On Safari With Karen 16 - 17 December 2015

16 December 2015

We left White River with rain behind us and followed the route to the blue sky. Upon arrival at the Kruger NP the sun was shining and there was no sign of rain. We drove to Nkambeni Safari Camp and already encountered our first animals: buffalos were wallowing in the mud, kudus were on the side of the road and a herd of impalas with babies was watching us. While watching them a young grey duiker came greeting the impalas. Not sure what to make of it some of the impalas sniffed it. But soon they found out it wasn't an impala and to protect their babies they chased it away. Better safe then sorry they must have thought. It gave us a great show of jumping impalas!

On the sundowner amongst other animals, the guests got to enjoy a nice sighting of a sable antelope. This rare and endangered animal is seldom seen, so it was quite a treat.

17 December 2015 

This morning we had our first morning drive and we headed out to see some more of the inhabitants of the bush. We were told about a leopard early on, but upon arrival at where it was last seen, it was gone. However, following another tip, it had moved to another site close by. Here we did get lucky and saw the leopard lying in the grass, watching some waterbuck while it itself was watched by some buffalos. After a while it got up and walked into the bush. 

Following a hunch, we drove around to the other side and waited with baited breath. It's like Christmas and you are waiting to see what Santa brought you. The waiting game paid off though as after a while it appeared out of nowhere. Crossed the road and started sniffing around. We watched it from up close and when it disappeared into the bush again we anticipated its route. 

Once again we were waiting, and once again it paid off. Out he came, crossed the road and started climbing a big rocky outcrop while still sniffing around. There it posed for us so we could take some lovely pictures while watching this beauty. After a while it continued sniffing around the rock and we lost visual. Luck had run out it seems as we couldn't find it back, but we had an awesome sighting. 

Our second highlight was seeing a large herd of elephants. Elephants was on the wishlist of one of my guests so she was really excited. They were feeding on both sides of the road and when we got to the crossroads, all of them came out of the bush before passing us by in front. 

What made it extra fun was a show given by a young male. Coming of age he finds it necessary to impress the others and in doing so he smashed trees and bushes. We heard him coming from a mile away and he added some loud trumpeting to the sounds of crashing trees. Then he came crashing out of the bush and charged the car till about 5 meters from the rear end. Back into the bush he went and this time he came to the side of the vehicle and stopped two meters in front of us. Making a lot of noise and show, he backed up for another attempt. As none of the older ladies were close by I decided it needed a firm telling off, so this time as he ran towards the car he halted at the sound of the voice and quickly retreated into the bushes. We heard him trash another bush and trumpeting in protest. Now one of the older ladies in the herd had enough of it too and gave him a big slap with her trunk. And while protesting he stopped for a bit. However soon after he started challenging younger elephants in the herd. This time he got told off by a pair of tusks in the butt and he quieted down. I think the time soon will come that he is off on his own, looking for some other lone males to pair up with before being in its prime and mate with other females. 

Other animals seen: hippo, waterbucks, steenbok, common reedbuck, a lone giraffe, vervet monkeys, fighting zebras, baboons, buffalos, dung beetles, lots of elephant bulls, impalas, kudus, a white rhino and a chameleon. 

Birds included a pintailed whydah, white storks, woodlands kingfisher, Cape glossy starlings, tawny eagle, wattled lapwings, blacksmith lapwings, yellow-billed kite, lilac breasted rollers, european bee eaters and red-collared widowbirds

On safari With Mark 15-16 December 2015

15 December 2015

So today we start my Last tour for 2015. My great pax Mimmi and Tomas arrived and off we headed for the Kruger.

We had no soon entered when we found 3 big buffalo bulls, a dazzle of zebra and a herd of Kudu. As we continued with the afternoon drive we found a further 2 herds of buffalo and some fantastic Elephants that crossed over the road in front of our car.

With many happy sighting for the afternoon it was time to head into camp for the night.

16 December 2015

After an early breakfast we headed out in search of some cats while it was still cool.

We got to hear about a leopard and responded. Didn't find it and carried on our drive. Lions were found and as we sat with these 2 beautiful looking males and 1 female - up got the male and proceeded to mate with the female. The beginning of the mating process had just started.  

We also received a further tip on another leopard which we responded to. This was great and we did get to see it lying under a sickle bush trying to escape the heat of the day. Although lots of traffic on the roads for this time of the year, the animals are still out and about and showing themselves well.

Further to this we spotted many different general game with further sightings of buffalo, rhino and elephant.

We returned to camp feeling blessed with the sightings of the day.

