20 February 2015
Setting out early this morning we came across a hyena clan
who had three different age grouped youngsters with them. They suddenly all appeared
on the road making a great photo opportunity as there was 20 in total.
Verity and Dean Cherry had an African dream in 1999 and started Nhongo Safaris® to eliminate the logistical challenges of international visitors on safari. We provide a once in a lifetime experience for wildlife enthusiast that demand quality overnight safaris in South Africa and most particularly the Kruger National Park. We want to enrich our visitors’ experience by providing Luxury Safari Packages or African Safari Holidays and maintain our position as leader in Kruger Park Safaris.
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Some of Nhongo Safaris Fleet of Open Safari Vehicles
The photo shows some of our fleet of Open Safari Vehicles used while on safari in the Kruger National and Hwange National Parks. These ve...
Friday 20 February 2015
On safari With Robbie 18 February 2015/ 19 February 2015
18 February 2015
we arrived in Kruger at 2pm to be greeted by a lovely
elephant herd close to phabeni gate. On the way to camp we spotted buffalo,
white rhino and a big herd of kudu.
The night drive produced classic sightings of elephant,
hippo, buffalo, genets, civits and hyenas.
19 February 2015
Setting out a bit later this morning I wasn’t expecting much
as it was rather warm! Wrong I was as we encountered numerous Kudu, buffalo and
impala herds with excellent visuals.
We then spotted a pride of 5 lionesses real close to the
road, they were all stretching and resting. Out of nowhere my colleague called
me for a kilometer away on our radio as he had picked up a leopard. On arrival
at the scene we were to seethe strong male had snatched a kudu calf which was
rather large. The kudu mother was frantically trying to save its young and was
barking loudly but to no avail. The leopard then dragged its prize across the
road right in front of us. It was a sighting that will stay with us forever!
On the way to camp we saw rhino and two huge elephant bulls
sparring.
On the afternoon drive we picked up some more amazing
raptors such as Martial and Tawny eagles.
We came across numerous buffalo and elephant herd along the
Sabie river.
Watching the sun go down over camp and chatted quietly
realizing Kruger had produced an incredible day.
On Safari With Curtis 19 February 2015
19 February 2015
This morning we set off with a cooler overcast sky, perfect weather and we saw plenty of animals such ellies, buffalo, rhino, zebra, warthog, dwarf mongoose, kudu, waterbuck and impala.
However the day belonged to two particular highlights.
The first was after a tip from mark, he had found three cheetah walking along the road. Although quite far from the sighting we made our way there as quickly as we could and were lucky enough to indeed find the three cheetah still on the road. But they were acting strange hissing and snarling and then we saw why.
Out of the grass appeared a fourth cheetah and then all hell broke out. Two of the three brothers went straight for the newcomer, squeals and hissing from all of them. We were in the middle of a territorial dispute. The newcomer then managed to escape the others and sprinted at top speed across the road with the other three in hot pursuit out of sight into the tall grass.
The second highlight of the day is actually four sightings which all took place, incredibly, within a 2.5km distance of each other. The first sighting a large black maned lion sitting out in the open at the edge of the road, unfortunately with the sun getting hotter he moved into the shade and out of sight, the second sighting four lionesses and a juvenile male lion, his mohawk just starting to show. In the shade but just a couple of meters from the road we got a great look at this pride of lions before leaving the sighting. Our third sighting was a kilometer down the road when I noticed our fifth cheetah of the day, this one also a male who walked along side the road before darting across the road out of sight.
But the fourth sighting was the best. Just another kilometer from the cheetah we found a female kudu standing in the grass. As we edged forward she started to alarm call, a deep loud bark. We looked around and then I spotted why, she was alarm calling at a leopard. But it was too late as the leopard grabbed the kudus calf.
We watched as the leopard with a kudu calf, as big as itself, in its jaw shuffled across the road just ten meters from our vehicle. Meanwhile the female kudu.was watching and following the leopard constantly alarm calling and in distress about its calf.
In just a couple of kilometers we had seen the big three cats in what is surely one of the most amazing morning drives I have ever done.
Then it was time to say goodbye to Charlotte and James who even though were just with us for a couple of days now have a lifetime of memories to cherish.
This morning we set off with a cooler overcast sky, perfect weather and we saw plenty of animals such ellies, buffalo, rhino, zebra, warthog, dwarf mongoose, kudu, waterbuck and impala.
However the day belonged to two particular highlights.
The first was after a tip from mark, he had found three cheetah walking along the road. Although quite far from the sighting we made our way there as quickly as we could and were lucky enough to indeed find the three cheetah still on the road. But they were acting strange hissing and snarling and then we saw why.
