On Safari With Karen From 29 September 2014

29 September 2014

Another day, another tour. Early this morning we started by picking up Kevin and Kay from Kruger Park Lodge and then went straight on a game drive. We entered at Phabeni Gate and soon after saw our first animal: there were three buffalo bulls grazing on the side of the Phabeni river.

We continued down Doispane where our first impalas were spotted. First of many we should say, as these guys weren't the only ones we saw today! These sightings were quickly followed by zebras and kudus before making a stop at Nyamundwa Dam.

At Nyamundwa Dam we saw two fish eagles. One was nicely sitting in a tree close by and he started calling the other. After some deliberation the other flew up from his tree and joined the first one. Here we also saw waterbucks coming down for a drink, white breasted cormorants, blacksmith lapwings and a large crocodile on a sandbank on the opposite side.

Down Doispane we drove spotting some elephants in the bush. We tested our patience by waiting for them as they slowly set course to road. We were rewarded as the little herd started crossing with two babies, two protecting adults and a youngster that was showing his displeasure at a car with a running engine on the opposite side.

Then we came by a pretty lilac breasted roller, some more elephant bulls feeding in the distance and a big warthog running away, which broke kevin's heart. He so wanted a picture of one, but this guy did not want to be photographed. We took pictures of blue waxbills, Cape glossy starlings and flying bateleurs to practice camera settings. No I am telling it wrong. Where Kay took pictures of the birds, Kevin mostly got some little branches where the bird used to sit but already had flown off. Eventually he got the hang of it though and managed to snap some.

Before stopping for lunch at Skukuza we noticed a lone male baboon in tree. He was big and looked like the king of the world. But then he dropped his food and had to go down the tree. He climbed haphazardly down and then noticed us and decided to leave his munhing stick and trot off. A whitebacked vulture on nest nearby probably all saw it happen and had a private laugh.

After lunch we had to go to the Skukuza airport to pick up new guests. On the way we managed to get a photograph of a warthog. Not his front side though, but it was a start. And some bushbucks were hiding in the bush (if you ever wondered where the name came from, now you know). We pick up Ruth and Chris at the airport and had a look at quite a few bats hanging at the entrance ceiling. But then we went straight back on a game drive.

Down Alpha loop we saw some buffalos and a herd of elephants down at the riverside, before turning back onto the tar road and towards Napi. We stopped to enjoy the view on top of Mathekanyan and tried to take some pictures of a yellow-billed hornbill. We had seen the red-billed and grey one on the way as well.

Then we saw some kudus and zebras before stopping at some elephants feeding. While watching those a member of the public told us about a rumour about a leopard just down the street from us. We followed her down and there he was, sleeping on a rock not far from the road. This leopard was deep asleep, as we noticed quite soon. No car noises, not even a big passing truck, got him to look up. Dead to the world this one, but not dead dead as we got a 10cm movement from one of his paws.

Just on the bridge we saw two bushbucks and some impalas. One of the bushbucks was drinking from a waterhole that was obviously dug by elephants as the stream had no more water. And this bushbuck disappeared half down the deep dug out hole, only to re-emerge to check if it was still safe.

Then We were surprised by a secretary bird, which had the guide jumping up and down from excitement as this was the first of this year. The secretary bird was slowly walking away, now and then trampling on the floor. We hope it caught something, but he was always empty handed.

At Transport Dam the hyena pup that is begging for food from humans was lying just outside its den on the back of the road. He didn't beg for food from us, but did open an eye to glance. Further down Napi we encountered a small family of ground hornbills, with the youngster flying into the road to dig into some elephant dung. The adults were walking on either side of the road, with one of them getting a bit anxious by the cars and fly over all of us to get to the other side, a beautiful sight. Then we also saw giraffes, lots of impalas and kudus, a kudu bull with great horns, waterbucks, a black headed oriole, black crowned tchagra, guineafowls and a steenbok.

Down Numbi we noticed another giraffe with lots of red-billed oxpeckers on its back. We got some elephants nicely feeding quite close to the road and we finished with a look at a large buffalo herd. It was time to check-in at Nkambeni Safari Camp, where we would spend some nights. It was the end of a very good first day!

