On safari With Karen 18 May 2015

18 May 2015

With a breakfast on the go we started early this morning for what would be our last game drive of this safari. On this trip we saw four large families of baboons (one of them on the R40 down to Nelspruit!). The first one was soon after we left camp and the sun hadn't really risen yet, so the baboon’s sat huddled close together to keep warm. It was indeed a chilly morning! Our second family was already awake a bit more as they were slowly starting to forage. Mothers with babies holding on tight passed the car in search of food and youngsters quickly crossed the road eyeing us wearily.

But it was the third family that gave us a great sighting. Just like yesterday's troop of baboons in the end of the day, these guys were all happy and playing around, grooming each other and much more. Wherever we looked, baboons were entertaining us. One brave youngster was even being chased by an angry mob of vervet monkeys which he probably had disturbed while waking up. 7 vervet monkeys versus 1 young baboon, he quickly went another way!

Our second highlight was handed to us by a bushbuck (our new animal on this safari!). Usually they are quite skittish, but this one came bolting out of the bush in utter terror. So much so it didn't stop or flinch for our vehicle braking, something they usually are very wary of! That, we needed to investigate and we entered the next looping road that showed us the riverbed, which was about 20 meters in front of us. While driving down a common grey duiker came pelting out in opposite direction as well. Looking down at the riverbed we didn't have far to look to see what caused these animals to get lost: 4 hyenas were on the prowl. We had a good view of them when they started walking up the bank and one of them even coming very close to our vehicle! An awesome sighting!!

Other animals seen: we are still not bored of impalas, kudus, two more bushbucks that stood still long enough for photos, two giraffes hanging out with a bunch of zebras, a lone elephant and two lionesses.

And we could add some birds too: a tawny eagle chick on a nest and his/her mother or father, yellow-billed and red-billed hornbills, crested francolins (noisy little buggers!), a flock of chinspot batisses and pied wagtails.

Unfortunately it was our last day and we really had to leave the park. Matt and Luisa returned to Johannesburg where they would wait for their flight to Brasil to continue their honeymoon around the world!! I hope they will have just as much fun as we had on safari. Thanks for coming on safari and have a great time on you travels!

On Safari With Robbie 13 February 2015

13 February 2015

Today was a very hot day, as far as temperatures were concerned we came close to hitting the 40 degree mark! Despite that, sightings were good but most were distant visuals due to most species seeking the coolness of the shade!

Three Cheetahs were seen on the hunt again and Buffalo were seen in the lower waters edge at most water holes enjoying the semi cool water!

Elephant spotted were either mud bathing or most of the time they were seen standing and dozing!

General game was great with some beautiful sightings of male Kudus and Waterbuck!

We set out on our last drive tomorrow in eager anticipation!

On Safari With Curtis from 17 November 2014

17 November 2014

Unfortunately today was the last day for two of our guests and after some breakfast we loaded luggage into the truck and set off on their last drive. This morning the roads were very busy with lots of general game such as impala, kudu, Waterbuck, zebra and Warthog. We had quite a few different sightings of buffalo as well this morning. We also had two rhino sighting but both were hampered by a lot of trees. There were also many very good sighting of elephants ranging from solitary males to small bachelor groups up to family herds including two males who were not interested in us as they were busy pushing and shoving each other. We also had a lovely collective sighting of animals with giraffe, impala, warthog and wildebeest all grazing or browsing in the same area. The wildebeest was our first sighting of that particular species on this tour, which pleased everyone. We, however, had one more new species ticked off today and probably the one that nearly all the guests want to see above all else. Yep you have guessed it LIONS!! We had been given a tip off and we were lucky enough to find them still lying around. Three lionesses and an even nicer surprise in the shape of a small cub, just a few months old. They had made a kill overnight and the girls were watching over it while the youngsters was probably experiencing one of its first ever carcasses. Then it was time to say goodbye to Jana and Meredith. Thanks for your company on this tour and glad we managed to get those lions finally for you. Travel safe and hopefully see you back on Safari soon.

