On Safari With Curtis From 1 December 2014

1 December 2014

This morning we set out along the camp road and immediately found a herd of impala and then a few dagga boys close to the lodge. We turned onto Napi where we found plenty more impala and some kudu including a couple of the bull kudu whose impressive horns never fail to impress.

We came across a couple of bull elephants and the back end of a white rhino before we came across a small group of cars. After a scan of the area we found a group of six lions. To begin with we could only see the head of one of them as she was lying up but one by one they slowly revealed themselves to us as they started to move around. Although there was a lot of grass in the way it was still a very nice start to the day and our patience was rewarded as we waited and got the pictures we wanted.

We then found a lone hyena cub lying just outside the den at flat rocks but no sign of any others or its babysitter.

Moving on we came to more ellies, zebra, warthog, kudu and impala before our coffee stop at skukuza. While we were at skukuza I heard of a sighting of wild dog down the road and so headed down in that direction. Unfortunately luck was not with us as the dogs had moved off,  but if you believe in karma we had plenty as instead of dogs we found a leopard instead. It wasn't a long sighting, just a minute or two, as she was trying to hunt some impala but was soon spotted and the alarm calls went off. This was her cue to slink off into the bush to try another day. We also had a lovely male elephant standing right next to the road and just a few meters from us but he was too busy eating to be interested in little old us. Just past the elephant when we found two southern ground hornbills and a spekes hinged tortoise and then back on the tar road two giant land snails having a race to the other side of the road. I will go back this afternoon to see who won!!!

We took a trip around the river finding plenty of hippos, buffalo and kudu as well as finding our first Bushbuck of this tour. But the highlight was a pair of mating lions just five meters off the road. We had a great view of them and stayed with them for about forty minutes mating twice with all the snarling and growling being magnified as everyone watched in silence.

Back to Skukuza for lunch and then we headed back along Napi to the lodge. In the afternoon we found the first patch very quiet so we made a stop at mathekanyane viewpoint for a nice overview of this area and to allow for a small idea of the vastness of the park. Once we got past transport dam things started to pick up.

First a tower of giraffe in the distance then we found the young hyena cub still outside it's den. Straight after a lone elephant bull and then the lions we had seen this morning. About seven hours had passed since we first saw them and they had moved probably less than ten meters. Again we waited and got the occasional head popping up to have a look, the occasional roll over showing us a belly and the occasional get up, walk two meters and then flop down as if it had walked a marathon strategy.

Next up the first of three rhino sightings, the first a lone bull, the second four males all play fighting and trying for dominance and the third two more just doing what rhino do best, grazing. Then we had a nice herd of buffalo close to the road, some had crossed while others were still waiting. We also had a couple of nice zebra sightings as well as seeing waterbuck, klipspringer, steenbok, common duiker and dwarf mongoose to end another great day.

2 December 2014

Unfortunately today was the final day of the tour and so after a good breakfast we set out on our final game drive. This morning, the sightings to begin with were few and far between. In fact we didn't see a single impala all the way along Napi!!! The few sightings we did have were nice things including four nice elephant sighting. All male groups close to the road. We also saw southern ground hornbills, two adults and a juvenile. But the nicest sighting on Napi was a secretary bird. Not often seen around this area so fully appreciated. We turned onto watergat and found our first impalas, giraffe and kudu of the day as well as our first vervets of the tour. We turned down Doispane to find zebra and giraffe, plenty of them, in fact every time we had sightings of them together. We also found a hippo in the shallow waters of Ingwe donga and found mum and baby bushbuck along with mum and baby wildebeest. Three more elephants and buffalo bulls before we exited the park at Phabeni.

Back in nelspruit it was time to say goodbye to Fernanda and Lance who carry on their South Africa travels. It has been an absolute pleasure guys having you on tour. I know just how much you have enjoyed your safari and how much you enjoyed all the sightings weather big and small. Hope to see you back with me on tour one day.

On Safari With Karen from 24 November 2014

24 November 2014

I picked up the new guests in Nelspruit and we set off along the R40 through the plantations towards the KNP. After a light lunch in Hazyview we entered through Phabeni Gate and drove onto Doispane. Our first animal was a lone buffalo bull munching on the grass in the Phabeni river. A herd of impalas resting on the shore in the background. Yep, we had entered the Kruger Park alright!