30 September 2014

After a nice breakfast, we set off this morning hoping to find some new animals. We have been very lucky yesterday and we were hoping to continue on our lucky streak. It started of nicely with three elephants on camp road. Maybe you have read already there is a lone mother with her calf in the area? Well, it was her, but this time a bull was sassing her out. However, she showed no interest at all. Even when the bull was showing off and showing her his fifth leg, she didn't take notice and just kept feeding with her calf by her side. We did get some excellent show of how elephants use their tusks in bending and breaking off branches before munching though! A duiker ran away on the opposite side of the road.

Then down Numbi tar we saw a nice herd of buffalo in the distance and came across a hyena that was standing on the side of the road. However we were not quick enough to take pictures as when we stopped she quickly disappeared into a drainage line under the road. We waited for a while but she didn't come out again. We also saw zebras, impalas and kudus as well as a mother giraffe and her youngster before turning right onto the dirt road to Fayi Loop. Here we found tracks of one or probably two lions walking down the road. We followed them for quite some time but just before the crossroads, they had disappeared off the road. We did see tortoise tracks as well as giraffe and zebra, but lost the lion ones. So we decided to take a loop around both Manunge and Pretoriuskop Koppies. The first one, around Pretoriuskop Koppie showed us some impalas, a duiker quickly crossing and an elephant on top of the koppie. Him being on top there told us there would be no lions hanging around, so we continued passing three other big elephant bulls. The loop around Manunge showed us another duiker. These are by now known as ducks by the way, as Kevin keeps on calling them that!

Then we drove down to Fayi loop. We spotted a nice suicidal display of the red crested korhaan, a crested barbet, the always pretty Cape glossy starlings and grey louries. Two daggaboys were just coming out of one of the little streams along the loop and looked at us from a distance. Not seeing us as a threat they stopped looking, walked over to the green pastures and started happily munching away. The two reedbucks nearby were a bit more wary. After a break at Pretoriuskop we continued our game drive down Napi. Here we spotted a sable bull, a rare find as these animals are so secretive and always try to hide. Then just past Shitlhave Dam, a female lion was lying under a bush. The sighting wasn't great, as she was lying quite far away and there were lots of bushes in the way. So not picture perfect, but nonetheless all of us saw the lion!

A little further down the road we unintended interfered with nature. While driving around the bend we saw a beautiful bateleur landing in the road. However, with his wings still spread, he took one look at us and flew off again. Note to everyone on safari: always have your camera ready to shoot, because this would have been a once in a lifetime shot. Not just because this bateleur gave an awesome display, but when we stopped where he landed, a chameleon was sitting in the middle of the road! The bateleur had landed with all intentions of eating it and we saved the chameleon's life. Or let a bateleur go hungry, it depends on how you look at it. We took some great pictures of the chameleon though, before continuing on our way. As we left there was no car in sight but two bateleurs were still circling around, so if the little guy made it across after all, we will never know...

In the meantime, Robbie had called us to a cheetah sighting. Curtis had found them in the morning, but we were too far away and once we set course they started to move into the bush already so we went on a break instead. But now they had come out into view again and a bit closer to us. So we stopped looking at kudus and impalas on the way, we drove straight down. The cheetahs were amazing! They were showing themselves brilliantly and all of us took many pictures and videos of the three brothers. They even showed off climbing a fallen tree for us, and cuddling up under a bush. Needless to say we enjoyed it immensely (and thank you Curtis and Robbie for the call)!

But in the end we had to leave the cheetahs to turn around as new guests were joining us and had to be picked up. On the way back we stopped for a small leopard tortoise just in time. Our surprise arrival on the scene caused him to turn around and walked off the road back into the bush. Then we felt like intruders on a locust's private moment as they were mating in the middle of the road. Hey, nature does as nature does! A last glimpse of the same herd of buffalo we started with (they were still far away) and two little bee eaters in flying colours, we returned back to the lodge. It was a wonderful morning!

In the afternoon we could relax a little as it was getting hot again after two days of cloud cover and drizzle. During lunch we could look at some buffalo and giraffes and later the hippos in the dam in front of the lodge showed their backs. Some were intrigued by the sparrows building a nest, white-faced ducks and egyptian geese at the dam, groundscraper thrush thrashing around and masked weavers flying by too.

Then it was time for the sundowner...