This afternoon we braved the clouds which were getting ever darker and went out on a short drive around this area. Well that short drive turned out to be a much longer and an incredibly rewarding drive, more than anyone was expecting. It started with a tip off about a possible sighting just a couple of kilometers on voortrekker so we made our way there. Along the way we passed common duiker, impala, kudu, zebra, buffalo, rhino and elephant but we stopped only shortly at a couple of them. The sighting we were aiming for took priority and we got there to find lions. Two to be exact, a male and a female, a honeymooning couple. It didn't take long before the female gave the tell tale signs of being ready and the male got up and mounted her. Mating lions don't take to long and soon the male was dismounting. Then he started to advertise his prowess by roaring right next to our car. Easily one of the most eerily and wonderful sounds of the African bush. If that wasn't good enough a very kind member of the public gave us some information about another sighting just down the road. Having seen what we had and knowing courting lions don't exactly move great distances we took our chance and drove to the other sighting. 8 kilometers later and there were sat with three cheetah. They were about 30 meters away but in the open grass so we had a great view. After about five minutes one sat straight up and alert, something had got its attention and the cheetah had got the attention of some zebra and impala and a herd of elephants, all in the distance. The first cheetah started to jog faster and as we watched the other two we lost sight of the first one. So much so that thirty seconds later it had run about 100  meters away. We then watched the other as they stood up and started to run. Just to keep up with them we had to go about thirty kilometers per hour for a short distance. We then watched as they zig zagged along before moving deeper into the sickle bush. Meanwhile the zebra and impala had disappeared and the ellies had moved on. We got the privilege of spending about fifteen minutes with these three before they left. We then headed back to the lions who surprisingly hadn't moved an inch. We parked up and just sat waiting and watching. As we waited we noticed a herd of elephants which had crossed the road in front of us and we're now heading straight towards the pair of lions. They got within around forty meters of the lions when the lioness decided that was close enough and got up to move off. Unfortunately the male misread this intention and proceeded to mate with her and then started to roar afterwards. This in turn surprised and scared the elephants who then gathered their young ones into the middle and crossed back over the road and disappeared from view with a lot of trumpeting and vocalization. All of this elephant commotion being watched by the two lions who had resumed their lying down position. As the elephants disappeared we resumed our viewing of the lions who had moved within ten feet of us and gave us one last performance right next to the vehicle before we had to leave due to time running out. We had been lucky enough to spend over two full hours at this incredible sighting. As one guest said afterwards " I'm speechless". On the way home we didn't have time to stop but still had glimpses of more elephants and buffalo before reaching the lodge ending yet another wonderful drive.

18 November 2014

After yesterdays great day today was all about trying to improve on some of the sightings of some of the animals we had already seen. This plan started well as straight away on camp road we found bull elephants, two in the bush but one right next to the road. We parked up and watched as he enjoyed a morning snack of fresh grass, sickle bush and silver leaf cluster. We also found a few buffalo hanging around. The tar road along Numbi was quiet with only kudu around but then it picked up with plenty of ellies and buffalo with a tower of giraffe along with zebra and impala and Waterbuck being seen. We also had a lovely rhino sighting, we found the territorial male just by the road and after making sure he had enough space watched as he crossed in front of the car just five meters away. Once he had crossed he started to scent mark his territory by spraying up some bushes before moving out of site. The rest of the way turned out to be very quiet so we took a turn down watergat where we found a lone bull giraffe, impala by the hundreds, kudu, baboons and vervets. We then heard from another guide about lions down near lake panic and so headed down that way. We found them lying just a few meters from the road, six to be exact including three large males. Compared to yesterday's lions these ones were in no mood to entertain and with the exception of a few heads popping up now and again and the occasional stretch and yawn not much action. But then that is what lions do best!!! We left the sighting and popped into lake panic bird hide for five minutes. Five minutes turned into thirty minutes as the hide is such a stunningly beautiful setting with hippos calling and endless amounts of birdlife around that every guest who goes always spends a lot more time than expected. Leaving the hide we found two new mammals for the day, the nyala and the bushbuck. We took a turn around the river crossing low level and sand river finding hippo and buffalo. Then we passed marula loop entrance and shortly after found something along the road in the distance. Initially I thought a monkey with its long tail but then I noticed the distinctive white patch on the tail and knew it was a leopard. As we approached it got a little bit spooked and moved off into the bush but we had a good look before hand. Around the river we spotted more of the usual suspects including elephant herds, solitary buffalo, endless impala and kudu and about twenty five hippos at high level bridge with about ten of them out of the water.