Out of the grass appeared a fourth cheetah and then all hell broke out. Two of the three brothers went straight for the newcomer, squeals and hissing from all of them. We were in the middle of a territorial dispute. The newcomer then managed to escape the others and sprinted at top speed across the road with the other three in hot pursuit out of sight into the tall grass.
The second highlight of the day is actually four sightings which all took place, incredibly, within a 2.5km distance of each other. The first sighting a large black maned lion sitting out in the open at the edge of the road, unfortunately with the sun getting hotter he moved into the shade and out of sight, the second sighting four lionesses and a juvenile male lion, his mohawk just starting to show. In the shade but just a couple of meters from the road we got a great look at this pride of lions before leaving the sighting. Our third sighting was a kilometer down the road when I noticed our fifth cheetah of the day, this one also a male who walked along side the road before darting across the road out of sight.
But the fourth sighting was the best. Just another kilometer from the cheetah we found a female kudu standing in the grass. As we edged forward she started to alarm call, a deep loud bark. We looked around and then I spotted why, she was alarm calling at a leopard. But it was too late as the leopard grabbed the kudus calf.
We watched as the leopard with a kudu calf, as big as itself, in its jaw shuffled across the road just ten meters from our vehicle. Meanwhile the female kudu.was watching and following the leopard constantly alarm calling and in distress about its calf.
In just a couple of kilometers we had seen the big three cats in what is surely one of the most amazing morning drives I have ever done.
Then it was time to say goodbye to Charlotte and James who even though were just with us for a couple of days now have a lifetime of memories to cherish.
Thursday 19 February 2015
On Safari With Curtis 18 February 2015
18 February 2015
So the start of a new tour and after entering at Phabeni gate, in very hot conditions, we found plenty of general game such as impala, zebra, buffalo, warthog, waterbuck and giraffe.
The highlight of the drive was at the watering hole as we found a family of elephants at the waters edge. There were nine ellies in this group and while the adults drank the youngsters were too busy playing in the mud. Also at the dam were the hippos but surprisingly two were out of the water grazing in the heat of the day. Then three more left water and joined the first two.
Also impala and waterbirds were around the waters edge making it an action packed sighting.
Later in the afternoon the guests had an sunset drive, with the sun on full power today they got to see enjoy an amazing sunset as well as viewing plenty of animals, the highlight being loads of elephants close to the car.
So the start of a new tour and after entering at Phabeni gate, in very hot conditions, we found plenty of general game such as impala, zebra, buffalo, warthog, waterbuck and giraffe.
The highlight of the drive was at the watering hole as we found a family of elephants at the waters edge. There were nine ellies in this group and while the adults drank the youngsters were too busy playing in the mud. Also at the dam were the hippos but surprisingly two were out of the water grazing in the heat of the day. Then three more left water and joined the first two.
Also impala and waterbirds were around the waters edge making it an action packed sighting.
Later in the afternoon the guests had an sunset drive, with the sun on full power today they got to see enjoy an amazing sunset as well as viewing plenty of animals, the highlight being loads of elephants close to the car.
On Safari With Curtis 16 February 2015
16 February 2015
The last day of the tour and one final early start to try and get as many sightings as possible. Lots seen this morning in particular giraffe.
Over the course of the morning we found more than twenty of these elegant animals and got many great photos.
Later we found a nice big territorial male rhino standing right on the edge of the road giving us an great opportunity to photograph him.
Along the way we found plenty more including zebra, wildebeest, warthog, impala, kudu, waterbuck, dwarf mongoose, tree squirrel, giant land snail, elephant and buffalo.
A good end to the tour. Time to say goodbye to Loretta and Jennifer who have had a great time and been very fortunate in all they have seen the last four days.
The last day of the tour and one final early start to try and get as many sightings as possible. Lots seen this morning in particular giraffe.
Over the course of the morning we found more than twenty of these elegant animals and got many great photos.
Later we found a nice big territorial male rhino standing right on the edge of the road giving us an great opportunity to photograph him.
Along the way we found plenty more including zebra, wildebeest, warthog, impala, kudu, waterbuck, dwarf mongoose, tree squirrel, giant land snail, elephant and buffalo.
A good end to the tour. Time to say goodbye to Loretta and Jennifer who have had a great time and been very fortunate in all they have seen the last four days.
On Safari With Karen 17 February 2015
17 February 2015
Today was the last day of this tour and we had a great ending! First animals we saw was a mother and young elephant, followed by three different sightings of hyena and a honey badger that first pulled an angry face at us, then scowled and then quickly crossed the road in front of us.