1 October 2014

On the sundowner it was a nice drive, but a bit quiet to the liking of my guests. They did see a lovely sunset at Mashawu Dam with some lovely beverages. And there were animals too: a family of zebras with a young baby, a Mozambican spitting cobra, some kudus, impalas, a new animal sighting of wildebeest, an elephant in the distance and a buffalo hiding in the grass. If you some it up, it sounds to me like a good drive. Guess we were just too spoiled already, and just looking for separate things like owls and rhinos. But there is always another day!

This morning we set off a bit more subdued than normal. The wind had picked up overnight and it made our night of rest a short one. Most of us had waking nightmares of tents flying away, elephants dancing on the roof or simply just couldn't fall asleep at all as the wind made too much noise.

However the kudu bulls on camp road brightened us up a little. Then we drove down Numbi tar spotting more female kudus, plenty of zebras and some of them really close to the road and some hanging out with wildebeests, a runaway duiker (no longer a duck!), and the always present impalas.

Around Shabeni loop we went where we first spotted three nice bull elephants feeding of some braaied vegetation. It probably tastes a bit different than normal, but the nutrition is still in it. Around the corner we spotted another duiker, which came across itself (another duiker) while feeding and they both got such a fright the sped off in opposite directions! A bushbuck got a fright from one of the duikers running in its direction and sped across the road. All runners calmed down after a short sprint and we continued on our journey.

Our new animal of today were some vervet monkeys. One was spotted in a tree close to the road and the longer we watched him the more of them we saw in surrounding trees. They were hopping around the trees looking for gum to eat. Then down Napi it went. We spotted some giraffes. When asked if I had ever seen them fight, and I replied "only very halfhearted", they decided to give a show. One challenged another into a duel and off they went. But like I said, only very halfhearted. That fact still hasn't changed. It didn't last long either, as the challenged one thought eating leaves was more important.

And a little further on we finally saw the long anticipated (white) rhino. This guy had crossed the road just when we were watching the giraffes but he was still close to the road so perfect picture opportunity. White backed vultures were hitching a ride on a thermal in the background and bateleurs were flying above.

We had just turned into the Boulders loop when we spotted a sable bull making its way to the tar. A quick reverse and we could have some pictures of a sable running across the road. He was too scared to walk slowly so even when crossed he kept running about 50 meters into the bush before slowing down. Everything was running this morning, must have something to do with the wind! Furthermore we saw another two white rhinos before continuing on the tar road.

Before turning around we had some encounters with steenbok and some more giraffes and zebras, but then it was time to head back to the gate. We stopped for a dark chanting goshawk, that of course flew away, and a terrapin lying in the middle of the road pretending to be a flat pebble.

At Numbi Gate it was time to say goodbye to Chris and Ruthie as they were heading back to the UK. I hope it was the end of your long trip you were hoping for! Thank you for joining us and maybe till next time!

After a short break looking at a sausage tree, marulas and aloe veras, we headed up Albassini. We made our way to Phabeni Gate, not really stopping on the corrugated road. Drive by shooting: zebra, giraffes and buffalos under a tree. Then at Kruger Park Lodge a last drink with Kay and Kevin and it was time to say goodbye again! This time I know they had a great time and I really hope to see them again next year on a longer trip!

With the remaining guests I set off again in the afternoon. When we turned onto Numbi tar a group of 9 buffalos was just slowly making their way to the road. It was an excellent opportunity of some pictures and our patience was rewarded as one by one by one by six they started crossing in front if us. Then we also saw zebras multiple times as well as kudus.

Circle road was what we drove next. A duiker didn't run away for a change, but in between the bushes taking a picture was still difficult. Two warthogs were eating while sitting on their wrists and then crossed the road to eat on the other side.

Then we caught the end of a massive herd of buffalo crossing the road. Everywhere in between the bushes as well as across the drainage line we saw black dots being buffalos. It must have been more than 100!  We hang around to see if a lion would come to take down the stragglers, but no such luck. We did spot a giraffe (with an identity crisis?) in the middle of the herd though.

We suddenly spotted an elephant disappear into the bush a little further around the circle. Two more backs we spotted before we realized a straggler of the herd didn't really like us being in between her and the herd. She made a big drama quite far away from us and was planning giving us a wide birth around and cross when Curtis came driving around the other bend. The sound of his engine drove her into more anxiety as she heard the vehicle but couldn't see it. When in sight she told them as well she had no pleasure in being away from the herd. And with a last look at both vehicles she got over it and ran across the road to join up with the rest of the herd. Poor girl was stressing completely, we humbly apologize, but it was completely accidental!

