3 September 2013
Dean picked up four guests Ellen Li and company as well as Irvin Choo and company from the Splice Rivera Hotel in Johannesburg. They then made their way to Nelspruit where Mark was waiting. Two guests then got on to Marks open vehicle as they were on a private safari. The remaining two guests got on Deans open vehicle.
After the necessary check in at Numbi Gate it as out to see what the afternoon would bring.
Route: Napi – Nkambeni Tented camp
We had a rather quiet afternoon drive with just some general game spotted:
Warthog, impala, kudu, steenbok, common duiker and distant visuals of a giraffe.
As we got onto camp road we spotted 3 buffalo bulls near a waterhole.
We then made our way onto camp for the evening.
4 September 2013
Today after breakfast it was back on the open vehicles and out to see what this new day in Africa would bring us.
Route: Napi - Marola loop – Eloff Street - Napi – Nkambeni Tented camp
General animals spotted though out the day was as follow:
Kudu, giraffe, warthog, rhino, chackma baboons, vervet monkeys, common duiker, steenbok, impala, hippo's, spotted Hyena and klipspringer.
We then came across a male leopard 500m before transport dam access road. After a while he returned to the road and crossed over between our open vehicles.
Dean heard about lions near klipspringer koppies after proceeding in that direction we found 2 lioness with 2 cubs, quiet far off the road.
Crossing over the sabi low level bridge another leopard was spotted lying on a flat rock under a Marola tree enjoying the shade the tree provided.
Great sightings of elephant during the day with a herd of 40 drinking water at delaport waterhole.
Dean spotted a Mozambique spitting cobra, but once we arrived it had moved off into the thicket (they don’t stick around for very long).
We then returned to camp as all guests were going on a sundown drive.
5 September 2013
Today the game drives only started after 11:00am as all guests went on their bushwalk.
Update still to come keep watching...
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, 6 September 2013
Media Statement 4 September 2013
MINISTER MOLEWA COMMENDS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR WORK WELL DONE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST RHINO POACHING
The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, has welcomed the arrest of 24 alleged rhino poachers in the Kruger National Park, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo in the past two weeks.
The arrests bring to 191 the number of suspected rhino poachers arrested across the country since 1 January 2013.
The law enforcement agencies, and rangers in the Kruger National Park, are commended for their actions and commitment to the fight against rhino poaching.
The arrests happened amidst the increasing number of poaching incidents reported in South Africa.
The total number of rhino poached since the beginning of the year has increased to 618.
The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of rhino poaching, with 381 rhino having been killed for their horns since January.
Among the total number of rhino poached, 64 have been killed in Limpopo, 62 in KwaZulu-Natal, 62 in North West and 42 in Mpumalanga.
South Africans are encouraged to continue supporting the work of the security forces, rangers and conservationists. The commitment to conservation requires the support of everyone in order to stem the tide of rhino poaching.
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.
The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, has welcomed the arrest of 24 alleged rhino poachers in the Kruger National Park, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo in the past two weeks.
The arrests bring to 191 the number of suspected rhino poachers arrested across the country since 1 January 2013.
The law enforcement agencies, and rangers in the Kruger National Park, are commended for their actions and commitment to the fight against rhino poaching.
The arrests happened amidst the increasing number of poaching incidents reported in South Africa.
The total number of rhino poached since the beginning of the year has increased to 618.
The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of rhino poaching, with 381 rhino having been killed for their horns since January.
Among the total number of rhino poached, 64 have been killed in Limpopo, 62 in KwaZulu-Natal, 62 in North West and 42 in Mpumalanga.
South Africans are encouraged to continue supporting the work of the security forces, rangers and conservationists. The commitment to conservation requires the support of everyone in order to stem the tide of rhino poaching.
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, 4 September 2013
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Kruger National Park To Apply The High Intensity Prescribed Burn
The Kruger National Park (KNP) Scientists and Rangers in conjunction with Working on Fire teams will apply the high intensity prescribed burn in the southern part of the Park on 2 - 3 September 2013. The teams will start with what is called a multiple spiral ignition on the 2nd of September at 15:30 and then perimeter ignition on the 3rd of September, also in the afternoon. Some parts of the gravel roads will temporarily be closed during the burn; in order to completely allow the ignition to end.
“The aim of this fire treatment is to determine the desirability and feasibility of researching with high intensity burns to address bush thickening at selected areas in the KNP. The data analysis indicated that we have the most suitable weather conditions to conduct the treatment around this period in September,” indicated the GM: Communications and Marketing - KNP, William Mabasa.
Gravel roads to be closed will be: S112 and S118 on 2 September; and parts of S23, S113, S114 and H3 which will affect routes towards the Jock of the Bushveld, Afsaal Picnic Spot, Gardenia bird hide, Lukimbi Private Lodge and Biyamiti Bush Camp) on 3 September 2013.
“The areas around the target sites will be cleared to ensure animals are safe and ground teams to guide tourists on alternative roads will also be available at the affected roads”, concluded Mabasa.
This is a follow-up on a high intensity burn which took place in 2010. In preparation for this year’s treatment, prior vegetation surveys were conducted such as sampling the vegetation before and after the fire treatment, collecting of data a year after the burn to look at re-growth responses, plot work – recording of all woody vegetation, information such as species, height, diameter and number of stems etc; assisting in giving an indication of the amount of fuel that is available to burn.
