On Safari With Karen 26 May 2015

26 May 2015

Another day of game drives gave us an excellent, and greatly appreciated, sighting of a white rhino. But our surprise sighting today were two lionesses walking in front of the car for quite some time.

We were told about it by a member of the public and upon arrival at the scene one lioness was lying on the side of the road in the shade while the other was standing in the road. Soon they both started walking again. After seeing their hindquarters for a while we managed to pass them for some amazing side view pictures and some frontal shots, while the lionesses were walking towards us and past us again. When passing us they were so close that if we put out a hand we could have patted them on the head! After repeating this twice, the lionesses seemed undeterred and kept on walking their route and we left them to it.

At the end of our morning we watched a bachelor group of impalas having a go at each other. Testosterone levels running high, it seemed like there were a couple of them trying to fight with everyone else. Some took the bait and fought back while others took a run for it and they got chased around the open area. It was like watching a game of tag with lots of grunting and growling noises! But the running and jumping impalas and the fights were quite a show :-).

Other interesting sightings: crocodile, hippo, southern ground hornbills, lots of elephants, small buffalo herd, zebras photo bombing our rhino sighting, giraffes (from the front this time and in the afternoon the same old bloke as yesterday walking in front of us at a leisurely pace) and more zebras photo bombing one of our morning giraffe sightings, two spoonbills, warthogs running away, a solo vervet monkey, kudus, bushbuck, tree squirrels, a reedbuck, a grey duiker and klipsringer

On Safari With Karen From 1 July 2014

1 July 2014

When we arrived at the Kruger Park today, the zebras were just leaving the waterhole close to Numbi Gate. We continued our drive to Nkambeni where we checked in and had a bit of lunch before we went out for our first game drive.

On Albassini road we found our first but certainly not last impalas. A nice herd of females was standing in the shade. The redbilled oxpeckers flew up twittering loud about the possible danger we could be to the impalas. The impalas were unperturbed and only wiggled their ears at us.

Down at Mestel Dam it seemed to be busy hour. An elephant was grazing in the reeds on one side, while about 9 hippos were making themselves comfortable on the shore on the other side. And while sitting there we also spotted two giraffes and a fish eagle in a tree that was calling to its mate that was flying overhead. We continued towards Mestel overflow where waterbucks were grazing in the riverbed, two white-backed ducks swam past (a first for me!), and both a malachite and a pied kingfisher were looking for fish from a reed stalk.

Then we saw a swarm of white-backed vultures being blown past the Mestel overflow. We followed the road and came to a couple of trees full with more white-backed vultures that just had their fill of meat. Their crops bulging they sat in the trees preening. We also heard a lot more screeching noises going on down below them, which was just in a ditch out of sight for us, but we assumed more vultures were there consuming the leftovers. As we had recently seen fresh lion tracks we also deduced this was probably their abandoned kill. They had eaten their fill and then made their way to the water to drink. Unfortunately they had then long disappeared into the bush.

We turned onto Shabeni where we saw two warthogs, one on each side of the road for us, vervet monkeys and kudus. We continued on the tar road towards Napi where we saw more vervet monkeys and two young elephant bulls feeding. A family of dwarf mongoose was sunning themselves on a dirt road loop. They all jumped up and scurried away, when another car drove quickly past. A little further on an even larger family of banded mongoose was running back and forth over the road in front. However, less brave than their dwarf relative, not hanging around close to our vehicle.

A visit to Shithave Dam added waterbucks, a crocodile, terrapins, hippo heads bobbing in the water to our sightings checklist. Then we started making our way back to camp with a lovely sighting of a white rhino and a quickly running away duiker. We spotted another elephant but as soon as he spotted us having cameras he wanted none of that and showed us his butt. On the last stretch of camp road we also saw buffalos hiding in the high grass and another elephant, this one a bit more compliant for picture taking!

It was a very good start for our first day, bring on tomorrow!

 

2 July 2014

Early this morning we started first with a loop around Circle Road. Here we saw a glimpse of a reedbuck, zebras, three buffalo bulls and a little further on we came across a small herd of buffalos that was just waking up. We then took a loop around the Shabeni Koppies where we spotted a large family of baboons on the rock. The older ones were sunning themselves, while the youngsters were playing "tag" and running around like crazy. Around the corner a klipspringer couple was feeding while one was the look-out. Then a herd of buffalo was crossing the road. They had started crossing a while before as we just caught the end of the herd, but we got some nice pictures of bulls and mothers with their calves.

We bounced up Albassini road coming across an elephant feeding, more zebras, impalas and two giraffes. Those giraffes were very curious and kept on coming closer and in the end walked away from us on the road behind us. We saw four more giraffes feeding on Doispane on our way to Nyamundwa Dam. At the dam it was not that busy this early morning, but a couple of fish eagles was sitting in a tree and an African darter was drying his wings after a swim.

We then had to stop at Phabeni Gate as we had to say goodbye to Gina and Elena, who were going back to Johannesburg to continue the rest of their holiday. Thanks for joining us!