As the elephant probably happily rejoined the herd, we continued our journey. We saw a nice red crested korhaan, more zebras and fighting impalas and more buffalo before crossing the tar road onto Shabeni link. It was hinted not to stop for buffalos anymore as they now must of had plenty of photos, but the buffalos obviously hadn't heard it. They were standing in the middle of the road and were not about to move, so eventually I had to stop for these buffalos once more. After that we drove straight past them.

At Mestel Dam we were hoping for some hippo activity, but the resident hippos were still too sleepy. Which resulted in us just seeing bits and bobs of hippos like ears and nostrils and upon leaving one big yawn. A white rhino bull was added to the sightings here as well.

At the end of Albassini and the end of our drive we had a quick biology lesson: how do two giraffes make three. Do the math...

2 October 2014

After last night's windy ordeal, we were all happy to go to bed early after an early dinner last night. A good night's rest, a hearty breakfast the next morning and we were good to go for our next and unfortunately last game drive of this tour.

On camp road two buffalos came to say farewell and then we drove up Albassini via a quiet Numbi tar road. Here we spotted some more zebras, large herds of impalas, another group of zebras hanging out with some giraffes and a brown hooded kingfisher. At Mestel Dam the hippos were already back in the water, so all we could see was some ears and nostrils sticking out. 
Further along, except for even more zebras, giraffes and some kudus, we spotted a new animal! On top of their den two dwarf mongoose were starting to wake up and sat resting in the morning sun. They were quite curious when we stopped and looked in our direction. However not so brave as to come closer and when we started the car to continue they scurried back into their home.

At the end of Albassini we drove down Doispane for a bit to see what we could find. A tree full of barn swallows on Mashawu bridge, which of course took flight when photographed. We did come across some nice fresh paw prints of a big cat, and tried to followed them, but they disappeared quite quickly after we noticed the first ones. He had walked off into the bush and was now hiding in plain sight, as the grass was just as long and yellow as he was.

It was the end of the safari, as after the last pictures of some lovely posing kudus, we exited from Phabeni Gate and made our way to Nelspruit. Here I said goodbye to Rajan and Nazli, who were flying back to the USA tonight. I hope you had a great time. Thanks for joining us and hopefully we can welcome you back one day with the entire family!

Media Release: SANParks Begins Implementation Of Rhino Management Strategy.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has begun implementation of a comprehensive rhino management strategy, starting with the relocation and auction of a limited number of white rhinos from the Kruger National Park (KNP). 

This is in line with a rhino management strategy adopted by Cabinet in August this year, aimed at curbing poaching in the country’s national parks.

At the time of the announcement, the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, emphasised the importance of relocating a number of rhino from Kruger National Park as soon as possible.

SANParks chairman Kuseni Dlamini said today: “We are now ready to move, and to begin implementation of our entire rhino management strategy.

“Relocation is the core of our approach – not only to combat poaching, but to ensure the continued growth of the rhino population.

“We aim to restimulate growth in large protected areas while creating new rhino strongholds. In this way, we will be able to offset the effects of poaching in the short to medium-term, while expanding rhino range and improving the overall population size.”

Mr Dlamini added: “The strategy is multi-faceted, and includes relocating some rhino from the Kruger National Park to create rhino strongholds in other parts of the country – ensuring that the broader population continues to grow.

“We will begin by relocating rhinos from specific high-risk parts of the park and from areas where there is a high population density, as this will also increase birth rates among the rhinos that remain in the park.

“This will include the relocation of rhinos from high-risk zones to zones of lower risk in the Kruger National Park, as well as to other parks under our control.

“Increasing births and decreasing death rates, through the relocation exercise, will stimulate growth in large protected areas and maximise growth in rhino strongholds – allowing South Africa to offset poaching effects in the short to medium term while also expanding rhino range and growing the overall population size.”

The relocation of rhino and other species from the Kruger National Park has always been part of the SANParks Management Plan, and the relocation of 1 450 rhino from the park between 1997 and 2013 has contributed significantly to the growth of the South African rhino population.

SANParks is currently finalising provisions for the sale of rhino and will call for offers to purchase in a series of newspaper advertisements soon.

The SANParks Board recently cancelled a planned sale because proper governance procedures were not followed.

“We have ironed these issues out and the sale will be fully compliant with our own supply chain processes and our conservation mandate,” Mr Dlamini said. “Planning is already well underway for the first auction of rhinos, which will take place later this year.”

