Poachers Update

Poachers Update: 31/07 During a routine security check of vehicles entering the KNP at Kruger Gate this morning, a firearm, ammo and poaching related equipment were discovered in a vehicle. During the incident the driver of the vehicle was arrested and two passengers who were in the vehicle at the time managed to flee from the scene. Investigations are underway.

World Ranger Day 31 July

A BIG THANK YOU to all the rangers out there fighting for our rhinos!! We all appreciate what you do!

On Safari With Karen from 29 July 2014

29 July 2014

After a good night sleep at Berg en Dal, we left this morning in the dark once again. On the road out of camp we noticed a hyena pup in the middle of the road. When a car too many arrived at the sighting he got a fright and bolted through a drainage pipe and into the grass. We let the other cars pass and sat quietly to see if he would return. He did come back onto the road a little in front of us but his actions of running away further little by little showed that he was afraid of the big green monster. We decided to not torture him any longer and left his den, so he could run home.

We turned onto the H3 where there was no shortage of impalas (like everywhere else in the Kruger National Park), but we were lucky to see many elephants as well as giraffe close to the road this morning. Standing on Mlambane bridge we spotted a hyena lying on a rock in the middle of the riverbed. The hyena seemed to be sleeping, but then a large group of kudu bulls showed up. It was about 10 fully grown male kudus, which was an awesome sight. So much so that the hyena watched from behind a rock, but he probably wasn't watching in awe like us. There were also two wooly necked storks on the opposite side and three hamerkop, blacksmith lapwing and barn swallows.

We made a little detour to RenosterPan where us bird-lovers could add a malachite kingfisher and a red crested korhaan to our list. But we weren't the only ones making the detour, so as to escape the crowdedness we left to go have breakfast at Afsaal.

At Afsaal we were dive-bombed by some yellow billed hornbills and almost had our breakfast stolen while two bushbucks were browsing nearby. Then we continued north on the H3. We hit a quiet period on the rest of the H3 till S113 and S23. A nice gentleman had told us that a leopard was on the rocks on the S23. However in passing we hadn't heard where exactly those rocks were as our crossing with the S23 we could have gone both ways. We took a left and saw no rocks for quite some time. But suddenly a pile of boulders on our right and on top: a leopard cub!! We were very happy with the sight. He was lying there nice in the open, for about 5 min, then he got up and moved two meters to the left and behind a branch. Not giving up we moved the car backwards so he came back into view. He lay there, watching us watching him when he suddenly got up and stared into the opposite direction. Hoping for a glimpse of mum, we got excited, but then he went to lie down again. We decided to take a drive to the other side of the rock to see if we could see mum. While standing there scouting around, the cub climbed up a nearby tree. Found a high spot, laid down, but apparently it wasn't comfortable so got up again, climbed up higher and then lay down there. This was the perfect spot for him (and a little less visual for us) so while he settled in we looked around for mum. And there she was. The moment we saw her, she jumped from another tree on the other side of the road. While walking alongside it we saw her, lost her, found her and then lost her again. By this time we were the only car at the sighting again and we waited quietly hoping mum would cross the road to join her cub. But apparently mum needed some more "me"- time as we had no such luck. After sitting with those leopards for more than an hour we felt our bladders and decided another pee stop was in order. We left both leopards very well hidden, if you didn't know he was there you would pass him.

The return journey included a quick stop with mostly sightings of more elephants, lots of zebras, a brilliant white rhino sleeping on his side (which first had scared us as he looked dead, but then luckily started moving), a crested francolin with chicks, more giraffes, a natal francolin, guineafowls panicking, more kudus and a steenbok. And lets not forget the chameleon which got the fright of his life when a car drove over it (not with a wheel, he was in the middle of all 4), reversed and then parked next to it. Then a little sunray came through the clouds, warmed him up and he continued to cross the road (while we frantically stopped another car that was about to drive over it as well and might not have missed it).

Back at camp the guests enjoyed themselves by doing the rhino walk around the camp just before an early dinner. They have seen pretty impala lillies that are in full bloom, possible swazi lillies too, a crocodile and (after identifying pictures during dinner) black headed oriole, blackbacked puffback, egyptian geese and white browed robin chats.

After the early dinner the guests went on a sundowner drive.

