On Safari With Mark From 2 June 2014

2 June 2014

Route: Doispan - Napi - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, kudu, warthog, giraffe, elephant, rhino, waterbuck

Highlights: On our way to camp, we came across a massive herd of buffalo, all blocking the road. This was a fantastic sighting as there was males, females and calf’s all in the road. Guests got great photos

 

3 June 2014

Route: Napi - Elloff - Lower sabi - Elloff - Napi - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, waterbuck, kudu, common duiker, warthog, bushbuck, chackma baboon, vervet monkeys, hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffalo, elephants and rhino

Highlights: On Elloff we had 3 juvenile male lions come walking towards us. All 3 of them past our vehicle approximately 3m from us. Guests got photos and we decided to leave them as other cars were following them and this would disturb them if traffic builds up.

Approximately 2kms from lower sabie we found a journey of 17giraffe all spending time eating the acacia trees that lined the riverbed. Brilliant to see so many together.

We still looking for a great pride of lions and that allusive leopard.

 

4 June 2014

Route: Nkambeni - Albaseni - Doispan - Tshokwane tar – Satara

General animals seen: impala, kudu, waterbuck, blue wildbeest, giraffe, zebra, warthog, hippos, crocodiles, bushbuck, nyala, ostriches, baboons, vervet monkeys, steenbok, common duiker, Cape buffalo, rhinos and elephant.

Highlights: On our way up to Satara we found a female cheetah with her 5 cubs walking parallel with the road. Great to see how the little ones follow her, but still keep to the safety of running from bush to bush in pursuit of their mom. Guests got lovely photos and video of this.

 

5 June 2014

Route: Satara - S100 - S41 - S90 - Satara - H1-4 - Olifants - H1-4 - Satara

General animals seen:  impala, kudu, waterbuck, blue wildbeest, giraffe, zebra, warthog, hippos, crocodiles, bushbuck, nyala, baboons, vervet monkeys, steenbok, common duiker, Cape buffalo, rhinos and elephant.

Highlights: We drove down the S100 in search of the local pride of lions but found nothing, as we were discussing how the book says this is "Cat country" and how wrong they are, so popped out a lioness right in front of us. Both ladies enjoyed this and could get great photos.

On our return to Satara we found 3 different sightings of black backed jackals and once again enjoyed these all to ourselves.

In the afternoon we spotted a female leopard, stalking an impala. This was great to see as she didn't worry about us but focused only on the prey insight. She exposed herself to quickly and lost the chase but great video was captured by our guests.

 

6 June 2014

Route: Satara - H7 - Orpen gate

General animals seen: impala, kudu, waterbuck, blue wildbeest, giraffe, zebra, warthog, hippos, crocodiles, ostriches, baboons, monkeys, steenbok, common duiker, Cape buffalo, rhinos and elephant.

 

Highlights: On our way out of the park we got to see a beautiful elephant bull enjoying the apple leaf tree as a back scratch.

As we exited the park on our way to moholoholo, we spotted a male leopard walking along the fence and could pull off and watch this fantastic cat for one last time. Just goes to show it's not over until it's over.

 

More coming soon!!