Shortly down the road we saw a young elephant bull feeding on the side of the road. While watching him an entire herd approached from the opposite side of the road. First they were obscured and we could see glimpses of elephant body parts, but then one by one they crossed in front and behind us and we were engulfed in an elephant herd. Some elephants were hesitant as the herd had two very young babies with them and they were very protective, but all crossed in the end. On the Mashawu bridge we saw another elephant, but this guy was at the end of his life. Everything on this bull showed his age: completely regressed temporal muscles, droopy eyes, droopy head, and much trouble eating. We didn't think it would live long after today.

Carrying on we also saw our first zebras in the distance, a buffalo herd, an impala herd with babies, a white rhino (which unfortunately was injured so we reported it at the Skukuza ranger office) and more zebras and this time they were hanging out with a giraffe.

We turned onto the S4 where we saw a small journey of giraffes feeding close to the road. One of them had a baby that did not eat leaves yet. It took a sip of milk and cantered around a bit to have some fun, but it didn't think the eating giraffes were much fun. It kept on running from one giraffe to the other as if to say: "come on, let's have a run together". None of them did though.

We did see two waterbuck females on the S4 as well and then turned onto River road. There we came across two very nice kudu bulls as well as some females, a bushbuck couple and a hamerkop that was fishing in the middle of the road. Well, of course it was standing in a stream, but the road was crossing it and it had no worries about the car wanting to pass. Well, cars actually as there was one coming from the opposite direction too. Even when a car drove really close, we got a small bend of the neck, a look with an eye and that was it. Catching plantanas must have been much more important than being overrun by a car...

On Kruger road there were rumors about a leopard in a tree, but it was no longer in a tree. It had jumped down in the high grass and unfortunately it was nowhere to be seen. But we did see something else coming: a huge thunderstorm! So we made our way towards Skukuza and hoped for the best.

Once again no such luck. The thunderstorm had caught us with about 15km more to go. And even though the lightning was awesome, the thunderclaps were very close and the pounding rain soaked us. At Skukuza we took a safe haven under the roof of the total garage and waiting before actually checking in, as we were staying the night. With intervals of about 30min two more thunderstorms would follow, which now made the camp look like a river with lots of tree buts falling off everywhere.

Hoping for a dry day tomorrow, we went to bed hearing hyena. It was a good start!!

25 November 2014

Today we set off very early. We heard at the gate the bridge on our right got washed away in the storms and this resulting waterflow overnight so we turned left for a loop around the river. Marabou storks were flying overhead and we saw a bushbuck hiding in the bush. We came across a muddy warthog and a family of vervet monkeys with a tiny little baby.

Low level bridge had definitely seen some water flowing over it, or at least had formed puddles on the bridge during the storm, but it was no problem passing. Here four marabou storks were fishing in a leftover dam on the side while pied wagtails were hopping on the side of the bridge.

Nyala bulls were feeding quite close to the road on the other side of the bridge, giving us a nice view of their phylo erection (that is when they raise their mohawk hair on their back and neck). The hippos at Sand river bridge finally had their little dam cleaned as it was getting quite dirty lately. They also had a much bigger living space now that there was so much water, so maybe that is why they were actively playing around.

We then drove along Marula tar. After the good start with lots of animals it now turned rather quiet sightings wise. We saw a bateleur in a tree, as well as white-backed and hooded vultures, and more marabou stork. Mammals were represented by a few impalas and a small group of kudu females. Unfortunately this stretch of road had some roadkill on it. First a little steenbok and then later a guineafowl showed signs of being hit by a car, the definite downside of the cars driving around not paying attention to the road :-(.

Then we turned right towards High level bridge over the Sabie river. We saw a red chested cuckoo as well as two adult giant landsnails making little ones. The middle of the road probably wasn't the best place to do this, but we left them to it in the hope everyone else would stop for them too. Then over High level bridge. Here a baboon was keeping watch by sitting on the railing, and another one joined him on the other side. The rest of the family was walking in the riverbed below. A few rocks in the distance were actually the ears and nostrils of hippos but they were obviously a lot more tired than the previous ones we saw as these seemed already asleep.

On Ellooff we came across more vervet monkeys, cape glossy starlings, grey headed kingfisher, a shy woodlands kingfisher as he flew away when the cameras were aimed at him, plenty of impalas, kudus and three ground hornbills, which are the most endangered birds of the KNP.

Then we went to see if they would have fixed the sandbridge that got washed away already. By now they had actually closed the entire road, so we took that as a "no".

