On Safari With Mark From 12 August 2014

12 August 2014 – 15 August 2014

Routes: over the past 4 days we have travelled various routes in the south of the Kruger.

General animals spotted: impala, waterbuck, kudu, giraffe, steenbok, common duiker, klipspringer, warthog, hippos, crocodiles, chackma baboon, vervet monkeys, elephant, buffalo and rhino

Highlights: on a afternoon drive we came across a dominant sable bull right next to the road. He was moving slowly south into the newly burnt area and I'm sure he was after the new fresh shoots of grass.

Guests got great photos of this magnificent bull.

Our following morning we heard of a zebra that was killed by 7 lions and went to find these. On our way Robbie called us and informed us of a coalition of cheetah which we found and once again great for the guests to see the fastest animal on land. We moved on and eventually found all 7 lion enjoying their food approximately 5m off the road. With stomachs full they moved into the shade painting and resting.

A massive herd of buffalo was found on camp road and as luck would have it we found the white bull with them. This was great to see as I had informed my guests about the unique sighting of this bull that we had found last week.  

Leopards have given us the run around over the past 4 days and unfortunately I had to say goodbye to some people without being able to show them the illusive cat.

16 August 2014

Route: Numbi tar - circle road - Fiaya loop - Napi - Albaseni - Doispan - Albaseni - Nkambeni - Napi - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, klipspringer, common Rheedbuck, steenbok, common duiker, zebra, giraffe, warthog, kudu, hippos, waterbuck, elephant, buffalo's and rhinos

Highlights: On the napi we came across a lioness and a sub adult male lying together on the side of a termite mound. This was great as they were 5m off the road but blended in with the grass so well that many people didn't even stop for these and we could enjoy the sighting all to ourselves.

Once we picked up our one night guests, we drove down albaseni and turned onto doispan. Luck was on our side and we found a male leopard walking parallel with the road and guest could get great photos of him.

17 August 2014

Highlights: We had heard about a potential lion sighting on the Numbi tar but found nothing. Instead we found 3 cheetahs in exactly the same place. These brothers tried to chase impala down but their cover was blown long time before they managed to catch anything.

We headed down napi, only to find another cheetah sighting with a female and her 4 cubs.  

On the H3 approximately 300m from Napi a male leopard was spotted, however very far off in tall grass and not all guests could see it as it moved deeper away.

Great rhino sightings today with one female and her calf which must of been approximately 3 weeks old.

We still in search of a big male lion for my guests that have been with me for 5 days now. Will see what tomorrow provides as we might take a drive down to lower sabi.

More coming soon!!