The Sundowner Drive was a fast one, so I was told. Nonetheless they have seen plenty of hyena, a wildebeest, white rhinos, including a mother and baby, a spotted eagle owl and a blackbacked jackal. While walking back to our bungalows we stopped to look at the brilliant sky, found south with help from the southerncross (and its pointers) and laughed at scorpio (visible in the night's sky) running after orion (not visible). Then it was time for bed as tomorrow was another day of travel to the next camp: Pretoriuskop.

 

30 July 2014

A couple of kilometres from the gate of Berg en Dal we were surprised by two wild dogs standing in the middle of the road. It was as if they were waiting for us, because as soon as we arrived a third one came from the bushes of our left and they all started doing their business around our car. Then they bolted off back into the bushes on our right. Wild dogs as our first sighting of the day, what a great start!

Continuing on we stopped to look at a lilac breasted roller. He was sitting in a tree close by the road, all puffed up. It was a very cold morning so we completely understood why he wanted to keep some warm air in between his feathers! Just when we were about to drive away, some movement caught our eyes in the background. Looking through binoculars we found a leopard behind a bush. We sat around for a bit and then the leopard decided to walk into the open area. He was limping a little so he walked nice and slow. Time enough for us to enjoy his beauty before he was swallowed into the bushes again.

Then a little further on we saw a herd of elephants feeding on both sides of the road. Apparently both sides were breaking branches as we saw trees move further in as well but it wasn't windy. However, neither side crossed the road. But what a great start of the day. We hadn't even seen an impala yet!

We did come across some impalas, finally, further up the road. We also stopped at a white rhino grazing close to the road. What we didn't know was that it was a mother rhino with a young baby. The baby suddenly came bouncing out from behind the mother chasing a cape glossy starling. She was so cute! She tried to copy her mum and eat some grass, but it was so obvious she had no clue what she was doing we had a bit of a giggle. In the end they crossed the road and while the baby tried to suckle, the mum kept walking to the next patch of grass. The warthogs that crossed the road in front while we were at the sighting didn't get nearly as much attention.

On the way for breakfast at a open area we saw zebras, wildebeest and impalas hanging out in one big group.

After having breakfast surrounded by yellow billed hornbills and a bushwalk walking by, we continued north as we were hoping yesterday's leopards would still be around. Apparently you can't have all the luck in one day as when arriving on the scene, we found fresh tracks of two leopards (one big, one little) but no leopards in sight.

We then got a call about hyenas on the S114. So we drove off and discovered mother nature can be cruel. We found a mourning mother hyena with a dead pup. She was still protecting it and offering it her teats to drink, but the puncture wound in the lower jaw of the pup showed it was truly dead. It was such a sad sight, we continued with a heavy heart. To find some live hyenas just a couple of 100m on.  One of the two adults snoozing in the shade was suckling a very young one, but she cradled it protectively and shielded it from view. We got to see a tail once in a while. At this sighting we realised that mother nature is sometimes cruel but mostly beautiful.

On the way up to Skukuza we encountered more impalas until we arrived at Skukuza. And on this birding trip we could add two more birds to our already long list: southern white crowned shrike and a crowned lapwing.

After breakfast we decided to have a quick check around low level bridge as we hadn't seen a crocodile up close. There were vervet monkeys showing off their tricks of how to beg for food from passers-by. A car had stopped engaging the monkey and in disgust we didn't even stop to look at the vervets, missing out on the bushbuck nearby as well. Arriving at lower level bridge the resident crocodile was posing nicely on a sandbank waiting to be photographed. Then we took a quick look around alpha loop where both a herd of elephants and hippos were grazing in the riverbed.

Then it was the last road of the day: Napi. A slender mongoose crossed the road just in front and disappeared into the grass. At Delaporte waterhole three giraffes were drinking and scaring half of the massive herd of impalas every time they flicked their heads back up.

Just past the turn off to the H3 we spotted a few cars standing still and upon arrival at the scene we saw another leopard lounging in a tree. He didn't take much notice of the cars behind him, snoozing the heat of the day away.

