On Safari With Dean From 1 November 2013

1 November 2013

Today we entered the park through Numbi Gate, we made our way down to the camp of Pretoriuskop for lunch.

After the guests had enjoyed their lunch break, we made our way down the Napi road to the Napi Boulders and the on to Nkambeni Safari Camp.

Animal seen on the drive were buffalo, rhino, elephant, kudu, impala, stenbuck and waterbuck.

Guests got back into the camp with just five minutes to spare before gate closing.

2 November 2013

Well today turned out to be another great day of game viewing in the Kruger National Park.

We left Nkambeni Safari Camp at 06h00 and made our way out on the game drive, we drove up the Numbi gate tar getting good sightings of buffalo, we turned onto Napi Road getting more good sightings of elephant and numerous sightings of buffalo.

Then between the Shithave dam and Napi boulders junction, we got a call about lions at Transport Dam which had been chased up the tree by hyena's as well as a couple of meters away, a leopard was lying under the tree.

This was too good to be true, so we made our way in that direction, praying that we would get there in time.

After what felt like forever, we turned onto the Transport Dam access road and made our way down to the sighting.

It turned out just as explained on the radio, one lioness lying on the ground watching the hyena's and the other one six foot in the tree, when you cast your eyes to the left, there was a large leopard lying in the open under the tree watching the spectacle unfold in front of him. A large sigh of relief was breathed having got such a good sighting.

We made our way back onto the Napi Road and turned in the direction of Skukuza getting a female hyena and her pups playing in the road. We made our way onto Skukuza for a well deserved break.
We left skukuza at 09h30 and made our way down to the low water bridge, getting good sightings of crocodile, hippo and buffalo.

We made our way back to Numbi Gate on the Napi Road getting good sightings of buffalo, giraffe, elephant, as well as a cheetah trying to take down some impala just 3.2 Km's from transport dam.

Numerous rhino sightings were experienced thought the day. We continued on getting back to camp in time for lunch and then dropping some guests off that had been with us for one night to catch there transfer back to OR Tambo International Airport, but had managed to see six of the magnificent seven.

After a good rest, it was back on the road to see what we could find. We got great sightings of dwarf mongoose with their young, kudu, elephant, buffalo and rhino this afternoon.

We returned to the camp at 18h00 with everybody in high spirits having seen lots today.

3 November 2013

We left Nkambeni safari camp at 06h00 and made our way up the Numbi Gate tar, getting good sightings of buffalo and elephant. We turned onto the Napi Road and then turned onto the Voortrekker road making our way in the direction of Afsaal.

Sightings on the road were not wonderful but guests still had good sightings of numerous rhino, buffalo, elephant and Sable antelope.

We stopped off at Afsaal for a coffee break and then made our way up little jock road and onto the S114.

Good buffalo were seen on these roads.

We made our way over the Biyamiti weir and onto the Biyamiti loop looking for some of the cat species which were proving to be quite elusive today.

There was very little activity on the radio so we had to find the stuff ourselves.

We turned onto the S113 and made our way to the H3 and then it was up to Skukuza only getting more sightings of buffalo and elephant.

We made our way onto Elloff street up to the high water ridge getting very little movement of any animals and this could be attributed to the higher temperatures experienced today.

We got a good sighting of hippo's from the high water bridge and then also some vultures drinking and bathing in the Sand River on the Tshokwane Tar road. We made our way back over the Sabie river at the low water bridge. We made our way into Skukuza for a lunch break.

After lunch was enjoyed by all, it was back out on the Napi road in direction of the camp as guests were going out on the afternoon / evening safari. With the higher temperatures being experienced, guests needed to take a break for an afternoon siesta, before heading out in the African sun and dirt on another wildlife encounter.

4 November 2013

Today we left Nkambeni Safari Camp at 06h00 and made our way down the Numbi Gate tar getting great sightings of buffalo, elephant. We continued onto the Napi Road and had more good sightings of the same.

We made our way back to the Numbi Gate in order to get clients onto their return shuttle to Johannesburg.

After this we carried on with the game drive to the camp of Skukuza for a break. Numerous sightings of rhino, elephant, buffalo, impala, wildebeest, waterbuck, duiker, and giraffe were experienced.

Upon finishing with our break, we received a call about lions on the Marula Loop, we made our way there, but sadly only got to see them sleeping, as the temperature had already climbed to well over thirty degrees.

We made our way on to the high water bridge getting good sightings of hippo and then it was back into Skukuza for lunch.

After lunch we made our way back on the Napi Road taking a turn down to Quagga pan getting good sighting of a pair of saddle billed storks together with their chick. We ace our way back down the Napi road, getting a great sighting of a female cheetah together with her cubs about six kilometres past transport dam.

Other sightings enjoyed were more rhino, elephant, buffalo, kudu, impala, waterbuck, giraffe and baboon.

We returned to camp and had a great sighting of a young elephant right next to our vehicle on the camps access road.

Tomorrow, it is out early again, before returning to Johannesburg for the clients to catch their return flight to the United Kingdom.

Keep watching for more!!