Video Blog on the Grey Hornbill

On Safari With Kara From 24 October 2016

24 October 2016

I picked up my guests in White River and made our way to Nkambeni, the camp inside Kruger right by the Numbi Gate.

We started off our first safari with a afternoon drive. Having found some Elephants, Impalas and Buffalos before we passed through Numbi got us all very excited about the time to follow. Our drive could not have disappointing as we saw Elephants and Rhinos close to a watering hole and a crocodile sleeping on the sand nearby. A pair of bateleurs followed us out of the park this evening as we headed for camp.

25 October 2016

After an early start with the sun covered by a few clouds whom we were very grateful for we spotted our first cat. A male lion sleeping a few meters from the road. With a big beautiful mane. Imagining all different ways to take down an impala by the watering hole.

A hyena also made a surprise visit at the vehicle making sure we are no threat.

Later that afternoon we were joined by two guests from Luxembourg. They really did bring the luck. We finally got a nice look at two warthogs trotting next to the road tails up and ready to duck. A big elephant bull pulling a few branches of a Marula tree and then later a Sable sleeping and keeping an eye out for intruders. Two blue headed igamas were enjoying the last sun up on a termite mound.

26 October 2016

Our last day to see all the bush had to offer we spotted a few new species. Quite a few Marabou stalks in the water and on the sand bank of the Sabie River and a Sandpiper searching for fish.

My favorite was watching a big herd of elephants trying to squeeze underneath a tree to sleep all with trunks hanging on the ground. That was not the only first for me but also this morning I saw the smallest Vervet Monkey I had ever seen hanging for dear life as the Mother is Sucking sap from an Accacia Tree,

A family of Dwarf mongoose ended our drive following by a Congress of Baboons spread out in between snacking on seeds.

On Safari With Amanda From 11 October 2016

11 October 2016

Today I collect my guests, Jim and Marty, celebrating a 20 year anniversary and Jim’s 50th.

Incredibly hot as we headed to our first stop, berg en dal for 2 nights so we really weren't expecting to see much.

Instead we were greeted by zebras, kudus, warthogs, giraffes and elephants.

A stop at afsaal for refreshments and we checked into our accommodation.

After supper Jim and Marty decided to walk to their room.. but ended up at the gate entrance where they heard the lions calling close by!!! They quickly retreated to the safety of their room...eventually! 

12 October 2016 

An early start and after hearing the lions last night we decided we had to find them.

We were doing a morning drive so we could take a slow amble around the area.

Lovely Elephants and rhinos along with impalas and zebras but still no lions. We headed on the 114 and lovely sighting of a tawny eagle as well as lilac breasted rollers and blue waxbill.  

Turning onto the 119 we saw a few cars and there in the tree were at least 6 spots...of a well hidden leopard! always good to wait, so we did and very slowly a huge male leopard climbed down and walked along side of the vehicle, an absolutely stunning sighting.

After breakfast we headed back to camp where Jim and Marty were doing a sunset drive at 4:30.

I greeted 2 very excited guests showing me photos of a handsome male lion and a beautiful lioness about 2 meters from the road. Marty was also luck to spot a honey badger.

Supper and then we were off tomorrow for a night at skukuza. 

13 October 2016

We left berg en dal and headed to skukuza at 6am. Always good to start early. We decided to make a day of it and had lovely Elephants and lots of general game.

We made a stop at skukuza as we were too early to check in so decided to drive to high level bridge. Along the way we came across some very well hidden wild dogs!

At high level itself to the right of the bridge we saw 2 lionesses lying on a sand bank. Quite far but still impressive. Heading back to camp along the river lots of elephants, hippos and buffalos. 

14 October 2016

We decided on an early drive and then to head back for breakfast at skukuza for a delicious buffet. Driving down the 114 to renosterkoppies we came across a duiker just staring at a termite mound, we watched and she would move every now and then a couple of steps back, something had her attention. .. to our surprise we saw a huge, at least 3.5 m long African rock python moving slowly over the termite mound, so fascinating to witness and something I've never seen. Marty also saw a honey badger!!! 

After breakfast we were heading to our next stop, nkambeni and we heard of a leopard kill not far away so we headed off. We came across a female impala wedged into a marula tree and to the left we saw a tail and 1 leg! So we decided to sit and wait...every now and then she appeared and would relax and just stare at us. Lovely. 

Checked in at nkambeni and time for a siesta and an early supper.

15 October 2016 

Leaving camp we headed off to skukuza for a full day drive. We went via watergat and to the right we came across an old male lion and 2 lionesses, all full after feasting on a young buffalo. We sat for a while and drove off, just at the junction something caught our eyes. .more lions with another buffalo kill!!! We wanted to go and check to see if the leopard was still at the same spot so took a drive and she was on the opposite side of the road lying incredibly well camouflaged in a bush!

After lunch we drove along the Doispan road. Lots of general game and then just before nyamundwa dam we saw something hanging in the tree, it was a young buffalo that had been killed by a leopard, the leopard was on the opposite side cooling down in the shade. A fantastic day!

16 October 216

Our last day together and a short drive around shabeni and pk koppies. Lots of elephants and some beautiful sable antelope. Perched on top of manung koppies were 2 klipspringers. 

We grabbed a coffee and then went to shitlave dam where there were lots of elephants and giraffes. Listening carefully I heard the impala alarm calling and we drove to see what was bothering them, we'd just missed the leopard and it was resting in the drainage line!! Oh well it was still interesting to witness the impalas calling and literally showing us where the leopard was!

So another safari is over, Marty and Jim heading off on their next adventure...Cairo! 

On Safari With Robbie 11 October 2016

11 October 2016

Today started off with what was judged to be our second best sighting of the day of 5 very young pups close to the road and that being the African Wild Dog!!

What was incredible was that we were the only vehicle on the sighting for 30 minutes! They were playing and running around us for ages!!

However the top sighting of the day for Prashie and Vrakesh was what they had been hoping for and that was a young female Leopard crossing the road in front of us near Shitlhave dam and then lone and behold a male crossed close behind her!

Although only seen briefly this was incredible especially with the late afternoon sun!!

Hopefully we will pick them up again tomorrow!!

On Safari With Amanda From 4 October 2016

4 October 2016

Today I collect 2 new guests, Donna from Singapore and lindsey. 

We arrived at Nkambeni and after lunch and a siesta my guests went on a sunset drive.

The highlight of their sundowner was the 2 leopards they saw! One was relaxing on a termite mound and the other one they saw on the way back to camp... slowly walking in the road towards Nkambeni camp, very lucky. 

5 October 2016

We decided to do a full day today as tomorrow the temperature is set to reach 38° so nicer to do a drive in comfortable temperatures. 

Driving slowly along albesini we saw a few cars ahead, Indicating there was something good ahead..2 cheetahs to be precise! Very lucky sighting seeing as there's less than 300 left!

After spending some time with the cheetahs we went to skukuza for coffee. 

A short drive along eloff road gave a brief visual of a leopard on the other side of the river. 

After lunch we decided to head back to camp along Doispan road, a good decision as roughly 4 kms along we came across 2 mating leopards, incredible to see. We sat and watched as they lay in the shade, as it was getting quite hot, my guests happy and we drove off as it seemed the honeymoon couple were having a siesta.

At the dam we came across elephants swimming, hippos lying in the sun, crocodile resting and lovely impala coming down to drink. Not more than 500m from the dam we came across another honeymoon couple, lions this time!

An incredible day in the Kruger for my guests and tomorrow is another day with possible surprise ahead.