Impala
For more information on the Impala, Please go to Interesting facts About the Impala
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...
Showing posts with label african safari travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label african safari travel. Show all posts
Friday, 5 February 2021
Saturday, 6 April 2019
Victoria Falls Hwange National Park Game Drives
The safari guides are the elite and have worked for many years in the Hwange National Park. Their unfaltering friendly enthusiasm to share the National Park with you will bowl you over and is likely to be one of the many highlights of your African holiday. This is about having a vacation of a lifetime in the great African wilderness and making your trip not just a holiday but the best experience you have had in your life. Visit www.nhongosafaris.com #gamedrive #Hwangenationalpark#Africangamedrives #Safaris #satsa_sa #WeDoTourism#OurJourneysChangeLives #atta_tourism #KrugerLowveld#Tourism_Updates #SATravelPeople
Thursday, 7 February 2019
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
On Safari With Karen
31 July 2015
This safari we
started from a different direction as we are overnighting at a beautiful lodge
overlooking the Crocodile River in the south. The guests' first activity was a
sundowner drive from Malalane Gate. They came across their first animals of the
South African savannah: impalas. They would see more during this drive (and
every day after too, I am sure).
Highlights were
seeing five lions close to the road, many hyenas, a nightjar, a giraffe, a
zebra and kudus.
1 August 2015
We set off to
Malalane Gate once again this morning, after having enjoyed our breakfast while
spotting a bushbuck by the river. Vervet monkeys were raiding the papaya
plantations when we passed, so lots of animal activity before we even reached
the Kruger Park!
Our highlight
of today was one of our last sightings of the day. A family of hyenas had woken
up and was using the last rays of the sun to warm up before the night. The
babysitter was watching two baby hyenas and three young ones just a couple
months older. They were still so cute! The babies were most adventurous and
came close to the road to look at some cars while the others decided to lay
behind. And at some point one baby was suckling with mum, while a young one
climbed over it. But it was a great sighting all around!
Second
highlight of today was a white rhino duo. It had all the makings of the
youngster refusing to take one more step and nap right there where it stood: in
the middle of the road. No matter how it happened, when we arrived, that was
exactly what we saw: this young rhino lying stretched out on the warm tar
snoozing with mum standing next to him or her watching the approaching cars.
All cars present behaved well and gave the youngster space and time so we sat
and waited. Then mum started to get hungry and walked to the side of the road
to start grazing. That was the cue for the youngster to stretch out and then
get up to follow mum. As the cars then started to come closer and moving the
mum steered her calf away from the road and back into the bush.
Other animals
seen: steenboks, waterbuck, nyala bulls, more white rhinos, impalas, zebras,
buffalos, kudus, warthogs, wildebeest, vervet monkeys (inside the park this
time), a slender mongoose crossing the road and plenty of elephants.
Birds we have
seen: magpie shrikes, yellow-billed hornbills, forktailed drongos, crested
francolins run across the road, bateleur eagles flying over, brown headed
parrots, Cape turtle doves and two separate sightings of the rare ground hornbills.
2 August 2015
As we entered
Malelane Gate this morning we played a game "which animal do we see
first", not counting the animals we had seen prior to entering (buffalos
and elephants while having breakfast and a crocodile while driving over the
bridge over the Crocodile River), which we all lost. It was a family of
warthogs!
As we bumbled
along we came across an eagle chick in a nest on top of a tree without parental
supervision. Or at least none that we could see. The chick was flapping its
wings trying to fly, but no air movement yet. However when another bird of prey
flew over the nest it ducked down completely out of sight. When the bird was
gone he went back to his efforts of spreading its wings and flap.
We encountered
a large herd of buffalo this morning that was getting thirsty. At a waterhole
they stopped to drink and some even lied down for a nap. We couldn't count them
really well, as they kept moving around, but it was a large herd for more than
100 buffalos for sure. What made it extra special was the herd of elephants on
the opposite side of the road standing in the shade of a tree all huddled
together around their young that were taking a nap lying down.