Wanting to have breakfast at the Golfclub we took a detour through staff village. Only to be cut short by a tree that had gotten hit by lightning and had fallen over the road completely. The crew to remove it was already on site, but this big fellow had really made an impact and wasn't going to get out of the way easily. As there was no way around it we were advised another different route. As to not to get lost in staff village someone brought us half way there and then we would only needed to go straight. Well done, as after this extensive detour to get to the Golfclub we enjoyed our well-deserved breakfast.

After breakfast we set off in the direction of Doispane and Watergat as that would be the only way to get back to Skukuza. A giant plated lizard dared crossing the road in front of our vehicle, taking the last bit at a run. The herds of impalas in this area had plenty of babies already running around like they have never done anything else.

Down Watergat we spotted our first giraffe, a large old male, and more vervet monkeys, red-billed oxpeckers hitching a ride on impalas, a couple of dazzles of zebras,  red-billed and yellow-billed hornbills, magpie shrikes, forktailed drongos, a black-backed puffback and a steenbok.

When we turned onto Napi and then the H3 we had started to focus a bit more on the birds as the mammals were scarce today. We saw a lilac breasted roller, grey louries as well as a brown snake eagle before we caught sight of a herd of elephants. Slowly more and more emerged from the thick bush and the started feeding quite close to the road. A sighting enjoyed by all.

Then we continued on the S112 - S114 loop. Here we came across the always-present impalas, but this was an immense herd. Ok, and a couple of smaller herds too. And a pale morph tawny eagle, a slender mongoose, a tree squirrel, a crested barbet as well as a tree agama that was having a stroll on the road and gave us all a fright as to not to kill it. When he was back on his tree we were all happy about that, not in the least the almost overrun tree agama!

We made a quick side trip to the viewpoint Mathekanyane where we enjoyed the immense view and saw the clouds coming in from a distance. Then it was back to Skukuza for some lunch and relaxation before the sundowner tour would start.

On the sundowner tour... We'll tell you later, they are not back yet. But I fear they'll get wet as the sky outside darkens and the wind picks up...

26 November 2014

The guests returned from a fantastic sundowner game drive last night.

First of all it stayed dry the entire trip (which, compared to the day before was a miracle). It actually was dry all the way till after dinner even though the sky got very cloudy. But more importantly they saw loads of special animals: they had lions mating right next to the vehicle as well as eating a buffalo carcass on breaks, a couple of white rhinos, a leopard tortoise, a bateleur being mobbed by forktailed drongos, a civet, multiple scrub hares, a chameleon in a tree, a Mozambican spitting cobra as well as an african rock python, baboons, an elephant hiding in the darkness and just before returning through the gate a hyena guarding it. Upon return to our huts after dinner we heard bush babies, but couldn't find them in the nearby trees.

Then this morning we set off for a full day game drive. When we had all packed up and got into the car, the vervet monkeys were coming closer and closer to check if we left any scraps behind. We drove down Ellooff where our first animals of the day were the impalas. It looked like some babies were born earlier this morning and we admired their cuteness. One was so skinny though, we didn't think he would grow old.

A couple of kudus and our new animal for this tour, a common grey duiker, was posing on the side of the road too. Then we got a tip from a member of the public about two lions just around the corner. And so they were! Two lionesses were hiding behind a bush from a couple of bull elephants that were drinking nearby. One set up in rapt attention, while the other was still lying down but had her eyes on the bulls. The elephants moved away slowly and the lionesses relaxed again, one by one flopping down on their sides and go back to do what lions do best: sleep.

As we set off we were quickly impeded by an elephant herd that was crossing the road. The mums and aunties shielding the little ones from sight and one came really close to a car of a member of the public that was blocking their walkway! At High level bridge over the Sabie we saw more elephants drinking with a goliath heron fishing nearby.

Then we drove down Tshokwane tar road where initially we saw plenty of animals: five nyala bulls hanging out with impalas, a couple of klipsrpingers, a tree squirrel, steenboks, a lone giraffe, grey louries and more elephants, but then it quieted down along the way. We did make a quick stop at the Kruger tablets as the guests asked all about the history of the Kruger Park last night at dinner and this fitted in nicely.

We stopped at Tshokwane for a nice breakfast, before driving the H10 to Lower Sabie. We started with a lone buffalo ruminating and then an elephant with bend hind legs and her baby next to the road. She made a loud tummy rumble which made the car vibrate, and one other elephant of the herd responded deeper in the bush. A Burchell's coucal was hanging out at the Nkumbe lookouts, but as its nickname is the rain bird we were happy it stayed quiet. We did see some more elephants on the way.

