On Safari With Mark From 5 May 2014

5 May 2014

Route: Skukuza - Elloff - Lower Sabi - Elloff -

General animals seen: impala, kudu, giraffe, hippos, crocodile, buffalo, elephant

Highlights: on our drive to lower sabi we found two wild dogs that had just killed a impala. They enjoyed themselves and we could literally see their stomachs swell as they devoured the antelope. The guests loved it and brilliant photos were taken.

For the afternoon drive it was really quiet with very little seen.

Hope to get some Lions out close to the road on our route to Satara.

6 May 2014

Route: Skukuza - Tshokwane tar - Satara - Orpen gate road

General animals seen: impala, kudu, warthog, giraffe, waterbuck, hippos, elephants

Highlights: On route to Satara we stopped at the baobab tree, which guests loved to see and took photos of Africa's largest tree.

Before we booked in we decided to head down the Orpen gate road for the first 5km and found 3 wild dogs lying in the open. We then moved on and opposite Nsemani dam we found a male and female lion on honeymoon. As we switched off the car, the female got up with the male right behind her and walked out onto the road right past our car. Guests loved it and many photos were taken. Some out of focus as the lions were too close to the vehicle. Great sighting anyway 

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On Safari With Mark From 2 May 2014

2 May 2014

Route: Albaseni - shabeni koppies - pretoriuskop - fiaya loop - Nkambeni

General Sightings: impala, kudu, waterbuck, buffalo, common duiker, hippos, giraffe and elephant

Highlights: Although animal sightings have been rather quiet for the day. We had some special sightings of giraffe crossing the road in front of us as well as some beautiful old buffalo bulls approximately 3m from our vehicle. Very relaxed just grazing on the short grass next to the road.  As we have many days left on safari, this was a good start and all guests are relaxed and enjoying what pops out in front of them.

Sightings could improve in the near future as school holidays are coming to an end and traffic volumes decrease. We wait and see what tomorrow has on offer.

 

3 May 2014

Route: Voortrekker - H3 - Bergendal - H3 - Napi - Nkambeni

General sightings: impala, warthog, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, rhino, waterbuck, common duiker, hippos, kudu, klipspringer, chackma baboons and vervet monkeys.

Highlights: Curtis called me and informed me of the 9 wild dogs spotted on the road to Pretoriuskop. We responded and found them all lying together. A brilliant sighting as the pups got up and started playing and all our guests could get great action shots.

Although there was a lot of traffic, we had general game sightings throughout the day.

On our way back to Nkambeni, we headed down napi and approximately 2kms from transport we had the  privilege of a male leopard popping out and onto the road as he walked next to our car sniffing. We stayed with him for approximately 20min then decided to leave and go onto camp.

All guests happy with how the day transpired.

 

4 May 2014

Route: albaseni - doispan - napi - Kruger gate road - skakuza

General sightings: same as day before


Highlights: On our drive this morning we came across a male and female lion lying 10m from the car. Lots of Shade in the area and therefore believe they will stay there the entire day.

Further down the road we found an impala kill hanging in the tree, but unfortunately no leopard with it in the tree.

We have decided to take a break and enjoy some rest for the afternoon. With guests able to spend time overlooking the sabie river, this safari is enjoyed by all.

 

More coming soon!

On Safari With Curtis From 29 April 2014

29 April 2014

The first day of the tour and after picking up my new guests, we drove down to Numbi gate. When we got there we only had a couple of hours before closing time so we did a quick loop around Albasini, Shabeni link and Shabeni loop. At Mestel the resident Hippos were in the water occasionally calling out and moving about, however most of our attention was on the other side of the dam where we had a solitary male elephant standing a couple of metres from the waters edge. I did think he might go for a cooling swim, in the heat of the day, but alas he was more interested in the succulent reeds. We also saw Reed cormorants and an African fish eagle at the dam. As we moved on we came across a herd of Cape buffalo, I could hear plenty of rustling and noise around us but the thick bush stopped us seeing much of the herd, we did see about ten of them close by. As we carried on driving we also Impala and waterbuck in the bush and then Vervet monkey' and Klipspringer both on the lookout on top of a rocky view point. As we reached Numbi tar we had a bit of time to spare and so I decided to take a quick look around a small loop, as we drove down the road we found a traffic jam and the cause was a male lion. As we watched him relaxing a second male got up and they then both walked past the vehicle. Time was pushing on and so we had to head down to our lodge for the night.