On Safari With Karen From 27 June 2014

27 June 2014

Before we reached the Kruger Park today we had already spotted some wildlife, as some brave baboons crossed the road in between all the holiday traffic. We then entered the park through Phabeni Gate, almost straight away spotting a herd of buffalo. They were lounging in the riverbed, on both sides of the bridge.

While continuing on Doispane we saw impalas, malachite kingfisher, kudus and wildebeest. We made a stop at Nyamundwa Dam where a big bull elephant was just having a drink. He splashed around with the water, so we started hoping he would go swimming, but no such luck. At the opposite side of the elephant there was a group of hippos standing outside the water. We also saw a fish eagle and white breasted comorants as well as an African darter.

We followed Doispane again where we encountered zebras, more wildebeest, lilac breasted rollers, dark chanting goshawk, and two beautiful kudu bulls.

We turned down onto Watergat where we stopped for two elephant bulls walking on our right. While positioning the car nicely we also got to see a giraffe on our left. We stood here for a while seeing 7 giraffes in total on the left, another one on the right passing the two bull elephants, which, by the way, didn't even greet, and also a nice large herd of impalas. Later on we saw more kudus, yellow billed hornbills, a tree squirrel, cape glossy starlings, a water monitor and a sounder of warthogs that was so startled by our appearance they took a run for it.

We were lucky of seeing the orphaned hyena cub outside one of his dens. For being an orphan he looks rather well. Then it became rather quiet. Not even the impalas were showing. We did however get a glimpse of the back of a rhino and a twitch of an ear, but he didn't comply in showing his full greatness.

We made a quick turn into Shabeni to see a lovely red-purple-blue sunset. But when the sun had set it had taken all the warmth with, so we retreated to Pretoriuskop, our camp for tonight.

28 June 2014

After yesterday's windy day we woke up to an overcast morning. We had a quick breakfast before we set off as soon as the gates opened. It was still dark, so that brought a lot of suspense. The first thing we saw was a scrub hare caught in the headlights. He got scared by us and zigzagged over the road, so we gave him some space and turned off our lights.

When he was gone, we drove on, taking a loop around Shabeni Koppies. It was still quiet in the morning. We studied some elephant and buffalo tracks as well as hyena tracks, rhino middens, buffalo and elephant dung, but we didn't see animals.

By now it had gotten light and we turned across the road towards Fayi Loop. There, hidden in the long grass, we saw a herd of buffalos still sleeping in the early morning. In the dark, we had driven straight past them, but they were only about two meters away from the road. One by one they slowly got up and stretched their legs.

Continuing our drive we spotted an elephant, with zebras on the opposite side of the road. While watching those we heard the funny whistling call of a reedbuck, but did not see him. We also came across multiple waterbuck sightings and a common grey duiker.
 
Continuing on we spotted 4 white rhinos in the high grass. They were grazing noisily as we heard all the plucking and chomping. They were slowly walking towards a fire break so we waited on the road to see if they would show in the open area. And this time we were lucky. Not only did all four of them show their full greatness, two of them kept grazing and came closer and closer to the vehicle. One was so close we could almost touch him!

Then we had to leave them as we had to make our way to Nelspruit to make a transfer to Jo'burg.

We spotted two more rhinos hidden in the high grass, but time had run out. It was a short safari, but I hope Christina, Laura and Christina nonetheless had a great time!!

KNP GATE QUOTAS SET FOR THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Day Visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) are requested to take note of gate quotas when planning their visit, as these will strictly be enforced during the coming school holidays which start on Saturday, 28 June until Sunday, 20 July 2014.

Visitors are advised to either arrive at the gate very early in the morning because the serv...ice is on “first come first served” basis or pre-book their entrance with central reservations office on telephone number 012 428 9111 in order to ensure that they gain access to the park in terms of their own plan and are not sent back at the gate.

“Our gates have experienced a high volume of visitors during the past holidays, reaching their full daily quota fairly early in the day; therefore we are calling on everyone who is planning to visit the park as a day visitor to please make the necessary arrangement before hand in order to secure entry”, said the GM: Communication & Marketing in the KNP, William Mabasa.

Pre-booking comes with a non-refundable deposit of R32 per adult and R16 per child entering the park; which must be paid in advance and is meant to ensure their space because they would have been counted in the number that made the daily quota. Day visitors with advanced bookings are expected to arrive at the booked gate and date by not later than 13:00, after which the booking lapses. A pre-booking however does not exempt the day visitor from paying the normal conservation fees upon arrival at the gate but secures him/her entry.

All visitors are also reminded to bring along their identity documents (IDs) or alternative form of identity to avoid problems at the gates. Wild Cards cannot be used to identify one as legitimate holder and should be accompanied by some form of identity.

Mabasa also reminded visitors not to bring liquor with them as the alcohol ban on public areas in the Park is a permanent rule which is enforced at all times; and the rest of the Park rules shall be fully enforced as well. Visitors can report any rules and regulations infringement to the Emergency Call Centres on 013 735 4325/013 735 0197 or 076 801 9679.

Day Visitors, who may not be able to gain entry because the quota shall have been reached, can if they wish, make use of the park and ride a facility which is available at some gates. The park and ride will cost visitors extra money but should be better than having to be turned back at the gate.