Issued by:
South African National Parks Kruger National Park Communications
“The aim of this fire treatment is to determine the desirability and feasibility of researching with high intensity burns to address bush thickening at selected areas in the KNP. The data analysis indicated that we have the most suitable weather conditions to conduct the treatment around this period in September,” indicated the GM: Communications and Marketing - KNP, William Mabasa.
Gravel roads to be closed will be: S112 and S118 on 2 September; and parts of S23, S113, S114 and H3 which will affect routes towards the Jock of the Bushveld, Afsaal Picnic Spot, Gardenia bird hide, Lukimbi Private Lodge and Biyamiti Bush Camp) on 3 September 2013.
“The areas around the target sites will be cleared to ensure animals are safe and ground teams to guide tourists on alternative roads will also be available at the affected roads”, concluded Mabasa.
This is a follow-up on a high intensity burn which took place in 2010. In preparation for this year’s treatment, prior vegetation surveys were conducted such as sampling the vegetation before and after the fire treatment, collecting of data a year after the burn to look at re-growth responses, plot work – recording of all woody vegetation, information such as species, height, diameter and number of stems etc; assisting in giving an indication of the amount of fuel that is available to burn.
Issued by:
South African National Parks Kruger National Park Communications
Monday, 2 September 2013
Three Rhino Poachers Get 16 Years Each
Three Mozambican nationals were jailed for 16 years each on Friday for killing a white rhino and its calf in the Kruger National Park.
A SAPA correspondent reported that Julius Ngwenya, 20, Daniel Jadere, 22, and Antonio Malunga, 20, pleaded guilty to five charges when they appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court.
Their charges included entering the Kruger National Park without written authorisation from management, two for carrying out a restricted activity in a designated area (namely killing and dehorning a white rhino cow and its calf), and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
They were arrested in the Crocodile Bridge area on May 10 last year during a joint operation involving South African National Parks (SANParks) environmental crime investigators and rangers, police and army.
During their arrest, a fourth suspect, known as Benet, was shot dead.
In their confession statement, the three men stated they knew what they did was a very serious offence, and pleaded for leniency.
They told the court they were recruited by the fourth suspect who was fatally wounded during their arrest.
They said Benet had promised them R2000 each for helping him get rhino horns.
They testified in their statement that they gained access to the KNP by jumping over a fence and that Benet shot both animals using an automatic hunting rifle.
Their testimony included that they dehorned the animals using an axe, but got caught when they started walking back to the fence.
Prosecutor Isbet Erwee said the State accepted their plea and argued that they pleaded after realising the seriousness of the charges and strong evidence against them.
Erwee said the Kruger National Park was hardest hit in the country and most of the suspects were from neighbouring Mozambique.
She stated the three accused, despite being remorseful, gave rangers a hard time during their arrest, and that a helicopter had to be used to search them out.
Magistrate Edward Hall told the three their charges were very serious as a hunting automatic rifle and ammunition as well as three rhino horns were found in their possession.
"The rate of poaching increases despite the efforts by the two governments. Mozambican poachers will in future be followed right into their own country and be arrested there," he said.
"This is what the ministers in the two countries have agreed upon, as [before this] Mozambicans could not be arrested once they have crossed the border."
By:
South African Press Association
A SAPA correspondent reported that Julius Ngwenya, 20, Daniel Jadere, 22, and Antonio Malunga, 20, pleaded guilty to five charges when they appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court.
Their charges included entering the Kruger National Park without written authorisation from management, two for carrying out a restricted activity in a designated area (namely killing and dehorning a white rhino cow and its calf), and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
They were arrested in the Crocodile Bridge area on May 10 last year during a joint operation involving South African National Parks (SANParks) environmental crime investigators and rangers, police and army.
During their arrest, a fourth suspect, known as Benet, was shot dead.
In their confession statement, the three men stated they knew what they did was a very serious offence, and pleaded for leniency.
They told the court they were recruited by the fourth suspect who was fatally wounded during their arrest.
They said Benet had promised them R2000 each for helping him get rhino horns.
They testified in their statement that they gained access to the KNP by jumping over a fence and that Benet shot both animals using an automatic hunting rifle.
Their testimony included that they dehorned the animals using an axe, but got caught when they started walking back to the fence.
Prosecutor Isbet Erwee said the State accepted their plea and argued that they pleaded after realising the seriousness of the charges and strong evidence against them.
Erwee said the Kruger National Park was hardest hit in the country and most of the suspects were from neighbouring Mozambique.
She stated the three accused, despite being remorseful, gave rangers a hard time during their arrest, and that a helicopter had to be used to search them out.
Magistrate Edward Hall told the three their charges were very serious as a hunting automatic rifle and ammunition as well as three rhino horns were found in their possession.
"The rate of poaching increases despite the efforts by the two governments. Mozambican poachers will in future be followed right into their own country and be arrested there," he said.
"This is what the ministers in the two countries have agreed upon, as [before this] Mozambicans could not be arrested once they have crossed the border."
By:
South African Press Association
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