Kruger Park Safari with Silvano and Laura Lorenzato from the 22 - 26th May 2011

We picked up the guests from the airport and made our way in an easterly direction from Johannesburg to the city of Nelspruit were we changed our vehicle from a closed mini bus to one of our open safari vehicles.


We made our way from Nelspruit through the little town of "White River" and on the the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park. After check inn procedures we made our way down the road to the camp that would be home for the next four nights. After checking in to the camp of Pretoriuskop we had a break in order to get some lunch before departing on the guests first game drive.


We left the camp at 15h00 and made our way down the Napi road as there was a good sighting of leopard that had been seen on the road earlier in the day. Our first sighting that we came across was a good sighting of rhino walking along the road this guy allowed us to get quite  close to him. We traveled on and after seeing some good kudu and impala with a distant sighting of elephant we got into the srea were the leopard had been seen. We slowed down in order to see if he was not in the same tree as earlier but he had already left. we traveled a bit further down the road, and all of a sudden we spotted the leopard walking on the fire break busy marking his Territory. We followed him for a while and saw that he was coming closer to the road. We managed to watch this leopard for quite a time as he walked right next to our vehicle for about one kilometer. A truly wonderful sighting experienced by all.


It was then back to camp as the gates close at 17h30 during the months of winter. After guests had a good meal it was off to bed for another early start in the morning.

Guests got up early and after enjoying some tea and coffe it was off out of camp and onto the road to see what we could find. It was not long, before we ran into a good rhino sighting on the exit road to the boulder. We carried on and ran into some elephant impala kudu klipspringer and a good ground hornbill sighting.



We then made our way in the direction of Nkulu picnic spot for breakfast. After a good breakfast we got a message on the radio of some lions that had been spotted at the Mantimahle Dam, so we decided to take a ride in that direction. We manged to get to the dam still in time to get a good sighting of two lionesses and there cubs, although this was not for long as they were looking for a cooler place to rest a the day got hotter. It was not long before they made off under the trees and we decided to make our way to the camp of Skukuza for a break. Eralier I had heard of a double leopard sighting in the area of the Mutlumuvi bridge on route back to skukuza so decided to check this out only to arrive on the scene with two leopards lying under the tree in the grass. 
Although the sighting was a little difficult guests still got to enjoy the sighting. After a while there was quite a build up of traffic, so we decided to take our leave of the sighting and make our way to the camp. On route to the camp, we came across a nice sighting of "Ground Hornbills" in  the tree.


After a good break at the camp we made our way back to the camp for a good rest, before going out on another game drive later in the afternoon. Good sighting of elephant, rhino, impala and waterbuck were seen. Guests had a good dinner, and then were off to bed after a long day looking at all the animals.

The following day, it was up early and after again enjoying some early morning tea and coffee it was back on the road to see what we could find. On the morning drive on route to breakfast, we came across Elephant, Rhino, Watwerbuck, Serval Cat, Blackbacked Jackal, Klipspringer and many others. A we got closer to breakfast, we came across two lionesses and one male lion in the road in front of our vehicle on the tar road this was a very unexpected sighting, as nobody knew them to be there. After we had finished on the sighting and the lions had moved off we made our way back to camp in order for the guests to have a rest, before going out in the afternoon. the afternoon drive saw many good sightings of general game around the camp of Pretoriuskop. A good dinner was enjoyed by all, before going off to bed for a good nights rest.


The following day saw us still looking for the elusive buffalo, but taking a drive down by the Sabie river, it was not long before we had many good sightings of them. Guests also got to see three more sightings of leopard as well as good sightings of Elephant, rhino and lion.


The following day was the final early morning game drive, before guests would be picked up and transfered back to Johannesburg. Not much was seen on this drive, as it was a cold morning with only sightings of impala, kudu and waterbuck being enjoyed. After a good breakfast, it was off to the Numbi Gate to meet the  transfer vehicle with it's destination being Johannesburg.


Upon saying "Goodbye" to the guests, the feedback from them was that they really enjoyed themselves, they got to see good sightings of numerous animals and also although being on honeymoon also learnt a lot about our African Wildlife. The guests want to come back, but also have friends that will be joining us in August for a safari to the Kruger National Park.