Open Safari Vehicles used on our safaris in the Kruger National Park

                                      Above is a photo of some of our open safari vehicles used on our safaris to the kruger National Park.

Battle in Kruger Video (South Africa)

By this time everybody who is anybody that has access to the web and “Youtube” would no doubt have heard about or the term “Battle in Kruger”, well below is the word for word account of the action by the guide “Frank” who had the guests aboard his open safari vehicle on the afternoon that the video was taken of this encounter.

We as a company consider ourselves very lucky to know Frank and have him as a good friend and collegue who we work with very closely while on our safaris to the Kruger National Park.

Battle In Kruger Video 

'It was during an afternoon drive when one of my colleagues called over the radio reporting the presence of lions at a place called Transport Dam between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza.  Safari vehicles had been visiting the scene for a short stop and had left. On my arrival I found 7 lions lying on the dam wall watching a herd of buffalo drinking at the dam.

The lions were all quite young except for an adult female and I did not believe they would take on the buffalo who in any event were too far from them to approach effectively.  I decided to stay on the sighting a while, for my clients to view the buffalo at leisure, whilst they drank at the river and they then began to move away.

The adult lion female at this stage had moved off the dam wall and was lying out of sight behind a rock near where we were parked.  The buffalo started moving slowly away from the water and the young lions were lying watching them.  For some inexplicable reason the herd of buffalo led by an adult followed by another adult, followed by a calf and then the rest of the herd, started to walk onto the narrow dam wall, directly to where the young lions were lying.  The lions had no cover and I was then intrigued by the developing situation.

One of the guests asked me what I thought would happen and based on past experience I told them the lions would run away.  I had no sooner expressed this opinion than one of the lions did in fact turn and slink off out of sight.  The buffalo kept walking in single file towards the lions apparently unaware of them and the lions moved closer to one another and crouched down in a threatening posture.

When the lead buffalo was about 15-20 metres from the lions, it suddenly stopped and started tossing his head about.  At that stage everything happened so fast that I cannot recall whether the buffalo turned and started to run away or if the lioness charged and they then ran.  In any event the lions all charged the fleeing buffalo.

They ran past the two adults and jumped on the calf who fell into the dam with the lions still attached to it.  The rest of the lions were all busy attacking the buffalo calf in the water while the rest of the herd ran away.  Suddenly a huge crocodile grabbed hold of the buffalo calf and a tug-of-war ensued between the lions and the crocodile.  The lions were victorious dragging the buffalo calf out of the water and up the bank with the crocodile hanging on its' leg before it finally relinquished its' grip.

By now the herd had regrouped, turned and amidst a cloud of dust they charged the lions who were busy mauling the poor calf lying on the ground.  The lioness tried to stand her ground but was tossed into the air by one of the buffalo.  The other lions lost their nerve and fled with the aggressive buffalo behind them.  As if this wasn't enough the calf stood up and was enveloped by the herd who moved off.  UNBELIEVABLE!!'

 

Wildlife in Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

Kruger Park Safari George and Olga 2 - 5 September 2010

Clients were picked up in Johannesburg and transferred to Nelspruit. Upon arrival in Nelspruit, guests changed into there open safari vehicle for the transfer to the Kruger National Park.

Upon arrival at the park, we entered the Numbi Gate and made our way to the camp of Pretoriuskop were guests were chance to have some lunch and a rest, departing on  there first afternoon game drive. The game drive was enjoyed by guests with numerous sightings of animals being seen. Upon returning to the camp, guests enjoyed a good meal before retiring to there rondavel for the night.

Day 2 and 3 guests left the camp early after enjoying tea and coffee. We made our way down to the camp of Skukuza and then onto Nkulu picnic spot for breakfast. En route there were numerous sightings of lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo. After breakfast, we decided to take a drive along the river to the camp of Lower Sabie, stopping of at Sunset dam to watch the hippos and crocodiles. It was also good to take in some of the bird species found around the edge of the dam. It was then time to start making our way back to the camp, in order for guests to enjoy there night drive aboard a "South African National Parks Open Vehicle". Guests left the camp at 17h00 and returned back at 20h30, after which they enjoyed a well deserved dinner in the restaurant. After dinner, guests opted to go to bed in order to get some well deserved sleep, before leaving again early in the morning.


The following morning, it was up early again, and after enjoying tea and coffee, it was back on the road to find some elusive animals. After a three and a half hour game drive, we decided to return to camp for breakfast and to prepare for our teip back to Nelspruit and then on to Johannesburg. We left the park at 11h00 en route for Johannesburg and to drop the guests at the airport.


Guests had a good time while on safari with us, and have expressed intentions of reurning for a longer visit next time.

