On Safari With Curtis 9 June 2015

9 June 2015

This morning’s drive turned out to be a rhino morning with sightings of twenty five individuals throughout the day.

The highlight of these was of two males who as we approached made their way towards us and crossed over the road with the second one being kind enough to stop and pose right in front of us before heading off into the grass.

Our second highlight was of a nice grouping of different species. We had giraffe, zebra, kudu and impala all in close proximity, which gave a nice chance to photograph these animals together.

Other animals seen today were elephants, buffalo, steenbok, common duiker, dwarf mongoose, hippo, crocodile baboons, klipspringer and vervet monkey.

Birds included the brown snake eagle, saddle billed stork, African jacana, bataleurs and Egyptian geese.

On Safari With Karen 7 - 8 June 2015

7 June 2015

We started our safari from Phabeni Gate today. It was a rather quiet drive with long periods of seeing no animals but it was still a good drive. As the guests hadn't been on any safari prior to today, every animal was a treat. A highlight was seeing many hippos outside the water at Nyamundwa Dam, including a baby one. We also noticed two crocodiles warming up in the sun as well as white-breasted cormorants, African darters, two fish eagles in a tree and impalas coming down to drink.

Another highlight was seeing an elephant up close. As we had first seen him in the thick bush molesting a tree, it was quite a surprise to see him come out shortly after on our side. We had stopped the car and enjoyed watching him from a distance, but he wanted a closer look. Walking around the side and front of the car almost within touching distance the guests had a really up close and personal experience. On the other side of the road he posed for some more pictures (as his entire bulk now fitted in the frame) and then he was off finding another tree to break down.

We also came across a giraffe that was giving birth. Or so it seemed. It had the front hooves of the baby hanging out (just past the wrist joint), but nothing happened.

People at the sighting said that they had been there for at least 30min and nothing had happened. While we there we saw one of the legs stretch and then hang limp again. Would the baby come? Or was it just a contraction the made the leg spasm? Would the baby still be alive? The mother however stood there ruminating as if nothing was going on at her behind. A long wait later nothing more had happened and there still was no progress. Needing a toilet break for some we decided to leave, hoping both baby and mother would be ok.

Other interesting sightings: a slender mongoose drinking from a puddle, warthogs, white rhinos, kudus, steenboks, impalas, vervet monkeys, zebras and common grey duikers.

And some birds too: Cape glossy starlings, lilac breasted rollers, grey hornbills, brown snake eagle, forktailed drongos, a flock of red-faced mousebirds, arrow marked babblers, white-crested helmet shrikes, dark-capped bulbuls, african pied wagtail and yellow-billed hornbills

8 June 2015

As all the guests were very keen to see lions, it was a highlight to see one indeed.

Actually we saw a male and a female, completely passed out in the shade. They didn't even move a whisker, but the guests enjoyed seeing those beasts nonetheless.

A nicer predator sighting was actually when we stumbled upon a cheetah on the side of the road, having an eye on crossing impalas about 500m away. She crossed the road and purposefully walked between the bushes and grasses in the direction of the impalas. We had an on and off visual and decided to park with the impalas in view and wait. And we waited. And waited some more. More and more cars showed up wondering what we were looking at (impalas to tell you the truth, as a blow-by-blow was given by the ones with binoculars if their heads were up and ears aimed at something suspicious). However, nothing happened for the 30min we sat there at least. And as the impalas were quite close-knit together it could be a long wait for our cheetah. We however, had to make our way to the exit, but it was the highlight of the trip of many.

Our second highlight was a large (and I mean LARGE, we counted at least 50, but there were more still coming) herd of elephants crossing the road just next to us. We saw the bushes move and then they appeared. Slowly while feeding along the way more and more elephants came into view. Elephants of all ages, from babies to some very old ladies, had probably just been to the river, maybe even crossed it judging by their wet feet and bellies. But now they were on their way to have some tree munch. It was a thoroughly enjoyed never ending stream of elephants!