Along they way over the hills and down to Lower Sabie we saw plenty more elephant herds, multiple baboons, a couple of ostriches, many impalas with little babies, a klipspringer on a high lookout, a tawny eagle, a flock of redfaced mousebirds and just before the Lower Sabie bridge a small dazzle of zebras. On the bridge itself it was teeming with wildlife: crocodiles in all sizes sunning themselves, hippos out of the water sunning themselves, buffalos on the shore, also sunning themselves, and a fish eagle in a nearby tree. Then it was time for lunch at Lower Sabie.

After lunch we set off along the H4-1 and stopped multiple times to watch herds of elephants drinking in the river and playing with the water. It was a hot afternoon so we were kinda jealous! We did see a couple of hippos outside the water as well. Most of them were snoozing on the shores but some were grazing and a few even running (which we must admit, looks kinda funny when a big blob like a hippopotamus starts running). We stopped for some birds as well, like two black collared barbets singing their duet, a Diederick's cuckoo, white-faced ducks, blacksmith lapwings, and some green-winged pytilias.

But the best sighting of the day was a crocodile fishing. We set at this little waterhole when suddenly there were a lot of waves and bubbles. Out came the tail of a crocodile and then an open mouth with a catfish in it, still alive. He threw it at the back of his throat and swallowed, and the fish was gone. Then he would slowly sink to the bottom and the water all calmed down. We thought that was it, but as the water was super still, suddenly the waves reappeared. And they got bigger and bigger and we saw a tail swish and out came the front of the crocodile again with yet another fish!! He repeated this another 4 or 5 times and all this time it was just us! When other cars started showing up he apparently had enough to eat as the show was over and it looked like we were just watching the hippos (oh yeah, they were there too!) and the eyes and nostrils of a crocodile.

Then we decided to continue on our way. As we followed the tar road along the Sabie river we saw plenty more elephants and hippos, vervet monkeys, some nice kudu bulls, warthogs digging with their snouts, dwarf mongoose, and twice a leopard tortoises boy following a leopard tortoise girl. Those boys had clearly only one thing on their minds and as the leopard tortoise girl went one way they instantly followed with their noses stuck to her bum. Unfortunately the leopard tortoise girl is just as fast as the leopard tortoise boy, so if she wanted to run away, she didn't show much speed.

Just before we snuck into Skukuza for a quick pitstop, we saw a female hyena, which was obviously still suckling pups as her nipples were very swollen. She took a fright of our vehicle when it stopped the engine and took a little jog far away into the bush and out of sight so we never got to see her pups.  Then down Napi we came across yet another klipspringer, multiple zebras, one scaring red crested korhaan when it was crazing the little pluck of grass the korhaan was hiding in, natal and crested francolins, guineafowls, and a group of brown hooded parrots.

When we got close to Transport Dam we got a call that there were wild dogs around. When we got to the sighting they were no longer lying on the side of the road, but moving around in the bush a bit further in. Half obscured by the savannah woody plants we still got quite a good view with binoculars. A group of zebras was grazing nearby and we were suddenly excited by the entire pack getting up and slowly making their way to those zebras. The zebras saw them coming and closed ranks. They stood head to butt in a close-knit group, while being surrounded completely by at least 9 wild dogs. It was a proper stand-off, but the zebras didn't budge when the wild dogs started probing into their group and tried to come close. As the zebras lined up their hind legs as they have a very powerful kick, the wild dogs regroup and had what looked like a group discussion on how to proceed. It was apparently decided that these zebras were too much effort as the wild dogs took off further into the bush and left the zebras alone. It was nice the see the attempt though, it got our excitement level raised too.

As the day was coming to an end, we drove the rest of Napi to Pretoriuskop. We did enjoy another sighting of hyenas of 5 pups and 1 babysitter and saw plenty zebras and giraffes crossing. The last stretch ended up as drive-by shooting: duikers,  elephants, kudus, impalas, waterbucks, lilac breasted roller, Cape turtle doves, black-backed puffback and a white stork on the side of the road. Tired after a long day we arrived at Pretoriuskop, our camp for the next two nights!

27 November 2014

This morning we set off early once again as that is usually the best time for animal viewing, especially when a day is forecasted to get hot. We drove down Napi where we saw a reedbuck in the drainage line. We looked at him, he looked at us. Kind of a staring contest, which we lost when we drove away. Then we came across an elephant bull just before Shithave Dam. We saw another magnificent one later on, when we had visited Shithave Dam.

