28 February 2014
This morning the guys started early with coffee before theirbushwalk. They enjoyed it as you are much closer to everything and there is
more attention to small things. But don't forget the big things as they also
saw a buffalo as well as a rhino in the distance. After the walk there was time
for some breakfast and some relaxation at the pool as it was already becoming a
hot day!
In the afternoon we went out for a short drive. Right outside our camp we saw a herd of impala and a bit later some kudus all lounging around in the shade. We drove up Napi to see some more kudus close to the road. Two white rhinos were walking in the distance as well. On the road we saw a lot of European rollers, and some lilac breasted ones too, that were picking the insects off the road. Some were sitting on a branch with mouths gaping open to relieve some of the heat.
Close to Shithave Dam we spotted elephant, dark grey, indicating that they, like us before, had been playing with water to cool down. A small herd of elephants had recently crossed the road a bit further on and a youngster feeding in the thicket apparently forgot to follow. When noticing he was alone and the stress of a noisy car coming past he freaked out a bit and started running after them calling out to them. We could almost hear him say "wait for me"! We continued on to spot another white rhino that decided to cross the road just behind us.
On the way back we stopped at Shithave Dam to have a look at the hippos in the water and saw the white fronted bee eaters have their daily bath. Down the road we had a herd of elephants, including some very young ones, crossing the road in front of us and later also behind us. Getting a good picture of the babies was quite difficult as they were well protected from view by the aunties who surrounded them and their mothers.
At 4:30 the guests continued their drives from Numbi Gate on their Sundowner Drive.
In the afternoon we went out for a short drive. Right outside our camp we saw a herd of impala and a bit later some kudus all lounging around in the shade. We drove up Napi to see some more kudus close to the road. Two white rhinos were walking in the distance as well. On the road we saw a lot of European rollers, and some lilac breasted ones too, that were picking the insects off the road. Some were sitting on a branch with mouths gaping open to relieve some of the heat.
Close to Shithave Dam we spotted elephant, dark grey, indicating that they, like us before, had been playing with water to cool down. A small herd of elephants had recently crossed the road a bit further on and a youngster feeding in the thicket apparently forgot to follow. When noticing he was alone and the stress of a noisy car coming past he freaked out a bit and started running after them calling out to them. We could almost hear him say "wait for me"! We continued on to spot another white rhino that decided to cross the road just behind us.
On the way back we stopped at Shithave Dam to have a look at the hippos in the water and saw the white fronted bee eaters have their daily bath. Down the road we had a herd of elephants, including some very young ones, crossing the road in front of us and later also behind us. Getting a good picture of the babies was quite difficult as they were well protected from view by the aunties who surrounded them and their mothers.
At 4:30 the guests continued their drives from Numbi Gate on their Sundowner Drive.
1 March 2014
Last night's Sundowner drive had been rather quiet but the
beautiful sunset made up for the lack of animals. Apart from an owl,
unfortunately all the nocturnal animals had been hiding. Upon their return
however we had a braai dinner in the boma next to the camp fire, which was very
nice.
This morning we left on an early game drive right after breakfast. We started off with a nice herd of impalas. We turned onto Albassini and there was a young impala all alone and looked quite lost. Sadly we left her and then spotted at a herd of zebras walking on the road in front of us. The youngsters were playing around and the rest of the zebras kept on walking ahead undeterred.
At Mestel Dam the hippos were just getting into the water and had a last play before bedtime. We continued our drive where we encountered elephants with youngster twice, saw two white rhino and 3 old buffalo bulls in the road in front of us. A fourth one was watching us from a rock.
A little loop around Pretoriuskop showed us more elephants crossing the road. While watching we got a tip from a member of the public about wild dogs nearby so we drove to the spot. They were indeed on the little loop on top of the rocks, one by one coming down. We tried to do the loop one more time to see if we would catch them on the other side, but they had been to quick for us and had disappeared.