“We also request visitors to plan their trip by observing gate opening and closing times so that they do not find themselves either speeding or arriving late at the camps/gates on their way in/out of the park. People must please read their permits received at the gates because all the rules and regulations of the park are clearly stipulated in those documents,” concluded Mabasa.

KNP has 10 entrance gates i.e. Pafuri, Punda Maria, Phalaborwa, Giriyondo, Orpen, Paul Kruger, Phabeni, Numbi, Malelane and Crocodile Bridge.

For interest, the upgraded museum at Skukuza Camp which was temporarily closed for renovation since December 2012 will be open for tourists; as from Monday, 30 June 2014.

… Ends

Issued by:
Communications & Marketing Department - Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4262, cell: 082 807 1441 or email: laura.mukwevho@sanparks.org

Enquiries:
William Mabasa, GM: Communications & Marketing - Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919 or email: william.mabasa@sanparks.org

Hawks Swoop On Rhino Horn Poachers

The Hawks arrested three suspects for possession of a rhino horn in Atteridgville outside Pretoria.

The trio was apprehended yesterday morning and expected to appear in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court today. Hawks spokesperson, Capt Paul Ramaloko, said the local police spotted a vehicle during a routine patrol and pulled over a suspicious vehicle.

“Upon ...searching the vehicle, police found the rhino horn wrapped in a sheet and shelved inside the car bonnet. “We suspect that these suspects, who hail from Hammanskraal, were coming from Limpopo were we recently got a report of poached rhinos,” he said.

In a separate incident, another three suspected rhino poachers are expected to appear in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court today for a formal bail application.

A fourth suspect was also arrested in connection with the same case and will also appear in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court together with his accomplices.

The suspects, aged between 36 to 41 were arrested last week after police received information that a rhino had been poached inside the farm in Alldays.

Police, led by members of the Hawks, raced to the farm, surrounded it and after an extensive search the suspects were cornered and arrested in possession of two rhino horns, a ·375 rifle and an axe.

The suspects are facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, poaching of a rhino, possession of rhino horns and trespassing.

Meanwhile, three suspects aged between 29 to 42 held for suspected rhino poaching last week Friday, in an intelligence- led operation between crime intelligrence and Vaalwater detectives, have been denied bail by the Vaalwater Periodical Magistrate pending their next appearance on June 25.

A Toyota tazz, a ·416 rifle with a silencer, an axe and a saw were seized from the suspects. Since the start of the year, 442 rhinos have been poached in South Africa and 123 suspected poachers arrested.

The Kruger National Park has lost 293 rhinos to poachers, with 56 people, including a former ranger and two policemen, being arrested for poaching.

By:
The New Age newspaper

Latest Safari Photos

Hyena Pup

Elephant herd

Lions on a Giraffe kill

Cheetah's

For More Photos Follow the Link https://www.facebook.com/nhongosafaris Dont forget to "Like" us!!

On Safari With Mark From 16 May 2014

16 May 2014

Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Shabeni loop - Fiaya loop - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, warthog, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, rhino, elephant, common Rheedbuck, hippos and waterbuck

Highlights:

On the morning drive we came across a serval cub 100m from napi on the Voortrekker link road. Sad to say, but it seemed it wasn't doing well and rejected by mom as it was all alone. We spent some time with it and although it was alone, it seemed it had sufficient energy to come strolling next to the car and investigate what we were all about. Guests got good photos of this small and amazing cat and once everyone was happy to see it we moved on with the game drive towards skukuza for a coffee break.

Further to this, the day’s game viewing was rather quiet and nothing else spectacular happened to report on.

We hope for a much better day tomorrow

 

17 May 2014

Route: Napi - Watergat - River road - Albaseni - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, waterbuck, hippos, warthog, common duiker, vervet monkeys, chackma baboons, zebra, giraffe, elephant and rhinos

Highlights: Although the day was very quiet for us, we managed to find a male cheetah walking on the road approximately 1kms from Doispan on the Albaseni. It seemed that he was starting a hunt as all focus was on a herd of impala in the distance. As he moved off, we lost visual due to the tall grass, however guests were pleased to have spotted their first cat on safari and have some amazing photos of this wonderful animal.

Tomorrow we try for Lions and Leopards.

 

18 May 2014

Route: Napi - H3 - Afsaal - H3 - Doispan - Albaseni - Nkambeni

General animals seen: impala, waterbuck, kudu, warthog, common duiker, giraffe, zebra, hippos, Nile crocodile, buffalo, elephant, rhino, vervet monkeys and chackma baboons.

Highlights: a large breeding herd of elephant was spotted on the H3 7kms from afsaal. Guests love watching this herd edge closer to the road, eventually being led by the bull in full musth across, where guests could get great photos of this herd together.

No cats spotted for us today.

 

19 May 2014

Route: Napi - Doispan - Albaseni - Fiay loop - Nkambeni

General animals seen: the same as above with the exception of steenbok and common Rheedbuck

Highlights: on Napi we found a sable bull and spent time with him as he contemplated the cross over the road. After a while he walked out in full view of all guests and we all got excellent photos.