Other interesting sightings: zebras crossing, a large journey of giraffes, white rhinos with a calf, warthogs running away, a nyala bull, blue wildebeests, bushbucks, steenboks, kudus, hippos, chacma baboons, hippos and Cape buffalos.

Additional birds: a green woodhoopoe, red-billed hornbills, an African hoopoe, little bee-eater, magpie shrikes, white-backed vultures, sadle-billed stork, hamerkop, helmeted guineafowls, great white egret, grey louries, black-collared barbet, purple roller, crested francolins, and a crowned hornbill.

On Safari With Mark 5 - 7 June 2015

5 June 2015

After collecting my guests in Nelspruit we headed down to camp where my guests went out on the sundown drive. Great sighting of buffalo and then on their return to camp they found 2 wild dog playing in the road and spent time with them taking many pictures. It's only when they returned to camp that they realized how rare these are.

6 June 2015

We set out from camp after breakfast and enjoyed numerous sightings of elephant and rhino and the found 3 cheetah hunting Impala. Unfortunately their prey spotted them and dashed of in a heartbeat.

Further on down the road our following highlight was that of a large male leopard just off the side of the road. Although walking along he did present himself for a couple of quick snaps and then he was gone.

Other animals include, waterbuck, giraffe, warthog, buffalo, rhino, common duiker, steenbok, baboons, monkeys, kudu and mongoose

We wait and see what tomorrow holds.

7 June 2015

Today we went on the search for Lions as it's our last chance for some of my guests to see these from the safety of our safari car. Tomorrow they on a bushwalk and then depart back to JHB.

After a quick stop at Skukuza we drove up to Marola loop where we had a difficult visual of 1 massive male lion lying sleeping in the shade.

After this we carried on North finding a further 5 males also lying in the shade but at least a better sighting as every now and then they got up and moved around, presenting the guests with good photo op's

Our last highlight for the day, was when a male lion came walking up the road and past our vehicle. Guests loved it and although there was so much hype in the media regarding the lioness attack this last week. All my guests felt incredibly comfortable with the presence of this wild beast.

Other animals spotted, Impala, warthog, waterbuck, buffalo, rhino, elephant, hippos, crocodiles, baboons, monkeys, nyala said, duikers, steenbok and kudu's

On Safari With Curtis 5- 6 June 2015

5 June 2015

We woke to a very chilly and bluster morning which contributed to a quieter day than yesterday. But we still managed to get some very nice sightings.

Our first highlight of the day was hyena. Just as we had passed the known hyena den and with me thinking that we weren't in luck out popped a youngish cub about fifty meters in front of us. As it headed towards us I switched the engine off and we sat and waited to see how close it would come. The answer to that question was very close as it walked within five meters of our bumper before moving onto the side of the road and passing by us. We were then treated with two more hyenas doing exactly the same.

Our second highlight was elephant,  a lone bull elephant which caught as by surprise as we turned a corner and found him standing slap bang in the middle of the road.

He slowly moved towards us and after taking a look at us moved to the side and walked past the vehicle. A very nice sighting indeed!!!

Also seen today kudu, waterbuck, warthog, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, white rhino, leopard, hippo, crocodile, vervet monkeys and baboons.

Birds included the white backed vultures, goliath heron, grey go-away bird, grey headed hornbills and the southern ground hornbills.

6 June 2015

This morning was the final day of this particular tour and we had one final short drive before leaving the park.

Unfortunately our final drive was a quiet affair with very few sightings however we were treated to one more excellent elephant sighting.

We found a small group of bull elephants close to the road and we just sat and enjoyed being around these incredible animals.

They had pushed over a medium sized tree and were busy having a woody meal. We turned our engine off and with no other cars around we could enjoy the incredible noise as their giant teeth crunched the wood to smithereens

Then it was time to say goodbye to Gary, Annette, Brian and Andrew.

It has been a great pleasure being on tour with you, wrap up warm back in Cape Town and hope to see you back in South Africa again. If not I will definitely see you in Jamaica one day!!!