On Safari With Mark 4 October 2016

4 October 2016

What a great day and had some fantastic sighting.

It's amazing, how many elephants we saw today. It all started off, as we drove out of our camp and found two massive elephant bulls on the road standing eating. What's amazing is the amount of time they took to strip small branch and eat only the bark. Such small pieces feeding the 5ton beast, we had to laugh as it took the time to enjoy it's small meal.

Further to this was one of the last sightings for the day where we found 6 lioness and 2 cubs lying sleeping in the riverbed. All looked healthy irrespective of the drought we are currently experiencing. 1 lioness decided to wake up and move into some late afternoon sun and while doing this, her little cub woke up and watched mom walk away. With very little on his/her mind, it just politely flopped over and carried on sleeping.

Over all, my clients are very happy with what we have seen and look forward to the visit to the rehabilitation center tomorrow.

On safari With Mark from 1 February 2016

1 February 2016

At KMIA airport, I picked up our new clients after a 24 hrs delay by the airlines.

So with exhausted but enthusiastic people on board we headed up to Kruger.

After entering through Phabeni Gate we started a late afternoon drive towards our first overnight camp, Skukuza.

On our way there we spotted many different animals and before reaching camp had rhino, elephant and buffalo cross over the road in front of us and although I couldn't understand the language, it was obvious that my Chinese clients were very happy with what they were looking at.

The best sighting for my clients were the 7 giraffe together around a common sweet thorn. None of them paid us attention and great photos with the sunset could be taken. Although we would of loved to stay longer, we had to continue the drive for gate closing.

2 February 2016

We exited skukuza and headed North knowing well that we had a great distance to travel. Excited, we packed the bags and set off. Although many general animal sighting together with the Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo. My guests secretly wanted to see a "Cat". Usually this "Jinxes" the car and you see nothing, however we got to spot a Male leopard lying in the shade of a lead wood tree. Spent some time with Mr, and all of a sudden like on cue - he got up and moved off into thicket. I say this as by 10:00 we still hadn't stopped for coffee.

After breakfast we headed further North, were we had a phenomenal sighting of 2 male cheetah right next to the road, lying in the shade of a marola tree. Every now and then, one would get up and move around the base of the tree to where the shade was.

With very happy people on board we moved onto Letaba, our camp for 2 nights.

Guests visited the elephant museum and had a relaxing late afternoon drink on their verandah, recharging for tomorrow.

On Safari With Mark: 22 January 2015

22 January 2015

Today has been a real rhino day, with the first sighting of these incredible animals, a mere 20m from the guests on a bushwalk, enjoying an early morning graze.

Throughout the day we found many sightings of these and guests were extremely happy as this is one animal they came to Kruger to see.

Additional animals seen were: Impala, giraffe, zebra, kudu, warterbuck, common diuker, steenbok, elephants, warthogs, Chackma baboons and hippos.

On Safari With Mark: 18 January 2015

18 January 2015 

Highlight for the day on a personal note:

On my way to fetch my clients from Skukuza airport, I decided to enter through Kruger gate road and as I pulled off from Kruger gate, my first animal spotted was a female leopard and her cub, next to the road. Fantastic sighting for the first animal of 2015.

A further highlight was that of a following leopard lying in a Marola tree, and why this is a highlight is that all guests were with me and could view this brilliant animal for over 01:30min

General animals: Impala, hippos, kudu, waterbuck, warthog, klipspringer, giraffe, elephant, buffalo, rhino and blue-wildebeest and a 3rd leopard for the day

Fantastic start to 2015

On safari With Mark from 10 November 2014

10 November 2014

Route: After collecting the clients at phalaborwa airport we drove towards mopani rest camp.

General sightings: Impala, kudu, waterbuck, warthog, steenbok, zebra, common diuker and giraffe was spotted

Highlights: on our drive up we came across 3 different herds of Cape buffalo. Great to see them resting in the heat of the day. 2 large elephant Bulls were busy at a drainage line throwing water and mud on themselves trying to escape the 42deg heat.

11 November 2014

Route: decided to do the shongololo loop, returning to camp for a late breakfast.

The morning drive was far cooler with mist rain and General game was out enjoying the cooler weather. We came across our first Impala lamb sighting for the season and this was really special as it couldn't have been born longer than a couple of hours (still unstable on its feet).

Further to this, we just had some great buffalo crossing over the road giving us the "stare".

Afternoon drive: the highlight was the 4 adult and 1 calf eland we found. The first in many years.

12 November 2014 – 13 November 2014

Route: mopani - S55 - kannidood - shigtwetzi - Punda Tar - crooks corner - Punda Maria - shingwetzi

General animals seen: Impala, waterbuck, kudu, tsessebe, zebra, giraffe, hippos, crocodiles, vervet monkeys, Chackma baboons, bushbuck, Nyala, elephants and buffalo's.

Highlights: we found 10 lions feeding on a buffalo they just killed and spent time with this pride watching the interaction as they all fed. On our return to camp we found them all lying in the middle of the road Bellies full and panting.

We also found both the side stripped and black backed jackal and although the side striped moved off quickly the guest got good photos.

Multiple sighting of the sharps greysbok was spotted today on our way up to crooks corner.

It was also great to catch some crested giuneefowl in the Punda Mari camp.