Down the road we found a single male wild dog running down the road calling for the rest of the pack. We turned the car around and followed him as he searched. After a couple of minutes he turned off into thick bush and we lost sight of him.

Still down napi we found 3 male cheetah walking next to the road scent marking their territory. We also spent time with them enjoying the view and taking many different photos of these beautiful cats. Although still no lions all the guests enjoyed the sightings we had today.

 

More coming soon!!

On Safari With Mark From 5 May 2014

5 May 2014

Route: Skukuza - Elloff - Lower Sabi - Elloff -

General animals seen: impala, kudu, giraffe, hippos, crocodile, buffalo, elephant

Highlights: on our drive to lower sabi we found two wild dogs that had just killed a impala. They enjoyed themselves and we could literally see their stomachs swell as they devoured the antelope. The guests loved it and brilliant photos were taken.

For the afternoon drive it was really quiet with very little seen.

Hope to get some Lions out close to the road on our route to Satara.

6 May 2014

Route: Skukuza - Tshokwane tar - Satara - Orpen gate road

General animals seen: impala, kudu, warthog, giraffe, waterbuck, hippos, elephants

Highlights: On route to Satara we stopped at the baobab tree, which guests loved to see and took photos of Africa's largest tree.

Before we booked in we decided to head down the Orpen gate road for the first 5km and found 3 wild dogs lying in the open. We then moved on and opposite Nsemani dam we found a male and female lion on honeymoon. As we switched off the car, the female got up with the male right behind her and walked out onto the road right past our car. Guests loved it and many photos were taken. Some out of focus as the lions were too close to the vehicle. Great sighting anyway 

Keep watching for more!

Tour Opetators

South Africa And Mozambique Reach Deal To Fight Rhino Poaching

South Africa signed an anti-poaching agreement on Thursday with Mozambique, a major transit route for rhino horn trafficked to Asia.

Mozambique is a prime source of illegal hunters hired and armed by transnational crime syndicates to cross the border into South Africa to kill rhino.

The Kruger National Park shares a long border wit...h Mozambique and has borne the brunt of rhino poaching in recent years.

So far this year a total 293 rhino have been killed in South Africa with nearly half of the attacks in the Kruger Park, despite the deployment of troops to protect them.

The agreement "entails us working together with Mozambique to eradicate rhino poaching... so that Mozambique is not used as a transit country", Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa told AFP.

The two countries agreed to share intelligence and jointly develop anti-poaching technology and education programmes.

Status symbol

Rhino horns are prized as a status symbol in Asia and mistakenly thought to possess medicinal properties to cure cancers and hangovers, even though they are composed of the same material as fingernails.

The poachers kill the rhino with semi-automatic rifles, hack off the horns for shipment to Asia and cross back into Mozambique, leaving the bodies to rot.

Mozambique early this month approved a law that will impose heavy penalties of up to 12 years on anybody convicted of rhino poaching.

"Previous laws did not penalise poaching, but we think this law will discourage Mozambicans who are involved in poaching," Mozambique's Tourism Minister Carvalho Muaria said at a ceremony to sign the agreement inside the Kruger National Park.

At least 46 Mozambicans, five of them policemen, have been arrested inside their own country this year alone for poaching.

Mozambique has also started relocating 1 250 families that were housed inside the Limpopo game park, which borders Kruger, and erected hundreds of kilometres of fence between the two areas.

South Africa is home to around 80% of the world's rhino population, estimated at more than 25 000.

Most live in the vast Kruger Park.

Legalising rhino trade

In 2007 only 13 rhino were reported poached in South Africa, but since then the numbers have increased exponentially every year.

South Africa has hinted it is now considering legalising the rhino horn trade in an attempt to limit illegal demand, allowing the sale of horns from rhino that have died of natural causes.

"Experts are working on structure to look at the stockpiles that we have and not bennefitting anybody, yet people are killing rhino for these horns that we have elsewhere," said Molewa.

It is a "proposal moving towards possible trade", she said, adding it could be one of the solutions to end the rhino slaughter.

"We do think that it could... just taking it from the lessons we have learnt from ivory. We did an ivory once-off sale" and elephant poaching has not been a problem since.

"We hope we'll be able to win this war," said Molewa.

By:
Agence France-Presse (AFP)

On Safari With Curtis From 17 April 2014

17 April 2014

This morning was the last of the tour and we had time for one last drive. We found Impala and Giraffe and then a White rhino, the resident male was standing in a drainage line so we had a great view of this wonderful animal. We drove around and spotted the Buffalo which are often seen up on the rocks but this time they had company in the shape of two White Rhino. We also found two Klipspringers on the rocks. I then got a message from Karen about a sighting at Cheetah pan so we made our way there. When we got there we found a Cheetah sat on atermite mount  sunning himself in the morning sun, we spent quite a while watching him before we moved on. Along Doispane we saw an African Fish eagle and a Slender mongoose before we got near to the dam. There we saw Impala, Wildebeest and Zebra. As we drove back to Phabeni we noticed a couple of Giraffe in the distance. Sadly it was now time to transfer Robert and Jill to Kmia for their flight to Port Elizabeth. Thanks to all my guests on this tour, we have had so many wonderful sightings in the last few days and I'm sure everyone has enjoyed it as much as me!