But our squee of this morning was a troop of baboons. Ok, not everyone might find them pretty, but these guys were full of energy so they were very entertaining to watch. There were youngsters playing judo, a wrestling match was going on and others climbed in the tallest and flimsiest trees. These last ones kept on almost falling out of them "whooooooooh", but most times just managed to hang on and climb a bit down. But in the end one actually did fall out... We watched this show for at least 30min, when suddenly an alarm call sounded. At first they were not disturbed, but at the fourth call, the tone had changed and suddenly all baboons shot off towards the calling baboon. A lot more of them came running out of the bush than we had seen so far, but without a backwards glance they all disappeared.
We ended our tour on a high when we found a leopard as our last animal of this tour. She was lying on the rocks at first, but after licking her paws and washing her face she got up. She moved around a bit so we drove around the rocks and saw her again on the other side. Here she was leaping around the big rocks, jumping like a proper big cat. Then she spotted a klipspringer and started stalking it. But the klipspringer had seen her coming and sounded the alarm. Still she made a mad dash for him, but the agile klipspringer was long gone. She then bumbled around a bit more, sitting down, even stalking a kudu. We sadly had to leave her in the end as the guests needed to make their transfer to the airport as they fly back home tonight. It marked the end of a great safari. Thanks Suzy, John, John and Trina for joining us!
Other interesting sightings: hyena with pups and a hyena that walked of with a piece of a roadworks signpost, white rhinos, waterbucks, impalas, bateleurs, kudu bulls, dwarf mongooses, hippos, goliath heron, Cape turtle doves courting, tawny eagle, crocodile, red-collared widowbird, giraffe, Speke's hinged tortoise and a few elephant bulls.
Today was the last day of this tour and we had a great ending! First animals we saw was a mother and young elephant, followed by three different sightings of hyena and a honey badger that first pulled an angry face at us, then scowled and then quickly crossed the road in front of us.
But our squee of this morning was a troop of baboons. Ok, not everyone might find them pretty, but these guys were full of energy so they were very entertaining to watch. There were youngsters playing judo, a wrestling match was going on and others climbed in the tallest and flimsiest trees. These last ones kept on almost falling out of them "whooooooooh", but most times just managed to hang on and climb a bit down. But in the end one actually did fall out... We watched this show for at least 30min, when suddenly an alarm call sounded. At first they were not disturbed, but at the fourth call, the tone had changed and suddenly all baboons shot off towards the calling baboon. A lot more of them came running out of the bush than we had seen so far, but without a backwards glance they all disappeared.
We ended our tour on a high when we found a leopard as our last animal of this tour. She was lying on the rocks at first, but after licking her paws and washing her face she got up. She moved around a bit so we drove around the rocks and saw her again on the other side. Here she was leaping around the big rocks, jumping like a proper big cat. Then she spotted a klipspringer and started stalking it. But the klipspringer had seen her coming and sounded the alarm. Still she made a mad dash for him, but the agile klipspringer was long gone. She then bumbled around a bit more, sitting down, even stalking a kudu. We sadly had to leave her in the end as the guests needed to make their transfer to the airport as they fly back home tonight. It marked the end of a great safari. Thanks Suzy, John, John and Trina for joining us!
Other interesting sightings: hyena with pups and a hyena that walked of with a piece of a roadworks signpost, white rhinos, waterbucks, impalas, bateleurs, kudu bulls, dwarf mongooses, hippos, goliath heron, Cape turtle doves courting, tawny eagle, crocodile, red-collared widowbird, giraffe, Speke's hinged tortoise and a few elephant bulls.
On Safari With Karen 16 February 2015
16 February 2015
On the sundowner the guests had a good drive. They saw zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, lions, a white rhino hiding in the bush and more giraffes.
Today we set off for a full day game drive. Our first highlight was when we encountered a leopard. He was leisurely crossing the road about 50m in front of us and then kept on walking along side us for about 2km! He was in the bushes so we lost visual once in a while, but we were there just at the right spot at the right time! Seeing the leopard completed the big 5 checklist for the guests and as we had already seen hyenas, cheetahs and wild dogs, we now had the score of a crazy 8!
Our second highlight came in the afternoon when we could spend 30min with a grazing white rhino out in the open and close to the car. So far our white rhino sightings have been quite obscured so this was an amazing view. Since a warthog was feeding next to it we could really appreciate its size and beauty. A wonderful sighting it was.