Another
highlight was seeing elephants up close. Yesterday we saw many elephants and
today as well, but being eye to eye with an elephant up close is different.
First we watched this small herd feeding next to the road when they started to
cross. There was no trouble as they all gently crossed and didn't even look at
us. But just before the last one moved off the road, this big bull comes
marching down the hill. As he comes to the tar he gives us an evil stare as if
we were planning to get it on with one of the ladies that he obviously had
planned for himself. But when we didn't move, and the ladies walked away, he
chose to follow them rather than to mess with us. It was a cool meet and greet!
Other
interesting sightings: waterbucks, quite some duos of white rhinos, steenbok,
warthogs, just 4 zebras, baboons, dwarf mongooses, very cheeky vervet monkeys
at Berg and Dal raiding our (empty) car while we had not even got out of the
vehicle properly, lots of giraffes in the middle of the road, kudus, a hippo in
the Biyamiti weir that was at eye level and lots of impalas.
Birds we added to
the list were lilac breasted rollers, once again a couple of ground hornbills,
woolly necked storks, Egyptian geese, brown snake eagle, chinspot batises, blue
waxbills and a green woodhoopoe.
3 August 2015
Today was our
last morning drive of this safari, so we braved the cold and left at sunrise!
During the day we encountered many species: white rhinos, elephants, buffalos,
steenboks, kudus, giraffes, vervet monkeys, impalas, zebras, wildebeests,
bushbucks, and a new one of this safari: a klipspringer that sat as still as a
statue.
But our
highlight was a sighting of the rare wild dogs just before we left the park!
They were relaxing all bundled together. We occasionally saw a head raise or a
tail flick. Only one wild dog was kind enough to stand up briefly so we could
have a good look. And one of the pack of wild dogs rolled over. But it was a
great sighting of this rare carnivore nonetheless.
We also added
some new birds: a little bee-eater and a white-backed vulture. And once again
we saw some ground hornbills, so the guests stopped believing they are rare...
Then it was time
to say goodbye to Sanjana, Pralad and Vicky, who would travel on to
Johannesburg and end their holiday in Cape Town. Enjoy the last days in South
Africa guys, and may the pictures be a happy memory after all the trouble of
getting here!
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
On Safari With Robbie 25 May 2015
25 May 2015
Today was the
start of a special safari for me as Dean and Verity kindly allowed my Mom of 82
years to join us who insisted on sitting up top with Leanne a repeat guest from
Johannesburg!
The whole drive
was a highlight with all 3 super predators seen as well as Elephant, Buffalo, Kudu,
Impala, Giraffe, Baboons, Zebra, Hippo and Croc!
The highlight
for us was the Stallion Zebra up close and personal which is Moms favorite
animal!!!
A great start to
a great safari!
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
On Safari With Curtis: 20 January 2015
20 January 2015
After the success of last nights sunset drive this morning we made our way straight to where the leopard cubs were spotted in the hope that we might find them again.
We were in luck as we found the two of them high up in the tree. Being the only car we were spoilt and able to spend forty minutes with them before they scampered down the tree, scurried over the rocks and hid themselves in the grass.
Our second highlight happened pretty soon after in the shape of elephants. In the past two days we had seen plenty of bachelor groups or solitary bulls but we hadn't seen a family herd. This was soon sorted as we spotted a family group wandering in the bush but eventually they moved out into the open and across the road with the adults shielding the several youngsters they had in this herd.
Other mammals seen today were buffalo, lion, hyena, vervets, zebra, giraffe, warthog, kudu, waterbuck and two new ones in the form of baboons and cheetah.
We also spotted loads of new birds including black storks, pied kingfisher and goliath heron.
Other animals were marsh terrapins, chameleons, water monitor and rock monitor.
After the success of last nights sunset drive this morning we made our way straight to where the leopard cubs were spotted in the hope that we might find them again.
We were in luck as we found the two of them high up in the tree. Being the only car we were spoilt and able to spend forty minutes with them before they scampered down the tree, scurried over the rocks and hid themselves in the grass.
