20 September 2014
Today was the
start of a new tour and as we headed down to Nkambeni the clouds opened up.
Even so as we drove down camp road we found a couple of small groups of giraffe
before getting to the lodge. After checking in and having a bit of lunch it was
time for the first game drive. The sunset drive unfortunately was missing the
sunset this evening but that didn't stop the drive from being a success. As
well as more giraffe, impala, kudu, buffalo, elephant and a couple of rhino in
the distance everyone was lucky enough to get to see a leopard. Out in the open
the leopard just sat for about five minutes before disappearing into the grass
giving everyone a chance for some great photos of this elusive big cat. Then
back to the lodge for a nice warm meal.
21 September 2014
The next
day we set off early and immediately found Waterbuck, elephant and impala on
camp road. As we drove on we found plenty of zebra and a nice herd of buffalo
in the distance. Then further along we found a lovely white rhino just eating
next to the road. We hoped he would cross over in front of us but too many cars
blocked his way. We carried on spotting a male sable in the bush but he quickly
disappeared before we got any good photos. Further along we found the sightings
of the day when we found seven rhino, two just to the side of the road and the
other five lying right in the middle of the road. They were content there, when
we decided to leave we had to turn back around and go back the way we had come.
We carried on spotting more general game including several steenbok and duiker
who are much easier to see on the burnt areas. We saw a couple more elephants,
rhino and giraffe before heading back to the lodge.
unfortunately
it was time to say goodbye to three. of our guests, Torben, Dietmar and Kerry.
I hope you have enjoyed your safari. It was a very short trip but I think we
saw plenty in the little time we had together. Safe travels back to Denmark.
As we
drove into the lodge we found another sighting of buffalo and a lovely sighting
of a male elephant who crossed the road in front of us giving us a little headshake
to show who is boss in this part of town.
Meanwhile
while we were on drive two of my guests had been on a bushwalk where they have
the opportunity to see the bush up close. As well as learning about the scat
and spoor of the animals they learn a little bit about the environment they go
walking in. Chuck in some monkeys and a couple of rhino and it was a thoroughly
enjoyed experience for the guests.
This afternoon we
set off for a short drive around the area. We got a couple of brief glimpses of
elephant and a nice herd of buffalo but mostly the afternoon consisted of
getting more photo opportunities of zebra, kudu, Waterbuck and giraffe. We also
had a very nice sighting of sable, initially hidden deep in the bush this
fellow kindly started to walk towards the vehicle and then crossed the road
just twenty meters in front of us. It's not often that you get the chance to
see a sable so clearly.
22 September 2014
Leaving
early we set off down numbi tar and then Napi where we had plenty of sightings
of zebra, impala and kudu with a couple of duiker and steenbok thrown in for
good measure. Then we found the seven rhino we had seen yesterday in the same
area, not as close as before but still a nice sighting. Continuing on we found
more general game including our first viewing of warthog before we came to the
little hyena pup by the side of the road. Moving on we then found lions,
initially it looked like just one female but then one by one four more appeared
only to move into the bush. We stayed with them for a while hoping they would
reappear but alas no luck. We then headed down the 112 onto the 114 and found a
lovely herd of elephants by renosterkoppies.
We headed
to Skukuza for a quick break before going around the river where we saw plenty
of antelopes including first sightings, for this tour, of nyala and Bushbuck.
We also found a couple of ground hornbills walking by the road. We stopped to
have a look when one of them pounced into a bush and pulled out a snake.
Suddenly the other bird grabbed the other end of the snake and a tug of snake
pursued.
Further
down the road we found another lion sighting, this one a female lying in the
riverbed. Then on high level we had a pod of around twenty hippos sunbathing on
the sand as well as buffalo, impala and nyala. Then it was time to turn around
and head home. On the way back we saw a herd of ellies cross over the road in
front of us, lots of general game, vervets and even a nice look at a slender
mongoose.
The
afternoon was much quieter than this morning but we still managed to spot
ellies, rhino, buffalo as well as Waterbuck, zebra, kudu, impala and giraffe.
More
coming soon!!
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