We continued the loop and saw dwarf mongooses playing on the side of the road, scattering away as soon as they spotted our car. A big fat warthog also chose to run away from us and hide, as soon as he saw us coming so we only got a glimpse. We then had to make our way back to Numbi Gate as two of our guests had to take their transfer home. On the last stretched we spotted a giraffe and an elephant came to say goodbye at the parking lot while we were unloading the suitcases. Then we took the last pictures and had to wave goodbye to Andrea and Simone. Thanks for joining us on this tour guys, glad you enjoyed it!
The rest of today we will spend relaxing at the pool as it was already becoming hot! The remaining guests thought a quiet afternoon with nothing but a book would be a great way to spend the holiday and as we have done so many good safaris, a bit of relaxation can't hurt :-).
This morning we left on an early game drive right after breakfast. We started off with a nice herd of impalas. We turned onto Albassini and there was a young impala all alone and looked quite lost. Sadly we left her and then spotted at a herd of zebras walking on the road in front of us. The youngsters were playing around and the rest of the zebras kept on walking ahead undeterred.
At Mestel Dam the hippos were just getting into the water and had a last play before bedtime. We continued our drive where we encountered elephants with youngster twice, saw two white rhino and 3 old buffalo bulls in the road in front of us. A fourth one was watching us from a rock.
A little loop around Pretoriuskop showed us more elephants crossing the road. While watching we got a tip from a member of the public about wild dogs nearby so we drove to the spot. They were indeed on the little loop on top of the rocks, one by one coming down. We tried to do the loop one more time to see if we would catch them on the other side, but they had been to quick for us and had disappeared.
We continued the loop and saw dwarf mongooses playing on the side of the road, scattering away as soon as they spotted our car. A big fat warthog also chose to run away from us and hide, as soon as he saw us coming so we only got a glimpse. We then had to make our way back to Numbi Gate as two of our guests had to take their transfer home. On the last stretched we spotted a giraffe and an elephant came to say goodbye at the parking lot while we were unloading the suitcases. Then we took the last pictures and had to wave goodbye to Andrea and Simone. Thanks for joining us on this tour guys, glad you enjoyed it!
The rest of today we will spend relaxing at the pool as it was already becoming hot! The remaining guests thought a quiet afternoon with nothing but a book would be a great way to spend the holiday and as we have done so many good safaris, a bit of relaxation can't hurt :-).
2 March 2014
Today we went out for a full day safari. Once again we left
after breakfast and when exiting the camp we straight away saw a herd of
impalas. And shortly after we saw two tree squirrels having an intense
discussion, probably about nuts, so much so they didn't notice the big car
coming towards them. It took them a while to realize the road might not be the
safest place for a fight so they jumped into the nearest bush. We continued on
Numbi tar road and a little further on we came across some zebras with more
impalas and wildebeest in the background. These were the first wildebeest this
trip!
On Napi we came across lots of elephants again, all of them feeding. We also saw a giraffe, more zebras, and our first klipspringer of this trip.
We planned on stopping at Skukuza for coffee and a toilet, but when we arrived they had no power. This meant we could go to the toilet, but without power the coffee machines don't work. We bought ourselves some drinks from the dark store and then continued to the S114 where there should be lions. And indeed, we spotted tree male lions doing what lions do best: sleeping. They were lying flat in the high grass and we were told one of them had just gotten up and moved into the bush. We waited for a while to see if any of the others wanted to follow but no such luck. Remembering our first and second lion sighting of this trip, where we were able to see them much better, we decided to not wait any longer but continue.
Down at the Renosterkoppies we saw a big troop of baboons chasing impalas around. We spotted our first warthogs on the way back up to Napi. The first sighting was a very big fat male and the second sighting were 3 warthogs together.
Then we had a funny encounter with a leopard tortoise. A car of a member of the public had already stopped to take pictures and the leopard tortoise started moving towards the car. It walked straight under the car, kind of tried to nibble the front wheel and then decided it was a nice shady place to relax. We must agree it was getting hot, but it was quite inconvenient for the people in the car. So we parked up next to them so we could see the tortoise and then gave them directions of how to drive away without hitting the tortoise. As soon as he was back in the sun he got up and made way for our car instead so we quickly started and drove away ourselves before we were the nice shady place!