On our return we also spotted a mating couple of steenbok right next to our car. Great photos of these.

With so many unique sightings so far the guest are exited about the rest of the safari as we still have many days to go.

14 November 2014  

Route: shingwedzi - S56 loop - shingwedzi - S52 - shingwedzi

General animals seen: Impala, kudu, steenbok, common duiker, zebra, waterbuck, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and elephants

Highlights:  An early surprise at the Gora waterhole (3kms from shingwedzi) as we drove in we found a male cheetah busy drinking water. His belly full after a early morning kill and fantastic photos could be taken of this brilliant cat as we were the only one with him for the entire sighting until he moved off into the mopani thickets. What a start to the day!!

For the afternoon run it was rather quiet and general game was spotted through the afternoon. Large herds of elephants enjoy the water as it was a hot afternoon.

On our way to mopani tomorrow.

15 November 2014 – 19 November 2014

Routes travelled: Shingwedzi - Mopani - Letaba - Olifants - Satara

General game: Impala, warthog, steenbok, common diuker, zebra, giraffe, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, kudu, sharps greysbok, klipspringer, Chackma baboons, vervet monkeys, crocodiles, hippos, dwarf,slender,banded mongoose, reedbok, nyala, ostrich, tsessebe, bushbuck, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

Highlights: During our drive down south, we have had some fantastic sightings of massive herds of buffalo and elephant. Cats have been few and far between however we found a large pride of Lions at the dam just outside Satara. This brings the total of lions for the trip to 20 so far.

Another first for our guests was the honey badger that crossed the road and jumped through his hole he made in the fence of Satara and as we had just arrived, we decided to follow him and get some photos of this busy little guy in camp. This was quiet unusual as we took a "game drive and walk" in camp following him closely as he inspected every possible crack,corner,bush and building for something to eat.

Another first for the guests, while enjoying a afternoon drink was the visit from a female African wild cat and this turned out to be a photo opportunity of note. We to followed her and later found her with a cub. Power sighting.

Both Hugh and Cathy are very happy with the sightings so far as many are very unique and in no way do they only want to chase the big 5.  

I'm sure you won't believe it cause I can't - we still looking for the illusive leopard.

Maybe more luck down south!

On Safari With Curtis From 6 September 2014

6 September 2014

The first day of a new tour and, after picking up all our new guests from Nelspruit, it wasn't long before we saw our first animal. A troupe of baboons sitting by the side of the road. We made our way to the Kruger national park and Nkambeni tented safari lodge, our home for the next few nights. On the camp road we found a lone female giraffe as well a couple of kudu hiding behind the bushes.

Once at the lodge we checked in, unpacked and relaxed until it was time for every ones first safari.

A gentle start  with a sunset drive where you get the chance to watch a beautiful African sunset maybe with a glass of Amarula before using a spot light to try and find some of the more elusive night time animals. This evening White Rhino, Buffalo, Zebra, and Impala were spotted, but the highlight was the sighting of African wild dog and several puppies up on the rocks.

7 September 2014

The first activity of today was the bushwalks, which gave all the guests a chance to experience the African bush up close. A chance to learn about some of the smaller aspects of the bush which often get looked over in favor of the larger animals.

However this morning the guests were lucky enough to witness both big and small. As well as learning about the spoor and scat of the animals, learning about conservation and the effect of fire within Kruger and learning about a few of the different species of trees and plants and insects that are present in South Africa they also came across a large male elephant, getting within 30 meters of him before moving away. They also found a large herd of buffalo in the riverbed and were able to spend quite a bit of time watching them before returning to the lodge for a well-earned rest and much needed breakfast.

After that well earned rest and breakfast back to work as we set out on a drive, heading along numbi we soon found zebra, buffalo and a couple of large male warthogs. We then turned on to Napi where we found plenty of kudu, zebra and impala until we got to transport. The road down to transport was very busy with warthog, zebra, wildebeest and waterbuck and at the dam we found a herd of about twenty waterbucks having a drink with a family of hippos relaxing in the water and a large crocodile sunbathing on the other side of the dam as well as numerous water birds including the white-faced duck, Egyptian goose, egrets and jacanas to name a few.

We decided to take a trip down watergat and found two male lions stretched out in the grass, unfortunately they had no inclination for photography today and apart from a couple of legs and a belly they didn't show much at all. We also saw a couple of steenbok as well as klipspringer on the road. We made our way to Skukuza for a late lunch and then set off once again.

After a tip off we headed down river road where we found plenty of elephants, baboons and bushbuck, but we weren't looking for them. We were looking for a pride of lions which had been spotted and we found them. Again, due to the heat, these lions were in no mood to show themselves and again we just got legs, bellies and the occasional tail flick. Time was running out but we still had enough time to return to the original lion sighting to see if there was any movement. Unfortunately not!!! so we left feeling a bit disappointed. However this soon evaporated as we came across an animal which you don't see very often. We found a civet out in the open searching for food, we got a good look before he disappeared into the bush and then a couple of further looks before he disappeared..

Back on Napi we came across the young hyena pup by his den looking a bit sorry for himself, not helped by the fact someone had decided to throw a piece of apple to him!!! By this time it was getting late and as the sun set we turned onto camp road where we found our way blocked by a herd of buffalo. A nice end to a very good day!!!

More coming soon!!