Maybe due to the fact that the sun decided to reappear after a weeks hiatus the afternoon was a lot quieter. Still we managed to see buffalo, rhino, giraffe, kudu, impala, Waterbuck, warthog and elephants In fact plenty of elephants. Two sightings in particular were very special, the first at transport dam where we noticed at first one elephant in the water and then as we turned the corner another three bulls playing in the water. We watched these for about twenty minutes as they played and tried to dominate each other. Then suddenly another elephant appeared at the far edge of the dam, then another and another and another. More and more appeared until we had counted twenty three in total all lined up in a straight line having a drink. We watched as they then moved away around the edge of the dam, disturbing the sleeping hippo family, and moved away from sight with one of the bulls quickly following. The second sighting was also at a dam. This one was shithave dam and here we already had about thirty five elephants down by the water and more were coming. We noticed more elephants passing by in the distance and at one stage we could see between sixty to eighty elephants from where we were sitting. As the family herd drinking moved big bulls came down again to fight and play in the water. At one stage one of the ellies walking around the edge stumbled upon a medium sized Croc sunbathing and gave out a large trumpet while another made its way over to the buffalo which had come to see what all the noise was about. Overall another forty minutes had vanished as we just sat and watched all this fun.

19 November 2014

Today was the last day of this tour and after a few early starts already we decided to have a more relaxing day starting much later than we normally would. When we did leave the roads were fairly quiet as we took a drive around Shabeni, Pk koppies, Albasini and part of Doispane. We did however find along the way sightings of elephant, buffalo, kudu, Waterbuck, impala, zebra, baboons, vervets, common duiker and one final new species of mammal in the shape of klipspringers. Not a bad haul for a couple of hours. The highlight was finding a small chameleon rocking backwards and forwards as he attempted to cross the road without getting seen. Unfortunately it was then time to say goodbye to my final two guests who are off for a bit of sun in Mauritius, lucky them!!! It has been a pleasure having you on the tour, thanks for all your enthusiasm and enjoyment you have shown over the last few days and hopefully we will see you back on Safari one day.

On Safari With Karen From 17 April 2014

17 April 2014

This morning we left for a full day game drive. We drove up Albassini where we spotted impalas, kudus and zebras as well as an elephant in the background before we reached Mestel Dam. At the dam the hippos were playing in the water and we saw a nice fish eagle. Continuing on Albassini a member of the public told us about a cheetah further up the road and we were in luck. At a little waterhole named Cheetah Pan, a cheetah was resting on a mount of dirt next to it. For a while we were the only car there and watched him stretch, yawn and turn over. Even when other cars showed up, he had no interest in getting up, so after watching him for about 45min we decided to leave.

Down on Doispane we spotted impala rams that were going after the ladies, a couple of wildebeest, leopard tortoises, giant plated lizard and some smaller cousins, more zebras and a lone buffalo walking down staff village road.

After a break at Skukuza we decided to follow the river to hopefully see some herds of elephants. We were not disappointed. We drove down to Lower Sabie seeing many elephants drinking from, swimming in and crossing the water of the Sabie river. We also saw some buffalo bulls, hippos, terrapins and crocodiles along the way, especially at Sunset Dam.

After a nice lunch we drove back along the river, again spotting herds of elephants, elephant bulls, giraffes, hippos. We heard about lions and leopards possibly down the S114 so we took a little detour. We didn't see either but got surprised by three cheetahs that suddenly walked in front of us onto the road. We stopped for pictures and a video and shortly they were back off the road in the high grass! We were so lucky!! Furthermore we saw a dwarf mongoose chasing a slender mongoose across the road, a steenbok, and many yellow billed hornbills, red billed hornbills and grey louries.

It was nearing the end of the day so we drove home via Napi. Luck hadn't run out yet as we passed the hyena den near Transport Dam and saw 5 young hyenas playing outside the den! Wondering where their babysitter was we continued spotting a buffalo herd in the distance, a lovely waterbuck male, and some more elephant bulls. One of those was in heavy must, so we smelled him before we even saw him.

 

18 April 2014

This morning we escaped the busy Easter Kruger traffic by leaving a little later than normal. It was a pretty quiet morning drive up Albassini, down Shabeni and then the tar road to Shithave Dam. We had stopped at Mestel Dam and saw the hippos play and a pied kingfisher fish. We had seen some impalas and waterbuck along the way. At Shithave Dam we saw a crocodile sunning themselves and lots of waterbuck. A lone strong male kept watch on the dam wall while a herd of females and two youngsters lay down in the grass and a herd of bachelor males were trying out each other's strength. We felt sorry for one of the males as one of his horns had grown downwards and by the looks of it back into his skull at the rotation point of the lower jaw. But it seemed it didn't stop him sparring with the other males.