A great start to the new tour and hopefully plenty more tomorrow!!!

 

30 April 2014

As we left the camp we immediately came upon impala and giraffe standing in the middle of the road, we found two more giraffe a little further down the road. We decided to take a look around Shabeni loop this morning, as I thought the lions we saw yesterday might make their way to the rocks. We were in luck as they were both there and each took turns to get up and walk around. One of them even gave us an extra reward as he started to roar.

Continuing on we came upon four white rhino by the edge of the road, with so many cars around the sighting they were a bit edgy but we waited patiently and all four crossed the road in front of us. As we drove on we found impala, kudu, warthog and giraffe along the road as well as more elephant. We had a break at Skukuza before setting off again and we came across a herd, or maybe two, of elephants. At least 35 animals at the sighting and we again turned off the engine and waited for them to come closer. We were lucky that once again they obliged and we had some wonderful views as they crossed the road around us.

After lunch at the golf club I stopped off at Lake Panic where the guests saw hippo, crocodile, terrapins and Nyala. On the way back to the lodge we were rewarded again with another wonderful sighting of an elephant herd. They again crossed the road in front of us although one female along with a youngster was too busy eating to bother crossing the road and they wandered right up to our vehicle and gave a great opportunity for us to get some great photos. As we carried on we found more impala, vervet monkeys, baboons and warthog before we turned onto Albasini where we found a Side striped jackal standing by the edge of the road. We also saw Leopard tortoises, tawny eagle, an Bateleur, Lilac-breasted rollers as well as white-backed vultures.

 

1 May 2014

Another day and our first animal was again the resident impalas near the lodge gate, we also had a brief glimpse of a common duiker before he scuttled off into the bush. Today we headed down Voortrekker where straight away came across a large male giraffe and large male elephant. Although the road was quiet at times we again had many sightings of elephants along the way, both herds and bachelor groups of males as well as impala and a very nice buffalo resting in the shade.
After a break at Afsaal we headed along the H3 and Napi where we saw more elephants, hippo, waterbuck, impala and kudu. With the hot sun beaming down the Leopard tortoises seemed to be out in force as well as the terrapins sunbathing at Shitlave dam. A quick look around Shabeni and we saw a couple of dagga boys as well as three klipspringers.

 

This afternoon was quiet to begin with as we found impala and kudu then while driving around Faye loop we found a solitary buffalo having a cooling soak in a drainage line and as we drove on one of the guests spotted an African wild dog. They weren't too far in the bush but with the long grass it was hard to see them. We waited for a while and eventually a couple of them popped their heads up and now and again got up and walked around. We saw three at the sighting but I'm sure there were a few more in the grass. We carried on and found a family of dwarf mongooses hanging around on the edge of the road. We then found a nice herd of elephants just by Numbi road.

 

 

2 May 2014

 

An early start as for four of my guests it was the last morning of their safari. We headed down Albasini and found impala and kudu but not much else when as we approached the Shabeni link road a pack of eight wild dog came trotting down the road, they turned into the link road and we followed. We were able to follow behind them for quite a while before they moved into the bush. We set about trying to find them when suddenly we saw an impala leap right over the width of the road with 3-4 dogs in pursuit. They didn't manage to catch the impala as they soon regrouped on the road before heading back into the bush for good. We then took a drive around Shabeni loop which was quiet with just a couple of kudu, impala and klipspringer on it. Unfortunately it was then time to say goodbye to Martin, Petra, Sarah and Jasmine who are continuing their adventures around South Africa. It has been a pleasure having you on the tour and I'm sure you will have many more adventures to go with the ones we had in the last four days.

 

Myself, Leo and Patricia then carried on the drive and we found giraffe, zebra, hippo, a nice herd of buffalo close to the road, Vervet monkey' impala and kudu before heading back to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon we found three white rhinos deep in the bush, they seemed to be heading our way and so we reversed a little, to give them space, and waited. They moved closer to us and eventually came out of the bushes and walked across the road right in front of us. We also found a journey of giraffe although we only had a good look at one as the others were hiding behind their favourite Acacia trees. We also saw a couple of elephants, impala, kudu and marsh terrapins relaxing in the afternoon sun.