Then we went to the Skukuza Golfclub for lunch. This was extra fun as the guest is a regular golfer so he was quite surprised to see a golf course with hippos playing in the dam in front while people are playing golf. Also there were baboons running around and we could see impalas and warthogs in the background too. We analyzed the French tourists that came to lunch at the same place. They walked straight onto the green where people were playing and then were especially oblivious when they went to sit on the green on the edge of the water very close to those hippos. Luckily an employee of the golfclub pointed out the danger and they moved off.
After our lunch we drove back towards the tar road and spotted three bushbucks hiding in the bush, also a first! Down on Watergat we saw lots more impalas, kudus and a solo wildebeest before we turned back onto Napi. On Napi we saw an elephant walking towards us. We saw him from far, say about 100m away, and he was walking on the left side of the road so we parked on the right and waited. But this big bully then decided, about 50m away from us, that he wanted to walk on the right side. He gave us a little head shake and when we didn't budge he moved off the road to follow his companion through the bushes.
Then we decided it was getting too hot for us, so we needed an ice cream break. Just before Pretoriuskop we saw a giant plated lizard run across. After our break we continued back to Nkambeni, where we were stopped in front of the gate by another big bully elephant. He was munching on the plants outside the entrance, ruining the well groom welcome sign. We think he even deliberately snapped off one of the lights and he dug up the aloe veras. We were allowed to enter our camp once he had moved far away from the entrance gate. We had a long day, but it was worth it!
On Napi we came across lots of elephants again, all of them feeding. We also saw a giraffe, more zebras, and our first klipspringer of this trip.
We planned on stopping at Skukuza for coffee and a toilet, but when we arrived they had no power. This meant we could go to the toilet, but without power the coffee machines don't work. We bought ourselves some drinks from the dark store and then continued to the S114 where there should be lions. And indeed, we spotted tree male lions doing what lions do best: sleeping. They were lying flat in the high grass and we were told one of them had just gotten up and moved into the bush. We waited for a while to see if any of the others wanted to follow but no such luck. Remembering our first and second lion sighting of this trip, where we were able to see them much better, we decided to not wait any longer but continue.
Down at the Renosterkoppies we saw a big troop of baboons chasing impalas around. We spotted our first warthogs on the way back up to Napi. The first sighting was a very big fat male and the second sighting were 3 warthogs together.
Then we had a funny encounter with a leopard tortoise. A car of a member of the public had already stopped to take pictures and the leopard tortoise started moving towards the car. It walked straight under the car, kind of tried to nibble the front wheel and then decided it was a nice shady place to relax. We must agree it was getting hot, but it was quite inconvenient for the people in the car. So we parked up next to them so we could see the tortoise and then gave them directions of how to drive away without hitting the tortoise. As soon as he was back in the sun he got up and made way for our car instead so we quickly started and drove away ourselves before we were the nice shady place!
Then we went to the Skukuza Golfclub for lunch. This was extra fun as the guest is a regular golfer so he was quite surprised to see a golf course with hippos playing in the dam in front while people are playing golf. Also there were baboons running around and we could see impalas and warthogs in the background too. We analyzed the French tourists that came to lunch at the same place. They walked straight onto the green where people were playing and then were especially oblivious when they went to sit on the green on the edge of the water very close to those hippos. Luckily an employee of the golfclub pointed out the danger and they moved off.
After our lunch we drove back towards the tar road and spotted three bushbucks hiding in the bush, also a first! Down on Watergat we saw lots more impalas, kudus and a solo wildebeest before we turned back onto Napi. On Napi we saw an elephant walking towards us. We saw him from far, say about 100m away, and he was walking on the left side of the road so we parked on the right and waited. But this big bully then decided, about 50m away from us, that he wanted to walk on the right side. He gave us a little head shake and when we didn't budge he moved off the road to follow his companion through the bushes.
Then we decided it was getting too hot for us, so we needed an ice cream break. Just before Pretoriuskop we saw a giant plated lizard run across. After our break we continued back to Nkambeni, where we were stopped in front of the gate by another big bully elephant. He was munching on the plants outside the entrance, ruining the well groom welcome sign. We think he even deliberately snapped off one of the lights and he dug up the aloe veras. We were allowed to enter our camp once he had moved far away from the entrance gate. We had a long day, but it was worth it!