At Shithave Dam we saw the ears and nostrils of the resident male hippo, a dwarf bittern and a grey heron. Then back on Napi we came across that earlier mentioned magnificent elephant bull, kudus, impalas of course, a black-bellied bustard swallowing its bubbles (well, that's what it sounds like when he calls for a mate) and waterbucks. We encountered a zigzagging white rhino. He crossed the road when we saw him at first. Then he crossed back. And back again. He walked two meters on the grass on the other side and then turned around and crossed again. Either he was looking for something or he kept on thinking the grass was greener on the other side... While watching this peculiar rhino behavior we had a red crested korhaan screaming next to the car, but we didn't hear any reply so all that effort was in vain.

Back on Napi we saw two hyenas lying at the den site we saw yesterday. One instantly disappeared into the den while the other was fast asleep and we were wondering if she actually was aware we were there at all as there was no movement. No pups visible this time though. The white stork was still sitting on the side of the road, sleeping, but now on the other side as we saw her yesterday. And we did see a lone ground hornbill further on. He was calling all the time too, possibly to find a mate. The wild dogs hadn't moved far from where we saw them yesterday, but once again they were in the distance. But this time it was worse, as they were lying flat in the shade, pretending to be invisible and then the other 20 cars around made a well traffic jam so it was hard to pass. The zebras they surrounded yesterday were still there too, a little further off. And we still counted six ;-).

We took a turn onto the H3 where the vegetation and landscape looks different the further south you get. Here we did see more impalas of course, since they are everywhere, but also giraffes (one of them lying down), magpie shrikes, a blooming pride of the cape with a collared sunbird hopping around and a herd of elephants.

Another guide had found some lions at the Byamiti loop, so we took a turn onto the S113 and then onto that loop to check it out. We saw some nice kudu bulls with awesome horns on the way before we reached the lions. Three males were pretending to be logs as they were sleeping in the riverbed. Compared to the other lion sightings we had so far they were quite far and rather dull so we showed how spoiled we actually are and didn't hang around too long. There was also a need for a toilet break, which meant we had a drive-by shooting session from the lions via the H2-2 to Afsaal: a tree full of grey louries, warthogs, elephants and a bateleur in a tree.

Breakfast at Afsaal was almost shared with some cheeky cape glossy starlings, but we managed to chase them off while they watched us eat from every direction. A bushbuck came by to visit too, but she was only interested in the green leaves on a nearby bush. When we had our fill of breakfast and a shot of coffee we set off back up the H3. We spotted a group of four ground hornbills. By the looks of it they were all still young. Then a call came from Curtis that he had found a leopard. As we hadn't seen one we decided to give it a go and tried to get to the sighting as quickly as allowed by the speed rules of the park. We took a turn on the S112 and s114 for the third leopard that ran away just before we got there, third time unlucky. But then by taking this road we did see vervet monkeys, a very fat warthog and two steenbok anyway.

Back on Napi it was getting hot and we decided to drive back to the lodge and only stop for something special. We pointed out some of the animals we had already seen: common grey duikers, more steenbok, a giant landsnail, kudus, plenty of herds of elephants (ok, they are still cool so we still stopped for them anyways), dung beetles, a large flock of marabou storks flying away and we got to another new animal of this tour just before Pretoriuskop: a herd of sable. They were quite in the distance but we had a good look at some males and females through binoculars.

In the afternoon the guests wanted to relax and they had an enjoyable time at the rock pool at Pretoriuskop!

28 November 2014

This morning we decided for a bit of a lie in and have breakfast before we would leave. But as the restaurant only opened at 7am, we only set off about 45min later. we took a loop around Pretoriuskop and Manungu Koppies where we came across a warthog, crazy running guineafowls, an elephant drinking from the drainage line and a tree squirrel that was screaming from the top of his lungs, but seemingly

at nothing.

We then crossed the tar road to have a look around Shabeni loop. Here the animals seemed to expect floods as they were all sitting high and dry on top of the rocks. First we noticed two buffalo bulls hanging out, but as we came closer and on the other side of this particular rock, it turned out to be three of them. Then a little onwards we saw two klipspringers, a male and a female, who were having their breakfast fill of leaves. Thirdly a family of vervet monkeys sat all on the top of the rocks grooming each other. The birds we saw on this loop sat high in a tree as well: Diederick's cuckoo, woodlands kingfisher, crested barbet and dark-capped bulbul were added to the bird list.