Our second highlight happened pretty soon after in the shape of elephants. In the past two days we had seen plenty of bachelor groups or solitary bulls but we hadn't seen a family herd. This was soon sorted as we spotted a family group wandering in the bush but eventually they moved out into the open and across the road with the adults shielding the several youngsters they had in this herd.
Other mammals seen today were buffalo, lion, hyena, vervets, zebra, giraffe, warthog, kudu, waterbuck and two new ones in the form of baboons and cheetah.
We also spotted loads of new birds including black storks, pied kingfisher and goliath heron.
Other animals were marsh terrapins, chameleons, water monitor and rock monitor.
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Poachers Update
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Media Release: SANParks Congratulates Magistrate Msibi For Sentencing
South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 22 July 2014, welcomed the heavy sentencing of a rhino poacher to a total of 77 years in prison for rhino poaching and related offences. He was sentenced in the Nelspruit Magistrates Court today.
Mandla Chauke was arrested in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in 2011 after he had killed three rhino calves.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, Abe Sibiya commended the courts in particular Magistrate Msibi, for imposing such a lengthy jail term. This is a huge triumph for the rhino and we warmly welcome this reward as it will provide the much needed boost to the anti poaching teams who endure harsh conditions for the protection of our parks.
The KNP has lost 370 animals to poaching since January this year and 62 people were arrested in connection with some of the cases.
“Our wish is to see a significant increase in such convictions and for the law enforcement authorities in affected countries to cooperate and work with us to end this scourge”, concluded Sibiya.
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Kruger National Park Communications
Tel: 013 735 4262
Enquiries:
William Mabasa
GM: Communications & Marketing, Kruger National Park
Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919
Email: william.mabasa@sanparks.org
Reynold Thakhuli
Acting Head of Communications, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org
Ike Phaahla
Media Specialist, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5315; Cell: 083 673 6974
Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
Mandla Chauke was arrested in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in 2011 after he had killed three rhino calves.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, Abe Sibiya commended the courts in particular Magistrate Msibi, for imposing such a lengthy jail term. This is a huge triumph for the rhino and we warmly welcome this reward as it will provide the much needed boost to the anti poaching teams who endure harsh conditions for the protection of our parks.
The KNP has lost 370 animals to poaching since January this year and 62 people were arrested in connection with some of the cases.
“Our wish is to see a significant increase in such convictions and for the law enforcement authorities in affected countries to cooperate and work with us to end this scourge”, concluded Sibiya.
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Kruger National Park Communications
Tel: 013 735 4262
Enquiries:
William Mabasa
GM: Communications & Marketing, Kruger National Park
Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919
Email: william.mabasa@sanparks.org
Reynold Thakhuli
Acting Head of Communications, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org
Ike Phaahla
Media Specialist, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5315; Cell: 083 673 6974
Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
Monday, 14 July 2014
Day Trip With Karen on 10 July 2014
10 July 2014
Today we set off with a car full of volunteers from Care for
Wild, who, instead of having to care day and night for their animals, had a day
out of just watching them. We entered through Numbi gate and within a 100m
found a bushbuck hiding behind a fallen tree next to the road.
We carried on where we had two nice sightings of two white rhinos. Two were watching us as much as we were watching them through the bushes. Two others had no interest in us at all and showed us their magnificent backside only. We also spotted impalas, lilac breasted rollers, a Burchell's coucal, two young kudu bulls, two warthogs running away and two bull elephants hiding in the bushes. Guess it was a morning of twos...
After a break for breakfast we drove down towards Marula loop. A duiker crossed the road in front of us and then quickly disappeared. The bushbucks at a waterhole however were hanging around long enough to take pictures. On Sand River low level bridge we encountered a large troop of baboons. They were relaxing, grooming and playing and were fun to watch for quite some time as something new happened or got discovered every few minutes. We also saw a male nyala.
