21 January 2014
Picking up the guests and we head towards Numbi gate and Nkambeni
Tented Lodge, our accommodation for the next few nights. After settling in and
having some lunch we headed off on our first safari of the tour. Leaving at
14:30hours we drove down Albasini spotting Impala, Waterbuck, Hippo, Elephant,
not to mention the always beautiful Lilac-breasted Roller perched on a branch.
We turned onto Doispane road coming across a large herd of Impala and about ten Wildebeest, after watching these for a couple of minutes and hearing the alarm calls of the Impalas we moved forward to where a couple of other cars had parked. What we saw when we got there were two Lions, a courting Male and Female, we positioned the car in the hope that the pair would get up and move towards us. We sat and waited.
Twenty minutes later as we were beginning to think that nothing was going to happen when suddenly the female got up and started to walk away, the male quickly followed and they begin to mate, unfortunately behind the bushes. We had missed the action!!!!! However we moved the vehicle to a great view point where we could see both Lions. Our patience was rewarded when the female got up again and the male followed and they proceeded to mate. Now if that's not enough as the guests were watching this something caught my eye and I turned to see another large male Lion walking across the road. This lion ignored the mating pair and headed straight for the herd of Impalas and Wildebeest who smartly scattered every way possible with lots of snorting and alarm calling. In total we spent over an hour at this sighting.
Heading back the way we come we came across Giraffe, more Elephants next to the road and Buffalo walking towards us on the road, as we came along the dirt road towards our camp we also saw Impala, Kudu and a large Male Elephant snacking on the fallen fruit of the Marula tree.
We turned onto Doispane road coming across a large herd of Impala and about ten Wildebeest, after watching these for a couple of minutes and hearing the alarm calls of the Impalas we moved forward to where a couple of other cars had parked. What we saw when we got there were two Lions, a courting Male and Female, we positioned the car in the hope that the pair would get up and move towards us. We sat and waited.
Twenty minutes later as we were beginning to think that nothing was going to happen when suddenly the female got up and started to walk away, the male quickly followed and they begin to mate, unfortunately behind the bushes. We had missed the action!!!!! However we moved the vehicle to a great view point where we could see both Lions. Our patience was rewarded when the female got up again and the male followed and they proceeded to mate. Now if that's not enough as the guests were watching this something caught my eye and I turned to see another large male Lion walking across the road. This lion ignored the mating pair and headed straight for the herd of Impalas and Wildebeest who smartly scattered every way possible with lots of snorting and alarm calling. In total we spent over an hour at this sighting.
Heading back the way we come we came across Giraffe, more Elephants next to the road and Buffalo walking towards us on the road, as we came along the dirt road towards our camp we also saw Impala, Kudu and a large Male Elephant snacking on the fallen fruit of the Marula tree.
22 January
2014
An early start today, up at 05:00, a quick cup of coffee and we were
off. But not for a safari in an open safari vehicle but for a bushwalk in
Kruger National Park. A great experience seeing the animals on foot and plenty
were seen. Lions spotted up on the copse as the guests drove to the start of
their walk and then Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino on the walk. Lots of happy
faces when the guests returned to camp.
A quick breakfast and then back in the safari truck for a couple of hours before lunch. Sightings included Impala, Waterbuck, Kudu and Common Duiker. After lunch we went back out spotting more Impala, Kudu, Warthog , a lovely group of Nine Giraffe, Elephants and Hippo.
A quick breakfast and then back in the safari truck for a couple of hours before lunch. Sightings included Impala, Waterbuck, Kudu and Common Duiker. After lunch we went back out spotting more Impala, Kudu, Warthog , a lovely group of Nine Giraffe, Elephants and Hippo.
23 January
2014
Today was the day for six of our guests to go on the Panarama tour,
taking in the beautiful views of the third biggest canyon in the world. So as
Dean took them on that adventure I took my two remaining guests for another
great day in the Kruger. A great start as we came across Elephants next to the
road, all making a good snack of the fallen Marula fruit around them. A little
further down the road we found 2 adolescent male Lions sitting up on Shabeni
Copse (Not quite mature but still not suitable for matting!!)
Driving along Napi was a little bit quiet this morning but we came across Leopard Tortoise as well as Impala, Kudu and plenty of big Bull Elephants. Transport Dam turned out to be very active with Hippos, Waterbuck, two very large bull Elephants as well as so many different species of water bird.
After stopping for lunch at Skukuza we drove back to camp via Doipane and Albasini spotting even more Elephants, Kudu, Impala, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hippo, Cape Buffalo and Warthog as well as a Tawny Eagle sitting on the road.
The great thing about a safari is you never know what might be around the corner and so when we went through Numbi gate to drive the 500metres to our camp it was no surprise to come across Rhino and Elephants and Impala all by the side of the road.
Driving along Napi was a little bit quiet this morning but we came across Leopard Tortoise as well as Impala, Kudu and plenty of big Bull Elephants. Transport Dam turned out to be very active with Hippos, Waterbuck, two very large bull Elephants as well as so many different species of water bird.
After stopping for lunch at Skukuza we drove back to camp via Doipane and Albasini spotting even more Elephants, Kudu, Impala, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hippo, Cape Buffalo and Warthog as well as a Tawny Eagle sitting on the road.
The great thing about a safari is you never know what might be around the corner and so when we went through Numbi gate to drive the 500metres to our camp it was no surprise to come across Rhino and Elephants and Impala all by the side of the road.
Keep watching for more!!!
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