As we still had some time left, we took a detour to Mestel dam, where on the way we spotted our last warthogs and large herds of impalas before reaching the dam. Here the hippos weren't as complacent in saying goodbye as the impalas on the side of the road as we didn't see anything but a few ears and nostrils. However we did get to see a new animal: a pied kingfisher was fishing nearby. A fish eagle flew over high above us as well.

On the way back to Numbi Gate we saw the herds of impalas with babies as a last goodbye. The warthogs didn't stick around. And when we left the gate towards Nelspruit it signaled the end of the safari for the Broers Family. I know you enjoyed your safari and I hope you have a great time sifting through all the pictures you took and movies you made to make one big album at home! And maybe in two years time, we'll see you back for another safari!

More coming soon!!

On Safari With Curtis From 23 November 2014

23 November 2014

Today was the start of a new tour and after picking up my new guests, in Nelspruit, we made our way to Numbi gate and KNP. Luckily we missed the worst of the rain and by the time we got to Numbi it was hot and humid. Straight away we found some animals, firstly waterbuck and then impala just behind them. Next up we came across a buffalo Carcass lying just on the road. No sign of the predator which was responsible for it but they hadn't left much for the other scavengers. We then took a drive down circle road and faye loop where we found two 'dagga boy's minding their own business before coming upon two adult male lions lying in the shade of a tree. They were in no mood for pictures really and while one didn't move an inch the other was kind enough to pop his head up on a couple of occasions to allow some good photos. After twenty minutes we admitted defeat and moved on. Faye loop was quiet with a few impala, buffalo and kudu and a leopard tortoise and red - crested korhaan. As we left the loop we found the first of three small elephant herds. This one by far the best as the matriarch led her family across the road in front of us. We then completed the circle road loop by going in from the other side where we saw the other elephants,  kudu and common duiker before getting back to the lion sighting. They had now moved more out into the open and we got a better look at both their impressive manes. Unfortunately the rain started to fall again which actually turned into a positive as one of the males didn't appreciate his bath and moved back under the tree giving us a short but nice look at the full size of a male lion. We headed down to Nkambeni tented safari lodge our accommodation for this tour and settled in without getting to wet. A good start to this tour regardless of the weather conditions.

24 November 2014

This morning we had bright blue skies for a change and we hoped this would signal a good day. We left the lodge and immediately found a family of dwarf mongoose scurrying around in the undergrowth and on top of a nearby termite mound. We drove up Numbi and found a couple of cape buffalo and the impalas before turning onto Napi. The start was very busy as we found Waterbuck, kudu. We also had two very nice sightings of brown snake eagles perched up high in marula trees. We then found the first of two lion sightings. The first one was very difficult to view as they were quite far away hidden by lots of grass. In fact apart from the occasional head popping up not much was seen. The second sighting was a lot nicer, although again the lions were in the grass they were much closer so that we could get a good look at them. Two females and two cubs approximately a year old. With the exception of one of them they all got up at one stage and moved about allowing for some great photos.

By now it was time to head back to the lodge but not before we stopped at mathekanyane view point and enjoyed watching the kudus at the bottom. Or were they watching us?!!!! The guests also enjoyed the calls of the grey go-away bird!!

Back on the road we found a little herd of giraffe before heading down to Transport dam, the dam was buzzing with activity as we found kudu, Waterbuck, impala and the resident hippos. We also had a African fish eagle perched in a tree overlooking the water as well lots more water birds. Then just as we were ready to leave a family of elephants appeared behind the car and moved past us down to the water for a drink and a play. We watched them until they moved off back into the trees. Carrying on we had a couple of rhino sighting including two who were having great fun having a mud bath. So much so they didn't even notice us as we pulled up.

In the afternoon the clouds were darkening but that never stops us going out for a drive and we headed back down Napi finding elephants,zebra, kudu and impala before we got to Shithave dam where the lonely old hippo was in the water. Not much happening today until a large herd of buffalo turned up. We then got informed off a nearby leopard by the public and headed straight down there but unfortunately it had gone, maybe my recent run of leopard luck has finally run out!! We carried on and came to the rhinos we had seen earlier, by now they were completely submerged in the mud from head to toe and seemed to be really enjoying the bath I am not sure they had any plans to leave.

As we drove back to camp the clouds darkened further, the wind picked up the thunder roared and the lightening lit up the sky. Then the worst, the rain, lots of it and lots more. We then came across a large herd of buffalo crossing over the road and we had to sit and wait while we got soaked. By the time we got back to the lodge we were drenched through but that didn't matter as the guests loved all the sightings they had had.

