Kruger Park Safari with Sam Stien and Jenna Sapir from the 20th to the 24th July 2011

Sam and Jenna were picked up in Johannesburg and transfered to the Kruger Park's Numbi Gate by one of our transfer vehicles. We picked up sam and Jenna and took them down to the camp of Pretoriuskop were they would spend there first night, before we moved onto the camp of Skukuza. After a break and time to enjoy lunch, we left the camp at 15h30 on an afternoons game drive and made our way in the direction of the lions. Upon arriving at the place were we had seen the lions earlier in the day, however there was no sighn of the lions, only tell tale sighns that they had been there. We decided to make our way up the road to see if we could find more rhino and would return there later. 

We found some rhino about 10km's up the road, and after a good sighting we dedcided to reurn to see if the lions had maybe come out onto the road. as we came around the corner in the road where the lions had been we saw them coming out of the thick bush towards the road, at this stage we were the only vehicle and as the lions were walking in the opposite direction, we turned the vehicle around and followed them. After a good sighting they slowly made there way off the road and into the bush, but as they were not far from a road, we made our way down there to see if we could cut them off to get even better visuals of them. We went a short way down the road and due to the time decided it was a good thing to turn back as it was still quite a distance from the camp. We made our way back up the road and to our surprise we found the lions lying on top of the rocks not too far off the road. After we had enjoyed a good sighting, it was off back to Pretoriuskop camp arriving about 10 minutes after gate closing time. Everybody was in high spirits due to the good lion sighting and after a good dinner, it was off to bed for a good nights sleep.

The next morning it was up early again and after packing the bags as we were moving camp to Skukuza, after enjoying tea and coffee, we left camp for the final full day game drive. The morning started off slowly with good sightings of rhino, elephant and buffalo. We took a drive through to the picnic spot "Tshokwane" were we enjoyed breakfast and even had a vervet monkey steal some jam off the plate. Afterwards we left and took a drive down the H10 getting good sightings of rhino, elephant with also large herds of Zebra and Wildebeest being seen as well. We stopped off at the camp of Lower Sabie for a break and then took a drive to "Sunset Dam" were we stopped off to watch large numbers of crocodiles and hippos. Some good bird species were also seen at the dam. We left "Sunset Dam" and drove back in the direction of Skukuza coming past "Millenium Dam", we got a good sighting of giraffe drinking and a white rhino wallowing in the mud. Some great photos were got by everybody. All the way back to Skukuza. Guests had a good break for the rest of the afternoon, as Juliet was going on her night drive that left at 20h00 and returned at 22h00. We enjoyed dinner at the restaurant prior to Juliet going on the night drive, and once she had left everybody went off to have a good nights sleep, before the early start the following day.

The following morning, it was up early and after packing everything and enjoying tea and coffee, we left the camp and made our way down to the river and onto Nkhulu picnic spot for breakfast. Between Skukuza and breakfast, numerous numbers of elephant, buffalo and impala were seen. After enjoying breakfast down at the river, we slowly made our way back in the direction of Skukuza and then onto the camp of Pretoriuskop were a short stop was made, before making our way to the gate for Juliets transfer. After Juliet had left and all goodbyes had been said, it was off to Pretoriuskop for a break before going on  an afternoons game drive. We checked into Pretoriuskop and had a chance to get some lunch. We left camp at 15h30 and took a drive down the Napi Road. Good sightings of elephant, rhino and buffalo were seen before making our way into the camp just in time before the gates closed for the night.


The following morning, it was up early and after enjoying tea and coffee it was out of camp to see what we could find. The day was spent driving around the park seeing as many good sightings as possible. great sightings of lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and the ever present impala were found. Also got to see some elephant herds really close up as they made there way down to the Sabie river to drink water. We got back to camp late in the afternoon before the gates of the camp closed for the night. Guests enjoyed a good dinner and then it was off to bed to get a good night sleep.


The following day, it was out early and as guests were going out on there night drive, we decided to get back to the camp early in order for them to have a good rest prior to going out on  there night safari at 19h00. A good day was spent game viewing in the park and we returned at lunch time in order that they could enjoy lunch. The afternoon was spent walking around the camp and looking at some of the birds with Sam trying to catch every skink he could lay his eyes on. The guests enjoyed an early dinner in order for them to go out on there night safari. The guests left at 19h00 and found rhino, elephant and buffalo as well as white tailed mongoose and a number of Giant Spotted Eagle Owls and Scrub Hares.


The following morning, it was up early and as it was the guests last day we packed the vehicle and moved out of camp for the final drive. We made our way to the Nkhulu Picnic Spot for breakfast and after enjoying there final bush breakfast and watching baboons terrorize people who were trying to cook there breakfast, we made our way in the direction of the Numbi Gate for Sam and Jenna to catch there transfer back to johannesburg. We arrived back at the gat at around 13h00, just in time to meet there shuttle back to Johannesburg.


Guests were very reluctant to leave the Kruger National Park as they said they really had a good time, and are wanting to come back and have another safari in the near future. We at Nhongo Safaris would like to wish Sam and Jenna all the best in there studies at University and we look forward to you guys coming back to see and visit us again. 