Kruger Park Safari Davidson Group 17 - 21 August 2010

Mark from Nhongo Safaris picked up this group from the Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit and after a short trip to the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park, they entered the park and made there way up to the camp of Letaba. After a good game drive with a stop off in the camp of Satara the group were happy to arrive at there camp which would be home for two nights. A good meal was enjoyed by all and the it was off to bed.
The following day, it was up early, and after enjoying tea and coffee it was off to find some good animals and get some good photos. The day was spent looking for and finding numerous sightings of good animals.

Day 3 saw the group packing up and moving out of the Letaba camp en route to the camp of Satara for two nights. The day was also spent exploring the area around Satara and visiting some of the waterholes in the area. Good sightings were experienced and some good photos taken.

The following day it was out early and onto the road to find as many of the inhabitants of the park as possible, as the day was cut short due to the group going out on a night safari and had to be back in camp earlier than normal. All in all the day was good and many good sightings experienced.

Day 5 saw the group packing up early and moving out on there final game drive before breakfast, and after enjoying a good meal the group started making there way to the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park. The group exited the park, and made there way back to the Eastgate Airport, were they were dropped off in order to get there transfer to one of the private game lodges that they had booked.

Guest feedback was that they had a good time, saw loads of animals and got some wonderful photos while on safari with us.

Kruger Park Safari with David Mc Donald and 16 team members 10 - 13th August 2010

We picked up David and the team in Johannesburg and transferred them to the Kruger National Park, we were staying at the camp of Pretoriuskop, and as the group was more than 10 people, i had Mark move two of our open safari vehicles to the camp prior to us arriving. Upon arrival in the camp, we went through the check inn procedures and got everybody into there bungalows, before giving them chance for lunch and some relaxation before leaving on an afternoon game drive. We left the camp at 15h30 and had good sightings of animals that afternoon. Upon returning to the camp, verity, Mark and myself got down to making the group there dinner. As this was a church group and wanting to keep prices as low as possible, we give the option of Nhongo Safaris doing the catering for them.

Days 2 and 3 were good days with regards to sightings, as many good sightings were experienced by all. Many photos were taken and a lot of cooking and preparing of meals was done as well.

Day 4 Saw us leaving early on a morning game drive, some of the group decided to stay in camp and have a rest as we were going to drop the group off at Johannesburg International Airport for there flight home to Australia. On the drive many good sightings were encountered, and after breakfast, everything was packed up, trailers hitched and we were off on the road to Johannesburg. We arrived at Johannesburg International Airport at about 16h00 in time for everybody to check inn and be ready for there flight back to Australia.

Everybody on the safari said that they enjoyed themselves immensely and want to come back on a longer safari next time.

Thanks David for bringing the group on safari, and we look forward to seeing you next year when you return on another missions trip.

 

Kruger Park Safari with Lauren and Phillip 2 - 4th August 2010

Lauren and Phillip were picked up at the Ghandi Backpackers in Kensington Johannesburg and transferred to the Kruger National Park. After changing over to our open safari vehicle, we made our way to the park entering at the Numbi Gate. We made our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop, were we checked inn and had a break in order for guests to have some lunch before leaving the camp on our first game drive. The afternoon was spent aboard our open vehicles, enjoying numerous sightings. Upon returning to the camp, guests enjoyed a good dinner, and then it was off to bed in order to get a good nights sleep.

Next morning it was up bright and early, and after enjoying tea and coffee, it was off to see what we could find. The day was spen out in the park enjoying numerous sightings of animals along the way. We returned to the camp of Pretoriuskop early in the afternoon, in order for Lauren and Phillip to leave on there sunset drive with the parks board. They returned to the camp at about 20h00 after having a good drive and seen numerous amounts of animals and some of the noctunal wildlife that we have.

The following morning, it was out early again after tea and coffee on there final game drive before breakfast and our trip back to Johannesburg. On the final game drive, good sightings were experienced. We left the park at about 12h00 and started our journey back to Johannesburg, arriving at about 16h00.

All in all, guests had a good time and enjoyed themselves. They have expressed that they will be returning and want to visit the park for longer next time.

Kruger Park Safari with Mr and Mrs Bloemsma 26th - 31 July 2010

Guests were picked up in Johannesburg and transferred to the Kruger National Park via Nelspruit. After entering the park through the Numbi Gate, we made our way to the camp of Pretoriuskop in order to check in and have a lunch break, before going out on the guests first game drive. The afternoon game drive was good, with many animals seen and good sightings experienced. Guests enjoyed a good dinner in the restaurant before departing to the rondavels for a good nights sleep.
The following days on safari, guests enjoyed good sightings of lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino.

All in all guests had a good time aboard our open safari vehicles and saw a lot of animals. After the safari, guests were transferred to the Panzi Bush Camp near to the town of Hoedspruit.