On Safari With Curtis 25 -26 February 2015

25 February 2015

Today there was no game drive as the guests did the panoramic tour heading up to Blade River canyon stopping along the way at lots of look out points and waterfalls with a stop in graskop to try the famous pancakes!!!

26 February 2015

This morning was the last of this tour and after breakfast we set out on one last drive. Last parts of the morning were quiet but we did find another pride of lions, herd of buffalo and loads of elephants as well as kudu, impala, Waterbuck, warthog and steenbok.

The highlight of the morning tho was down at a watering hole where we found a pod of hippos very active particularly the dominant male as he showed his teeth and chased other younger males around before flicking his dung with his tail confirming this was his ground. Also at the dam a lone bull elephant splashing mud all over himself, the last remnants of a buffalo herd taking a drink, crocs and lots of birdlife.

Time to say goodbye to our guests Jessica and Brian who fly back to not so sunny and definitely not so warm Chicago. Thanks for your company over the last four days, great having you on tour and travel safe.

On Safari With Curtis 24 February 2015

24 February 2015

This morning was an early start but for a different reason. No game drive but a bushwalk instead and although no big mammals were spotted it was still enjoyed immensely by everyone as it's a different experience to being out on the vehicle.

After a shower, breakie and a rest we went out for a drive finding plenty of game such as lions, elephants, impala, kudu, zebra, waterbuck, tortoises and terrapins.

But the highlight of the day happened in two parts. We went down to a watering hole to find there had been a confrontation between hyena and crocodile both who had been trying to kill a female kudu. When we turned up the kudu was badly injured with the crocodile sitting on the bank just a few meters away from her. The hyena had disappeared.

As we watched one hyena reappeared and seemed to head towards the kudu and we thought her time was up. But it seemed reluctant to venture closer as the crocodile was so close. Not wanting to risk a bite from a croc eventually the hyena gave up and moved away.

We watched for another ten minutes to see if the hyena would return but it didn't. And so we left the sighting.

On our return, around two hours later we found the female kudu standing by the waters edge with the crocodile now loitering just inside the water watching and waiting.

We waited expecting the Croc to lunge at its prey but it didn't. The kudu knew that the Croc was in the water close by and turned to leave but she was seriously injured with its front left leg broken and part of its foot hanging off. The rest of her body showed signs of bites from both hyena and croc.

The kudu managed to turn away and limp just a meter away before exhaustion made her stop. At this time the Croc decided to move away to the other side of the dam. Seeing this the kudu turned again and made its way to the waters edge desperately in need of a drink. By now it had been standing in the heat for more than four hours.

As she edged closer to the water the Croc came back and again waited just a couple of meters from the kudu.

The kudu was now on its last legs, seriously hurt and it's head drooping lower and lower and when ever it moved struggling to stay on her feet. Eventually thirst got the better of her and she bent down to drink. By this stage her legs couldn't support her and she fell.

As much as she tried she couldn't get back up and after about ten minutes the Croc made its move. At first attacking the kudus rear end dragging her further into the water and then finally grabbing her by the head and moving her into deeper water where she could drown the kudu.

We had been watching this drama for nearly ninety minutes as the inevitable happened with the kudu finally succumbing to her injuries and the crocs patience being finally rewarded. An incredible sighting played out in slow motion as the kudu fought for life and to the last second.

On Safari With Robbie 23 February 2015

23 February 2015
We arrived in Kruger today to be greeted by a beautiful elephant herd full of youngsters and sub adults right on the road 50 meters from the gate.

Other sightings include buffalo, white rhino, impala, zebra and kudu.

On Safari With Curtis 23 February 2015

23 February 2015
The beginning of a new tour and with the temperature warming up in the afternoon it might have been a struggle for sightings. However this afternoon was to be different as we found the much wanted 'BIG 5' in the space of three hours.

The highlight of this afternoon was finding the three leopard cubs which had come out as the sun started to go down. They were lying close to a rocky area out in the open possibly waiting for mum to return.

Our second highlight was the rhino sighting, we had three in this crash who just popped out onto the road in front of us before crossing over the road and moving into the bush.

Other species seen turned were elephant, buffalo, a pride of lions, impala, kudu, klipspringer and warthogs.

On Safari With Mark 23 February 2015

23 February 2015

Today we only had 1 highlight but it was worth while

We spent 3.5hrs at a lion sighting originally spotted yesterday afternoon and we decided to go pay them a visit today.

