On Safari with Mark Starting 1 May 2013

1 May 2013

Route: Napi - Skakuza - Doispan - Albaseni - Napi - Transport dam – Napi.

Animals seen were:

2 elephant bulls 1.2kms from Shithave Access road, Many different sightings of rhino throughout the day, 2 male lions and a lioness 1.8kms down the H3 from Napi. We spent 10min with them and then they got up and moved into the bush. 2.3kms past S65 on Doispan we had a leopard lying in a marola tree. Very good sighting of a female spotted hyena at her den. Herd of buffalo (200) near Mestal dam on Albaseni. After picking up the new clients we went for a drive down Napi. A great herd of elephant (50) on Napi just before boulders entrance was experienced. On our return towards the gate we had a buffalo bull right next to the Open Vehicle walking parallel with the road towards Numbi gate.

2 May 2013

Route: Napi - H3 - Napi - Tsokwane tar - Doispan - River link - River road - Kruger gate road - Napi - back to Nkambeni Camp.

Animals seen were:

3 spotted hyenas came running past the open vehicle on the scavenge just before shithave. A large journey (9) giraffe between boulders entrance and exit. At the flat rocks 1 male cheetah walking in the road. 2.3km from transport dam access road we found a female cheetah 20m off the road. 700m past transport access road a coalition of 4 cheetah walking parallel with the road. They made a run for some impala but all gave up very quickly as the grass is still to long and they were spotted from a distance. 3.2km down the H3 we had a distant visual of a lioness sleeping. After lunch we heard of lions at mutlamuvi bridge so went up there and found them. 2 males and a female (mating pair). Many herds of elephant seen throughout the day as well as rhino. Large herd of buffalo (100) on the tshokwane tar just before sandriver lowlevel bridge. Brilliant visuals of goshawks hovering and diving for their prey.  Mark got some brilliant photo's of  hippo's and crocs on the sabi lowlevel bridge.

3 May 2013

Route: Numbi tar - Voortrekker - H3 - Napi - Albaseni - Shabeni loop - back to camp.

Animals seen were:

Very little on voortrekker at the moment, with distant visuals of giraffe, warthog, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, kudu and small antelope like steenbok and duikers. 2.2km from afsaal on H3 we got 13 wild dog hunting next to the open vehicle. Great sighting and guests got fantastic photo's. Great rhino sightings today with them very close to the road. A herd of elephant (20) crossed over the road 1.3km from the S113. A herd of sable antelope (9) crossed albaseni 1.7km before mestal dam. At mestal dam we had 3 elephant, swimming. What a fantastic sighting.

Rhino Poaching In The Kruger National Park

#RhinoNewsUpdate: Crocbridge Rangers again made contact with a group of 3 armed poachers last night - during the contact one suspect was fatally wounded in a shoot out & a .375 hunting rifle, silencer, ammo and poaching equipment were recovered - the two remaing suspects unfortunately managed to escape back to Moz in the darkness.

Rhino News

2 #rhino poaching suspects arrested during an anti poaching patrol by rangers in Pafuri. A .458 hunting rifle, ammo, 2 rhino horns and a variety of poaching impliments were recovered during the incident.

KNP Responds To The Star Newspaper

Letter to the Star: a response to an article that appeared in the Star, 29 April 2013 titled "Rhino killings will never stop, says expert." Follow the link for the full story http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55517

Rhino Poachers Arrested In The Kruger National Park

Eight suspected poachers arrested.. Follow the link for the full story http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55516

Update on Rhino Poaching

Update on Rhino Poaching. Follow the link for the full story http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55515