3 March 2014
Today was our last day and we ended the way we started: with
rain. But at least this time it wasn't the thunderstorm and downpour with which
we arrived so we decided to tour around in the park one last morning. As soon
as we went out of the camp gate we spotted the same culprit elephant as the one
which ruined the entrance the day before. This time though he had two friends
with him.
When we got to the tar road a nice male waterbuck was grazing close to the road. We turned onto Albassini and spotted a small kudu family and shortly after some impalas. At Mestel Dam we could see the ears and nostrils of the hippos, but they already went to sleep so we continued towards Shabeni road.
Great was our surprise when we came up out of the drainage line and there were wild dogs standing in the middle of the road. The alpha male was leading the way and one by one all 9 wild dogs trotted past our car. It was an amazing sighting!
We turned onto Shabeni and saw once again a group of 3 elephants and a tree squirrel in the road. There were buffalos on the Shabeni rocks, not caring about the rain that came down quite heavy at this point. On the dirt road towards Circle Road we spotted two young kudu bulls and a steenbok quickly ran across. Dwarf mongoose were playing in the road but quickly scampered when we arrived.
We then had the intention of take a loop around circle road but once again we came upon 3 elephants. These bulls were walking in the middle of the road and didn't like us coming too close let alone pass them. So we waited a while and then drove a bit further. And then waited again. Drove around the corner and oops, turns out the biggest one is waiting for us right there to tell us off. He gives us a big head shake and an angry look before turning around and he continues walking slowly on the road with his friends. We decided the elephants have won and we turned around towards Pretoriuskop for our cup of coffee.
After the break we continued on Napi spotting more elephants, a small herd of buffalo and luckily a leopard in a tree! He was lying there all on his own not a care in the world that there were people behind him staring at him from all angles. We sat with him for a while until it was time to leave as we had to leave the park for the return transfer to Johannesburg. On the way out of the park we saw even more elephants, a stunning kudu bull, two massive white rhinos, dwarf mongoose, a slender mongoose, wildebeests and the same buffalos as before, which hadn't moved much.
Then it was time to go. Reginald, thank you for joining us! We hope to see you back in November, but this time with your golf clubs!! Hope you had a safe trip home.
When we got to the tar road a nice male waterbuck was grazing close to the road. We turned onto Albassini and spotted a small kudu family and shortly after some impalas. At Mestel Dam we could see the ears and nostrils of the hippos, but they already went to sleep so we continued towards Shabeni road.
Great was our surprise when we came up out of the drainage line and there were wild dogs standing in the middle of the road. The alpha male was leading the way and one by one all 9 wild dogs trotted past our car. It was an amazing sighting!
We turned onto Shabeni and saw once again a group of 3 elephants and a tree squirrel in the road. There were buffalos on the Shabeni rocks, not caring about the rain that came down quite heavy at this point. On the dirt road towards Circle Road we spotted two young kudu bulls and a steenbok quickly ran across. Dwarf mongoose were playing in the road but quickly scampered when we arrived.
We then had the intention of take a loop around circle road but once again we came upon 3 elephants. These bulls were walking in the middle of the road and didn't like us coming too close let alone pass them. So we waited a while and then drove a bit further. And then waited again. Drove around the corner and oops, turns out the biggest one is waiting for us right there to tell us off. He gives us a big head shake and an angry look before turning around and he continues walking slowly on the road with his friends. We decided the elephants have won and we turned around towards Pretoriuskop for our cup of coffee.
After the break we continued on Napi spotting more elephants, a small herd of buffalo and luckily a leopard in a tree! He was lying there all on his own not a care in the world that there were people behind him staring at him from all angles. We sat with him for a while until it was time to leave as we had to leave the park for the return transfer to Johannesburg. On the way out of the park we saw even more elephants, a stunning kudu bull, two massive white rhinos, dwarf mongoose, a slender mongoose, wildebeests and the same buffalos as before, which hadn't moved much.
Then it was time to go. Reginald, thank you for joining us! We hope to see you back in November, but this time with your golf clubs!! Hope you had a safe trip home.
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