11 June 2013
Route: Napi - H3 - S112 - Gwatamiri - S112 - H3 - Napi
General game viewing was quiet this morning, due to a drastic drop in temperature, however after lunch things picked up and general game was on the move again.
Animals seen:
Rhino, Kudu, zebra, giraffe, impala, bushbuck, common diukers, baboons and monkeys. 2 elephant bulls next to the road at the flat rocks.A herd of 20 elephants at the natural water pan just past S65 on napi. We got a pair of mating lions 6km down gwatamiri. Brilliant photos taken by the guests as these lions were literally on the edge of the road.
No buffalo or leopard, but will try to get them tomorrow.
12 June 2013
Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Napi - Nkambeni tented camp
Animal sightings:
Although most of the day was rather quiet with general game viewing, we managed to see: Giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, warthog, common diukers and rhino. Just at shitlhave entrance on the napi, we got visuals of a herd (8)of Sable. Fantastic to see.
Throughout the day we either saw herds of elephant or bulls on their own.
Afternoon drive we went down to shitlhave dam and on the access road found a female cheetah that had caught a young kudu. While watching her out popped a female leopard and chased her (cheetah)off her prey. The leopard then continued with the carcass and dragged it approx 100m up the access road and hid it under thicket, as the antelope was to big to carry up a tree. At this stage we lost visual of her but will return in the morning to see if a she has eaten on her own or will she go and fetch her two cubs.
Will see what tomorrow brings us, just looking for wild dog now.
13 June 2013
Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Napi - Nkambeni camp
Animals seen
General game viewing was great with many different sightings of Zebra, kudu, impala, steenbok, rheedbok, diukers, warthog, rhino and giraffe. Napi boulders exit we got a male leopard walking in the road sent marking. Very relaxed. Then out popped a honey badger in the middle of the road. Leopard moved off into the thicket and so did the honey badger. Guests got good photos. Large herd (200) of buffalo on the afternoon drive at the flat rocks on napi. Great herd of elephant just before shitlhave.
Need to get a lion for the new guests that arrived today.
Keep watching for more!!
Verity and Dean Cherry had an African dream in 1999 and started Nhongo Safaris® to eliminate the logistical challenges of international visitors on safari. We provide a once in a lifetime experience for wildlife enthusiast that demand quality overnight safaris in South Africa and most particularly the Kruger National Park. We want to enrich our visitors’ experience by providing Luxury Safari Packages or African Safari Holidays and maintain our position as leader in Kruger Park Safaris.
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Some of Nhongo Safaris Fleet of Open Safari Vehicles
The photo shows some of our fleet of Open Safari Vehicles used while on safari in the Kruger National and Hwange National Parks. These ve...
Friday 14 June 2013
Thursday 13 June 2013
Rhino Poaching Update
#RhinoPoachingUpdate: 12 June 2013
The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, is to meet Mozambique's Minister of Tourism, Mr Carvalho Muaria, in Maputo on Friday as part of ongoing efforts to improve relations between the two countries. The talks are expected to focus on the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, established in 2002, with an emphasis on the scourge of rhino poaching presently affecting South Africa. The total number of rhino poached since the beginning of the year has risen to 408. The number of rhino poached in the Kruger National Park, which bears the brunt of rhino poaching, increased to 265. In North West 46 rhino have been poached, while 38 have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal, 30 in Limpopo, 26 in Mpumalanga, 2 in the Eastern Cape and 1 in Gauteng. The number of people arrested for rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park has risen to 56. Three suspected poachers were arrested in the Pretoriuskop region yesterday (Tuesday following an intelligence-driven operation by the SAPS, SANParks rangers and the Park’s Environmental Crimes Investigation Unit. The group were allegedly involved in five poaching incidents in the Pretoriuskop region, as well as several armed robberies in Hazyview, Mpumalanga. The number of people arrested on rhino poaching-related charges countrywide totals 121. A total of 27 alleged poachers have been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal, 21 in Limpopo, 8 in North West, 6 in Mpumalanga and 3 in Gauteng. Of these five are alleged couriers. South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005 , 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.