As we arrive, we could only spot a Male lion and 2 lioness. The male was rather restless moving around to the benefit of us as quality photos could be taken. Eventually the females got up and went and called the Cubs to come out of hiding as it was time for a feed and this was once again enjoyed by all as we could see all the Cubs feeding on mom and Dad just enjoying a snooze

General animals were: Impala, waterbuck, rhino, klipspringer, zebra, hippo, crocodile, bushbuck, nyala, kudu, vervet monkeys, chackma baboons, giraffe, buffalo and elephant

On Safari With Mark 22 February 2015

22 February 2015

The highlights have to be given to the cats today, think it's due to the overcast and cool weather we experienced

First: 2 cheetahs with a dispute between a clan of hyena's was seen and then 2kms past them we spotted 2 of the 3 brothers and both of them were calling for Him.

We got a tip of a female leopard that had just killed a common duiker and pulled it up into a Marola tree. Great visuals of that one too.

This afternoon’s drive we spotted 2 lionesses, 1 male and 7 Cubs just lying around enjoying the weather

General animals: Impala, kudu, giraffe, waterbuck, warthog, common duiker, hippos, elephant, rhinos and a number of bird species

Great day had by all!

On safari With Mark 21 February 2015

21 February 2015

First afternoon on safari, had a laughing with a Young elephant bull walking up the middle of the road shacking his head as though to let us know we shouldn't be there. He then turned looked at us with trunk sniffing the air and turned around and walked off into the bush. Guests extremely happy to see this beautiful animal and was the top animal on their wish list to see on safari.

Other animals included: Impala, kudu, hippos, zebra, klipspringer and waterbuck

On safari With Curtis 22 February 2015

22 February 2015

This morning was in complete contrast to the last few days. Hot and humid had been replaced with overcast and drizzle. However this didn't storage sighting on this the last day of the tour.

The highlight of the morning was a cheetah sighting, found by Mark early morning when we got there we found two cheetah walking along a firebreak road about ten meters from the road. We followed them for some distance as they scent marked their territory. What made it more interesting was their calling out, probably for their lost brother. Eventually they crossed over the road and moved further into the grass.

We also had a great sighting of a clan of hyena feeding on a carcass, a female leopard who had also made a kill and dragged it up into a tree, plenty of elephants, rhino including a crash of six, kudu, giraffe, waterbuck, zebra and impala.

A great end to another great tour. Then it was time to transfer back to Nelspruit and say goodbye to Sabina and Samuel. Been great having you on tour and hope to see back here in South Africa one day. I know how much you have enjoyed the last four days.

On safari With Curtis 21 February 2015

21 February 2015

This morning as we left camp it was already warm and as the day progressed it got even hotter. By the afternoon the temperature was in the high 90s maybe even reaching three figures. This contributed to the day being relatively quiet at times however we did still manage to get a good number of sightings. These included hippo, elephants, rhino, giraffe, klipspringer, common duiker, buffalo, warthog, waterbuck, kudu and impala.

The highlight of the day was a lion sighting, we had seen lions already earlier in the day but that sighting was very average as the lions were hiding in the tall grass.

At the second lion sighting we found two females and just ten meters from them three hyena. The hyena were busy eating, possibly having stolen it from the lions. Every now again the hyenas would approach the lions as if goading them. Eventually the lions had had enough and got up and pushed the hyenas away, not that the hyenas were happy.

Lots of squealing and cackling from the hyenas, growling by the lions and a face off with only six feet separating them. Eventually after one final feed the two lions moved off into the shade and this was the cue for the hyena to do the same.

We had been treated to thirty minutes of drama with this interaction between two serious rivals.

On safari With Curtis 20 February 2015

20 February 2015

Todays highlight was the bushwalk that the guests went on, leaving early, to beat the heat, it's a chance to experience and learn about the finer details of the bush. As well as seeing game such as cape buffalo, waterbuck and impala they learnt about the scat and spoor of the animals, the scratching post of an elephant as well as learning about a couple of the common trees and smaller critters such as the golden orb spider.

Afterwards a short drive where we spotted plenty of elephants, nice rhino, leopard, giraffe, kudu, common duiker, baboons and hippo.

Then time for a bit of a rest, a swim and a sleep before the sunset drive.

As well as a lovely sunset drive where they saw giraffe, zebra, an owl, hippo and a very close elephant with a large bull elephant.