On Marula Loop we saw three giraffes, a family of four tree squirrels, a steenbok and a small herd of elephants. They looked liked they might cross as they were feeding on both sides of the road, but decided not to while we were watching them. An older elephant with a calf looked quite stressed and even got a fright of a bachelor group of impalas coming out of the bush, so we decided to leave her alone and gave her back the peace and quiet of no cars.
On the tar road towards high level bridge we spotted zebras, tawny eagle, more giraffes and a family of warthogs that was feeding on their wrists.
High level bridge was unusually quiet as there were no animals in sight so down Elooff we went. Here the impalas roamed around in big herds and we saw more warthogs, kudus and vervet monkeys before we got a tip about a leopard on the S114. As he wasn't supposed to be too far from the tar road we gave it a go.
Arriving at the sighting there were multiple cars all saying the same thing: yeah the leopard is here, but he is lying flat in the bushes somewhere. We decided to hang around for a bit before turning around and weren't we lucky! Just in the 10min we were there he sat up, and had a lie down again. We then turned around to go to Skukuza for lunch but the traffic wasn't easy to get through. But it gave us another glance of the leopard which got up, walked three paces to a different bush and flopped down again. After that we only saw a tail flick until we managed to get through the traffic to the other side.
After lunch we took a drive down River Road. Having spotting nothing but impalas and a large herd of kudus from Skukuza onwards till just before the S4 turn-off, we were happy to see another leopard. Once again people at the sighting didn't see him, others saying he was walking around stalking something but checking the shady bits we saw him quite clearly just hanging out.
Carrying on we came across a middle size herd of buffalo resting, zebras, vervet monkeys, a bateleur and had an excellent sighting of two rhinos out in the open.
We stopped at Shitlhave Dam to look at a shore full of snoring hippos and a crocodile having a snooze in the sun. A white breasted comorant was apparently hungry as he was catching a fish just in front of us and a fish eagle who didn't pay attention.
Then it was time to continue to Phabeni Gate where we said goodbye to one last sighting of a troop of baboons and a lizard buzzard before driving out of the park.
We carried on where we had two nice sightings of two white rhinos. Two were watching us as much as we were watching them through the bushes. Two others had no interest in us at all and showed us their magnificent backside only. We also spotted impalas, lilac breasted rollers, a Burchell's coucal, two young kudu bulls, two warthogs running away and two bull elephants hiding in the bushes. Guess it was a morning of twos...
After a break for breakfast we drove down towards Marula loop. A duiker crossed the road in front of us and then quickly disappeared. The bushbucks at a waterhole however were hanging around long enough to take pictures. On Sand River low level bridge we encountered a large troop of baboons. They were relaxing, grooming and playing and were fun to watch for quite some time as something new happened or got discovered every few minutes. We also saw a male nyala.
On Marula Loop we saw three giraffes, a family of four tree squirrels, a steenbok and a small herd of elephants. They looked liked they might cross as they were feeding on both sides of the road, but decided not to while we were watching them. An older elephant with a calf looked quite stressed and even got a fright of a bachelor group of impalas coming out of the bush, so we decided to leave her alone and gave her back the peace and quiet of no cars.
On the tar road towards high level bridge we spotted zebras, tawny eagle, more giraffes and a family of warthogs that was feeding on their wrists.
High level bridge was unusually quiet as there were no animals in sight so down Elooff we went. Here the impalas roamed around in big herds and we saw more warthogs, kudus and vervet monkeys before we got a tip about a leopard on the S114. As he wasn't supposed to be too far from the tar road we gave it a go.
Arriving at the sighting there were multiple cars all saying the same thing: yeah the leopard is here, but he is lying flat in the bushes somewhere. We decided to hang around for a bit before turning around and weren't we lucky! Just in the 10min we were there he sat up, and had a lie down again. We then turned around to go to Skukuza for lunch but the traffic wasn't easy to get through. But it gave us another glance of the leopard which got up, walked three paces to a different bush and flopped down again. After that we only saw a tail flick until we managed to get through the traffic to the other side.
