfer buses and made our way in the direction of Johannesburg.


Feedback from the group was that they had an awesome time, enjoyed all the game drives and the information they received while on safari and all want to return to experience another safari. All of the group have friends and family wanting to come to South Africa in the next year so we can expect some really good safaris next year from them.


Anna and friends, it was really good hosting your group in the Kruger National Park on safari and we hope it is not too long before we are able to meet again on another adventure to the great Kruger National Park. 

Thursday 1 September 2011

800 - 1000 Buffalo going down to drink at Mahlemale dam in the Kruger National Park.

A large herd of buffalo making there way down to the water to drink while on safari with Nhongo Safaris in the Kruger national Park.



Kruger Park Safari with Mr and Mrs Vis 3rd - 7th August 2011

Mr and Mrs Vis were picked up in Johannesburg and transferred through to Nelspruit and then on to the Numbi gate of the Kruger National Park. After check in procedures were completed at the gate, the guests made there way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop were they were checked into there accommodation and given chance to enjoy some lunch, before departing on there first game drive at 15h30. Theodore and Danielle Vis joined Alysha and Gerard for the afternoon game drive. Guests got to see great sightings of elephant, rhino and lots of plains game. We arrived back at camp just in time before the gates of the camp closed for the night. Guests enjoyed a great meal in the camps restaurant, before it was off to bed for a good nights sleep before having to get up early the following morning for a new days game drives.  



The following morning it was again up early and after enjoying tea and coffee, it was out on the road to see what we could find. We made our way up to the picnic spot of "Tshokwane", were the guests enjoyed breakfast before continuing on with our game drive on route for the camp of Lower Sabie. Guests had a good days game viewing and enjoyed one of the warmer days experienced, showing us that we were not far from summer.
We arrived back at the camp in the late afternoon after which guests enjoyed a good dinner in the restaurant before getting to bed early for the following morning would again be an early one.

The next day was spent driving around the Kruger National Park looking for that elusive leopard that we were still shorting and after a good day out came into the camp early as the guests were going out on there night drive. Guests enjoyed an early dinner and left on there game drive at 19h00. 

The following morning we left camp at 06h00 after enjoying tea and coffee. We had decided to go down the Napi road and see what was going on, before having to return to camp for breakfast and say goodbye to Alysha and Gerard that were returning to Johannesburg airport in order to fly out of South Africa. The morning was quite slow with good sightings of rhino's, elephant and buffalo being seen. After breakfast and Alysha and gerard leaving on there transfer back to Johannesburg we decided to take a run down to the camp of Skukuza. Not much was encountered on this run. We stopped off at skukuza for lunch and as we were leaving the camp, we got a message of a leopard lying next to the road on the Kruger Gate tar. we decided to make our way in that direction and were met by a large number of vehicles around the sighting. We struggled to find the leopard as he had moved further into the bush watching some impala feeding close by. This proved to be a difficult sighting, however the guests did get to see him lying in the long grass. We made our way back to camp, arriving late afternoon. Guests had a good meal in the camps restaurant and were off to bed as they were quite tired from the long days being experienced on the open safari vehicles.

The next morning, it was on the road again at 06h00 after enjoying tea and coffee. We made our way down Napi and onto Kwagga Pan were found a pride of lions that were lying up for the day. However one of the females set out to try and catch some wildebeest and impala, however she being unsuccessful made a great sighting. She however came once or twice quite close to the vehicle so the guests got some great photos of the lioness. We ended up having a really good day of game viewing in the park with quite a number of species that were seen. We made our way back to camp in order for the guests to have a bit of a rest, before going out on the night drive. The guests enjoyed there meal in the restaurant and also enjoyed there night drive on the open safari vehicle.


The next morning it was time to pack everything as we were making our way back to Johannesburg in order for the guests to carry on  down to Cape town. The mornings game drive was good with many sightings being experienced before enjoying breakfast. We left the park at about 10h00 and made our way to the city of Nelspruit were we changed over to our transfer vehicle and made our way to Johannesburg arriving late afternoon.


Guests feedback was that they had a wonderful time, saw lots of animals and got lots of photographs and will also be returning to do another safari in the Kruger National Park in the future.

Video Clip of a Leopard Sighting from the last Safari to the Kruger National Park.

Below is a Nhongo Safaris video clip of a leopard sighting got close to Mahlemale Dam in the Kruger National Park.



