Kruger National Park Safari with Mr and Mrs De Brujn from the 7th - 15th Febuary 2010

Clients were picked up at Phalaborwa after there flight from Johannesburg. This was a nine day safari starting in the North of the Park and finishing in the Southern section of the park in the camp of Pretoriukop. We entered the Kruger Park through the Phalaborwa gate and made our way to Letaba for a break before continuing on to the Camp of Shingwedzi. On route we came across some nice elephant, Zebra and Impala. Just outside of Letaba we ran into our first big herd of buffalo just above the Letaba river. About 10 Km's from Letaba on route to Shingwedzi we came across some Ostrich that was standing right next to the road. We continued or travels onto the camp of Shingwedzi finding good buffalo, elephant, impala, hyena and aso stopping off for some wonderful photos of the large Baobab trees found in the northern section of the park.
After dinner, it was off to bed as we had an early start en route to the most northern camp of  Punda Maria.


The next day after enjoying tea and coffee, we made our way out of Shingwedzi and when turning onto the main road, we came across some hyena together with some pups lying in the road. After spending some time at this sighting we continued our trip northwards in the hope of finding some of our larger elephants that are known to inhabit this area. Well our wait was not to long, as we came across quite a number of the large tuskers found in this area. We also got good shots of some of the many bird species found in this area much to the delight of the guests onboard. We made our way to the camp of Punda Maria for breakfast. After breakfast we found a huge buffalo bull near the water, he was quite skittish but guests managed to get good photos non the less.
We made our way in an easterly direction finding large numbers of elephant and buffalo as well as some really good birds of prey. On the road back to camp we came across a Blackbacked Jackal walking in the road, this guy was not too worried about us as he was hunting and trying to find something to eat. We arrived back at the camp of Shingwedzi again at 14h00. Clients decided to take a rest and we would go out again at 16h00. We took a late afternoon drive out of camp and came across some more hyena, baboons and some birds of prey. We decided to make our way to one of the bird hides in the area of the Shingwedzi river in order to see what was going on over there. Upon our arrival we were met by a sighting of Hippos in the river busy playing around and quite a large number of different bird species. We also got to see some white backed vultures on the opposite bank of the river busy taking a drink. Soon it was time to make our way back to camp as the gates were going to close for the night, but as we neared the camp we came upon a saddlebilled stork near a waterhole. This guy was busy posing for the camera, and as we have so few of them in thhe park, we decided to stay for a couple of minutes to watch him. We eventually got back to camp with one minute to spare. After dinner clients decided to have an early night as it wasup early the next day to make our way to the camp of Letaba.

The next morning saw us leaving camp early at 05h30 and making our way in a southerly direction on the Kanniedood road and later on the S50. We were lucky to get good sightings of giraffe, elephant, Zebra, kudu and many different birds of prey. We stopped off at the Nyawutsi bird hide for an hour or so, and had some wonderful sightings of red billed quillia, masked weavers, woodland kingfishers etc. We then carried on taking a drive to the Shibavantsengele lookout for a view of the park from the Lebombo mountains. We carried on coming upon a sighting b etween the Nshawu and Nshawu no3 waterholes of a dead female buffalo with a fetus hanging out covered with Whiteback, cape, and lappedfaced vultures busy feeding on her. This was quite a sight, as she must have died while in the process of giving birth. The carcass was so fresh that there were no lions or any predetors to be seen in the area. After about an hour + we took our leave of this sighting been the only vehicle on it and carried onto the camp of Letaba. We had a wonderful sighting of large group of male elephants at the middelvlei waterhole and reservoir. Close to the camp of Letaba, we got good sightings of buffalo, waterbuck, impala and bushbuck which are quite common in the area. The afternoon was spent in the camp as guests were feeling quite tired from the days events. After a good dinner, clients went to bed in order to get an early start in the morning. 