After lunch we took a drive down River Road. Having spotting nothing but impalas and a large herd of kudus from Skukuza onwards till just before the S4 turn-off, we were happy to see another leopard. Once again people at the sighting didn't see him, others saying he was walking around stalking something but checking the shady bits we saw him quite clearly just hanging out.
Carrying on we came across a middle size herd of buffalo resting, zebras, vervet monkeys, a bateleur and had an excellent sighting of two rhinos out in the open.
We stopped at Shitlhave Dam to look at a shore full of snoring hippos and a crocodile having a snooze in the sun. A white breasted comorant was apparently hungry as he was catching a fish just in front of us and a fish eagle who didn't pay attention.
Then it was time to continue to Phabeni Gate where we said goodbye to one last sighting of a troop of baboons and a lizard buzzard before driving out of the park.
Friday, 11 July 2014
UPDATE ON WYNTIR!!!
Little Wyntir is doing so well! She is drinking well and is enjoying being social with the volunteers and staff. She gets a bit grumpy at times when we clean her wounds but who wouldnt? She is otherwise doing very well. Loving her milk but I think the electrolyte water still has to grow on her a bit haha...
I am posting 3 pictures on the progress of Wyntir's wounds... will post some more tomorrow! The first picture was taken on 28/06/2014, the seconds picture was on 30/06/2014 and the last picture was taken today 07/07/2014!
You can see that the wounds are healing nicely and the wound of where the ear is completely off is now about half the size of what it originally was...
Once again thank you for all your support and love!
Monday, 7 July 2014
On Safari With Karen From 3 July 2014
3 July 2014
Today we set off for a full day game drive right after
breakfast. We have seen a lot of animals so far, but still there were many to
find! However we weren't quite awake yet as we started our drive. Just before
Shitlhave Dam we drove by seeing a little rock, a big rock, a rock with ears,
little rocks.... Ho! Back up! A rock with ears? No, it was an elephant with a
young. We didn't see the rest of the herd though.
We then continued down Napi where we spotted a lot of general game like kudus, a duiker, impalas and waterbuck. Close to Transport Dam two young hyenas were roaming around their den site, apparently having stolen a rubber cover for a pullhook. The youngsters were having great fun with it. Another younger one, just lay in the sun.
We turned down the H3. We had gotten word there should be lions down there, but no such luck for us. We did see some giraffes in the background, but no lions. We decided to continue down on the H3 anyways, which gave us a nice change of scenery. Down by Biyamiti bridge, a lot of cars were standing around. The word was there were lions, but no one seemed to exactly know where they were lying down now. Somebody even said they were a mating pair. We scouted with binoculars and thought we knew where they would be lying. So we waited. In the meantime all the other cars got impatient and left the sighting. Left all by ourselves we were startled by some weird unfamiliar noises. Then two white-backed vultures came sitting on the tree above the lions. They kind of did a mating dance and then indeed mated, letting us know what the unfamiliar noise was. Those noise little buggers however did show the lions apparently what to do as suddenly the female got up. The male followed suite and they were indeed a mating pair. Good things come to those who wait! We had a great sighting of mating vultures and lions.
We drove down towards Afsaal, but before the coffee we wanted to check out the open area. Normally there are some zebras or other grazers, but this time there were cars as far as we could see. A leopard was crossing in between those cars, unseen by us, but told by others. We scouted around, seeing warthogs, zebras, blue wildebeests and impalas but no leopard. We turned around to go back to Afsaal. While we were scouting around on the right however the leopard had crossed some way behind us, back to the other side! No wonder we didn't see it! We now scouted on the right and caught glimpses of it between the bushes and crossing open areas, before he hid away in the bushes to hide from all the commotion. There must have been at least 60 cars driving around to try to catch a glimpse! So after not seeing for 10min we decided to leave him be and finally go for a toilet break and then some coffee.