Let's see what the future holds for us on this safari.

On Safari With Curtis 15-16 December 2015

15 December 2015

After the guests enthusiasm at seeing the rhino we were spoilt with four more sightings of the white rhino today. Eight in total really gave everyone something to smile about.

We also had a lovely sighting of ten giraffe together with a few zebra and fifty odd Impala. Two of the giraffe were busy necking, a rather weak play-fighting done in slow motion. This gave the guests more laughs than concern but always fun to watch.

Also seen were elephants, kudu, waterbuck, zebra, wildebeest, klipspringer,  steenbok, common duiker,  dwarf mongoose,  buffalo, Impala, hippo, Vervet monkey and hyena.

Birds included the malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher,  saddle billed stork, dark chanting goshawk,  grey headed hornbill, white breasted cormorants and lilac breasted roller.

16 December 2015

The final morning which was taken up with a leopard search. We responded to two sightings but no luck!!!

Sometimes that's the way it goes!!!

Our highlight was at mestel dam where we found three bull elephants having a drink. They seemed to be finished as they walked off but then one turned and walked straight into the water submerging himself.

This was the queue for the other two to do the same. Now while the two were busy play fighting each other the larger one made up a game of his own. Namely eight pin hippo bowling!!!

The rules are simple you just walk straight up to eight hippos and walk right through forcing all the hippos to scurry in all directions, then if one hippo is silly enough to pop up to close you smack your trunk down on the water scarring him away.

With hippos shown whose boss he went back to submerging himself with the other two ellies.

Also we had two new species of mammal for the tour in the form of bushbuck and common reedbuck.

Then it was time to say farewell to Ming and Qhan. Travel safe guys and great to have met you.

On Safari With Gert 14 December 2015

14 December 2015

Another drizzly morning after a night of rain, today was considerably cooler, but still good game viewing conditions.

We were very lucky first up, as the first animals we saw, about 200 meters from camp, was a pride of lions moving along the road and into the bush. We took a road running parallel to the direction they were moving in, hoping to catch another glimpse, but instead encountered 3 large, old male buffalo. We observed them for a while, still waiting to see if the lions emerge anywhere close. This did not happen and we moved on to see what else was in store for us.

We were lucky enough to again encounter the same 3 male cheetah, a few kilometers from where we got them yesterday. This time they were sleeping on a large termite mound, in the open, but about 80m away, a distant, but clear visual...

Along the road we had 3 different sightings of hyena, including 2 cubs of just over 2 months old suckling with another young clan member repeatedly poking her nose in there to the annoyance of the mother, who sounded regular warning growls. She eventually jumped at the young intruder with teeth bared and paws flailing, which got the message across and scared her off, at least temporarily.

After breakfast we headed back to camp for an afternoon break.

In the late afternoon we went for a short drive through some lush terrain with fresh green grass, thriving on the recent rains. At one spot we had Impala, warthog, white rhino, zebra and elephant feeding in close proximity of each other and it was a great experience to see so many different species together. At the end of our drive we were temporarily entertained by a Pearl-spotted Owlet on the lookout for unsuspecting prey at dusk. These little (80gm) owls are notorious hunters and I have even seen them attempt to hunt Tree Squirrel before! We watched it calling for a while and show off it's eye-spots, before it was time to head back to camp to conclude another great day's game viewing...

On Safari With Amanda 14 December 2015

14 December 2015

A beautiful cool day today in the park compared to the last couple of days!

My guests returned last night from a very productive night drive seeing not 1 but 2 leopards so incredibly lucky!

After a chilled breakfast we headed to malelane gate for our last drive together. 

The animals were enjoying the cool weather, impalas and zebras eating together and then a few meters from them were 5 male buffalo's eating.. my guests were now happy as they had completed their big 5 wish.

We came across lots of elephants a young male displayed his annoyance at our presence by trumpeting loudly and following us down the road as we drove away!

After coffee we headed for our last part of the drive to skukuza airport.

We observed some lovely granite koppies and noticed the impala were very skittish and alarm calling, although we didn't see what was bothering them I believe there was a leopard walking past somewhere not too far from them and we sat and watched, their heads following whatever was bothering them until they all ran across the road occasionally looking back and calling..

Further down the road we saw at least 8 wildebeest running across the road also alarm calling but again the cause of their alarm was not seen only our imagination led us to believe it was definitely a predator be it a lion or a leopard their behavior gave away the predators presence! !

A last minute souvenir spree and my guests were safely at the airport..

Another rewarding trip in the best place on earth... Kruger National Park.