We had a quick break at Pretoriuskop and then drove back to Nkambeni Lodge via Circle Road. We came across some dwarf mongoose, two giraffes, lots of butterflies and just before the end of the tar road we had the tail end of a herd of buffalo cross in front of us. On the way back to camp we spooked a nice water monitor that was sunning himself so much he fell from his sunning spot into the water... Oops, sorry!

In the afternoon we went out again after the heat of the day had subsided. Now joined by three new guests our first sighting was a snake on camp road. Still on camp road we also came across some more waterbuck. On the way down the Numbi tar road a lone buffalo walked in the middle of the road towards us, spotted us and dashed into the high grass out of sight. We turned onto Napi spotting our first impalas of the afternoon.  As we got word it was all quiet on Napi, we turned onto Fayi Loop. Along with stretches of quiet we saw an elephant bull, more waterbuck, pretty waterlillies and a nice sighting of 4 giraffes.

Around Shabeni and Albassini it was void of animals. However the hippos at Mestel Dam were waking up, showing us 3/4 of their bodies, and the fish eagle had returned. We then saw a herd of female impala having a moment of jumping madness, which was great fun to watch.

 

19 April 2014

Today was our last day of the five-day safari of Alex and Owen as well as the end if the quickie safari of Joe, Michael and Werner. We started off with a nice giraffe, silhouetted against the sunrise. We also saw a white rhino close to the road which hung around for a bit so we could take some nice photos.

We then drove down Napi which was fairly quiet. We did come across a large dazzle of zebras on Napi Boulders, most likely two groups that met along the way. We then encountered two other white rhino sightings on our travels.

Following the very fresh signs of elephant (dung and chewed branches left in the middle of the road) we saw a glimpse of the culprit. A klipspringer stood like a statue on Klipsrpinger Koppies, just before we turned onto a quiet H3.

Continuing on we then saw a nice family of white rhino, Mum, possibly Dad and a very young rhino. This got us some cute pictures! We heard on the radio about a cheetah and we were in luck. At Renoster Koppies Waterhole a cheetah was indeed lying in the shade. We did see her while she had her head up, but mostly she was lying down flat. Continuing up the S114 we got another tip about some wild dogs, at Stevenson Hamilton Memorial. We turned into the road and immediately knew where as it was quite a build-up of cars. We decided to follow the stream past the sighting and then turn around and join the line on the other side. Trying not to impede others and manoeuvring around the cars stationary on the best viewing points, we were in luck that just when we got close one of the wild dogs stood up in plain view! He wiggled around a bit and then dropped down again in the shade. We decided to leave the wild dog sighting to have a short break at Skukuza.

After the break it had become a boiling hot day. We made our way back to Phabeni Gate via Doispane spotting impala males misbehaving, a very pretty kudubull, buffalo bulls lounging in the water, more zebras, a bateleur and a tawny eagle, lilac breasted rollers, a display of two yellow-billed hornbills and some more giraffes. Then it was time to say goodbye to the KNP. To all my guests, it was great having you on my truck this week! Maybe we'll meet again one day!!

 

Keep watching for more!!

SA & Mozambique To Sign MoU

SA & Mozambique to sign MoU in the field of Biodiversity, Conservation & Management on 17 April 2014 at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park http://bit.ly/1lPY9L4

Elephant Tusks Valued At R1.6 Million Seized At Beitbridge Border Post

Police in Zimbabwe intercepted a luxury bus carrying four elephant tusks valued at R1.6 million.
 
The tusks were found stashed in a secret compartment on a Citiliner coach.

 Limpopo police spokesperson Hlangwani Malaudzi told the media the two bus drivers were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post and taken to court in Musina.

 Only one person was found guilty and fined R8,000 for smuggling and the illegal possession of ivory.

 The South African Police Service (SAPS) told state media in Zimbabwe they want to clamp down on ivory smuggling syndicates.

 It’s not clear whether the tusks were from Hwange National Park, where syndicates used cyanide to kill over 100 elephants.

 Four people convicted recently for illegally possessing ivory in Zimbabwe have each been given 15-year jail terms.

 Earlier this month, the man who supplied the cyanide used to kill the elephants was released on R1,000 bail.

 It’s unclear where Elvis Mncube got the cyanide from.