We then continued our drive back up the H3, seeing cars at the same lion spot where we had seen them mating, but the lions were lying flat once again. We didn't wait around this time. A little further on we saw 4 ground hornbills at the junction with the S113. They were digging in elephant dung in the open field. As these are very endangered it was a treat to see them.
We also came across a sadle billed stork, a group of five white rhinos, kudu bulls, baboons, bushbucks, warthogs, vervet monkeys and a white rhino mother and her calf. They were snoozing in the shade when the young got up and nudged his mother. Apparently he was thirsty as she rolled to her side and he started suckling!
After lunch at Skukuza, we took Napi road back towards camp. We spotted more general game and one hyena young was still outside its den, just in a different spot to soak up more sun. Just before the end we spotted a elephant in the bush. We stopped and then saw and smelled a large elephant bull in must on our right. The ladies in front were crossing the road and one by one took a sniff of the large bull. But none was really interested as they all continued on their way. The big bull was now left with just us to impress. Which is exactly what he tried to do. He turned around facing us and then came towards us to inspect the car to see if there would be room to join us. But smelling like that and obviously urinating, we told him firmly that he was not allowed to come any closer. However he didn't want to listen so we continued on our way. Looking back from a distance he slowly resumed molesting the marula tree he was feeding off.
Then on carrying on we were surprised by not one but another two herds of elephants crossing the road. Both times we were just on the right spot to enjoy the sighting but not to scare the mothers and their young. They crossed nicely with the youngsters fussing over the cars watching them and protecting the herd. Also two giraffes decided to cross the road. Here was where it all was happening as we saw a white rhino walking in the high grass and we came across two buffalos on camp road before it was the end of a long but very successful day!
We then continued down Napi where we spotted a lot of general game like kudus, a duiker, impalas and waterbuck. Close to Transport Dam two young hyenas were roaming around their den site, apparently having stolen a rubber cover for a pullhook. The youngsters were having great fun with it. Another younger one, just lay in the sun.
We turned down the H3. We had gotten word there should be lions down there, but no such luck for us. We did see some giraffes in the background, but no lions. We decided to continue down on the H3 anyways, which gave us a nice change of scenery. Down by Biyamiti bridge, a lot of cars were standing around. The word was there were lions, but no one seemed to exactly know where they were lying down now. Somebody even said they were a mating pair. We scouted with binoculars and thought we knew where they would be lying. So we waited. In the meantime all the other cars got impatient and left the sighting. Left all by ourselves we were startled by some weird unfamiliar noises. Then two white-backed vultures came sitting on the tree above the lions. They kind of did a mating dance and then indeed mated, letting us know what the unfamiliar noise was. Those noise little buggers however did show the lions apparently what to do as suddenly the female got up. The male followed suite and they were indeed a mating pair. Good things come to those who wait! We had a great sighting of mating vultures and lions.
We drove down towards Afsaal, but before the coffee we wanted to check out the open area. Normally there are some zebras or other grazers, but this time there were cars as far as we could see. A leopard was crossing in between those cars, unseen by us, but told by others. We scouted around, seeing warthogs, zebras, blue wildebeests and impalas but no leopard. We turned around to go back to Afsaal. While we were scouting around on the right however the leopard had crossed some way behind us, back to the other side! No wonder we didn't see it! We now scouted on the right and caught glimpses of it between the bushes and crossing open areas, before he hid away in the bushes to hide from all the commotion. There must have been at least 60 cars driving around to try to catch a glimpse! So after not seeing for 10min we decided to leave him be and finally go for a toilet break and then some coffee.
We then continued our drive back up the H3, seeing cars at the same lion spot where we had seen them mating, but the lions were lying flat once again. We didn't wait around this time. A little further on we saw 4 ground hornbills at the junction with the S113. They were digging in elephant dung in the open field. As these are very endangered it was a treat to see them.
We also came across a sadle billed stork, a group of five white rhinos, kudu bulls, baboons, bushbucks, warthogs, vervet monkeys and a white rhino mother and her calf. They were snoozing in the shade when the young got up and nudged his mother. Apparently he was thirsty as she rolled to her side and he started suckling!