 

 

18 April 2014

 

I collected 8 new guests ready and eager for their Kruger experience. After settling in at the lodge it was straight onto their sunset drive. Everyone enjoyed the evening as they had perfect weather, a lovely sunset and got to see White Rhino, Owls, Impala and Buffalo.

 

 

19 April 2014

 

This morning we set out aiming to carry on the good work from last night. Even on camp road we spotted alone Giraffe we moved on down Napi and found plenty of Impala, Kudu and a nice group of Waterbuck. Later on we had stopped at an Elephant sighting when I heard about a Cheetah sighting not too far away. I made my way there and found him lying under an Acacia tree. We waited a while and he eventually popped up his head and sat up and had a look around. My guests had to be quick to get some photos before he lay back down in the tall grass. We also heard about some Wild dog further down the road but when we got there they were lying in the bush with no sign off them, also the traffic had built up so I decided to head for a coffee break.

After the break we headed back to the wild dogs and were in luck as two of them had moved right next to the road and in full visual, the traffic had also left so we were able to spend a good amount of time with them. Heading down to Afsaal for lunch was fairly quiet until we spotted an Elephant next to the road, after closer inspection we could see that it was a whole family and so we waited for them to come closer which they did do. They took their time but eventually crossed the road in front of us. At lunch I heard about another sighting and went straight there after lunch. We found two female Lions by the side of the road both sleeping, every now and again one of them popped her head up and then our patience was rewarded when she stood up and moved closer to her companion. As we headed back to the lodge we found more Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo and a quick glance as a large Warthog ran out in front of us. We also got to see a Common Duiker before it ran off into the bush.

A good start to this tour with, hopefully, more to come tomorrow.

 

20 April 2014

 

As soon as we left the lodge this morning we bumped straight into the territorial white rhino male who was happily dozing in a sandy donga. We also got three giraffe soon after. Onto Napi and again it was fairly quiet at times but we did see plenty of Kudu and Impala. Further along we found a couple of elephant sightings and a large herd of Buffalo, unfortunately the heavy bush stopped us having a good look. We took a detour down to transport dam and found the hippos in the water and a medium sized croc floating close by. There were also Kudu and Waterbuck at the dam as well a family of Zebra who crossed over in front of us. After the dam we came upon a couple of Hyena playing with a kudu horn but they soon disappeared into the bush. Not much down Watergat except for the odd impala, kudu and lots of yellow-billed hornbill and cape glossy starlings. We headed down to the golf club for a drink and stretch of the legs and sat and watched the hippos in the water and the warthog running across the 9th hole.

After the break we headed down Doispane where we came across a herd of elephants, most had already crossed the road but a few still had and we got some pictures when they did. We also saw Vervet monkeys sitting up in a marula tree grooming one another. As we carried on we saw plenty more Impala, kudu and zebra as well hippos and Saddle-billed stork at Nyamundwa dam. We also had a brief glimpse of a large male baboon before he disappeared into the grass, we looked around for others but no luck.

 

This afternoon we set off with down Albasini and found hippos, at mestel dam, along with terrapins resting on their back, we found the resident buffalos on the rocks at shabeni as well as klipspringers. We then drove down circle where we found a large bull elephant coming towards us. With nowhere to go we stood our ground as he walked closer to us, he wasn't very happy with us as a roadblock and made his feeling clear with a few headshakes and scraping his trunk along the road but he finally moved off. We then came to a lovely sighting of dwarf mongooses who were playing and scurrying around the road, taking no notice of us they kept on running across the road and then running past the vehicle with a few having a cheeky look up at us. Then we caught glimpse of a slender mongoose at the same place who was abruptly chased off by three of the dwarf mongooses.

 

 

21 April 2014

 

It was the final day of the tour for four of my guests and after a couple of very long exciting days they decided to have a sleep in and we said goodbye to them at Numbi gate. Myself and my remaining four guests went out for the day and it turned out to be a great day. The day was an elephant day as we had sighting after sighting of Elephants. Big solitary bulls, bachelor groups and the family herds. One particular family herd sighting stood out, we found a family of about 10 standing right next to each other under the cover of Acacia bushes. We managed to creep right up to them without disturbing or upsetting them, turned off the engine and watched their interactions. While some dozed in the midday heat others were busy giving themselves, and others, a dust bath. Every now and again the matriarch would lift her trunk to check us out but never concerned herself with us. We were able to watch this beautiful sighting for more than 15 minutes. During the rest of the day we found plenty of good sightings of Rhino, buffalo, impala, kudu, warthog, giraffe, waterbuck, zebra, wild dog and honey badger as well as birds such as the lilac-breasted roller, yellow-billed hornbill, Southern -ground hornbill and the saddle-billed storks, which seem to be following me around recently.

However the day belonged to the elephants!!!!

 

On Safari With Karen From 10 April 2014

10 April 2014

Upon arrival in the park we instantly spotted some lone maleimpalas. As breeding season is starting soon, more and more males will be excluded from the herds by stronger ones and they will start forming bachelor groups. These males were still too young to breed, so now they are on their own. Furthermore we saw a small dung beetle rolling its ball of dung, pushing it through the wet sand and up the side of the road. It really took some effort as the dung ball kept on rolling of course with dung beetle and all.