We didn't linger long at the leopard but continued to Transport Dam. Here we sat for quite some time. Not just because we were watching the birds (african jacana, egyptian geese and goslings, a fish eagle hunting those goslings and a bateleur landing right behind the vehicle) but there were also waterbucks, hippos and two bulls elephants. Those elephants were first drinking their fill and then testing the waters. Bit by bit one walked in while the other watched. He finally submerged completely, splashing the other elephant convincing him to join him. It ended in a combination of water ballet and a water wrestling match. It was so much fun watching them play! Too bad we didn't bring our bathing suites, because they enjoyed it so much it was inviting!

On the last stretch home we saw elephants and kudus in passing. We did stop for a family of ground hornbills. One had caught a snake, probably a small puff added, but wasn't eating it. While holding it up though he had bit by bit stolen from him by the youngster. Then a fully frown beautiful sable bull was standing on the side of the road, perfect for a picture. However as soon as we stopped he turned around and hid in the bushes before we had even taken a picture. It signalled the end of a long but awesome day!

 

More coming soon

Poachers Update

Poachers Update: 29/07, Tshokwane - Rangers with helicopter support made contact with 3 suspected rhino poachers - during the incident, all three suspects were arrested, 1 suspect was however wounded in the incident. A firearm, ammo and poaching equipment were recovered at the scene.

On Safari With Karen from 25 July 2014

25 July 2014

We started a new tour today and after a pleasant drive through the plantation area we arrived at Nkambeni Safari Camp, our home for a few nights. After a long lunch break we set off for our first game drive. The weather was still hot. We decided to go around Albassini and stop at Mestel Dam first. On the way we spotted our first animal: kudus. At Mestel Dam itself it was rather quiet. Even though it was hot, nothing seemed thirsty while we were watching. The hippos bobbed up their heads briefly and a wooly necked stork was probing away.

We continued our drive spotting a tawny eagle in flight. Down Shabeni there were no animals in sight but the grasses and trees kept us entertained. A loop around Shabeni showed us two klipspringers. They were showing themselves nicely as if they were deliberately posing for pictures.

Then we drove to Shithave Dam. We spotted our first impalas on the way and at the dam a crocodile was lying stretched out on a rock. We also saw terrapins on the rock next to him, a grey heron, another hippo head as well as some Egyptian geese. A small herd of waterbucks just left the water and crossed the road in front to continue feeding.

By now it finally started to cool down. And suddenly an elephant appeared on the dam wall. We watched her climb on top and when others followed her we decided to go sit next to the water (for those of you familiar with Shithave Dam, the small dam next to the main one) as the elephants seemed to be heading that way. Sitting at the water edge it was a wise move as the herd of elephants came indeed to the edge to drink. Mostly on the opposite side, but surprisingly a large cow came onto the dam wall about a meter in front of our car! Gosh, they are ever so large when they look down on you! But she was no trouble, as she pushes her youngster forwards to join the rest of the herd. A couple of youngsters we scaring the Egyptian geese which made a racket to try to chase the elephant of. No such luck so the geese bailed. We sat there watching them have their fill of water for quite some time, as it was great entertainment!

When the sun started setting however it was time to find our way back to the lodge. We spotted a lovely sunset and a duiker, that ran away, a red crested korhaan and some guineafowls on the way back when Mark called that he had spotted a leopard. We arrived at the sighting and got a glimpse of it but unfortunately not all of us saw it. We did however all see the sables and a warthog at the same sighting. It was a slow start with a good ending for our first safari!

 

26 July 2014

This morning we set off with a brilliant sunrise. On the road out of camp it was third time lucky with spotting a duiker that stood still long enough to take a picture. Then on the way to Shabeni we spotted two elephants and kudus in passing, as we made our way to Shabeni. Mark had spotted a leopard once again and we were hoping for more luck this time. Unfortunately it gave us the run around, showing itself on the opposite side of the rocky outcrop than where we were watching, even if we drove to the other side and back around again.  When starting to lose interest we were surprised by four buffalo bulls walking up the mountain next to our car. They stopped and looked at us for a little while, but then resumed their grazing habits as if we weren't there.