After lunch at Skukuza, we took Napi road back towards camp. We spotted more general game and one hyena young was still outside its den, just in a different spot to soak up more sun. Just before the end we spotted a elephant in the bush. We stopped and then saw and smelled a large elephant bull in must on our right. The ladies in front were crossing the road and one by one took a sniff of the large bull. But none was really interested as they all continued on their way. The big bull was now left with just us to impress. Which is exactly what he tried to do. He turned around facing us and then came towards us to inspect the car to see if there would be room to join us. But smelling like that and obviously urinating, we told him firmly that he was not allowed to come any closer. However he didn't want to listen so we continued on our way. Looking back from a distance he slowly resumed molesting the marula tree he was feeding off.
Then on carrying on we were surprised by not one but another two herds of elephants crossing the road. Both times we were just on the right spot to enjoy the sighting but not to scare the mothers and their young. They crossed nicely with the youngsters fussing over the cars watching them and protecting the herd. Also two giraffes decided to cross the road. Here was where it all was happening as we saw a white rhino walking in the high grass and we came across two buffalos on camp road before it was the end of a long but very successful day!
4 July 2014
Unfortunately today was the last day for Leigh and Rachel.
We started as soon as the gates opened and came across a small group of
buffalos on camp road almost right away. It was still dark so most of them we
couldn't see properly, but a female and her calf were standing in the middle of
the road.
We drove up Numbi tar, towards Shabeni where we saw a lone giraffe. Around Shabeni loop we encountered a herd of elephants feeding right next to the road.
We then got a tip about some lions nearby so we went to Manung koppies. There we found a lot of open vehicles and heard some rustling in the grass. Word was there were indeed two lionesses walking around in the high grass. Unfortunately the rustling had stopped so apparently they lied down and no one saw them anymore. Lions are the same colour as the grass at the moment so difficult to spot when the grass is high. We hang around a bit longer before turning around, when suddenly they crossed the road about 50m in front of us!! We stopped next to them, where both of them stood staring at us. After a few seconds we weren't worth their attention so they walked off into the grass on the other side.
As time was running out we made our way back to Numbi, where we were caught by surprise by a massive herd of buffalo. Probably smelling the lions they were moving away. We counted around 40 buffalos before we found a gap to go through and there were at least the same amount still waiting on the other side to cross.
After transferring down to Nelspruit it was time to say goodbye to Leigh and Rachel. I hope you had a great time and will treasure all the memories of your round the world trip! Maybe we see you again one day!
We drove up Numbi tar, towards Shabeni where we saw a lone giraffe. Around Shabeni loop we encountered a herd of elephants feeding right next to the road.
We then got a tip about some lions nearby so we went to Manung koppies. There we found a lot of open vehicles and heard some rustling in the grass. Word was there were indeed two lionesses walking around in the high grass. Unfortunately the rustling had stopped so apparently they lied down and no one saw them anymore. Lions are the same colour as the grass at the moment so difficult to spot when the grass is high. We hang around a bit longer before turning around, when suddenly they crossed the road about 50m in front of us!! We stopped next to them, where both of them stood staring at us. After a few seconds we weren't worth their attention so they walked off into the grass on the other side.
As time was running out we made our way back to Numbi, where we were caught by surprise by a massive herd of buffalo. Probably smelling the lions they were moving away. We counted around 40 buffalos before we found a gap to go through and there were at least the same amount still waiting on the other side to cross.
After transferring down to Nelspruit it was time to say goodbye to Leigh and Rachel. I hope you had a great time and will treasure all the memories of your round the world trip! Maybe we see you again one day!
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Seven Year Old Reaches Goal Of R 100 000 To Save The Rhinos
SANParks Rhino Champion Alyssa Carter, aged seven, handed over a cheque of R100 000 to the SANParks Honorary Rangers. Last year Alyssa was the winner of the Corporate Contribution... to Conservation Award (Individual) at the SANParks Kudu awards. These awards were in recognition of her efforts to raise money to save South Africa’s rhinos.