Mr Dlamini emphasised that SANParks will strictly regulate prospective purchasers, and require them to sign agreements to ensure relocated animals contribute to the conservation of the species and the growth of the rhino population as a whole.

"These agreements will be linked to management plans with clear objectives and targets for the growth of populations that are being introduced in new range areas,” he said.

A due diligence process will be followed with all sales, including background checks on prospective buyers, and anyone wanting to purchase more than 20 rhino has to comply with habitat and ecological suitability and security requirements. The due diligence process includes a risk assessment to ensure the safety of the animals, and buyers will be required to present a security plan that ensures the animals’ safety as well as a conservation plan.

The money raised from the sale will be ploughed back into conservation. This includes the purchase of additional conservation land to expand the range for rhinos, the restoration of ecosystems and the employment of additional rangers.

Issued by:
The Board of SANParks
Chris Vick
black
Cell: 083 556 7644
Email: chris@codeblack.co.za

On safari With Curtis From 27 September 2014

27 September 2014

The start of a new tour and after picking up the guests from Kmia airport we headed straight down to the Kruger National Park. After settling in we went on our first game drive of this tour. We got our first sightings of plenty of game such as impala, Waterbuck, zebra, giraffe and kudu. We also spotted a duiker deep in the bush. Although two of the guests couldn't see it at all. Not to worry though as after a couple of days practice they will have no trouble spotting such things.

We also had a sighting of two white rhino in the distance and good close sightings of buffalo and elephants.

Overall not a bad start to this tour!!!

28 September 2014

This morning we set off down camp road and found a couple of elephants in the distance before finding one much closer to the road. We passed through numbi gate and found zebra and wildebeest grazing on the new grass. We turned onto Shabeni link when we heard about a possible leopard sighting so we decided to head in that direction hoping that the leopard will still be there when we arrived. Along the way we found plenty more zebra, impala and kudu as well as quite a few sightings of giraffe. We then came upon a car and looking to our left we saw a couple of warthog in the grass when suddenly I noticed movement. Looking further ahead I saw a hyena standing watching the warthog. The hyena moved off into the bush a little and then reappeared. A nearby giraffe then noticed this and decided the best thing to do was to run off. We moved off once the hyena had disappeared finding plenty more game along the road. Along Doispane we found plenty of elephants. We then came to the leopard sighting, we quickly located a half eaten impala lying in a fallen tree but alas no leopard. We spent some time looking for any movement which may have given away the leopard but no luck.

Eventually we admitted defeat and moved off and drove back to the lodge, but not before we had another lovely sighting of a big male white rhino just a few metres from the car.

This afternoon it was time for the sunset drive, unfortunately today has been a cold overcast day so no sunset. But this doesn't stop it from being fun. After a quick stop for a tot of amarula it's then time to get the spotlight out and try to find the animals in the dark. This evening may have been missing the sunset but it wasn't missing the animals. Lots of game was seen such as kudu, impala, zebra and giraffe but also buffalo, elephant, rhino and right at the end a female leopard sat right next to the road.

A great evenings sightings making up for the cold and wet weather!!!

29 September 2014

This morning we woke to the sound of rain splattering on our tents, so after some breakfast and the guests wrapping themselves up with blankets, putting on their ponchos we set off on our drive. The first part of the morning was fairly quiet and although we saw rhino, buffalo and elephant they were from a distance and in the bush. We did spot a nice hyena on the way but again it scurried into the bush. After a break at Afsaals we set off again when we came across a leopard happily lying up in a marula tree. We watched for a while getting the occasional head popping up. As we began to leave the sighting we noticed a herd of ellies who were heading straight towards the leopard so we quickly turned around and positioned the car and waited. We were treated to not only elephants all around but they then crossed the road in front of us, if that wasn't enough they moved straight towards the tree with the leopard in. They went right up to the tree and stood at the base of the tree smelling the ground but didn't realize that just a couple of meters above them was the leopard.