This first day the guests went on their sundowner safari, so there was some time to relax before the drive left. The guests were very lucky on their first drive. They saw buffalos, an elephant crossing the road, kudu, a chameleon, a martial eagle and lions twice!

 

11 April 2014

We left after breakfast, just when a downpour started. Within a couple of seconds we were drenched, but the impalas didn't seem to mind. We also saw a white rhino lying in a drainage line and the rain water was pooling all around him.

We drove down Napi and luckily the rain started to lessen. We saw a waterbuck cross the road just before Shitlhave Dam and a little further on was a harem of zebra. The youngsters were quite skittish, but the adults didn't mind their picture taken.

On the way to Skukuza we also spotted kudu, black chested snake eagle, bateleur, klipspringer and more zebras.

After our coffee break we were surprised by a large herd of buffalo just past Skukuza. We hoped they would cross the road, but no such luck.

We then drove down Doispane and Albassini back to our lodge. Doispane was very good for viewing leopard tortoises as we saw many in different sizes. We also were surprised by a black mamba that suddenly crossed the road in front of the car. He sped up as soon as he felt us coming but we all got a glimpse.

Ground hornbills are the most endangered birds in the Kruger National Park and today was the first time this year we spotted them on safari. A little group of five walked through the high grass, their heads just visible. We stayed with them for a bit until they were completely engulfed in the vegetation.

Furthermore we spotted blue wildebeest, lilac breasted roller, warthog, hippos, terrapin, two kudu bulls and more waterbuck on our morning drive.

In the afternoon we started with the already pretty common impalas and then a little group of kudu females. Down Napi towards Shitlhave Dam we spotted a mother elephant with two young generations. It is not usual to see them by themselves in such a small group, but there was no herd in sight. At Shitlhave Dam two hippos were playing in the water. On the way back we took a little loop at Pretoriuskop as people had told us they just saw a leopard there, but alas it had disappeared. We did however see a couple of vervet monkeys in the trees.

 

12 April 2014

This morning we drove past the impalas on camp road and turned onto Albassini. It was pretty quiet. We spotted tracks and signs of zebra, buffalo, elephant and hyena but the only animal we actually saw were three elephants far in the bush.

Just before we reached Doispane we saw vervet monkeys in the trees next to the road playing in the morning sun. We watched for a while and then continued towards Nyamundwa Dam where the hippos were playing noisily. Upon return towards Albassini we saw a small herd of wildebeest, three giraffes, and a slender mongoose crossing the road.

Back on Albassini we had a lovely sighting of a family of dwarf mongoose. Then suddenly all the mongoose scurried away and we wondered why until a big elephant came walking around the corner. He was followed by another one and we watched those two bulls feeding for quite some time. One was quite grumpy and even had a teaser fight with the younger elephant.

After a break at Pretoriuskop we also spotted a black headed oriole, black collared barbet, African hoopoe, a large group of banded mongoose, some more dwarf mongoose and two kudu bulls.

In the afternoon we started again with the impalas on camp road. We drove around Shabeni Loop spotting a klipspringer standing guard on the rock and had a buffalo take a run at us through a drainage line and the high grass to stop in front of us and start feeding. Further on we saw two more.

On the way to Circle Road we were lucky in spotting a sable antelope. He got surprised by our stop and swiftly crossed the road behind us and disappeared into the bush. It was a short but special sighting as sables are really secretive and rare to see.

The highlight of the day however was the next sighting. On Circle road we spotted a cat walking in front of us, and with the help of binoculars it was identified as a leopard. Upon seeing us though, he jumped into the grass and disappeared from view. We parked up where we saw him last and waited... It paid off! After a longish wait we heard a rustle and then the leopard came back on to the road in front of us! He looked back a couple of times and assured of our distance and non threat he laid down in the middle of the road and had a little play with a branch and a roll. He then got up and kept on walking. We followed at a distances, keeping him in view while he sniffed around and jumped around the puddles in the road. It was a brilliant sighting and we all loved the ending of this day!!

 

13 April 2014

This morning we set out right after an early breakfast for our morning safari. When we turned into Albassini we spotted a nice flock of guineafowls lying on the road. Once they all had gotten up they kept on running in front of the car for about 500m before going into the bush on the side of the road. Eish, talk about morning gymnastics! We also saw a herd of impalas and some lone buffalo bulls, both in the middle of the road as well, but they moved off a bit quicker than the guineafowls.

At Mestel Dam we saw an island of hippos, a fish eagle in a tree and a herd of waterbuck. One of the waterbuck was leucist, so he stood out against the others.

We stopped for what initially were two rhinos in the high grass on the side of the road, until a third one joined them. Judging by their reactions it was a mother with a youngster that got checked out by the bull of the area. On Shabeni rocks we saw a large troop of baboons.

Towards Pretoriuskop a warthog played model for us, showing off all his good sides. Basically he showed every side of him though. On the little loop we encounter some dwarf mongoose, that got a little curious about us when we stopped to watch them warm up in the morning sun. And just in the end of the loop we saw a mother giraffe with a very little baby, approximately only a week old. The little one was still working on her coordination as it walked straight into a branch as it tried to follow the mother quickly when she walked off. We had a little chuckle, but mostly she was plain cute!