Wednesday 12 June 2013
Rhino Poaching
#RhinoNews: On the evening of June 09, contact was made with a group of rhino poachers. Unfortunately, due to the dark moon and poor light conditions, the poachers managed to escape. Although no arrests were made, the group was successfuly disrupted without the loss of a rhino.
Tuesday 11 June 2013
On Safari With Dean
With Dean
7 June 2013
Route: Skukuza - S114 - Gwatimiri road - shlatini waterhole - S114 - S113 - H3 - Afsaal for breakfast.
Animals seen were:
Elephant, two lots of lion, rhino, impala, kudu, buffalo and hyena.
After breakfast we drove up the H3 - Napi road - transport dam - Camp of skukuza.
Animals seen were:
Impala, rhino, buffalo, elephant, and a leopard with its kill up the tree opposite transport dam.
8 June 2013
Today we left Skukuza - Tshokwane tar - Tshokwane picnic site for breakfast.
Animals seen were:
Elephant, wild dogs, hyena and impala.
After breakfast we drove back down the same road to meet Mark for the change over and got
elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, impala and kudu.
9 June 2013
We left Nkambeni Tented Camp and made our way down the Numbi gate tar getting buffalo just before Napi road. Went down Napi road getting more buffalo and elephant. We turned onto watergat and got a leopard lying in the tree, 200 meters down. While on the sighting we got a call about three male lions on the s114, we made our way down to them. After a good sighting, we made our way to Skukuza for a break.
After our break the route driven was Tshokwane tar over the high water bridge and back to Skukuza for lunch.
Animals seen were:
vultures, elephant, kudu, impala and a number of birds of prey.
After lunch it was back to camp on Napi Road.
Animals seen were lions, elephant, wildebeest, sable antelope, impala and kudu. Sightings of rhino were also experienced thought the day.
10 June 2013
Today Dean leaves the park and returns to Johannesburg with his guests.
7 June 2013
Route: Skukuza - S114 - Gwatimiri road - shlatini waterhole - S114 - S113 - H3 - Afsaal for breakfast.
Animals seen were:
Elephant, two lots of lion, rhino, impala, kudu, buffalo and hyena.
After breakfast we drove up the H3 - Napi road - transport dam - Camp of skukuza.
Animals seen were:
Impala, rhino, buffalo, elephant, and a leopard with its kill up the tree opposite transport dam.
8 June 2013
Today we left Skukuza - Tshokwane tar - Tshokwane picnic site for breakfast.
Animals seen were:
Elephant, wild dogs, hyena and impala.
After breakfast we drove back down the same road to meet Mark for the change over and got
elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, impala and kudu.
9 June 2013
We left Nkambeni Tented Camp and made our way down the Numbi gate tar getting buffalo just before Napi road. Went down Napi road getting more buffalo and elephant. We turned onto watergat and got a leopard lying in the tree, 200 meters down. While on the sighting we got a call about three male lions on the s114, we made our way down to them. After a good sighting, we made our way to Skukuza for a break.
After our break the route driven was Tshokwane tar over the high water bridge and back to Skukuza for lunch.
Animals seen were:
vultures, elephant, kudu, impala and a number of birds of prey.
After lunch it was back to camp on Napi Road.
Animals seen were lions, elephant, wildebeest, sable antelope, impala and kudu. Sightings of rhino were also experienced thought the day.
10 June 2013
Today Dean leaves the park and returns to Johannesburg with his guests.
On Safari Starting 7 June 2013
With Mark
Route: Over the past few days we have focused our drives around Pretoriuskop, Skakuza and Lower sabi.
Animals seen:
Despite the constant change in weather, either been cold or hot we have managed to find the animals and most of the sightings have been quality sightings.
