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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...

Thursday 19 June 2014

On Safari With Karen From 16 June 2014


16 June 2014

Today was the first day of a new 4-Day Tented safari. We drove the panoramic route to Numbi Gate where we already spotted impalas on the way into Nkambeni Safari Camp. After check-in we had a spot of lunch while watching 3 giraffes eating the leaves just outside the restaurant.

After some time to unpack and relax, the guests went on their sundowner safari. They had a great time, watching the sunset with a glass of amarula (or as they said: at happy hour). On the drive itself they had seen lots of scrub hares, a spotted eagle owl, buffalos, kudus and an elephant up close.

 

17 June 2014

This morning was an early start as Anne and Kathleen went on a bushwalk. They appreciated it very much, paying attention to all the small things in the bush as well as walking in the vast silence of Kruger NP. They came across many interesting things like rhino middens as well as an elephant and kudu.

In the afternoon we set out for our game drive. We took a slow drive around Fayi Loop, talking about the park and management issues like fire as part of it had been burnt. We saw impalas, zebra, waterbuck, including a beautifully horned courting male, a black shouldered kite and a giraffe on the loop.

As it was needed we took a detour past Pretoriuskops ablutions. We did have time to watch a family if dwarf mongoose play and forage on the side of the road.

We then drove down to Shithave Dam where an elephant bull greeted us on the side of the road. He kept us in suspense if he was going to cross, but he apparently wanted more audience. When about 8 other vehicles were waiting he did show us his full body size by crossing the road. A herd of waterbuck females and youngsters were relaxing on the shore. Down at the dam we sat for a while, relaxing, watching the hippo head bob up and down and counting the terrapins on the rocks (36, give or take a few).

Then it was time to make our way back, as the gates were closing for the night. We stopped at the elephant again, now chewing lazily on a sicklebush on the other side of the road with a setting sun in the background. Halfway down Numbi tar we also spotted three more giraffes silhouetted against the sunset. just before the turn-off to Nkambeni Safari Camp two buffalo bulls were grazing on the side if the road. It took a while to pass as one of them apparently studied for roadblock and practised with us. We didn't mind as we got some lovely close-up pictures. It marked the end of another lovely day!

 

18 June 2014

This morning we set off for our full day safari. Just outside the lodge we spotted a duiker which ran away almost as soon as we stopped.

We took a drive around Shabeni Koppie seeing two klipspringers, buffalos and some impalas. Down Napi we went where just around a corner a small elephant just started crossing the road in front. A youngster of about three years started chasing another car which looked very funny. He didn't dare come too close, he was just showing off. After a couple of attempts he went back to his mother on the other side and it looked like he started pushing them across as the rest of the herd was disappearing out of view. We had a great time watching him.

We then continued, spotting a large herd of kudus, brown snake eagle, a hyena cub walking past the car and a slender mongoose running across. We turned onto Watergat after a quiet spell on Napi. Here we came across some more klipspringers, a pearl spotted owlet in plain view in broad daylight, zebras, giraffes, lots of impalas and dwarf mongoose.

Lake panic was a little paradise to stop. There were hippos, crocodiles and plenty of waterbirds to keep us entertained. Then we continued to the golf club where the hippos were performing a show with lots of noises, bum biting, teeth showing and poo spreading. The warthogs walking on the golf course gave no notice.

After a nice and relaxing lunch we drove off. We spotted two large elephants on our left eating from a tree, stretching their bodies up. A youngster was on our right, but before we knew it, about ten elephants showed up from our right and were crossing as if we weren't there at all. The two already on our left made one hell of a racket about the newcomers, lots of head shaking and trumpeting and grumbling going on. But the bigger herd pushed through. As they were dry, going straight we reckoned they were on their way to Lake Panic. So we turned around and drove back. Walking towards the hide we already spotted them over the fence. They came for a mud bath. Two adults and a youngster bathed about 4m away from us and here we are watching over a thin wooden fence that would have been no match for an angry elephant. Lucky us they did not mind us watching! They spattered and played, even made us join in the mud bath when throwing it over its head and missing the body. A youngster completely submerged himself with mud and then was unable to get up out of the slippery mud until his mum or auntie helped him up. We watched until the matriarch called them to leave. It was an amazing sighting!!!

We continued on our way and saw a nyala cross. The drive back towards Nkambeni Safari Lodge gave us baboons, a hyena, a lovely kudu bull, and another herd of elephants. These elephants once again crossed the road close to our vehicle, but then they stayed in the middle of the road being a lovely roadblock. Two youngsters came to their mums to have a drink of milk while they were still munching on branches of silver cluster leaves.

On the last stretch of Napi we saw a small herd of sable. This is a rare sight! Two males were pushing and shoving, but the difference in strength between them was very obvious. With this sighting it was the end of a very busy elephant day.

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