We then gave up totally and continued our game drive. We made a quick pitstop at Pretoriuskop before driving down Napi. As it then got hot already we made our way back to camp. Back down Napi we were then surprised by a honey badger that was digging around in a rhino midden. We stopped and he hurried to hide behind a nearby bush. We waited to see if he would come back as he looked only temporarily scared off, but then one by one another 6 or 7 cars showed up with their engines still running and the honey badger turned around and scurried into the bush. When all were gone we hang around to see if the honey badger would change his mind again, but no. At least not while we were there, but we had all seen it before running away!

The last stretch back to Nkambeni where a pool was waiting for us, we spotted some impalas, more kudus, some more buffalos and waterbucks.

This afternoon we set off again but this time with two new friends that joined the group. We spotted for impalas, kudus and a duiker on camp road before we got told by a good Samaritan that a cheetah was lazing around on Albassini. We followed up on the call and sure enough, we found it lying on a little mount. He just laid there looking at us and we were looking at him. We had plenty of opportunities to photograph him as we had the sighting all to ourselves. Once other vehicles started showing up we decided to give up our (the best) spot to the new arrivals and we continued to Mestel Dam.

There the hippos were pretending to be big rock on the shore. We might have believed so if they wouldn't have wiggled their ears once in a while. We also saw waterbucks and more impalas as well as a fish eagle trying to catch a fish, a pied kingfisher trying to find a fish, Egyptian geese and a hamerkop.

We drove back to the tar road the same way we came up and once again we came across the cheetah. And once again we had him all to ourselves. This time he had moved a little bit and was sitting up so we were hoping he would get up completely and walk. At first he laid down again for a while, but we persisted and suddenly he did indeed get up. He stretched, walked two paces, stretched again.... and dropped on his side and continued lying down. He wasn't really showing any signs to get up again in the next 10min we waited around. It was an awesome sighting, but with this kind of anti-climax we drove off to continue our drive.

On the Numbi tar road we had a family of kudus crossing the road, before turning off towards Manung Koppies. Here we spotted zebras walking through the bushes alongside the road. A little further on however we noticed 11 sable marching in a line to the opposite direction. We decided to turn around and follow alongside in the hope they would get to more open areas. But the sables showed their secretive side and ran across the areas that were less dense. At one point they stood standing still watching us with the sunset in the background. We followed the majestic animals all the way back to the tar road where we then lost visual.

We turned back on the road towards the lodge, still spotting a duiker and more kudus before on camp road three bull elephants were terrorizing the passersby. Well actually, none of the other cars had dared to come close. They let us go first what gave us a great opportunity to watch the elephants feed and two of the bulls greet each other from up close. When it was safe to do so we passed the sighting, immediately followed by a trail of other cars.

It was a great ending to a fantastic afternoon drive!

 

27 July 2014

While the sun was rising we drove down camp road. We talked about the sun and the difference in winter and summer almost missing three buffalos lying in the grass. We could just see their horns and heads sticking out as they were still fast asleep.

We scared some duikers while driving past again and then stopped for a large dazzle of zebras. They were in between the bushes, but close enough to take some nice pictures.

Continuing on Napi road we came across impalas, a juvenile bateleur and kudus. Giraffes were waiting for us just before Napi Boulders where a male was chasing some interesting females. He didn't make them run away though, they walked slowly through the trees and as soon as they walked away he followed.

Further down the road two hyena pups were hanging around. One was brave enough to come close to the car and investigate it. They were very wary of movements and sounds but they had a good sniff of our tyres nonetheless. Then suddenly they bolted. We wondered who scared them when suddenly an adult hyena came out of the bush. She sniffed the path the youngsters had walked, following them at a trot. Oh oh, guess they are in trouble now! It was indeed already way past their bedtime, so maybe they were no longer allowed to play outside!

While having a break at Skukuza we were told about some lions that were lying in the riverbed this morning. We decided to take a bumble around and see if we could get some luck. But alas, when we arrived at the particular spot, they had long since left. But the drive was not for nothing as along the way we saw plenty of impalas, two bushbucks, vervet monkeys and a crocodile!

After a quick peepee stop at Skukuza again we drove straight down Napi back to camp. It was getting rather hot and the few animals we saw was rather spread out. We first came across a steenbok couple that upon seeing us shied away into the bushes.

At Transport Dam we saw a hyena pup lying outside its den. This one younger than the ones we saw this morning earlier, this one probably is the orphaned one we keep coming across. While warming in the sun, he doesn't look too bad for an orphan!