Other interesting sightings: waterbucks, bateleur, duiker, impalas, kudu bulls, herd of buffalo, slender mongoose, a family of klipspringers, wildebeest, crested francolins, tawny eagle, brown snake eagle, buffalo bull we thought was dead and then suddenly got up (apparently deep asleep in a what looked like a most uncomfortable position), zebras, giraffes (including a couple of males having a very half-hearted fight), a lone vervet monkey and twice hyenas.
On the sundowner the guests had a good drive. They saw zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, lions, a white rhino hiding in the bush and more giraffes.
Today we set off for a full day game drive. Our first highlight was when we encountered a leopard. He was leisurely crossing the road about 50m in front of us and then kept on walking along side us for about 2km! He was in the bushes so we lost visual once in a while, but we were there just at the right spot at the right time! Seeing the leopard completed the big 5 checklist for the guests and as we had already seen hyenas, cheetahs and wild dogs, we now had the score of a crazy 8!
Our second highlight came in the afternoon when we could spend 30min with a grazing white rhino out in the open and close to the car. So far our white rhino sightings have been quite obscured so this was an amazing view. Since a warthog was feeding next to it we could really appreciate its size and beauty. A wonderful sighting it was.
Other interesting sightings: waterbucks, bateleur, duiker, impalas, kudu bulls, herd of buffalo, slender mongoose, a family of klipspringers, wildebeest, crested francolins, tawny eagle, brown snake eagle, buffalo bull we thought was dead and then suddenly got up (apparently deep asleep in a what looked like a most uncomfortable position), zebras, giraffes (including a couple of males having a very half-hearted fight), a lone vervet monkey and twice hyenas.
Monday 16 February 2015
On Safari With Robbie 13 February 2015
13 February 2015
Today was a very hot day, as far as temperatures were concerned we came close to hitting the 40 degree mark! Despite that, sightings were good but most were distant visuals due to most species seeking the coolness of the shade!
Three Cheetahs were seen on the hunt again and Buffalo were seen in the lower waters edge at most water holes enjoying the semi cool water!
Elephant spotted were either mud bathing or most of the time they were seen standing and dozing!
General game was great with some beautiful sightings of male Kudus and Waterbuck!
We set out on our last drive tomorrow in eager anticipation!
Today was a very hot day, as far as temperatures were concerned we came close to hitting the 40 degree mark! Despite that, sightings were good but most were distant visuals due to most species seeking the coolness of the shade!
Three Cheetahs were seen on the hunt again and Buffalo were seen in the lower waters edge at most water holes enjoying the semi cool water!
Elephant spotted were either mud bathing or most of the time they were seen standing and dozing!
General game was great with some beautiful sightings of male Kudus and Waterbuck!
We set out on our last drive tomorrow in eager anticipation!
On Safari With Karen 15 February 2015
15 February 2015
Of all the amazing things we saw, today's highlight was definitely the sighting of a Cape clawless otter. And probably not just of today, but of the entire tour. Or week. Month. Maybe even year! In all my time in the Kruger Park, this was actually the first time I ever saw one. And we did get a good look at him too. He was just foraging around in between rocks and diving through the water with not a care in the world for the people looking at him. Or for that guide that was jumping up and down in her seat with excitement, hehe... grin emoticon
We had a very good morning with excellent sightings so choosing the second highlight is more difficult. Curtis has already described one of them, the excellent lion sighting. We did see a hyena this morning too, and what made the sighting even more memorable was that a little further on he started his territorial call. The whooping sound of a hyena must be the most wonderful sound in the world. And it was loud too, so much so that the giraffe we were looking at now, actually turned its head in the direction of the sound.
Other interesting sightings: three youngish male lions right next to the road, an elephant herd feeding, massive elephant bulls, plenty European rollers, impalas, warthogs, carmine bee eaters, three cheetahs hiding in the high grass, crocodiles, hippos in and semi out of the water, golden orb spiders, many baboons, bushbucks, vervet monkeys, two wild dogs trotting in the middle of the road towards us and pausing briefly right next to us, leopard tortoises, giraffes, buffalos, magpie shrikes, lone white-backed vulture and marabou storks.
Of all the amazing things we saw, today's highlight was definitely the sighting of a Cape clawless otter. And probably not just of today, but of the entire tour. Or week. Month. Maybe even year! In all my time in the Kruger Park, this was actually the first time I ever saw one. And we did get a good look at him too. He was just foraging around in between rocks and diving through the water with not a care in the world for the people looking at him. Or for that guide that was jumping up and down in her seat with excitement, hehe... grin emoticon
We had a very good morning with excellent sightings so choosing the second highlight is more difficult. Curtis has already described one of them, the excellent lion sighting. We did see a hyena this morning too, and what made the sighting even more memorable was that a little further on he started his territorial call. The whooping sound of a hyena must be the most wonderful sound in the world. And it was loud too, so much so that the giraffe we were looking at now, actually turned its head in the direction of the sound.