We then stopped at berg en dal for lunch before setting off again. The afternoon was completely different to the start of the day as we had sighting after sighting of giraffe and elephant close to the road. Not to mention two huge buffalo herds crossing the road, both herds in the hundreds. We also saw about twenty rhino on the way back, some from a distance but three sightings very close to the road. We then got a message from Karen about a second leopard which we went to. Luckily this leopard was in no mood to move and was comfortably lying on a rock when we got there. Not even the sound of engines or squeaking brakes was going to move this feline. After that we had to head back to the lodge but not before finding a second hyena, monkies, of course impala, steenbok, duiker, zebra and four different troupes of baboon walking along the road. Just as we got to the lodge we found another herd of buffalo including the famous white one.

30 September 2014

After the success of the last couple of days we were able to spend today looking for the stuff we had yet to see. We drove past countless sightings of general game as well as buffalo and rhino stopping for a couple of nice large male ellies standing close to the road. Then we found a coalition of three cheetah. Walking parallel to the road. As we followed them they moved closer to us stopping and climbing onto a termite mound. They sniffed around the base of a tree before scent marking the tree. We were lucky enough to spend half an hour before they moved off into the bush. We moved off heading to Skukuza for a coffee break before taking a drive along the river. 

Straight away we found herds of ellie in the riverbed as well as giraffe and buffalo. On high level we found the first of many huge pods of hippos sunbathing on the sand. After high level sightings dried up until we got close to lower sabie where we found four adolescent male lions, about two years old as their mane represented the very fashionable mohawk style.

Again we spent a good amount of time watching as they switched between walking and resting in the river bed.

After lunch we headed back home, stopping at sunset dam where the hippos sunbathed, a couple of crocs doing the same and the waterbirds feeding. By this time the lions had disappeared but just a little after we found a leopard up in a tree. The visual was hard with so many branches in the way but still it was good to see yet another cat on this tour. Moving on we found loads of ellies in the river, far to many to stop for!!!  We had first looks at Nyala and Bushbuck for this tour as well as a rock monitor lizard and fish eagles and bataleurs flying around. Back on Napi we found the resident klipspringer sat on his rock and then came upon the three cheetahs again. Close to the road just chilling without a care in the world we sat with them for another twenty minutes before time forced us to leave. We just had time to head down Shithave dam where we found three ellies, one on the edge of the water and two fully submerged in the water. We watched as they played around before both got out and moved on.

A very long, hot but incredibly enjoyable day for everyone on the truck.

1 October 2014

This morning was unfortunately the last drive for some of the guests. We set off out down Nhapi, down to Transport dam and back. On the way we found our first blue wildebeest of this tour and then found a second herd which was grazing with a herd of zebra. Passing by herds of impala and kudu we stopped at shithave dam where there were Waterbuck having a drink. Transport dam was much busier than yesterday with a sunbathing Croc over the far side, and Waterbuck, kudu and impala all coming down to drink. We also found many birds including lapwings, jacanas, hornbills, herons and geese to name just a few. On the way back we spotted more general game as well as a male elephant by the road.

It was then time to say goodbye to four of my guests. Laura and Fiona, Adam and Holly, you have made this tour a pleasure, we have had such good luck with all the sightings and I wish you safe travels and hope you have lots of happy memories of your time with Nhongo

This afternoon we set out for a short drive just around the local roads where we had more opportunities to get a few more photos. Along the way we had sightings of buffalo, ellies, giraffe, zebra, reedbuck, vervets, baboons, kudu, Waterbuck, warthog, steenbok, duiker and of course impala.

More coming soon!

On Safari With Karen From 26 September 2014

26 September 2014

Today we set off fully loaded as all 9 guests joined me on the full day game drive. It wasn't cold this morning, but a bit of overcast gave us hope for some good sightings. We started of with a duiker on camp road. He was shocked we stopped for him. So much so he stood frozen for a while before running away. Just long enough for some pictures though.

Then we followed Numbi tar and Napi where once again we spotted two harems of zebras, the giraffe mum and her baby we saw on the first day were reunited,  and some impalas. What followed was lots of road with bush on the side with animals hiding out of sight. In other words we saw nothing for a long time.

Then a car had stopped on the side of the road. We joined them and saw a lovely white rhino bull grazing quite close to the road. However the people in the car weren't looking at him. We followed their gaze and there sat a leopard under a tree! Once again we had a white rhino sighting with a leopard behind him. But this time the leopard was better visible, as he got up and slowly walked to a termite mount and lay down. We lost visual for a bit but then he got up again and walked back where he came from to another termite mount. Then he completely went down and we lost visual once again. This time he stayed put, so we continued our drive.