Numerous Rhino, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, impala, diuker, steenbok and warthog has been sighted.
A general decrees in zebra and large herds of buffalo have been experienced.
7 June 2013
Today we had 5 lions hunt and kill an impala 1.2km before the S113 on the H3. Approximately 1km south of Qwagga pan we had two females walking with us in the road, a leopard and its kill in a tree opposite side of the dam at transport dam.
8 June 2013
Dean called us to 2 male lions just past marolla entrance on the tsokwane tar, At 1.3kms from napi on watergat, we had a female leopard in a marola tree, Just enjoying the morning sun.
9 June 2013
A rather quiet day experienced as we had a change over of guests in Nelspriut. In the afternoon we found a healthy herd of (12) Sable antelope 50m of the napi and approximately 200m from the entrance of boulders.
10 June 2013
Route: Albaseni - Doispan - S114 - Gwatamiri - Ellof - Napi - Nkambeni camp
General animal sightings of giraffe, Kudu, waterbuck, zebra, impala, common diuker and warthog, was seen throughout the day. 5 male lions lying sleeping with stomachs full approx 4.6km from S114 on the gwatamiri road. 2 elephant bulls digging waterholes in the river bed 7.8km down gwatamiri.
Fantastic to see these animals retrieve water below the surface of a dry river bed. Many herds of elephant and buffalo along the sabi river. Approx 30 hippo's and 15 nile croc's lying out of the water all enjoying the sun at sunset dam.
Only thing to report on our drive back along napi was 6 southern ground hornbills alongside the road app 100m past transport dam junction.
Still no leopard for the new group, so hopefully we pull one out of the bag tomorrow.
Route: Over the past few days we have focused our drives around Pretoriuskop, Skakuza and Lower sabi.
Animals seen:
Despite the constant change in weather, either been cold or hot we have managed to find the animals and most of the sightings have been quality sightings.
Numerous Rhino, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, impala, diuker, steenbok and warthog has been sighted.
A general decrees in zebra and large herds of buffalo have been experienced.
7 June 2013
Today we had 5 lions hunt and kill an impala 1.2km before the S113 on the H3. Approximately 1km south of Qwagga pan we had two females walking with us in the road, a leopard and its kill in a tree opposite side of the dam at transport dam.
8 June 2013
Dean called us to 2 male lions just past marolla entrance on the tsokwane tar, At 1.3kms from napi on watergat, we had a female leopard in a marola tree, Just enjoying the morning sun.
9 June 2013
A rather quiet day experienced as we had a change over of guests in Nelspriut. In the afternoon we found a healthy herd of (12) Sable antelope 50m of the napi and approximately 200m from the entrance of boulders.
10 June 2013
Route: Albaseni - Doispan - S114 - Gwatamiri - Ellof - Napi - Nkambeni camp
General animal sightings of giraffe, Kudu, waterbuck, zebra, impala, common diuker and warthog, was seen throughout the day. 5 male lions lying sleeping with stomachs full approx 4.6km from S114 on the gwatamiri road. 2 elephant bulls digging waterholes in the river bed 7.8km down gwatamiri.
Fantastic to see these animals retrieve water below the surface of a dry river bed. Many herds of elephant and buffalo along the sabi river. Approx 30 hippo's and 15 nile croc's lying out of the water all enjoying the sun at sunset dam.
Only thing to report on our drive back along napi was 6 southern ground hornbills alongside the road app 100m past transport dam junction.
Still no leopard for the new group, so hopefully we pull one out of the bag tomorrow.
Monday 10 June 2013
Poachers Arrested And Update On The Shot Ranger
Three suspected poachers arrested in Kruger National Park
SANParks today announced that a further three suspected poachers were arrested yesterday afternoon, 6 June, in the Tshokwane section of the Kruger National Park (KNP).