We also encountered warthogs feeding close to the road, twice we saw some elephant bulls. The second sighting was a group of three of which two were fighting to establish which was stronger. The third one had no interest in this and was feeding of the highest branches he could reach, stretching as much as possible.

Then four ground hornbills were walking on the road in front of us. One of them got a bit of a fright and flew a few meters ahead as where the others walked past the car nicely. We also pointed out many kudus, impalas and some more zebras until we reached camp road. Hungry now, as it was already past lunchtime, we were hoping for a clean entrance but an elephant blocked the road. He was feeding off the side of the road. Being no match for an elephant we had to wait patiently for him to move, while enjoying watching him and his friend nonetheless.

In the afternoon we set off for a short drive. We drove the route up Numbi tar and around Shabeni and Pretoriuskop before returning to camp. Most of our time we sat watching baboons play, feed and walk around. But we also spotted a crested barbet, twice a reedbuck, twice a lone buffalo bull, a duiker and impalas.

Some of us had chosen to do a Sundowner Game drive instead. How that went, you'll hear tomorrow.

 

28 July 2014

Last night's Sundowner was nice but quiet. The guests enjoyed the sunset view as well as a buffalo sighting, but it was a rather quiet drive.

This morning some of us went on a bushwalk while others went on an early morning drive. The bushwalk was a great experience. They had walked around trying to find lions, which they could hear roaring not far away. However the lions kept eluding them. Nonetheless they enjoyed the walk, with its attention to the smaller things and quiet nature.

On the morning drive it seemed most animals had forgotten to set their alarm clock. We left camp while it was still dark, catching two scrub hares in our headlights. When the sun started rising it peeked through a layer of clouds, but then the clouds firmly shot the gap and no more sun. And with that the animals seemed to have rolled over once more to stay asleep a bit longer. We enjoyed ourselves by looking at various tracks and scat along Fayi Loop. Some were fresh, but apart from a zebra, duikers and some impalas, we didn't see any mammals so far. The birds started to wake up first and we could see and/or hear various species like chinspot batis, cape turtle dove, brown headed parrot, hoopoe, purple crested turaco, cape glossy starling, forktailed drongo, black shouldered kite and another crested barbet. We aslo heard a reedbuck whistle which sounded just like a bird, but of course isn't one.

At the end of Fayi Loop we stumbled upon an elephant that was deep in the bush. We sat around for a while as we heard more noise than one elephant feeding could make. Slowly more and more appeared and some came into an open area to see them nicely.

Then on the tar a herd of sable was walking alongside us in the high grass. They stopped and looked at us while we stopped looking at them. They sure are beautiful, it is to bad they are so shy. So they didn't come out in the open. But the kudus close to Numbi weren't shy at all. Out in the open on the side of the road they were posing for pictures like they had done it before!

We returned to the lodge to join the ones that were on a bushwalk for breakfast, and to swop stories. Then we had to pack up and leave Nkambeni. At Numbi Gate we waved goodbye to Adeline, Lauren and Wilson, who left us to return to Jo'burg, while I continued with Caitlin and Colene to our next rest camp Berg en Dal.

We drove slowly down Voortrekker road, enjoying sightings of warthog, big elephant herd, waterbucks, nice kudu bulls, a tree squirrel and duikers if they didn't run away. A large troop of baboons was feeding all around the road, which was a pleasure to watch. The babies hanging around, kings passing by and two females having a squabble.

After a quick stop at Afsaal we continued south on the H3 where we stopped for multiple giraffe sightings, zebras, dwarf mongoose and loads more elephants feeding. And oh yeah, we love our birds on this tour: juvenile purple heron, hamerkop, a bird party with blue waxbills, magpie shrikes, yellowfronted canaries, southern black tits, a cinnamon chested bunting and yellowbilled hornbills, cattle egrit, helmeted guineafowl, redwinged starling, white breasted cormorant, spotted thick-knee, swainson's spurfowl, burchell's starling, green pigeon, lilac breasted roller, grey lourie (grey go-away bird) and last but not least bateleurs (to name a few).

 

More coming soon!!

