11 March 2014
Today the guests were dropped off at Numbi Gate and instead
of going straight to the lodge, we decided to have a quick drive as there was a
leopard spotted nearby. We drove straight to Shabeni Koppies to see the leopard
and we were in luck, she was still there. Even more so, it turned out to be
three leopards! A mother and her to cubs that are growing up quickly. When we arrived
at the sighting one had her head up, as one was lying flat. We only knew it was
three when the second one got up and moved a bit, so a third one jumped on the
rock to take up the vacated space and made himself comfortable.
We sat with them for a while until all three settled in to have a nap and were lying flat again. We then went towards Nkambeni Safari Camp to check in. On the road towards the camp we spotted our first impalas and a white rhinoceros.
After the check-in and quick lunch we went out again for the afternoon game drive. The impalas we saw before had not moved much but we saw a lot more of them! We then drove to Napi. We caught a glimpse of an elephant, but before we stopped and had cameras ready, the elephant had disappeared from view.
We did see a leopard tortoise and a little further a hinged tortoise crossing the road. At Shitlhave Dam we saw waterbucks as well as a crocodile. The crocodile was warming himself in the sun on a tiny little beach that is left after the water level has risen considerably after last weeks amount of rain. On a rock nearby terrapins were also sunning themselves.
We drove towards Napi Boulders where we saw kudus and then a lone male giraffe. Shortly after two white rhinos were staring at us through the bush. On the way back towards camp we saw a magnificent kudu bull and a warthog. Unfortunately that was all we had time for as the gates were closing and according to the guests sleeping out in the bush was definitely not an option. We drove back to camp and arrived just in time for gate closing, so all was well. It has been a good afternoon!
We sat with them for a while until all three settled in to have a nap and were lying flat again. We then went towards Nkambeni Safari Camp to check in. On the road towards the camp we spotted our first impalas and a white rhinoceros.
After the check-in and quick lunch we went out again for the afternoon game drive. The impalas we saw before had not moved much but we saw a lot more of them! We then drove to Napi. We caught a glimpse of an elephant, but before we stopped and had cameras ready, the elephant had disappeared from view.
We did see a leopard tortoise and a little further a hinged tortoise crossing the road. At Shitlhave Dam we saw waterbucks as well as a crocodile. The crocodile was warming himself in the sun on a tiny little beach that is left after the water level has risen considerably after last weeks amount of rain. On a rock nearby terrapins were also sunning themselves.
We drove towards Napi Boulders where we saw kudus and then a lone male giraffe. Shortly after two white rhinos were staring at us through the bush. On the way back towards camp we saw a magnificent kudu bull and a warthog. Unfortunately that was all we had time for as the gates were closing and according to the guests sleeping out in the bush was definitely not an option. We drove back to camp and arrived just in time for gate closing, so all was well. It has been a good afternoon!
12 March 2014
The night had been very eventful with lots of strange noises
of frogs, birds and insects and we saw bats and owls flying around. And to top
it off we had a clear night with a sky full of stars and the moon was bright.
However, coming from the big city Mississippi, the light is minimal and what
struck them most was the darkness around them when they had switched off the
room lights! Luckily all fell asleep in the end and were sound asleep till
dawn, when the alarm clock went off.
This morning we packed up and left straight after breakfast. As today was the last day we were hoping for something new. Before we even left with the car however we saw an elephant grazing right outside the Nkambeni fence in front of our balcony.
On camp road we saw the herd of impalas again as well as some fresh elephant dung and buffalo dung. Not to mention the potholes and drainage lines caused by all the rain.
We went up Albassini and soon a common grey duiker crossed in front of our car, too quick for photos. We continued the drive seeing more impalas and stopped for some nice birds like European roller, cape flossy starling and an African hoopoe. At Mestel Dam the hippos were falling asleep as there was minimal activity.
We continued towards Shabeni and suddenly saw a congregation of cars. We stopped at the back of the traffic jam and spotted a leopard lying on a flat rock. As it was the same area as yesterday we assumed it was either the Mum or one of the cubs we saw yesterday, most likely the Mum. While we were watching it got up and jumped down, hiding between the rocks.
We continued driving onto Shabeni Loop and spotted one of the cubs of the leopard we saw yesterday, stretching and lying down, getting up, lying somewhere else. He was definitely restless. He stood up again staring down to the bottom of the rock and up jumped another leopard. The two were in plain sight and the restless one started catching the other one's tail, which was a playful gesture and a funny sight. When he got bored again he went behind the tree and came back with a piece of what looked like a spine of an impala and started munching on it. But he wasn't too hungry and he abandoned it to have another snooze.
We left the sighting and continued on the loop to spot 2 buffalos on Shabeni rock. These two grumpy old men were just lazying around, ruminating their breakfast probably. After we saw some more kudus we stopped at Pretoriuskop for coffee and some souvenir shopping. With the car full of souvenirs we then had to continue back to Numbi gate and unfortunately leave the park as the safari was finished. It was short but sweet, next time it will be a longer safari!!
This morning we packed up and left straight after breakfast. As today was the last day we were hoping for something new. Before we even left with the car however we saw an elephant grazing right outside the Nkambeni fence in front of our balcony.
On camp road we saw the herd of impalas again as well as some fresh elephant dung and buffalo dung. Not to mention the potholes and drainage lines caused by all the rain.
We went up Albassini and soon a common grey duiker crossed in front of our car, too quick for photos. We continued the drive seeing more impalas and stopped for some nice birds like European roller, cape flossy starling and an African hoopoe. At Mestel Dam the hippos were falling asleep as there was minimal activity.
We continued towards Shabeni and suddenly saw a congregation of cars. We stopped at the back of the traffic jam and spotted a leopard lying on a flat rock. As it was the same area as yesterday we assumed it was either the Mum or one of the cubs we saw yesterday, most likely the Mum. While we were watching it got up and jumped down, hiding between the rocks.
We continued driving onto Shabeni Loop and spotted one of the cubs of the leopard we saw yesterday, stretching and lying down, getting up, lying somewhere else. He was definitely restless. He stood up again staring down to the bottom of the rock and up jumped another leopard. The two were in plain sight and the restless one started catching the other one's tail, which was a playful gesture and a funny sight. When he got bored again he went behind the tree and came back with a piece of what looked like a spine of an impala and started munching on it. But he wasn't too hungry and he abandoned it to have another snooze.
We left the sighting and continued on the loop to spot 2 buffalos on Shabeni rock. These two grumpy old men were just lazying around, ruminating their breakfast probably. After we saw some more kudus we stopped at Pretoriuskop for coffee and some souvenir shopping. With the car full of souvenirs we then had to continue back to Numbi gate and unfortunately leave the park as the safari was finished. It was short but sweet, next time it will be a longer safari!!
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