A .458 hunting rifle, silencer, ammunition and an axe were recovered. This brings to 53 the number of suspected poachers that have been arrested in the KNP this year. Of these, 32 were Mozambique nationals reflecting the predominance of the eastern border of the Park as a source of incursions. This is borne out by the fact that this year 70% of the rhino’s poached have been killed in the eastern sections of the Park, adjacent to the Mozambique border, while 68% of those arrested in the park were also of Mozambican origin.
It was also announced today that Andrew Desmet, the Letaba Section Ranger who was seriously injured in a shooting incident in the Kruger National Park on 24 May 2013, continues to make progress after undergoing a second medical procedure in hospital. He was shot during a joint anti-rhino poaching operation with the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) in the Letaba region of the KNP. Mr Desmet is in a stable condition but remains in the Intensive Care Unit of a Nelspruit medical facility.
Investigations into the circumstances of the incident in which Mr Desmet suffered his injury are on-going, although initial findings have confirmed that he was injured by SANDF fire during the joint operation with the SANDF. SANParks head of anti-poaching operations, Major General (Ret) Johan Jooste, confirmed that the incident happened during a joint operation, but advised against drawing any conclusions as the circumstances are still being investigated by the South African Police Service.
“We are all praying for Andrew, and are looking forward to seeing him on the road to recovery. He is not yet able to give us his view on what led to this unfortunate incident. We hope he will soon be able to shed further light on what happened but we would like to caution against unnecessary speculation pending the completion of the investigations,” concluded Jooste.
****Ends****
For previous media statements please go to www.sanparks.org
Issued by : South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications:
Tel: 012 426 5065 /
Enquiries : Ike Phaahla, SANParks Media Specialist.
Tel: 012 426 5315 cell: 083 673 6974 or
email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
SANParks today announced that a further three suspected poachers were arrested yesterday afternoon, 6 June, in the Tshokwane section of the Kruger National Park (KNP).
A .458 hunting rifle, silencer, ammunition and an axe were recovered. This brings to 53 the number of suspected poachers that have been arrested in the KNP this year. Of these, 32 were Mozambique nationals reflecting the predominance of the eastern border of the Park as a source of incursions. This is borne out by the fact that this year 70% of the rhino’s poached have been killed in the eastern sections of the Park, adjacent to the Mozambique border, while 68% of those arrested in the park were also of Mozambican origin.
It was also announced today that Andrew Desmet, the Letaba Section Ranger who was seriously injured in a shooting incident in the Kruger National Park on 24 May 2013, continues to make progress after undergoing a second medical procedure in hospital. He was shot during a joint anti-rhino poaching operation with the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) in the Letaba region of the KNP. Mr Desmet is in a stable condition but remains in the Intensive Care Unit of a Nelspruit medical facility.
Investigations into the circumstances of the incident in which Mr Desmet suffered his injury are on-going, although initial findings have confirmed that he was injured by SANDF fire during the joint operation with the SANDF. SANParks head of anti-poaching operations, Major General (Ret) Johan Jooste, confirmed that the incident happened during a joint operation, but advised against drawing any conclusions as the circumstances are still being investigated by the South African Police Service.
“We are all praying for Andrew, and are looking forward to seeing him on the road to recovery. He is not yet able to give us his view on what led to this unfortunate incident. We hope he will soon be able to shed further light on what happened but we would like to caution against unnecessary speculation pending the completion of the investigations,” concluded Jooste.
****Ends****
For previous media statements please go to www.sanparks.org
Issued by : South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications:
Tel: 012 426 5065 /
Enquiries : Ike Phaahla, SANParks Media Specialist.
Tel: 012 426 5315 cell: 083 673 6974 or
email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
Rhino Poaching Update
#RhinoPoachingUpdate - A total of 117 people have been arrested for rhino poaching-related charges countrywide since the beginning of 2013.
http://bit.ly/10VlLTq
http://bit.ly/10VlLTq
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