 By:
 Eyewitness News

Man Arrested In Kruger National Park For Possession Of Poison

A man was arrested after he was found in possession of poison in the Kruger National Park, management said on Saturday.
 
The man was arrested on Thursday after being searched by rangers in the park.

 "He entered the park through the Phalaborwa gate en route to Mozambique," spokesman William Mabasa said.
 
Rangers found four bottles on him and questioned about the contents, but found the man's story to be inconsistent.
 
The rangers called police and the man was arrested.

 Police could not immediately confirm the arrest.

 Earlier in the week, French news agency Agence France-Presse reported that a Zimbabwean court sentenced a poacher to more than 15 years in prison for poisoning and killing elephants with cyanide.

 This was the fourth conviction relating to poisoning wildlife in the country in a month.
 According to the report, the Parks and Wildlife Authority said 100 elephants were killed for their ivory with cyanide in one national park in just over a month.

 Three other poachers were sentenced in September to a minimum of 15 years each for poisoning 81 elephants.

 By:
 Times Media Group

Contact Made With Three Poachers

On Saturday, 19th October 2013, rangers in the Pafuri section of the Kruger National Park made contact with three suspected rhino poachers, close to the Eastern boundary.

During the incident, one suspect was arrested and the other two suspects managed to escape back into Mozambique.

A .375 hunting rifle, ammunition and an axe were recovered.

 Issued by:
 South African National Parks

On Safari With Dean From The Afternoon of 7 October 2013

7 October 2013

Afternoon Drive:

At 15h00 we left camp and made our way down the Numbi Gate tar getting more good sightings of buffalo and zebra. Carrying on with our route we got good rhino sightings as well as hippo, waterbuck, kudu, impala and elephant.

We decided to take a drive to Mentzel dam where we got a pod of hippo's playing in the water. While still on the sighting we got a radio call from Mark letting us know that he had found a den of hyena pups, so we decided to take a look. We back tracked until we found the den on the main road, taking photos as the four pups and two females played around in the cool afternoon.

After this we made our way back to camp for the evening.

8 October 2013

Today after packing all the bags for our return trip to Johannesburg, we made our way out on our final game drive, making a turn at Shithave dam and the boulders loop getting more sightings of sable, elephant and buffalo together with lots of the antelope species.

At about 09h00 we departed the park in order to get back earlier to Johannesburg so guests could get connecting flights to Cape Town.

Feedback from guests is that they enjoyed themselves and would love to return for another safari.


Keep watching for the next update!

Four Suspected Rhino Poachers Arrested

The police in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, have arrested four suspected rhino poachers believed to have been on their way to poach rhinos in the Kruger National Park.

Police received information about suspected poachers who would enter the Kruger National Park with the aim to shoot and dehorn the animals in the park. The situation was monitored and at approximately 23H00 on Sunday, two suspected vehicles with four occupants were confronted by members from the Tactical Response (TRT) Unit, Stock Theft and Crime Intelligence 10 kilometres away from the Hoedspruit Police station.

Police managed to confiscate a 458 hunting rifle and silencer, 12 pieces of live ammunition and an axe. The origin of the fire-arm is currently being investigated and it will also be sent for ballistic tests.

The four suspects aged between 33 and 46 are from South Africa and Mozambique. They are expected to appear in the Phalaborwa Magistrates’ court on Tuesday on charges of the illegal possession of a fire-arm and ammunition as well as charges under the National Environmental Biodiversity Act which includes the conspiracy to commit a crime of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park.

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Berning Ntlemeza commended the team and reminded the community that an award of up to R500 000 can be paid out to any member of the public who can provide information which will lead to the arrest and the successful conviction of suspects involved in rhino poaching or dealing in rhino horns.

By:
 South African Police Service

On Safari From 18 June 2013

18 June 2013

After lunch at Pretoriuskop camp, we took a drive down Napi Road going down about six kilometres past the Napi boulders entrance and coming upon a nice herd of buffalo. After watching them for a while, one of the guests said they needed a bathroom stop so we returned to Pretoriuskop Camp. After this, we made our way to Nkambeni tented camp.

19 June 2013

A bit of a frustrating day experienced today as none of the cat species were found.

Route: Nkambeni safari camp - Numbi gate tar - Napi road - H3 - Quagga pan, before turning around after hearing nothing on the radio as to feline activity in the area, we made our way to Skukuza for a break. After a welcome break we made our way down to the Sabie river, getting some good visuals of crocodile and hippo. We made our way back to camp for a break, before leaving again this afternoon for an afternoon drive.