Photo taken while on Kruger Park Safari with Juliet, Jenna and Sam

Below is a nice photo of a cheetah taken on the H3 in the Kruger National Park. If you are wanting to see more photos of this safari, you can do so by visiting our Flickr account

Kruger Park Safari with Juliet Watson from the 14th to the 18th July 2011

We picked up Juliet at the University of Pretoria and transferred her through to Nelspruit, where we changed from our closed microbus into one of our open safari vehicles. After the short trip via White River, we reached the Numbi gate of the Kruger National Park. After check in procedures, and a safari briefing we made our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop where we were going to stay for the first two nights. Upon reaching the camp and checking in, guests were given the time to enjoy lunch and have a short rest before leaving on there first game drive at 15h30. The first afternoons game drive was a slow affair as there was a huge number of visiting South African in the park due to the South African School holidays. Although this was the case, we still managed to find rhino and elephant as well as a good number of impala, kudu and zebra.

We returned to camp at 17h30 in time before the gates of the camp closed for the night.

After enjoying a good meal in the camps restaurant, it was off to bed in order to get a good nights rest before having to get up early the next morning to leave on the days game drive.

The next morning, it was up early and due to the weather the previous day we had decided to leave about a half an hour later to give it time to warm up so the animals could be out for us when on the game drive. We enjoyed tea and coffee at about 06h30, and left on the game drive at 06h45. We drove down the Napi road,but we were soon alerted to a sighting of twenty one lions at the transport dam (The same dam were the "Battle in Kruger" was filmed.) we decided to make our way in that direction. It was not long before we reached the dam and got to see a large pride of lions on the opposite side of the dam. After a good sighting and being able to watch them for nearly forty minutes, we received another call to say that some of the other open safari vehicles had found a cheetah lying on the termite mound next to the road. We watched for quite a while and then the cheetah suddenly got up, marked some territory and went and stood right behind our vehicle. He suddenly crossed over the road and started crouching as if wanting to charge down something. It was not long before some impala crossed his path, but alas they were to far away for a chase. After a while, we decided to make our way onto breakfast at the Nkhulu Picnic Spot. After a good breakfast, it was off again to find those elusive animals. We managed to get good sightings of rhino, elephant, buffalo and many of the antelope species as well as good sightings of numerous birds, but the cats still eluded us. We returned to camp in the late afternoon, and enjoyed a good dinner and then it was off to bed as everybody felt tired from a long day aboard the open safari vehicle.

The following morning, it was off at the same time as the day before after having enjoyed tea and coffee. Numerous animals were spotted during the day. Upon taking the Napi road back to the camp in the afternoon, we came across a pride of lions lying next to the road. We had a good sighting of the lions and decided to come back later to see if we could perhaps find them walking on the road. we left the camp on an afternoons game drive and made our way in the direction of the lions. Upon arriving at the place there was no sighn of the lions, only tell tale sighns that they had been there. We decided to make our way up the road to see if we could find more rhino and would return there later. 

We found some rhino about 10km's up the road, and after a good sighting we dedcided to reurn to see if the lions had maybe come out onto the road. as we came around the corner in the road where the lions had been we saw them coming out of the thick bush towards the road, at this stage we were the only vehicle and as the lions were walking in the opposite direction, we turned the vehicle around and followed them. After a good sighting they slowly made there way off the road and into the bush, but as they were not far from a road, we made our way down there to see if we could cut them off to get even better visuals of them. We went a short way down the road and due to the time decided it was a good thing to turn back as it was still quite a distance from the camp. We made our way back up the road and to our surprise we found the lions lying on top of the rocks not too far off the road. After we had enjoyed a good sighting, it was off back to Pretoriuskop camp arriving about 10 minutes after gate closing time. Everybody was in high spirits due to the good lion sighting and after a good dinner, it was off to bed for a good nights sleep.


The next morning it was up early again and after packing the bags as we were moving camp to Skukuza, after enjoying tea and coffee, we left camp for the final full day game drive. The morning started off slowly with good sightings of rhino, elephant and buffalo. We took a drive through to the picnic spot "Tshokwane" were we enjoyed breakfast and even had a vervet monkey steal some jam off the plate. Afterwards we left and took a drive down the H10 getting good sightings of rhino, elephant with also large herds of Zebra and Wildebeest being seen as well. We stopped off at the camp of Lower Sabie for a break and then took a drive to "Sunset Dam" were we stopped off to watch large numbers of crocodiles and hippos. Some good bird species were also seen at the dam. We left "Sunset Dam" and drove back in the direction of Skukuza coming past "Millenium Dam", we got a good sighting of giraffe drinking and a white rhino wallowing in the mud. Some great photos were got by everybody. All the way back to Skukuza. Guests had a good break for the rest of the afternoon, as Juliet was going on her night drive that left at 20h00 and returned at 22h00. We enjoyed dinner at the restaurant prior to Juliet going on the night drive, and once she had left everybody went off to have a good nights sleep, before the early start the following day.


The following morning, it was up early and after packing everything and enjoying tea and coffee, we left the camp and made our way down in the direction of the Sabie River for the last time before going in for breakfast, . After breakfast, we started our drive to the gate in order for Juliet to meet her transfer back to Johannesburg.