25 November 2014

This morning the storms had passed over and the sky was much clearer. We set off up Numbi tar where we saw buffalo and elephant from afar before turning into Shabeni. It was fairly quiet around the loop this morning with only impala. The link was also quiet but we saw a lone elephant, giraffe and a little family of warthog,  mum and three piglets having morning breakfast. Further along a couple more giraffe and then we turned onto doispane and headed down to the dam. Here we found hippos and lots of birds. As we headed down to Phabeni gate we found a troupe of baboons and a small herd of elephants.

Unfortunately it was the end of this tour for some and we said goodbye to Owen, Kerri, Matt, Dan and john. Thanks guys for your company and travel safe. Hope you enjoyed your time with us.

This afternoon we had a short drive around Faye loop where we found common reedbuck, dwarf mongoose and a lovely bull kudu. On voortrekker link we found a family of elephants in the distance and a lone bull who crossed over in front of us before having a drink in the rock pool and then moving off. We also found buffalo and klipspringers around Shabeni before finding the warthog family in exactly the same spot as six hours ago before we got to mestal dam.

Here the hippos were getting quiet active with shows of their teeth and lots of vocalisation. Also there were Waterbuck and impala. We then made our way to the gate where we picked up four new guests who are joining us.

26 November 2014

The drive this morning got off to a great start as we found our path blocked by a huge herd of buffalo crossing the road in front. It took a full five minutes for us too find a gap in which we could move on as approximately 200+ buffalo crossed over. As we moved onto Napi we found a herd of elephants wandering deeper into the bush as well as kudu and impala on a frequent basis. We then noticed a bull elephant walking along.

We then found a hyena lying by her den at flatrocks but no sign of the cubs we have seen so often. As we moved further on we came upon wild dog lying by the side and of the road, just past transport dam. They had probably had a busy night as they didn't seem to be that energetic this morning. Further along we found a troop of baboons, steenbok, common duiker, giraffe and Warthog before we got to Skukuza for coffee.

After our break we set off down elloff along the river where, of course, we found plenty of hippo, a few crocs, lots of vervets and baboons as well as the impalas. We also found a couple of water monitor trying to get as much of the little bit of the sun there was today. We also spotted a dark chanting goshawk sat upon a termite mound probably snacking on the alates and a brown snake eagle and off course always hearing more and more of the call of the woodlands kingfisher. As we got closer to lower sabie we found more and more buffalo and elephant and lots of birds around sunset dam before stopping at the rest camp for lunch.

In the afternoon the drive back was extremely quiet, in fact one of the quietest afternoons I have had for a long time but we still had a few good sightings. They included another look at the African wild dog pack who had become much more active by now. In fact they were all up and about when we saw them again. I counted fifteen in total with half a dozen of them running along the road before being joined by the rest where they yelped and squealed as they re-affirmed their pack bonds.

We then found the hyenas outside their den but this time the adult had multiplied into two adults and six cubs. Much more activity as the cubs played around and tried to get some milk from one of the adults much to her annoyance and discomfort. We then again found the rhino from this morning, no elephant this time but it hadn't moved far and was still busy grazing. We also had time for on new more rhino, another male this time crossing the road and spraying his territory.

Just before camp a nice group of giraffe close to the road to finish off the day.

27 November 2014

This morning was the last day of the tour for two guests and although we had had so many wonderful and memorable sightings we still hadn't been lucky with the cats.

So this morning we went out on a cat search!!! We drove past many species, on our cat search, only stopping if they were close to the road or off course on the road such as the adult hyena we found.

Then the break through we were wanting, thanks to one of our colleagues Frank, lions had been spotted on biyamiti weir but we were still some distance away so we crossed fingers and made haste. Luck was with us as we found three adult males sleeping in the river. They were quite a distance but with binoculars we got a good look at them. We then decided to move around further along the river hoping to find an opening to peer through. We found an opening indeed and what started as an average sighting became a great sighting. We now had prime viewing of all three and the three obliged us by sitting showing us their heads and mane and then spoilt us by standing up giving a great view and giving the opportunity for some amazing photos.

Our morning cat search had been a success and it got better!!! While watching the second rhino sighting, in quick succession, of mum and young calf our colleague Frank, Yes him again, had found leopard. Again we made haste just hoping we would have another dose of luck and we did.

