Safari Starting 26th December Ending 30th December 2012

26^th 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.

27^th 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.

28^th 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.

 29^th 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.

30^th 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 5^th January 2013.