Feedback from the guests were that they had a wonderful time although they did not get to see a leopard, and will be back in the near future to do another safari to the Kruger National Park with us. Juliet was taken back to her guest house for two nights and then was flying on to Tanzania to visit a friend stating there.

A Photo of a Giraffe at the Waterhole

A nice photo of a giraffe at the waterhole while on safari in the Kruger National Park.

Some Photos Taken With The Gielens Party While on Safari in the Kruger National Park from the 29th - 2nd July 2011

Below are some photos taken while on safari with the Gielens Party to the Kruger National Park.

Kruger Park Safari with the Gielens Party from the 29th June through to the 2nd July 2011

We picked up the Gielens party at the Holiday Inn in Pretoria and transferred them through to Nelspruit were we changed from our closed vehicle into one of our open safari vehicles. We traveled via white river to the Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park. After check in procedures and a safety briefing, we traveled to the camp of Pretoriuskop were we would stay for the duration of the safari. Upon entering the park, we heard of a lion kill on the Voortrekker road so decided to go there first before going to camp in order to get some good photos prior to the South African public getting there who were on school holidays, so the park was very full. We found the kill quite easily as it was in the middle of the road. We spent around two hours at the kill, before deciding that we would make our way to the camp for a break prior to taking another short game drive.  

The next afernoon game drive was a lot peaceful with good sightings of elephant and rhino. 

Upon returning to the camp, a good dinner was enjoyed and then it was off to bed for a good nights rest.


Next morning it was up early and after enjoying tea and coffee it was off to see what we could see. We took a drive down the Napi road and got good sightings of rhino, buffalo, elephant, wildebeest and zebra as well as many good impala sightings. We went on to the picnic spot on Nkulu for breakfast and spent the rest of the day on game drives in the park, arriving back at camp in the late afternoon. A great dinner was enjoyed by all.


The following morning it was up early again and after enjoying tea and coffee, we left the camp to see what we could find. A good days game viewing was enjoyed by all. Great photo opportunities were had through out the day to get some really good photos of animals in the park. Upon arrival back at camp guests had a good break before joining everybody in the restaurant for dinner. After dinner was enjoyed, it was off to bed for a good nights rest.


The next morning, guests decided to get up a little later due to the early mornings experienced over the last couple of days, so only a short game drive was enjoyed  before breakfast at the camp of Pretoriuskop. After breakfast we took our leave of the park, making our way back to Nelspruit and after changing our vehicle we made our way in the direction of Pretoria, arriving at around 16h30.


Feedback from the Gielens party was that they had a wonderful time, and will be returning in the next year or so for another safari to the Kruger National Park. They were sorry that they could not stay longer, but had to return to Pretoria for a conference that they had come to South Africa for.

Kruger Park Safari with Amanda and Faye from the 21st to the 23rd June 2011

We picked up Amanda and Faye from there guest house in Kempton Park and transferred them to Nelspruit were we changed into one of our open vehicles and traveled to the Numbi gate of the Kruger National Park. After check in procedures, and a discussion on safety while game viewing on the open safari vehicle, it was off to the camp of Pretoriuskop to check into the accommodation and have some time for lunch prior to leaving on there first game drive.


We left camp at 15h30 and made our way down the Napi road were we got to see good sightings of rhino, elephant and buffalo. Upon returning back to camp, it was time to enjoy a good dinner and then it was off to bed for a good nights rest, before leaving on the full days game drive.


the following morning, it was up early, and after enjoying tea and coffee we were off out of the camp looking for what there was to see. The day was spent around the park and driving down by the Sabie River. Good sightings of rhino lion, buffalo, elephant, impala and many other species was seen. We returned late in the afternoon to the camp.
After a rest it was time to have an early dinner as Amanda and Faye were going out on a night safari that left the camp at 19h00 and returned at 21h00. Lots was seen on the drive, but with regret no cats were encountered on the night drive.


The following morning, it was time to get up early again and after enjoying tea and coffee it was time to leave camp for the final game drive before enjoying breakfast and then leaving the park for the final drive back to Johannesburg.


While on the final morning drive, few animals were encountered due to the cold weather that the park was experiencing, so it was decided to go in for an early breakfast. 
After breakfast we took a further drive on route to the gate were we found buffalo, rhino and lots of giraffe. 


We left the park at around 11h00, and made our way to Nelspruit were we changed into our closed vehicle and made our way back to Johannesburg were the guests were dropped off at the City Lodge (Airport) in Johannesburg.

Feedback from the guests was that they had a good time, and would be returning next year over the Easter period for another safari to the Kruger National Park.

A Nice photo taken of the Female Lioness looking straight at us at the Buffalo Kill

A nice photo taken of the female lioness while busy eating on the buffalo kill found on the Voortrekker Road on the 29th June 2011.

Photos taken on a Buffalo Kill Found on the Voortrekker Road on the 29th June 2011

The Female Lioness in the photos below was eating on the buffalo kill and i managed to get some good shots of her. More photos will follow after the blog post on the safari experience.