After packing the vehicle the following morning and enjoying a cup of coffe and tea, we were on the road again bound for the camp of Olifants and then onto the camp of Satara were we would spend the next two nights. The road between Letaba and Olifants was quite with only good sightings of Elephant, and Hippo together with some good stops at the different lookout points along the way. We arrived at the Olifants camp looking forward to breakfast and the wonderful view that can be experienced from the camp. After breakfast we made our way onto the S90 in a southerly direction towards Satara. We came across large herds of Zebra, Wildebeest and white storks that come to South Africa for the summer season. We also had more sightings of waterbuck, stenbuck and kudu. We arrived at Satara at about lunch time as there heat of the day was peaking at about 38 degrees and clients were feeling the heat. We left camp again at about 16h00 and took a drive down the H6 towards the N'wanetsi picnic spot, also picking up buffalo, elephant, zebra, wildebeest and Kudu. We arrived back at camp just before the gates closed. Clients enjoyed a good buffet dinner and the had drinks on the stoep outside the restaurant overlooking the small waterhole outside the camp. 

The following morning it was off and out of the camp when the gates opened, we made our way northwards on the H1 and then turned onto the Ntomeni road making our way down onto the S39 untill it reached the H7, this proved to be a quite strech ofroad that morning with only elephant and hyena as well as lots of lion spoor on the road. Upon reachin g the H7, we turned back in the direction of the Satars camp in order to go back for breakfast, while traveling along, we came upon a sighting of more than 100 elephants bathing in the Nsemani Dam. This was quite a sighting and we stayed in this area for almost an hour watching this spectacle.

We watched this sighting for quite a time as we saw more herds of elephant coming down to drink and take a bath that we were  nearly late for breakfast, but the clients did not mind as this was something seldom seen. Finally we made our way back to the camp for breakfast and a well deserved break. We left camp towards the south and turned onto the Sweni road and then down s36 returning to the H1-3 on the s125. We picked up elephant, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest as well as many of the smaller antelope species. We made our way back to the camp for a well deserved rest before the guests would go out on there night drive. Guests left the camp of Satara on their night drive, getting good sightings of rhino, buffalo, elephant as well as lion and two leopard cubs close to the road. These sightings were enjoyed by all.


The next morning it was out of camp bright and early after packing the vehicle and to move out in a southerly direction bound for the camp of Skukuza (the main camp of the park). The road was very quite and so we drove in to the picnic spot at Tshokwane for breakfast quite early. After breakfast we made our way down on the H10 were we had good sighings of elephant, buffalo, impala, kudu, warthog and waterbuck. We also stopped off at the Nkumbe lookout spot for a time just to sit and listen to all the different bird sounds in the area. After making a stop off at the camp of Lower Sabie, we took a look at the sunset dam. Upon reaching the dame, we found large pods of hippos and crocodiles as well as many bird species. We continued on to Skukuza finding some lions lying on the opposite side of the sabie river, a little too distant to get any good photos. further along the road many elephant, buffalo and rhino sightings were enjoyed. We arrived at camp mid afternoon having enjoyed the day immensely.

We took a drive later in the afternoon along the river where many good sightings were experienced and many good sightings of birds were found.


The following morning it was time to pack up and leave for the camp of Pretoriukop which would be the home of the guests for the last two nights of the safari. We had a good morning traveling around the area of Skukuza and then making our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop. We went out on an afternoon drive, had some good sightings but did not find anything new out there. After a good dinner, it was off to bed as it was  valentines day the following day and clients were going to have a special dinner. 

It was out early as usual as clients by this time were quite used to the early mornings. We took a drive down the napi road in the direction of Skukuza in order to have breakfast at the Nkulu picnic spot. We turned onto the H3 and a short way down came upon 2 lions walking in the road. After this good sighting, we decided to go for breakfast and come back later in order to try and find them again. After breakfast we went back into the area and came upon a male and female breading pair of lions.

This was areally good sighting only that we had to share it with many other open safari vehicles. By this time, we had been quite used to being at sightings on our own were we could spend hours just watching and discussing the developments as they occurred. Clients were also happy to finally get some good photos of the lions that had proved to be pretty illusive up until now. We made our way back to camp in high spirits, and after taking a well deserved rest, we were back on the road for a final afternoon drive. After a good drive, clients had a loverly Valentines day dinner in the camp restaurant before retiring for the night.

The next morning, it was up early for a final game drive before returning to the camp for breakfast and time for the guests to pack their things before taking a drive to the nelspruit airport in order for them to pickup their hired car.


The feedback from the guests was that they had a wonderful experience that they will never forget, they enjoyed all the camps while on safari, as well as all of the accommodation, food and the organization that went into the safari. They also expressed an interest to return on another safari to the Kruger national Park in the near future.