On Safari With Amanda 6 March 2016

6 March 2016

New guests today's from America, Ken and Erin and Stéphanie from France. 

After picking up at Numbi gate we headed off to camp.

My guests were on a sunset drive leaving at 4:30 and enjoyed sightings of zebras, rhinos and buffalos and of course the glass of Amarula to watch the beautiful African sunset.

A hearty breakfast and we set off for a morning drive.

We headed to shithave dam where there were 4 separate herds of Elephants heading to the dam. An incredible sight as they ran thirstily to the water, it was amazing to see the reactions of the separate herds as they greeted each other, none were related but they showed familiarity with each other. Saddle billed storks watch a crocodile cautiously as it approached slowly to the waters edge and we watched it as it caught a fish and then retreated to the depths out of sight.

Zebras ran to edge and came with Waterbuck.  Birds seen were juvenile fish eagles, grey herons, white fronted bee eaters, European rollers and a brown snake eagle.

After lunch we went on a short drive and watched the sun go down . Admiring the amazing scenery the sun glowing on the koppies, breathtakingly beautiful and a lovely way to end another relaxing day in the Kruger Park. 

On Safari With Gert and Robbie with the Wharton University Group 5 March 2016

5 March 2016

We departed early for our morning Game Drive, amid slightly overcast conditions and a beautiful morning it was as the sunrise turned he clouds various shades of pink and orange!

Our first highlight of the morning came when we found 6 young Spotted Hyenas, about 5 months old, running down the road between den sites! They were quite skittish though and continued straight into the den and out of sight as soon as they got there.

Shortly after that we encountered a large herd of buffalo, a good few hundred strong, on both sides of the road and crossing. It was a mixed herd consisting of large males, many females and a high number of very young calves. We also encountered a high number of Elephant Bulls, some solitary, others walking together and in one instance also found a White Rhino in close proximity to some of the bull Elephant.

One of the other highlights of the morning was finding a pair of Lions, male and female, rather lazy, but lying only about 20 meters off the road. Even though they were hiding in the shade, the male had his head up for the most part and looked in our direction often enough to get a few shots and some good views!

After a stop at a nearby viewpoint, it was time to return to camp for a late breakfast and some relaxing time during which the pool proved quite popular, as the day had warmed up significantly by now.

In the afternoon we visited a couple of waterholes, where sightings was dominated by elephant, as we found 2 breeding herds and a variety of males near the herds. We also found the first Hippos of the tour and a good variety of water birds, including Saddle-billed, Wooly-necked and Black Storks! Other birds we found during the course of the day, worth a mention, was a family of Southern Ground-Hornbill as well as a Secretary Bird on the prowl for unsuspecting prey.

All in all a good variety of sightings and a very successful day!

On Safari With Amanda From 2 March 2016

2 March 2016

A beautifully cool morning in the Kruger as we set off for our morning drive.. mist covering the koppies and giving us an eerie feeling as we drove, visibility was quite bad but gave us great photo opportunities. 

We headed towards Skukuza the sun breaking through, we soon spotted a family of elephants along the way with a young elephant playing with his older siblings, very entertaining to see!

An update came in of lions at Watergat, quite a drive but plenty to see along the way, a rhino sleeping 20 meters from the road, lilac breasted rollers , impalas and zebras.

We arrived at the lion sighting and counted 15 including a few young ones, impalas alarm called as they came to drink and spotted the lions who were not interested in moving for anything.

We spent an hour watching them, do what lions do best, sleep!!!

After a visit to Skukuza for coffee we headed back to camp, temperatures expected to rise to 39° today. We saw a few cars lined up on the way and there roughly 100 m in was a cheetah! Very difficult to spot but my guests managed to see it!

We sat for a while enjoying the cheetah but eventually lost visual and headed home.

One quick loop before home and there lying gracefully was the young male leopard, completely unfazed by our presence he sat up and watched us! Always a beautiful animal to see, and when one is so relaxed even better!

A short afternoon drive gave us beautiful landscape viewing opportunities as we watched the African sun dip slowly on the horizon. 

Another fantastic day in the Kruger Park. 

On safari With Amanda From 29 February 2016

29 February 2016

A new safari with my new German guests! 

After pick up from white river we headed for Numbi Gate for our trip staying at Nkambeni camp.

My guests were on a sunset drive and returned full of Amarula and excited encounters with buffalo, zebras and Giraffe to name a few!

After supper we all retired for an early start .

1 March 2016

A filling breakfast and we were on our way!

Beautiful sunshine and a pleasant temperature greeted us along with our first spot, a juvenile black mamba on the road...very nice to see... from a distance!

We headed to shithave dam as when driving we saw a herd of at least 50+ elephants heading to the water. What an amazing sight to see them all running for water, trumpeting loudly as they ran. Some of the younger males ran in and fully submerged themselves and then play fighting with each other, there was so much happening we didn't know where to look! Zebras and Waterbuck joined the elephants all drinking thirstily from the dam.

Next came a huge herd of buffalo rushing to drink and were chased (unsuccessfully ) by the elephants. A lone saddle billed stork was also victim to the elephants and chased away!.

An update came through of a leopard close by so off we went ,it was very difficult to spot but once seen it became obvious! As with all leopard sightings the pleasure comes from just sitting and watching this beautiful cat.. so we did for an hour or so until she decided to climb down and leave us. 

A fantastic way to end a morning drive.

Afternoon drive provided us with beautiful Rhinos more buffalos zebras and impalas and a handsome young giraffe.

Tomorrow is another day and my guests are full of excitement for our day!