Other animals seen were:

Elephant, rhino, buffalo, kudu, impala, baboon, common duiker, common reedbuck and waterbuck.

The afternoon drive took us to Shithave dam, and then onto Faye loop getting more visuals of giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, baboon and impala.

20 June 2013

Route: Nkambeni Tented camp -  Numbi gate tar - Napi road - H3 - Quagga pan -  S112 - Ngwatimiri road - S114 - Skukuza for a break.

Animals seen were:

Buffalo, elephant, rhino as well as a female leopard, one hundred meters past the experimental tar towards Napi road.

After our break at skukuza we returned on the Napi road, stopping of at Napi boulders and Shithave dam, before going onto Numbi gate to meet new guests.

Animals seen were:

Kudu, impala, zebra, buffalo and elephant.

After lunch at Pretpriuskop camp it was out on Napi road to show guests the buffalo's that we had got earlier. Also got to see impala, kudu, giraffe and warthog.

21 June 2013

Route: Nkambeni safari camp - Albasini road – Doispane - Paul Kruger road - Skukuza for a break.

Animals seen were:

Impala, hippo, giraffe, rhino.

After our break at skukuza, we made our way down Napi road in the direction of Numbi gate in order to transfer some clients to Johannesburg.

Animals seen were:

Lions close to the H3 with a kudu kill as well as impala, wildebeest and kudu.

This afternoon we drove around Napi boulders, Shithave dam as well as Pretoriuskop camp.

Animals seen were:

Waterbuck, impala, giraffe, warthog and buffalo.

Keep watching for more updates!

Quiz Question For the Day..

What colour are cheetah Cubs?

*Grey
*Tan
*White
*Black

Great Photos By Ronesh Parbhoo In The Kruger National Park

Burchell's Zebra

The Beautiful Male Lion

Vervet Monkey

My Best Leopard Sighting - 10 December 2012 - Latest Sightings

More Great Photo's by Ronesh Parbhoo In The Kruger National Park



Beautiful Male lion



Elephant Eating



Giraffe with a African sunset



Safari Starting 16th December Ending 18th December 2012

16^th December – Dean collected guests from the Balaika Hotel in Sandton and continued onto Nelspruit going through Numbi Gate.  We stopped off at Pretoriuskop Camp for lunch before starting our first game drive for the day. After lunch we left Pretoriuskop and drove down Napi where we got good sightings of Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo. 700m past Transport Dam Junction we got a large male Leopard lying on a Termite mound this made for a great afternoons game viewing. We then continued on to Klipspringer Koppies and 400m past the H3 Junction we came across a male and female Lion with 3 cubs lying in the drainage line. We then got a call on the radio telling us about another female Lion on the H3 1.9km down from the Napi road. After that sighting we turned around and headed for camp due to heavy rain. On the Nkambeni entry road we got Buffalo walking in the road in front of us. Clients got to camp enjoying the first days sightings.

17^th December – After breakfast we left Nkambeni and got to see good sightings of Waterbuck, Impala, Kudu, Giraffe, Elephant as well as a male Lion 700m from the Watergat Junction. We also got a pair of mating Lions 1km down the H3, after this we made our way to Skukuza Camp for a break. After a bit of a break we made our way down the Marula Loop were we got another two male Lions lying next to the road, after spending some time with them we made our way down to Jones Dam were we got good sightings again of Elephant, Buffalo, Hippos and Waterbuck. We then made our way back crossing Low Water Bridge getting good sightings of Crocodile, Elephants and Hippos. Due to it being still to early for lunch we decided to make our way down River road to see if there was any action going on. We Managed to find 17 Wild Dogs 1.5km before Doispane which was awesome to see. We Returned to the camp of Skukuza for lunch after which we made our way back to Nkambeni with general sightings along the way. All in all a good days game viewing.

