On Safari With Mark From 7 April 2014

7 April 2014

Route: Voortrekker - H3 - Napi - Nkambeni

General animals seen: kudu, impala, waterbuck, warthog, elephant, blue wildebeest, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, steenbok, common duiker, Chackma baboons, vervet monkeys, tortoise, terrapins and hippos

Highlights:

Today was rather quiet, with only general animals seen. We did get to see 2 spotted Hyena's on the road just past ship mountains.

Great photo opportunity for the guests as it was the first time we spotted them in the 4 days we've been going.

We see what tomorrow has in store for us. Hope we can get a male lion before some of my guests depart.

 

8 April 2014

Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Nkambeni

General animals seen: kudu, zebra, impala, common duiker, warthog, giraffe, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, rhino, elephant, buffalo and hippos

Highlight: on our way down napi we decided to stop off at transport dam and on the access rd we found a large male leopard lying snoozing, belly full from an impala he must of caught earlier. After spending time with him, he got up and casually walked away from us. Guests got great photos as he was approximately 3m away from the vehicle.

 

9 April 2014

Route: Napi - H3 - Doispan - Albaseni - Shabeni koppies - Numbi tar - Nkambeni

General animals seen: same as day before with the exception of steenbok as well.

Highlights: we were informed about 3 cheetahs on S65 approximately 1.2km from napi and responded as guests had not seen cheetah before. We found them in an open clearing enjoying the first bit of sun for the past two days. All 3 relaxed and guests could get photos although these cats lay approximately 30m from our vehicle.

While at the cheetah sighting, a college informed me of another leopard sighting and so we decided to respond as this one was lying in the tree. No sooner had we arrived and got visual of this majestic male, he dropped his kill out of the tree, right into the hungry mouths of spotted Hyena's. They ripped the leftovers up and off they went. As the coast was clear the leopard jumped out of the tree, and moved away. Guests enjoyed the interaction between leopard and Hyena's and could get good photos of this.

Still no lions for the last guests on this safari, so just before we exit the park we going on a last drive to see if we can locate them.

 

Keep watching for more!!

SA & Mozambique To Sign MoU

SA & Mozambique to sign MoU in the field of Biodiversity, Conservation & Management on 17 April 2014 at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park http://bit.ly/1lPY9L4

SANParks Arrests Two Staff Members For Alleged Poaching

South African National Parks (SANParks) said in a statement today that in a SANParks driven operation, with support from South African Police Services (SAPS), two of its staff members based in the Kruger National Park (KNP) were arrested during the late afternoon of yesterday, Monday the 7th April, on suspicion of poaching activity during ...the weekend.

According to SANParks’ Acting CEO, Abe Sibiya the two employees are not attached to the Ranger Corp units within the park… “but are definitely employees of the organisation”.

The two suspects are expected to appear in the White River Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 9 April 2014.

Sibiya said the strategies being employed in the fight against rhino poaching are not only focused on external forces, but also within our own ranks. “We will not leave any stone unturned and this should send out a stern warning to those who are conspiring with poachers that we will deal with them decisively and swiftly.” The suspects are presumed innocent until they are convicted, but we are following very strong leads. “We are constantly on the alert and that is what led to the arrests of these two individuals,” added Sibiya.

He said the use of advanced technology now in place in the iconic park also led to the breakthrough in apprehending these alleged suspects. “This advanced technology made possible through funds donated by the public, various corporations and foundations is assisting in building the much needed intelligence in the fight against poaching.”

SANParks would like to commend our own colleagues in the Ranger corps and ECI including the SAPS and SANDF who continue to take the fight to the intruders and killers of our heritage.

“A lot of work is underway to stabilize the situation and we are confident that the collective interventions by all law-enforcement local and international agencies will eventually curb or reduce, if not stop, rhino poaching altogether,” Sibiya concluded.

Issued by:
South African National Parks

On Safari With Mark From 5 April 2014

5 April 2014

Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Shabeni loop - Nkambeni

General animals seen: kudu, impala, warthog, zebra, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, giraffe, rhino and elephant

Highlights:

A large herd of buffalo (200) still lying sleeping just before Napi boulders entrance. Guests got excellent photos of the bulls as they got up and started to move around in between the herd.

On our return to camp for lunch we drove along Doispan and just past Neyamundwa dam we found 2 lioness walking in the road towards us.   They moved off the road and disappeared into the long yellow thatch grass. Although the sighting was short lived, guests were able to get some shots of these as well.

Afternoon drive produced buffalo approximately 3m from our vehicle. Brilliant sighting to have a old dugga boy right next to us.

On shabeni koppies we found a female leopard lying on the rocks enjoying the view. We spent approximately 30min with her and watched as she stalked a common ground squirrel.

On our return to camp we found a young male leopard walking in the middle of the road very close to mestel dam. We followed him as he scent marked his territory along the side of the road. Awesome sighting and guests could get great photos.

 

6 April 2014

Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Nkambeni

General animals seen: kudu, impala, waterbuck, zebra, giraffe, hippos, crocodile, elephant, buffalo and rhino

Highlights:

We started our safari with Napi been very quiet due to all the holiday traffic, which comes to an end today (heha). On Napi boulders we found 2 lioness lying on the rocks enjoy the fresh morning sun, with no care in the world.

Further to this we eventually found fabulous herds of elephant crossing over Doispan enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon.

We spend the first part of the morning tomorrow, looking for the male lion as some of my guests are departing for the next part of their trip to Swaziland.

 

More coming soon!