26th December – Dean collected 6 guests from
Balalaika Hotel in Sandton and Verity collected 6 guests from OR Tambo Airport
they were a family enjoying a holiday in South Africa. On arrival in Nelspruit Dean collected his
open safari vehicle and headed towards Numbi Gate. Verity handed over her
guests to Mark who also headed for Numbi Gate. Guides and guests then made
their way to Pretoriuskop for lunch they then departed down Napi to Shithave
Dam, Napi Boulders, Transport Dam then back down Napi to camp. Sightings for
the day were Kudu, Impala, Giraffe, Elephant, Waterbuck, Hippo, Rhino as well
as a white Heron. We then made our way to Nkambeni Camp for Check in.
27th December – After breakfast we parted Nkambeni
down Albasini, Doispane then into Skukuza Camp for a break. We then made our
way back to Nkambeni for lunch as new guests were joining us. We left
Nkambeni at 14h00 and drove down Napi to
Shithave Dam then onto Napi boulders loop back onto Voortrekker Road and onto
Circle road to Manugu koppies and back up Albasini towards camp. Animal
sightings were hard due to the hot weather and too many people in the park over
the Christmas period. All in all a slow days animal sightings with general
game, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, Lion and crocodile.
28th December – This morning’s drive was a short
drive as 12 of our guests were leaving us. 6 were departing from Nelspruit to Mozambique
and the other family of 6 were returning to Johannesburg and flying the next
day onto Cape Town. Mark was left with
6 guests up till the 30th all were Honeymoon couples enjoying a three or four
day safari.
29th December - Dean met up with his 8 new guests at 13h30 at
Numbi Gate. They started the game drive as check in procedures were completed
it was not long till they got their first sighting after turning onto Napi they
got sightings of Elephant, Waterbuck, Impala, Buffalo, Rhino as well as another
sighting of Elephant. They then turned onto the H3 after hearing of a sighting
of Lions just past the S112. About 4m before the S112 they found 2 Female Lions
lying in the river line with 9 of their cubs playing around in the river line. We
continued past and came across 2 Male Lions in the next river line sleeping
however 1 of the males came out to see what was going on then proceeded to lie
in the road. Great sightings were enjoyed by everyone. As it was mid afternoon
we decided to go down the S112 to have a break at Skukuza Camp. Upon reaching
the S112 and S114 Junction we found a Leopard on the rock under a tree
sleeping. After enjoying the sighting we made our way back to Nkambeni with sightings
of Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo along the way. Another great day in the African
wilderness.
30th December – The next morning it was up early.
After breakfast we made our way down Napi stopping off at Shithave Dam past
Napi Boulders then onto Transport Dam. The mornings game viewing was very slow
due to large numbers of South Africans visiting the park. It was also a very
hot day but we managed to see general game as well as Elephant, Rhino, Hippo
and baboons. We made a short stop at Pretoriuskop Camp before driving guests to
Numbi Gate to collect their car so they could continue on their travels to Wilderness
Lodge on the Drakensberg Escapement. Dean brought 4 guests back to Johannesburg
in order for them to fly to Cape Town. All staff are now taking a break before
the next safari starts on the 5th January 2013.