On Safari With Karen from 24 July 2014

24 July 2014

Today was another daytrip with Care for Wild volunteers. We started at Numbi Gate and were lucky to see two elephants quite quickly. The young bulls were in the distance but stepped first on a termite mount to show themselves (1 by 1) and then kept walking towards us. They crossed the road just behind our vehicle. A little further on we found some zebras hiding behind the bushes.

We took a loop around Shabeni where we found a klipspringer posing on top of a rock and a large troop of baboons. They baboons weren't properly awake yet, as they sat huddled together is small groups warming up in the sun.

Back on the tar road we were stared at a lone buffalo bull and spotted a duiker that didn't run away.

We took a slow drive to Shithave Dam where the crocodile was already up and sunning himself. The hippos were nowhere to be seen, but we did get a good look at a grey heron.

We saw warthogs, kudus, giraffes and our first impalas. Then we encountered two elephants bulls in the prime of their lives. One was clearly trying to establish dominancy. Challenging the one that was a teensy bit smaller and at one point even laying its head and trunk on top of the head of the other as much as he could. However, the smallest one was apparently ok with it as he was more keen on the grass and kept chewing away even with the other one's head on top of him. No scuffle broke out, so we continued our journey.

Close to Transport Dam a hyena pup was sunning himself. At Delaporte waterhole we saw a massive male giraffe and a troop of baboons that was feeding and as if it was the themes of the morning, here too two males were establishing the hierarchy. One of the kings mounted the other as if trying to mate it. We also saw impala and two duikers roaming around.

On the way to Skukuza we saw many more giraffes and a large group of buffalo bulls were crossing the road, at their own pace, just before Skukuza entrance.

After a break at Skukuza we turned towards the river. We stopped at a spot where people said there were lions, but through the bushes. We scouted and looked and maybe saw an ear, but that was it. No luck this time. We did however see multiple white-backed and hooded vultures sitting in trees nearby waiting to eat the leftovers of the buffalo the lions had killed. After we continued we spotted lots of herds of impalas, bateleurs fly over and a fish eagle.

At high level bridge we spotted an island full of hippos and a crocodile. We then took the road Marula loop where we saw lots of giraffes, zebras and two buffalos close to the road. At Sand river bridge a family of tawny eagles was sitting on their nest. Then we had to drive slowly as a family of ground hornbills was walking in the road. While we were crossing slowly, baboons came up from behind us and played on the bridge.

Back at Skukuza we stopped for lunch. Then we continued our drive on Kruger road where a steenbok decided we weren't worth running away from in the heat and plopped back down to rest. Down River road there were lots of kudus going to the water. We saw some nice fully grown males and large groups of females. Back on Doispane it was rather quiet. The day had turned hot and all the animals had gone into hiding. We did get word about a sleeping male lion under a bush. This time we were in luck and made it to the sighting in time. The lion was having a dream as he rolled on his back and made movements with his legs in the air. It made it look funny for us! On the way to Phabeni Gate we only stopped for zebras, before the drive was over.

On Safari With Mark From 22 July 2014

22 July 2014

Route: Numbi tar straight into Pretoriuskop

General animals seen: impala, waterbuck, kudu, giraffe

Highlights: approximately 500m before camp gate we had a young Male leopard walk into the road, sat down and started licking his paws. Great sighting as we were the only car on the road as it was approximately 5min before camp gate closed.

 

23 July 2014

Route: Voortrekker - H3 - Napi - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe, zebra, warthog, common duiker, steenbok, klipspringers, chackma baboons, vervet monkeys, buffalo, elephant and rhino

Highlights: We got word of 4 lions on a buffalo kill on the river and headed that way and found them all enjoying their meal.

On our return to camp we came across a herd of 7 sable antelope and sat and watched them as they crossed over the road in front of us.

 

24 July 2014

Route: Numbi tar - Fiaya loop - Napi boulders - Shabeni loop - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe, zebra, warthog, common duiker, steenbok, klipspringers, chackma baboons, vervet monkeys, buffalo, elephant and rhino

Highlights: we had a wounded sighting of spotted hyena and guests got fantastic photos.

Great elephant sightings throughout the day with even a massive bull pushing over a Marola tree.

 

Time has come to say goodbye to our guests, we hope you had a great safari with many great memories. We wish you safe travels home and hope to see you again in the future.