Kruger Park Safari with Alysha Bourne and Gerard Radisson from the 1st to the 5th August 2011

We picked up Alysha and Gerard in Johannesburg and made our way eatwards from Johannesburg to the city of Nelspruit. We changed over to one of our open safari vehicles and made the final leg of the journey to the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National park. Upon finishing  check inn procedures at the gate, we made our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop where we were going to stay for the next four nights. After checking inn and giving guests time to have lunch, we left on the first game drive at about 15h30.
While out on the game drive guests got to see good sightings of impala, kudu, buffalo, rhino and elephant. We got back to camp at 18h00 just before the camp gates closed.
After a good dinner in the camps restaurant, it was off to bed for a good nights rest.


The following morning, it was up early and after enjoying tea and coffee we left camp on route for the "Nkhulu" picnic spot where we would have some good breakfast. On route to breakfast, guests got to see good sightings of rhino, buffalo, elephant and lion. After enjoying a good breakfast the rest of the day was spent doing game drives through out the park. We arrived back to camp late afternoon and after a short rest, got together in the restaurant for a good dinner, before retiring to bed for a good nights sleep. 


The following morning it was again up early and after enjoying tea and coffee, it was out on the road to see what we could find. We made our way up to the picnic spot of "Tshokwane", were the guests enjoyed breakfast before continuing on with our game drive on route for the camp of Lower Sabie. Guests had a good days game viewing and enjoyed one of the warmer days experienced, showing us that we were not far from summer.
We arrived back at the camp in the late afternoon after which guests enjoyed a good dinner in the restaurant before getting to bed early for the following morning would again be an early one.


Day 4 was spent driving around the Kruger National Park looking for that elusive leopard that we were still shorting and after a good day out came into the camp early as the guests were going out on there night drive. Guests enjoyed an early dinner and left on there game drive at 19h00. 


The next morning it was up early again and after enjoying tea and coffee and packing all the baggage it was out on the guests final game drive before breakfast. The game drive was a slow one with very little being seen due to the cold morning experienced. We returned to the camp of Pretoriuskop for breakfast after which the guests left in there transfer vehicle for johannesburg. 
Guests had a good time, and would like to return sometime on another safari to the Kruger National Park.

Monday 22 August 2011

Kruger Park Safari with Jim, Adrian and Ben Fama 20th - 24th July 2011

Jim and Family were picked up in Johannesburg and transferred via Nelspruit to the Kruger National Park. After completing check in proceedures at the Numbi Gate we made our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop were the group would stay for the first night. After checking in and giving the group chance to have some lunch we made our way out on a game drive at 15h30. We took a drive down the Napi Road and found some good sightings of elephant, rhino, impala and Kudu. We returned back to camp at 17h30 after which a good dinner was enjoyed by everybody.  


The following morning, it was up early and after packing all of the luggage and enjoyed some tea and coffee before we left on the mornings game drive. We left camp and made our way down the Napi road towards the Sabie River. The mornings game drive was found to be a little cold and so fewer sightings were experienced. We made our way down to Nkulu for breakfast and after a good break we started making our way back in the direction of Numbi gate to drop off Jenna and Sam that were leaving us that morning. We reached the camp of Pretoriuskop just before lunch after having good sightings of elephant, rhino, lion and many other good sightings. Jim, Adrian and Ben decided to stay at the camp to have some lunch while I took Jenna and Sam down to the gate to get there transfer back to Johannesburg and for me to pick up the next group of twenty four that were coming into the park on a four day safari with some of our other guides assisting me. After the group had enjoyed a lunch break we were back on the road and making our way towards skukuza on the napi road when a radio message was received about a possible sighting of lions on the Marula Loop. Benno decided to go for these lions and would keep elcana and myself informed as to what was going on. We carried on making our way down the napi road getting good sightings of rhino and elephant as well as buffalo. We got closer to the camp of Skukuza and soon found ourselves on the way towards Marula Loop. It was not long before Benno let us know that he had the lions in front of him and that we should hurry as they were being chased by a breeding herd of elephants. The pace increased slightly in order to get there a little bit quicker. It was not long before we parked at the sighting with the large pride of lions sound asleep as they had used a large amount of energy trying to get away from the elephants. A great sighting was enjoyed and after being there about 20 minutes, we decided to move out to give other people chance to see the lions. We made our way back to the tar road and as Benno anf myself came onto the Mutlemuvie Bridge, we saw a young leopard female standing right next to the bridge. This was a fantastic sighting, and as we watched we managed to raise Elcana on the radio and get the message through to him about the leopard.
He moved away from the lion sighting and it was not long before he had arrived at the sighting and also managed to get a good sighting of her as well.
We finally began our trip back to the camp of Skukuza in high spirits as the group had only just arrived 4 hours ago and they had already seen the Big 5. This was awesome stuff. 