After all the excitement of following the leopard, seeing him, losing him, seeing him again (and unfortunately for some, not seeing him at all), it was quiet all the way till Skukuza. Here we stopped for coffee, where the rumors were also floating around that there were lions on the river.

So after the break we set off in that direction. We passed a lovely nyala bull, lots of impalas, a giraffe in riverbed. When we arrived at high level bridge, where the lions were reported, there was a traffic jam ahead of us. Slowly we moved up the bridge, seeing 22 hippos resting in the water and on the sand, a goliath heron flying away and then finally 4 lions under a bush in the shade and a little further two out in the open on the sand. One by one those two got up and walked to the shade just when we were at the exact right spot to see.

We didn't want to get through the traffic jam again, so we continued down Marula tar. Here we enjoyed sightings of buffalos, a group of nyala females and lots of impalas before a small group of elephants crossed in front of us. There were many herds already down in the riverbed drinking and even some big bulls on the opposite side.

Then we heard an angry elephant in the bush and decided to wait a little longer to see of more were coming out. And we were rewarded! A herd of another 20 elephants crossed in front, together with a lot of youngsters and even a little baby that hadn't learned yet what to do with a trunk. The little thing was just dangling in front of him while he walked underneath the bellies of the mother and the aunties. He was so cute! We waited till the last elephant had crossed. This grandmother was at the end of her lifespan and she was showing so. Her entire body language was saying she had lived long enough.

After watching the elephants we suddenly saw a marabou stork flying over. When we looked up, we saw one, and another one, and then another! We think we saw at least 35 of them suddenly circling down towards what is know as vulture beach. We tried to find an open spot to get a nice picture but everywhere the branches obscured our vision. But it was still an amazing sight.

Down at low level bridge over the Sand river and then later the Sabie river we saw some hippo heads sticking out of the water and a swimming crocodile. Then just before we turned off to Skukuza we discovered another leopard. Again obscured by branches but after staring for a while all of us had seen this one. He then got up and left us through the bushes out of sight. And we were off to Skukuza for a nice lunch break.

When we were back on the road the animals had decided we had had enough luck for today and they went into hiding. As it was hot and quiet we took a drive up Mathekanyane to enjoy the view while standing in a nice breeze.

We continued our way back down Napi, not stopping for a long drive. Near the end we noticed some new animals again: a warthog that decided it was to hot to run away or care about those humans in a car, a sable bull grazing far in the open fields at Shithave Dam, a steenbok couple hanging out with a reedbuck couple, an elephant herd hiding in between trees and some waterbuck. We finished our drive with the same mother and baby giraffe we saw early this morning.

It was the end of a long, hot but great day!

27 September 2014

This morning we split up again as some of us went on a bushwalk, while others preferred to come on a drive.

On the bushwalk they focused on the littler things of the bush. The guests enjoyed it very much. But this time they also encountered some big things. They had to stand still and wait for a while when being sniffed out by elephants. When they started walking in their direction some of them had a heartbeat that was a little faster than normal. However it all ended ok. They even saw a 1,5 meter snake skin of a black mamba on the way back.

On the game drive we also had a snake story to share, as we saw a fresh snake track across the Napi boulders. As a car just passed in front of us and there were no car tracks other than our own over it, we just missed it.

Furthermore, as we had taken a trip around Fayi Loop before driving to the Napi Boulders, we had also seen some nice groups of zebras, herds of impalas, kudus, and giraffes. At one sighting two duikers were hanging out with a herd of impalas. After having taken all the pictures, it was time to start the car. As predicted the two duikers sped off by hearing the sound, while 99% of the impalas raised their head in alarm. Oh and we also saw two male reedbucks fighting while the two females kept on grazing without having the slightest interest in the outcome.

Carrying on in the direction of Nkambeni Safari Lodge for the last time. We still saw a steenbok and a white rhino bull that had just crossed the road and not to forget, a full size herd of about 100 buffalos. This was a nice end to the tour, as it was time to say goodbye to seven of the guests. Thanks to Ina, Ton & Michel, Alex & Mike and Abhi & Shavhu (hope that is correctly spelled) for joining us on this safari and hope all of you have a great time on the rest of your travels, may it be one day, a few or another week!! Enjoy!

In the afternoon my two remaining guests, Bill & Sherry, joined in with Curtis' two guests to go on another game drive. He has to write that update ;)

More coming soon!!