We then had to say goodbye to Chris and Bruce, who had joined us on a 3-day safari, as well as to the Hulsen family who spend 4 days on safari with us. Sad to see you go, but hopefully you'll be back someday!

In the afternoon we went out for a short bumble on the savannah with the remaining guests. We drove to Shitlhave Dam and back, with a loop around Shabeni just in case. Mostly we talked about the conservation and management of a vast natural area like the Kruger NP, but we also stopped for a buffalo on the side of the road, vervet monkeys displaying why it is called a blue monkey in Afrikaans and some nice kudus. At Shitlhave Dam we saw some young waterbucks, a terrapin, a crocodile on the rock on the side, and the nostrils of a hippo. The loop around Shabeni gave us no new animals this time, just the family of three klipspringers on top, more vervet monkeys and a herd of impalas.

All in all still a good day!

On Safari With Karen From 18 March 2014

18 March 2014

After picking up the guests at the airport we drove to the Kruger Park through all the plantations. We decided to first check in at Nkambeni and got our first animal sighting on the way to the camp: a herd of impalas. After a quick look around at Nkambeni we went straight on safari. On camp road we encountered those same impalas.

We went up the tar road spotting some nice birds like white fronted bee eaters and fighting fork tail drongos. We saw two white rhinoceros grazing, paying little notice of us watching them. A little further on was where all the action was. We saw a warthog close to the road and a mixed herd of impala and kudu. When we drove closer we noticed that four of the kudus were intently watching and listening in the same direction. We took our binos and stared into the same direction not seeing anything. But when we were about to continue one of the impalas barked an alarm call and all of them moved back and closer together and then started to watch intently again. Almost certain there must be something there, we reversed to higher ground and scouted in the direction it must be. The warthog didn't pay much attention and kept on munching and walking into that direction. We were watching the warthog when suddenly a shape walked onto an open spot having a quick overall look, spooking the kudus and then turning into a crouch and it went behind the bush. It was there, we all saw it. But trying to find it back in the high grass in between the bushes, that turned out to be impossible. We stared and stared and waited for about 30min. Nothing. Even the impalas and kudus started to relax again. So finally we decided to continue...

On the loop we also spotted a family of dwarf mongoose playing out in the street and 2 buffalo relaxing. We drove around a loop near Pretoriuskop without seeing anything but a lonely impala. Then we decided to have a quick look again there where the action was, but no luck. The impalas, kudus and warthog as well as their stalker all gone. We did see the two white rhinos again though and they were much more visible this time around.

We then returned to Nkambeni as it was nearing closing time. On camp road we spotted a brilliant kudu bull, 3 more buffalo in the high grass and we got stuck behind a herd of impala. They had not a care in the world that we actually wanted to pass and they walked in front of us for almost a kilometre! Then one by one they finally went off the road and we enter the camp just in time for closing. It was a good start!

 

19 March 2014

This morning Alex and Kelly went on the bushwalk, which was a great success. Apart from all kinds of tracks, a sable skull, various interesting spiders and the not so welcome ticks, they were also lucky enough to come across a large herd of buffalo, white rhino and impalas.

While they were walking around the bush, I took Will and Melanie, who had been doing their safari with Curtis, out for a short drive before having to go to Nelspruit for their transfer. It was really misty and a bit cold when we left just before 6am. Just outside the gate we spotted a herd of impalas and a little further on a common grey duiker. When we got to the tar road after a couple of kilometres we saw a buffalo grazing right next to the road.

We then turned onto Napi and spotted a herd of zebra with two youngsters close to Shitlhave Dam. We drove Napi until the Boulders where we had to turn around as we were running out of time. The mist had cleared a bit so we could see a bit more of the bush but it stayed rather quiet unfortunately. On the last stretch we managed to see a slender mongoose and just before the gate some dwarf mongoose as well. But then it was time to say goodbye to the Kruger Park and hit the road. I hope even though it was a slow morning Melanie and Will had a great safari with us!

Before the sundowner was happening for Kelly and Alex this afternoon, we decided to go on a little bumble around the park to see if we could find some more animals. On camp road we drove into the middle of quite a large troop if baboons, which were shy and disappeared in the thick bush when they spotted the car. Also we spotted the ever present impalas.

On the tar road we saw kudus. We went down the dirt road towards Fayi Loop, taking a loop around Pretoriuskop. We spotted vervet monkeys lazying around in a tree just after the turn off and a waterbuck well hidden in the bush. Then on the way back to the tar road we spotted an elephant that most likely just had crossed the road. We watched him feeding for a while before we continued. We then came across a family of dwarf mongoose on the side of the road. Some were adventures and stared back at us and one even came close to the car to investigate.

Back on Napi we drove towards Shitlhave Dam. We had found fresh buffalo tracks back where we came from leading out of the loop, and after about a 100m on the tar we spotter three dagga boys together near the stream. While watching the buffalos with the red-billed oxpeckers hanging at the ears, we saw a leopard tortoise cross the road up ahead.