The next morning, it was up early and after the group had enjoyed tea and coffee it was onto the open safari vehicles for a three hour game drive before breakfast. We made our way in the direction of Tshokwane and after benno had checked the marula loop to see if the previous days lions were still not there we decided to push on to the Manlimahle Dam, as Elcana and myself were pulling into the dam, we got a message from Benno that he had lion just of the bridge befor Olifant's Drinkgat. We turned around and made our way in that direction. As we were not to far behind we reached the area in about five minutes and were met by a sighting of one female and two cubs playing in the grass next to the bridge. While on this sighting, we received another message this time from one of the parks officials that there were eight lions busy hunting about 10 km's up the Tshokwane tar road. We decided to go for the. After a bit of an intensive drive to get there, we got there as the eight female lions were lining up on some impala close by. However the impala saw them before the female lions could get any closer. Another good sighting was enjoyed as the females made there way back to the dam walking right past our open safari vehicles. We decided to turn around and make our way back to the camp in order that the group could enjoy breakfast. On route back we came across a good rhino bull making his way to the road as well as a good herd of elephants. We got back to the camp of Skukuza at about 09h00 were the group enjoyed breakfast, before leaving again at 10h30 for another game drive. We made our way out of the camp of Skukuza and planned to take a southerly direction as all we were looking for now was wild dog and cheetah. Some of us took the S114 and others went down the H3, and it was not long before one of the other open safari vehicles let us know of a wild dog sighting on the Randspruit road. We decided to make our way in that direction. Benno was the first to arrive on the sighting and let us know that they were two meters off the road and lying down sleeping. It was about another ten minutes before we arrived on the scene and managed to get some good photos as they were now sitting up as the vehicles were close by. After this good sighting we made our way to the picnic spot called "Afsaal"for lunch. After lunch we took a drive back to Skukuza getting many good sightings of elephant and rhino as well as buffalo on route.


The next morning, it was time for tea and coffee and then it was out on the road. We decided tp take a run up the Napi Road and then down watergat and back to skukuza on the Doispane and Paul Kruger Gate main road before breakfast. The morning drive started quitely with little other than rhino and elephant seen all the way down the "Watergat Road". As we turned onto the Doispane road with Benno being a little in front of us, elcana managed to spot a leopard sitting at the base of the tree. We called Benno back and as he was making his way back the leopard started walking towards the road. We tried everything in our power to stop her from moving over the road before Benno got there, but we were unable to. As she ran across the road in front of us we could hear Benno's vehicle coming behind us. We decided to stay in the area to try and find her for Benno's guests. As it was to be, we did not have to wait long before this wonderful little female leopard climbed into a marula tree and lay there for all to see her. After this wonderful sighting, we made our way back to camp for breakfast. After a good bush breakfast and hearing on the radio that our leopard was still lying in the tree, we decided to make our way in a South Easterly direction on to the camp of Lower Sabie. We took a good drive down coming across a number of breeding elephant herds some great rhino sightings as well as buffalo crocodile and hippo's. We also came across another pride of lions that had just killed an Impala eating next to the road. about one km further on we came across another leopard sighting with it too eating an impala in the sausage tree.  We finally arrived and stopped off at Lower Sabie and after a good break for lunch started our run back to the camp. We managed to pass the large numbers of vehicles that had started to back up when we saw the lions and the leopard and continued in the direction of Skukuza. Not long after passing by the high water bridge, we came upon a large number of cars in what looked like a traffic jam, upon closer inspection we found more lions lying in the river bed on the rocks enjoying the late afternoon sun shine. After enjoying this good sighting, we carried on in the direction of Skukuza. As we got past the entrance to the Bravo loop, something moved in the grass on top of the sand bank in the middle of the river, and after turning towards it to see what it was, we found more lions lying looking at us from the sand bank. This brought the total of lions in the two and a half days on safari to thirty six. Everybody was happy to get back to camp and have some rest time, but all were very happy how the safari had turned out this year. After a good dinner, it was off to bed so that everybody could have a good nights rest before another early start the following morning before breakfast and then the long journey home to Johannesburg.

The following morning after the groups final game drive, the group enjoyed breakfast at the Pretoriuskop camp restaurant and then it was out of the park on route to Johannesburg.

Feedback from the group was that they had a wonderful time, saw loads of animals and look forward to coming back to us for another safari in the future.