18^th December – Today our last days game viewing we saw Buffalo, Elephant and general game before leaving the Park at 10h00 and making our way back to Johannesburg. The next safari will start the 19^th December we look forward to bringing you their sightings until then…  

Jock Of The Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick (Chapter 26)( Page 5 ) Our Various Ways

Hours had gone by in hopeless effort; but the oxen stood out at all angles, and no two would pull together in answer to the feeble efforts of the fainting men.  Then there came a lull in the shouts from the waggon and in answer to the little voorlooper's warning shout, "Pas op, Baas!"  (Look out, Master!), the white men looked round and saw the Zulu driver up on his knees freeing himself from the reims.  In another moment he was standing up full height--a magnificent but most unwelcome sight: there was a thin line of froth along the half-opened mouth; the deep-set eyes glared out under eyebrows and forehead bunched into frowning wrinkles, as for a few seconds he leaned forward like a lion about to spring and scanned the men and oxen before him; and then as they watched him in breathless silence, he sprang lightly off the waggon, picked up a small dry stick as he landed, and ran up along the span. He spoke to the after-ox by name as he passed; called to another, and touched it into place; thrust his way between the next one and the dazed white man standing near it, tossing him aside with a brush of his arm, as a ploughshare spurns a sod; and then they saw how the boy's madness had taken him.  His work and his span had called to him in his delirium; and he had answered.  With low mutterings, short words hissed out, and all the sounds and terms the cattle knew shot at them--low-pitched and with intense repression--he ran along the span, crouching low all the time like a savage stealing up for murderous attack. The two white men stood back and watched. Reaching the front oxen, he grasped the leading reim and pulled them round until they stood level for the straight pull out; then down the other side of the span he ran with cat-like tread and activity, talking to each and straightening them up as he had done with the others; and when he reached the waggon again, he turned sharply and overlooked the span.  One ox had swung round and stood out of line; there was a pause of seconds, and then the big Zulu called to the ox by name--not loudly but in a deep low tone, husky with intensity--and the animal swung back into line again. Then out of the silence that followed came an electrifying yell to the span: every bullock leaned to its yoke, and the waggon went out with a rush. And he drove them at a half-trot all the way to the store: without water; without help; without consciousness; the little dry twig still in his hand, and only his masterful intensity and knowledge of his work and span to see him through. "A mad troublesome savage," said Harry Williams, "but one of the very best.  Anyhow, we thought so; he saved us!" There was something very familiar in this, and it was with a queer feeling of pride and excitement that I asked: "Did he ever say to you `My catchum lion 'live'?" "By gum!  You know him?  Jim: Jim Makokel'!" "Indeed I do.  Good old Jim!" Years afterwards Jim was still a driver, working when necessary, fighting when possible, and enjoying intervals of lordly ease at his kraal where the wives and cattle stayed and prospered.

Jock Of The Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick (Chapter 25)( Page 7 ) Our Last Hunt

In the morning we found the waggon still in the drift, although partly hidden by the flood, but the force of the stream had half-floated and half-forced it round on to higher ground; only the anchoring chain had saved it.  We had to wait some hours for the river to run down, and then to my relief the rested but staggering oxen pulled it out at the first attempt. Rooiland, the light red ox with blazing yellow eyes and topped horns, fierce and untamable to the end, was in the lead then.  I saw him as he took the strain in that last pull, and it was pitiful to see the restless eager spirit fighting against the failing strength: he looked desperate.  The thought seems fanciful--about a dumb animal--and perhaps it is; but what happened just afterwards makes it still vivid and fitted in very curiously with the superstitious notions of the boys.  We outspanned in order to re-pack the loads, and Rooiland, who as front ox was the last to be released, stood for a few moments alone while the rest of the cattle moved away; then turning his back on them he gave a couple of low moaning bellows and walked down the road back to the drift again.  I had no doubt it was to drink; but the boys stopped their work and watched him curiously, and some remarks passed which were inaudible to me.  As the ox disappeared down the slope into the drift, Jim called to his leader to bring him back, and then turning to me, added with his usual positiveness, "Rooiland is mad.  Umtagati!  Bewitched!  He is looking for the dead ones.  He is going to die to-day!" The boy came back presently alone.  When he reached the drift, he said, Rooiland was standing breast-high in the river, and then in a moment, whether by step or slip, he was into the flood and swept away.  The leader's account was received by the others in absolute silence: a little tightening of the jaws and a little brightening of the eyes, perhaps, were all I could detect.  They were saturated with superstition, and as pagan fatalists they accepted the position without a word.  I suggested to Jim that it was nothing but a return of Rooiland's old straying habit, and probed him with questions, but could get nothing out of him; finally he walked off with an expressive shake of the head and the repetition of his former remark, without a shade of triumph, surprise, or excitement in his voice: "He is looking for the dead ones!" We were out of the fly then, and the next day we  reached Fig Tree. That was the end of the last trek.  Only three oxen reached Barberton, and they died within the week: the ruin was complete.