At Shitlhave Dam it was quiet, even the crocodile that was lying on the little sandy beach that is left after the high water level didn't move an inch.

We returned towards Numbi gate for the start of the sundowner. On the way seeing more kudus, the same buffalos, pretty European rollers, white fronted bee eater so close it almost flew into the car, one of the last woodlands kingfishers, Cape glossy starlings.

On Safari With Curtis from 11 March 2014

11 March 2014

We left early and headed for shabeni  loop hoping to find the Leopards we saw last night and we were in luck as we found mum and cub sitting together on the rock. We carried on around the rock and found Baboons, Klipspringer and Cape Buffalo. We headed down Napi and found Impala, Kudu and Elephant. We then came across a pack of Wild dog, we saw two at first and then another three got up and moved around. After leaving the Wild dogs we carried on down Napi and found , at Delaporte, a traffic jam, the result of apparently Lions having made a kill. There was no way we were going to see the Lions with so many cars around so I decided to go to Skukuza for a coffee break and then try again on the way back.

After the break we headed back to the Lion sighting and although there were a lot of cars not as many as before, We sat in the jam and saw a Male lion heading up the road, as all the cars moved forward we positioned ourselves up on the bridge and waited. Suddenly the Lion moved into the opening and crossed over the river, if that wasn't good enough he started to walk closely towards the cars and we had a great view of him. Then three more Male Lions appeared into the open and crossed the river, a great sighting which we were in prime position to watch. On the other side of the bridge lay the remains of a Kudu bull with plenty of very full Vultures. We moved on, giving others a chance to see, and stopped briefly again at the Wild dogs before continuing back down Napi. We made a detour to visit Transport dam and found the hippos in the water and then one of the guests spotted the Crocodile sitting at the waters edge. Back up on the road we stopped at a known Hyena den and found a couple of Hyenas just sitting outside. Further along we saw more rhino, more Impala as well as Vervet monkeys, Dwarf Mongoose and a Tree squirrel running down the road when we had stopped to look at a Yellow-billed Hornbill. Just before we got to Numbi gate I decided to take another look on Shabeni for the Leopards and they were still lying on the rock, then suddenly one of the guests said he saw something up higher in the rocks, we all looked to find a third Leopard sat at the entrance of a small cave. It turned out mum and cub was mum and two cubs. After leaving we even had time for a quick look a couple of Dung beetles rolling their balls home before we headed to Numbi gate.

The time had come for some of my guests to leave Kruger and carry on with their travels. Thank you to all of you for your company and I'm sure you enjoyed the amazing sightings we had over the last few days as much as I did.

My last remaining guests are on a sundowner drive tonight, more details about that tomorrow.

 

12 March 2014

Last night the guests had a very pleasant sundowner drive, with the sun shining they saw a beautiful sunset made even better with a glass or two of Amarula. They even got another look at the Leopards which have been hanging around Shabeni Loop as well as Rhino, Impala and Kudu.

The final day for the remaining guests of this tour and after several early starts and a couple of very long days they decided to have a sleep in today rather than go out on a final morning drive. I then drove them to Nelspruit for them to be transfered to Johannesburg. It has been a wonderful pleasure having Patricia, Stephane, Carl and Valentine on this tour, their enthusiasm for everything they saw made the time we spent together a delight and I am sure they will be back on safari one day.

 

 

On Safari With Mark From 10 March 2014

10 March 2014

Route: Doispan - Napi - Shabeni link - Albaseni - Nkambeni

General animals seen: kudu, giraffe, zebra, warthog, elephant, rhino, klipspringer, impala and waterbuck

On the way to camp Curtis called me and told me of a leopard sighting on shabeni which we responded to. Brilliant sighting of 2 leopards approximately 50m from each other with 1 having just caught a male impala and moving it towards a tree.

The other just climbed up onto the rock and lay down and watched us until it was time for us to leave due to gate closing times.

On our way back to camp we saw 2 male lions lying in the middle of the road just relaxing. Great photos taken by the guests.

At mestal dam we came across a large herd of buffalo crossing the albaseni after drinking water.

Guests are happy to have seen so much in the short time in Kruger. We wait to see what is on offer tomorrow.

 

11 March 2014

Route: Napi - Skukuza - Doispan - Albaseni - Nkambeni

General animals seen: kudu, impala, warthog, zebra, giraffe, common duiker, klipspringer, hippos, buffalo and elephant

Highlights:

We got word of 8 wild dogs lying on napi enjoying the fresh morning breeze. We responded and found them all playing on the road and guest could get fantastic photos.

Further to this we got another call informing us of 4 lioness walking towards us approximately 2kms from our location. We responded and as we came around a corner, there they were just as reported. All 4 walked past our car and all in very good condition. They had just caught a kudu bull and eaten till their bellies were full.

On our return to camp we found 4 male lions walking towards the kill and followed them down the road. We watched as they started to eat on the leftovers from the females.

Picked up new guests and immediately we drove to shabeni koppies were the leopard were spotted yesterday. We found them still lying on the same rocks as yesterday. Amazing to see a female with her 2 cubs out and about.

Keep watching for more!