The cheque was handed over to Outgoing National Executive Committee Chairperson, Janssen Davies and Chairperson of Conservation Services, John Turner who thanked her for her service to conservation in South Africa’s national parks.
Alyssa raised a substantial portion of the money from selling chocolates, each with a hand-drawn picture of a rhino created by Alyssa. The remaining funds were donated by the Chairperson of Lowveld region, Grant Coleman, and the Table Mountain region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers which donated R46, 250 to her fund.
Her idea came about after her school class learnt about endangered animals and her teacher explained how rhinos were being killed. Her emotional response was so strong that she immediately wanted to do something to help save the rhinos, her favourite animal.
With the help of her parents Alyssa started making and selling chocolates in May 2013. The money she collects goes to support the SANParks Honorary Rangers in their fight to save the rhino.
Unlike many fundraising initiatives the SANParks Honorary Rangers utilise 100% of all money raised for the purpose for which they were donated. No public money is used to run activities and every cent donated by the public for counter poaching or other projects identified is used to fund the actual projects or counter poaching needs in our national parks. We are a registered public benefit and non-profit organisation.
The SANParks Honorary Rangers are the South African National Parks preferred channel for counter poaching support in our National Parks. They work directly with the counter poaching teams in the parks to provide crucial training and equipment.
The battle to save the rhino can also be supported outside the reserves when the kingpins are brought to book. Those with information can make use of the Tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or 32211; contact Crime Line where they will remain anonymous or their nearest police station with information.
Issued by:
SANParks Honorary Rangers
The cheque was handed over to Outgoing National Executive Committee Chairperson, Janssen Davies and Chairperson of Conservation Services, John Turner who thanked her for her service to conservation in South Africa’s national parks.
Alyssa raised a substantial portion of the money from selling chocolates, each with a hand-drawn picture of a rhino created by Alyssa. The remaining funds were donated by the Chairperson of Lowveld region, Grant Coleman, and the Table Mountain region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers which donated R46, 250 to her fund.
Her idea came about after her school class learnt about endangered animals and her teacher explained how rhinos were being killed. Her emotional response was so strong that she immediately wanted to do something to help save the rhinos, her favourite animal.
With the help of her parents Alyssa started making and selling chocolates in May 2013. The money she collects goes to support the SANParks Honorary Rangers in their fight to save the rhino.
Unlike many fundraising initiatives the SANParks Honorary Rangers utilise 100% of all money raised for the purpose for which they were donated. No public money is used to run activities and every cent donated by the public for counter poaching or other projects identified is used to fund the actual projects or counter poaching needs in our national parks. We are a registered public benefit and non-profit organisation.
The SANParks Honorary Rangers are the South African National Parks preferred channel for counter poaching support in our National Parks. They work directly with the counter poaching teams in the parks to provide crucial training and equipment.
The battle to save the rhino can also be supported outside the reserves when the kingpins are brought to book. Those with information can make use of the Tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or 32211; contact Crime Line where they will remain anonymous or their nearest police station with information.
Issued by:
SANParks Honorary Rangers
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
SANParks Ranger Issued With Warning
A SANParks ranger has been issued with
a final written warning after he fired shots in the air because an elephant was
blocking the road.
Video footage of the incident was
released to News24, after
the incident was first reported in Beeld.
According to Reynold Thakhuli,
SANParks GM: Media Liaison & Stakeholder Relations, the ranger stated in a
report filed following the incident that the animal had blocked the road and
there were about 20 vehicles coming from both sides.
“He stepped out and consulted with some
of the tourists who had no problem with him chasing the elephant off the road,”
said Thakhuli. The ranger fired three shots, which managed to get the animal
out of the road.
However, Thakhuli said, while SANParks’
policy allowed for the firing of shots, particularly if lives were in danger,
the ranger had been issued with a warning.
“The ranger in question has been issued
with a final written warning as it is perceived his actions were unnecessary,”
Thakhuli told Tourism Update.
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