22 March 2014
After picking up my guest from Nelspruit we headed down to Nkambeni
Tented Safari Lodge and checked in. After a bit of lunch and a bit of time to
settle in we set off on our first Safari of this tour. A very short drive
around the local area and it turned out to be a quiet drive. We had three
separate Kudu sightings as well as a sighting of five Giraffes in the distance.
We also had a nice Elephant sighting where a young Bull walked across the road
in front of us.
Although quiet my guest enjoyed her first experience of Kruger and we both hope for much more tomorrow morning.
Although quiet my guest enjoyed her first experience of Kruger and we both hope for much more tomorrow morning.
23 March
2014
We left the lodge early and started to head down Napi. A bit of a
quiet start but we did find a couple of nice Elephants close to the road, we
also saw a family of Dwarf Mongoose which scurried into the bush as we neared
them, However after we turned off the engine and waited a couple of minutes
they soon came back out onto the road. We also had sightings of Zebra and Kudu
before we turned down to Transport dam. The resident Hippos were there as well
as plenty of water birds.
As we drove back and came across two male Rhinos lying in the middle of the road and we got some great close ups of them before they wandered into the bush. We also had two sightings of Waterbuck near the dam. We then heard about a Lion sighting nearby and drove straight there. Unfortunately the Lions had decided to move into the shade of a nearby Acacia and so we only got brief glimpses as they occasionally moved around.
As we drove back and came across two male Rhinos lying in the middle of the road and we got some great close ups of them before they wandered into the bush. We also had two sightings of Waterbuck near the dam. We then heard about a Lion sighting nearby and drove straight there. Unfortunately the Lions had decided to move into the shade of a nearby Acacia and so we only got brief glimpses as they occasionally moved around.
Heading back to the lodge we had Elephant, Impala, Giraffe and
Kudu sightings as well as Vervet monkeys.
This afternoon my guest has gone out on an evening drive, with more details to follow tomorrow.
This afternoon my guest has gone out on an evening drive, with more details to follow tomorrow.
24 March
2014
Last nights Sun downer drive was enjoyed very much,
with a lovely sunset, and a tot or two of Amarula followed by sightings of
Buffalo, Rhino, Impala, Scrub Hare and an owl.
This morning we set of down Albasini where we spotted several Hippo, at Mestel Dam, as well as a tree full of Cattle Egrets as well as Impala and a brief glimpse of a Warthog. As we turned onto Doispane we found two male Lion lying in the bush , not much movement by either so we decided to carry on to Nyamundwa dam where we found a solitary 'Dagga Boy' stood in the dam at the edge. We then noticed a pod of Hippos making their way to the Buffalo, one of them moved all the way up and opened his mouth touching the Buffalo. The Buffalo didn't take kindly to this and turned around before moving slowly out of the water. He moved further along the edge before entering the water again and again one of the Hippos came up to him. This time , however the Buffalo was having none of it and stood his ground and the Hippos moved away. We watched as two more very large Hippos moved closely to the Buffalo but again he stood his ground. While all this was happening we also had a family of Vervet monkey playing and feeding in the tree next to us. We also saw an African Fish Eagle and a Crocodile at the dam.
Carrying on we spotted two White Rhinos and we spent 20 minutes sitting watching them munching away on the grass, as the Red-billed oxpeckers sat on them and the Impalas looking for Ticks. We moved back up to the Lion sighting and the two of them had moved next to each other.
Driving back down doispane we found more Impala, the Hippos and Waterbuck before we returned to the lodge for lunch.
This morning we set of down Albasini where we spotted several Hippo, at Mestel Dam, as well as a tree full of Cattle Egrets as well as Impala and a brief glimpse of a Warthog. As we turned onto Doispane we found two male Lion lying in the bush , not much movement by either so we decided to carry on to Nyamundwa dam where we found a solitary 'Dagga Boy' stood in the dam at the edge. We then noticed a pod of Hippos making their way to the Buffalo, one of them moved all the way up and opened his mouth touching the Buffalo. The Buffalo didn't take kindly to this and turned around before moving slowly out of the water. He moved further along the edge before entering the water again and again one of the Hippos came up to him. This time , however the Buffalo was having none of it and stood his ground and the Hippos moved away. We watched as two more very large Hippos moved closely to the Buffalo but again he stood his ground. While all this was happening we also had a family of Vervet monkey playing and feeding in the tree next to us. We also saw an African Fish Eagle and a Crocodile at the dam.
Carrying on we spotted two White Rhinos and we spent 20 minutes sitting watching them munching away on the grass, as the Red-billed oxpeckers sat on them and the Impalas looking for Ticks. We moved back up to the Lion sighting and the two of them had moved next to each other.
Driving back down doispane we found more Impala, the Hippos and Waterbuck before we returned to the lodge for lunch.
Late afternoon we went back out for a short drive
spotting Hippo, Impala, Kudu, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe and a very inquisitive
family of Dwarf Mongoose who came right up to the car and started looking up at
us, even lovelier were the baby Dwarf Mongooses who were just as brave as their
parents.
25 March
2014
This morning it was time for the bush walk, accompanied by two armed
rangers the guests set off on a three hour walk in the bush. The actual walk
turned out to be a quiet affair regarding the larger mammals however this meant
more time to explore the smaller, and often forgotten, bits. The guests were
shown different spoor, how to identify it and how to decipher what it means.
They also learnt about some of the more common local trees, animal scat and
smaller animals such as the Golden orb spider. It was thoroughly enjoyable
experience and there even had sightings of Giraffe and Cape Buffalo on the
drive back.
In the afternoon we went for a drive on the way spotting Impala, Kudu, Waterbuck, Elephants and four separate sightings of White Rhino, with a total of 13 Rhino seen. As we got to the dam we slowly drove past some known Hyena dens but with no luck, we went down to the dam and turned off the engine and just sat for twenty minutes just enjoying the peaceful tranquillity the water brings. Numerous birds as well as Hippo and Waterbuck were seen. Heading back up to Napi we decided to have one more look for the Hyenas, again we drove past but nothing. As we turned around to head back to the lodge three young Hyena cubs walked across the road before disappearing into the bush. Our patience had been rewarded.
We headed back to the lodge with my guest very happy at seeing the Hyena, her ' top of my list' animal. We saw more Impala, Rhino and Kudu on the way back to the lodge.
In the afternoon we went for a drive on the way spotting Impala, Kudu, Waterbuck, Elephants and four separate sightings of White Rhino, with a total of 13 Rhino seen. As we got to the dam we slowly drove past some known Hyena dens but with no luck, we went down to the dam and turned off the engine and just sat for twenty minutes just enjoying the peaceful tranquillity the water brings. Numerous birds as well as Hippo and Waterbuck were seen. Heading back up to Napi we decided to have one more look for the Hyenas, again we drove past but nothing. As we turned around to head back to the lodge three young Hyena cubs walked across the road before disappearing into the bush. Our patience had been rewarded.
We headed back to the lodge with my guest very happy at seeing the Hyena, her ' top of my list' animal. We saw more Impala, Rhino and Kudu on the way back to the lodge.
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