Other interesting sightings: three youngish male lions right next to the road, an elephant herd feeding, massive elephant bulls, plenty European rollers, impalas, warthogs, carmine bee eaters, three cheetahs hiding in the high grass, crocodiles, hippos in and semi out of the water, golden orb spiders, many baboons, bushbucks, vervet monkeys, two wild dogs trotting in the middle of the road towards us and pausing briefly right next to us, leopard tortoises, giraffes, buffalos, magpie shrikes, lone white-backed vulture and marabou storks.
On Safari With Karen 14 February 2015
14 February 2015
A new tour started today and the first animal you see on your first ever safari is always a highlight. This time it was a magnificent kudu bull with a massive set of horns. And as if he knew he was a pretty boy, he posed nicely for our first wildlife photos.
Secondly, we saw an enormous elephant bull, right next to the road. He was having a munch of a little bush mixed with some grass. He was already quite old, so very used to the life in the Kruger Park. So he was close to the car and the tourist snapping away with their cameras. It was a great sighting up to when he finished with the bush and walked off in search of another one.
Other interesting sightings: buffalo, impalas, fork-tailed drongo, yellow-billed hornbill, an elephant herd, Speke's hinged tortoise, lilac-breasted rollers, Egyptian geese, hippos (and one guy with very deformed lower jaw teeth), zebras, wildebeests, banded mongoose and a yellow-billed kite.
A new tour started today and the first animal you see on your first ever safari is always a highlight. This time it was a magnificent kudu bull with a massive set of horns. And as if he knew he was a pretty boy, he posed nicely for our first wildlife photos.
Secondly, we saw an enormous elephant bull, right next to the road. He was having a munch of a little bush mixed with some grass. He was already quite old, so very used to the life in the Kruger Park. So he was close to the car and the tourist snapping away with their cameras. It was a great sighting up to when he finished with the bush and walked off in search of another one.
Other interesting sightings: buffalo, impalas, fork-tailed drongo, yellow-billed hornbill, an elephant herd, Speke's hinged tortoise, lilac-breasted rollers, Egyptian geese, hippos (and one guy with very deformed lower jaw teeth), zebras, wildebeests, banded mongoose and a yellow-billed kite.
On Safari With Karen 13 February 2015
13 February 2015
Another early morning to go on safari today, and once again we were rewarded with some lekker sightings. Our highlights of today are both elephant sightings. The first one was a large bull elephant that apparently fancied some marulas. He walked around the marula tree but found none. So he decided to help nature a little and put his massive head against the tree and gave a couple of short pushes. Then some marulas fell off the tree and he hurried over to pick them up. As it weren't many, he then walked off to the next marula. Very resourceful!
Our second highlight was an elephant herd. They were close to the road, so we had a good look at them. The best "aaahhww" moment was when a little baby ran up to its mama to have a drink. The milk was dribbling a bit around his mouth too! After he got his fill he bounced around like a little bunny as if he was trying to make a milkshake in his belly. It was a great joy watching him. However, when his mum walked off, he followed suit.
Other interesting sightings: giraffes, many families of baboons, other baboons that had been viciously fighting as they were bloody and pieces of skin on their face hang loose, hippos, including one out of the water crossing the road, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, a leopard tortoise, white rhinos, more elephants, impalas and a duiker.
Another early morning to go on safari today, and once again we were rewarded with some lekker sightings. Our highlights of today are both elephant sightings. The first one was a large bull elephant that apparently fancied some marulas. He walked around the marula tree but found none. So he decided to help nature a little and put his massive head against the tree and gave a couple of short pushes. Then some marulas fell off the tree and he hurried over to pick them up. As it weren't many, he then walked off to the next marula. Very resourceful!
Our second highlight was an elephant herd. They were close to the road, so we had a good look at them. The best "aaahhww" moment was when a little baby ran up to its mama to have a drink. The milk was dribbling a bit around his mouth too! After he got his fill he bounced around like a little bunny as if he was trying to make a milkshake in his belly. It was a great joy watching him. However, when his mum walked off, he followed suit.
Other interesting sightings: giraffes, many families of baboons, other baboons that had been viciously fighting as they were bloody and pieces of skin on their face hang loose, hippos, including one out of the water crossing the road, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, a leopard tortoise, white rhinos, more elephants, impalas and a duiker.
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