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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...

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.