 

3 May 2014

 

This morning Kruger was a blanket of fog with visibility just a few metres but this didn't stop us from having a good start. We found the local territorial white rhino male resting in his favourite drainage line and got some good photos to start the day off. Then we noticed the spoor of the wild dog and after following them for a few minutes found the whole pack resting in the road. After staying with the dogs for a while we moved on. The morning can be summed up as missed opportunities as we missed leopard, by just a few seconds, on four separate occasions and we also just missed a lion sighting. However sometimes this happens and we kept preserving and were rewarded when we found two male lions sleeping in the bush. They were only about 8 metres from the road but with the tall grass we couldn't see much. They however were kind enough to pop their heads up now and again and one eventually got up and walked a short distance before collapsing back to the ground. This gave us all enough time to get some good photos.

Despite the disappointment of missed chances we did see many other animals throughout the day including plenty of elephants, waterbuck, giraffe, warthog, kudu, zebra, wildebeest, impala, klipspringer, steenbok and tree squirrels.

 

 

4 May 2014

 

It was the last day of this tour and after yesterdays disappointment of missing all those leopards we were hoping for a bit better luck. We only had a few hours before we had to get to the shuttle so we headed around circle road and Manungu koppies where we found plenty of elephants, and a beautiful male kudu walking down the road towards us. We then moved onto Shabeni loop and found impala before as we turned around a bend found a leopard quickly walking over the road. I anticipated him coming back out onto the road just on the other side of the loop and we positioned our car just in case he came out on the road again. We waited for a couple of minutes and then he appeared, he hung around, sniffing the area, before crossing the road. We followed to the place he had crossed and found him just by the road and were able to watch as he sniffed, looked and then slowly moved into the bush. We only had a look at him for a couple of minutes but the guests still managed to get some really good clear photos of him. After all the close misses of yesterday we were all ecstatic about this lovely sighting.

We only had a short while left so we headed down Albasini and Nyamundwa dam where we saw impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo and warthog. It was then time to leave the Kruger and head for the transfer. It has been a pleasure having Leo and Patricia on tour and I know they have loved all the wonderful sightings we got over the last few days, hopefully we will see you again in South Africa one day!!!

 

More coming soon!!

 

 

On Safari With Karen From 29 April 2014

29 April 2014

Today we started off with a white rhino lying in a drainage line right next to the road. It seemed like he was posing for us, showing off his horn, so we got some good pictures.

We went down Voortrekker to Afsaal, where the road was pretty quiet for animals. Especially compared to our luck yesterday. But we enjoyed the change in landscape and different trees and vegetation. On the way to our coffee break we did still see some animals though: warthogs, elephants, rhinos and a dark chanting goshawk.

After coffee we finally saw our first impala of the day, and then they came by bucket loads. We had another white rhino sighting of two white rhinos and saw a couple of brown snake eagles and a very nice kudu bull lying in the shade.

We took the S112 and S21 to Lower Sabie, where we spotted our first blue wildebeest and we saw a mother giraffe with her young. As Nelleke loves the birds, we stopped for a lot of them, like a grey lourie, various hornbills and starlings.

On the last stretch to Lower Sabie we saw plenty of elephants going to the river to drink and play with water. We had a herd of about 50 elephants of all ages cross right in front of us and some even behind us as well. This was brilliant to watch! The last stop before lunch was at Sunset Dam where we saw crocodiles on the shore, hippos in the water and impala and giraffe.

After break we drove back on the Sabie tar road, spotting martial eagles, fish eagles and bateleurs all flying over as well as sitting in trees. In the river bed or just on the other side there were also buffalos, lots of elephants, a giraffe, and more crocodiles and hippos. Baboons were on the side of the road making one hell of a noise, so we were watching closely to see why, but calm return after a while. No idea what the racket was about, but they descended from the trees and crossed the road all around us.

We were then tipped off about a leopard in a tree, which we were lucky to spot. He was quite obscured, lying with his back to us in the fork of a large Jackalberry. But we all did see him and even saw an ear twitch!

Furthermore we saw vervet monkeys, loads of impalas, a couple of bushbucks, woolly necked stork and had a brief sighting of some lions deep under cover in the bush.

We headed straight down towards camp, and continuing our afternoon luck we spotted a klipspringer, had 5 giraffes crossing the road in front of us, saw a crash of 6 white rhinos, waterbucks and zebras. Our progress was halted however by two male lions who had decided the middle of the road was the best place for a nap. When we arrived already about twenty other cars were milling around them, so we didn't really get a good visual. Once they got up and walked down the road, a procession of cars following them, we got some glimpses of them and the guests were even lucky to snap some pictures of the causes of the traffic jam.

