Bull Elephant Tipped A Car

Young Elephant Bull tipped a car over early this morning 21 August at Sable dam
People are all well, Luckily nobody got hurt. And the guy asked SANPARKS to please leave elephant alone. Young bull in musth, just wanted to cross over and little red car annoyed him.

Post and photo by Latest Sightings Kruger

Suspected Rhino Poachers In Mapungubwe Appear in Court

South African National Parks (SANParks) Environmental Crime Investigators (ECI) in partnership with the South African Police Services Special Organised Crime arrested four suspected rhino poachers following poaching of a white rhino on 23 July 2014 in Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site outside Musina, Limpopo. 

The four were arrested on Friday, 15 August 2014 and appeared in the Makhado Magistrate this morning (18 August 2014).

According to SANParks Acting Head of Communications, Reynold Thakhuli, the case was remanded and suspects will remain in custody until their next appearance on Tuesday 26 August 2014.

The names of the arrested suspects are the following:

- Mr Job Basi Tlou from Kwa Mahlanga, Mpumalanga

- Mr Percy Manengena from Alldays, Limpopo

- Mr Johannes Podile Sematla and Mr Lebala Sematla are from the farm Den Staat, Limpopo neighbouring Mapungubwe National Park

Issued by:
South African National Parks Corporate Communications

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!!