A beautiful leopard just ten meters from the road in the open taking a rest in the shade of a tree. Now while this leopard wasn't exactly active it did pop its head up for a couple of quick photo opportunities. While it didn't stand up to give a full body look any leopard at that distance is always loved by guests and guides alike.

Unfortunately time had run out and we made our way down to numbi where our guests were getting their transfer. Max and Felix, it has been great having you on tour with us. I know you enjoyed all the sightings we had from the little dwarf mongoose to the slightly bigger African elephant. Safe travels down to Cape Town and hope to see you again one day on safari.

This afternoon we went out on a short drive around the area. Starting down Albasini and stopping at mestal dam we came across hippo, kudu and impala before turning down Shabeni link. Here we found a nice herd of buffalo and a troop of baboons who were busy having a mass grooming session with everyone involved. The common duiker wasn't too interested in this and soon ran off. Around Shabeni rock we found vervets, the heads of two klipspringers sitting high up on the rocks before finding a few buffalo.

We then popped into PK to refuel but even there you can't get away from the wildlife. Dark-capped bulbuls,  cape-glossy starling both hopped into the truck to try and find a few crumbs while brown-hooded parrots flew overhead and the call of the purple-crested turaco could be heard. Not to be outdone the mammals were represented by a family of dwarf mongoose and a tree squirrel.

Back on the road and we drove around Faye loop which was quiet with just a few impala and three buffalo. As we headed to munung koppies via circle road the beautiful silence of the bush was broken as, and I quote, one of my guests shouted "it's a jaguar". It wasn't but we could forgive him as he had in fact spotted a leopard. In the commotion the leopard had moved back into the bush but we turned the engine off and waited and she gradually reappeared. Just five meters from the car she was slightly nervous but seemed very interested in something across the road.

She took her time but after a couple of minutes she plucked up the courage to cross right in front of us to the other side of the road. A couple of minutes later she had vanished from sight, her beauty blending in perfectly with the bush. On a high we drove around the koppies to find a family of elephants, we had a nice encounter as a mum and calf walked within a couple of meters of the side of the vehicle before moving to the front and crossing over to the rest of the herd.

A great end to another great day here in Kruger!!!

28 November 2014

So, unfortunately, today was the last day of this tour and after having a good breakfast and checking out we left early for our last game drive. We headed straight up to circle road to see if we could find the leopard we found yesterday. No luck on that score and the road itself was quiet as we just found impala, common duiker and a couple of buffaloes. We then took a turn around pk koppies finding some kudu bulls and enjoying the stunning scenery from the koppies. Then round to Shabeni with buffalo standing up on the rock and kudu, impala, klipspringer and vervets all around the loop. We turned down onto Shabeni link when we found a few cars at the same area. As we moved closer we found ourselves looking at zebra. But that wasn't what all the cars were looking at because on the other side of the road up in a marula tree was a cheetah. Yep you read correct a cheetah in a tree!!! Now while it's unusual for cheetahs to be seen in a tree it is not impossible and this particular cheetah is well known for his climbing. We stayed watching until he jumped out and moved off into the nearby grass area.

An amazing sighting to finish off this tour. Jenna, Stef, Chad and Dan it has been great having you on tour. I know you have enjoyed all the sightings and enjoy going through all your photos. You certainly took some good ones.

29 November 2014

The start of a new tour today and after greetings all round we headed down to Kruger and Nkambeni tented safari lodge for check in.

Tonight was the turn of the sundowner drive where guests get the chance to experience the park a little later than the public and try to locate the more nocturnal animals. Well locate the animals they did and with great success. As well as the usual suspects including impala, kudu and Waterbuck they had hippo, well part of a hippo, elephants, rhino and leopard.

A fantastic start to this tour.

30 November 2014

This morning it was bushwalk time, a chance to, maybe, experience a few animals while on foot giving a much different perspective than being in the vehicle.

Also a chance to learn more about the scat and spoor of the animals along with the much overlooked trees and grasses and insects which help create the Knp.

This afternoon we went out for a short drive and immediately found the impalas just outside the lodge gate and then a lone bull elephant not to far from the road. We headed down to Napi boulders finding several more male elephants, kudu and impala. We drove to shithave dam which was quiet with the exception of the resident hippo and a small herd of waterbuck and then down around Shabeni where we found a family herd of elephants grazing. We also found a steenbok and dwarf mongoose on the link road before finding a herd of buffalo in the distance and then a much closer sighting of five dagga boys. Then as we were driving back to numbi gate we had three wildebeest running across the road in front before seeing waterbuck and zebra further along the road.

More coming soon!!