All in all a long but very good and entertaining day!

 

30 April 2014

This morning we went searching for those two male lions that we saw walking on the road yesterday, thinking they might have gone up Shabeni. Before we reached the Koppies they were already seen by Frank and Curtis, so we had an easy find. Before we reached the lion sighting however we first spotted two klipspringers on Shabeni Koppies as well. Then we got to the lions, which were lying on the flat rocks. We sat with them for quite some time, while they got up and laid down somewhere else a couple of times. We also heard then roaring, but not at full power. Even though it was a bit half-hearted, it was great to hear.

We then took a slow drive around Fayi Loop, spotting our first elephants of today. A young baby elephant was drinking from its mother. We also saw a reedbuck twice, had another large elephant herd crossing, and saw a dark chanting goshawk as well as a lizard buzzard.

While we sat at the Boskombuis at Pretoriuskop the vervet monkeys were climbing all over the place, and a cheeky one even stole some leftover food from an empty table. After the break we drove down Napi, spotting even more elephants, kudus and a lot of lilac breasted rollers.

We sat for a while at Transport Dam, enjoying the scenery and the waterbucks, giraffes, zebras, hippos and all the birds that were hanging around at the same Dam. We then went up Watergat, which was fairly quiet with not many other animals than impalas. However we did get a good look of a buffalo in one of the drainage lines as well as a beautiful little bee-eater.

Before we got to the Skukuza Golfclub for lunch we saw a steenbok, had 2 elephant herds on the side of the road and saw a leopard tortoise crossing for which we waited patiently. While having lunch we saw a hippo munching on the grass on the other side, some more hippos in the water and a family of warthogs digging up the golfcourse with their snouts.

On the way back we stopped at Lake Panic where there were crocodiles, a huge terrapin was swimming by and we looked at the birds. Then we continued our drive on Doispane where more elephant herds decided it was time to cross the road when we arrived at the scene, plenty of bateleurs were flying over, we saw a harrier-hawk and a juvenile steppe eagle landed on the road in front of us to clean up some road kill. The last bit of our drive we saw another lot of giraffes that were feeding and we saw our one and only white rhino of today. It was another great day!

 

1 May 2014

Today was unfortunately our last day on safari. We packed our bags, loaded up the car and left after breakfast. On camp road we were welcomed by the impalas that like to hang around and even a duiker came to say a quick goodbye before running off. We turned onto Albassini which was full of tracks of buffalo and there was lots of fresh dung, but the herd remained elusive. At Mestel Dam however we saw some hippos playing in the water and a baby hippo that kept on popping up next to Mum.

 

Down Shabeni we saw some lovely African birds and then took a loop around the Shabeni Koppies. We spotted an elephant not far away, feeding happily and we saw half a buffalo. Just half, as his under-parts and head were hidden in the long grass and unfortunately he didn't want to grant us a good look. Yesterday's lions had moved off the rocks again (or at least they were lying out of sight, if they were there at all).

 

We continued on it had been rather quiet so far, probably the most quiet morning of this tour. But then our luck changed as we saw 3 white rhinos on the side of the road. One had already gotten up and started breakfast, but the other two were still lying sleeping in the morning sun. While watching they decided it was time to get up, but before breakfast they put in some exercise in the form of pushing (the bigger one) and being pushed (the smaller one). Even the third one joined in the sparring match, but there wasn't much strength in it. It was just all bravado, but for us, it just meant more fun to watch. Once they started having their breakfast we moved off and decided to have a quick look at Shitlhave Dam before coffee break. Except for a lone waterbuck, nothing was happening there so we drove to Pretoriuskop to relieve our bladders and fill them with fresh coffee.

 

The last stretch of this safari took us around a loop around Pretoriuskop Koppie. We enjoyed the wide view of the environment and a nice kudu bull that was browsing close to the road. As a farewell we spotted a young elephant bull. He was quite far away, but when he spotted us he came towards us. His swagger was indicating he was out for trouble. While showing his size and making one hell of a racket he came towards the vehicle, but after one good look and a shout he decided we were not to be messed with. Backing off with much bravura, he conceded to leave us alone and we conceded to the fact it now was really time to leave the Park.

Nelleke and Hubert, thanks for coming with us and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday as much as your safari!

 

More coming soon!!