On Safari With Mark From 9 August 2016

9 August 2016

After receiving my Clients at Nelspruit airport, we set off for the Kruger to overnight at Berg en Dal.

One of the highlights for the afternoon drive happened literally 100m from the gate, when a herd of elephants walked out over the road on their way to water. Amazing to sit and watch these graceful creatures as they ambled along, looking after their young while crossing the road.

After this we spotted 10 buffalo Bulls together, just lying enjoying the late afternoon sun. Once we had great photos, we drove into camp where my clients could enjoy a stroll around the perimeter fence.

10 August 2016

While loading luggage at the camp my guests called me and asked for me to take a photo of them. I didn't quiet know what the rush was, but after agreeing and walking to them, I found them against the perimeter fence with 2 large elephant bulls literally 5m away from them.

This was a great shot and both were happy as it was 1 animal that they came to Africa to see.

Our following highlight was of 2 male lions that were spotted sleeping after an early morning stroll. Eventually, these two looked up and got up and walked parallel with the road. Guests got great photos of these 2 senior males.

On our way to camp, we received a tip from the public about 2 cheetah. Although quiet a distance from the road, both picked their heads up every now and then providing distant but nice photo opportunities.

With happy moods we booked into our camp for the rest of the safari.

Guests on sundown drive this afternoon.

On Safari With Gert 21 June 2016

21 June 2016

Today was a nice cool and cloudy day, perfect conditions for game viewing. We set out early morning and early on found a female Spotted Hyena at a den. She was very relaxed, lying next to the road at the den entrance, with one of her adorable cubs, about 3 weeks old, popping out of the den for a bit just giving us a quick sighting before going back into hiding, a great start to the day!

We then had a couple of very nice Elephant sightings, First a large breeding herd, about 50 strong, came down to a waterhole as we arrived there and all lined up along the water's edge to drink, with some of the youngsters getting playful in the mud. Later we found a large bull about 3 meters from the road, very relaxed and leisurely feeding on a Marula tree. He was specifically enjoying the branches and we watched in astonishment as he repeatedly crunched up branches as thick as a human arm accompanied by some rather loud cracking noises and savoring every mouthful!

The highlight of the day came while we were watching a large Waterbuck bull overlooking a drainage line. Suddenly a leopard appeared from the reeds and was apparently stalking the waterbuck who was unaware of its presence. It then spotted the leopard and started threatening it as the leopard tried to look extremely disinterested in the large antelope. We then watched as the leopard continued walking through the grass and eventually jumped up a Marula tree where it lay in full view and perfect light for about 15minutes surveying the surroundings. It eventually got down from the tree and crossed the road in front of us and disappeared in the tall grass, a fitting end to a great day and as far as leopard sightings go we could not have asked for better!

On Safari With Amanda From 20 May 2016

20 May 2016

This morning greeted us with Rain.. we were not going to let a drop of rain spoil our drive though we headed off after breakfast all kitted out in our matching ponchos into the park determined to enjoy the day!

A slow drive along the Napi and an update of mating lions and another sighting of a big male lion eating an impala...hopefully they would still be there when we arrived.

On the road we were very luck to spot rhinos, zebras, beautiful giraffes and impalas.

Turning into watergat we all looked around expecting the lions to be well hidden, but, there not more than 1 meter from the road were 2 healthy lions. We sat and watched in awe of them as they chilled on the side of the road...amazing. 

After spending some time with the honeymoon couple we went down to the H3 and under a bush lay a magnificent manned lion eating away at an impala ram, gnawing away quite contently unfazed by our presence. We left him in peace to go grab a coffee at skukuza. At the junction I got an update of a leopard about 6 kms away, there a chance he could still be there, and there he was, lying in a drainage line fast asleep! We sat for a good half hour and watched him sit up and look around before flopping back down again to snooze!

Now we're definitely going for coffee and I drive to make a u-turn and get an update of 3 Cheetahs 2kms away! Off we go and basking in the sun were 3 Cheetahs!  What a morning! We eventually had coffee before heading off to camp. What an incredible day and my guests were also so incredibly lucky.

21 May 2016

Last day for my wonderful American guests. After a nice breakfast and we left for a short drive around shabeni, mestle dam and Voortrekker road for a lovely scenic drive. Lovely to get close up to Ship mountain that we generally see from afar. 

And so my guests depart for another new adventure in cape town. An amazing safari with lovely guests.

On Safari With Gert 14 April 2016

14 April 2016

Setting out early this morning, we were treated to another brilliant sunrise and also, sadly, the last one for this Safari!

We drove out to a nearby dam where we found a few Waterbuck in the area. We watched an African Fish-Eagle overlooking the virtually undisturbed surface with Egyptian Geese, Blacksmith Lapwing and Grey Heron peacefully foraging along the fringes. A male Pin-tailed Whydah flitted about in full breeding plumage, advertising territory as the season comes to a close. A few more weeks and he'll be as plain and short-tailed as the females he is currently courting!

We did a final loop around one of the many impressive granite outcrops characterizing the terrain, stopping for a few great photographic opportunities of the lovely vistas and variety of plants currently in flower. We also found a herd of 10 adult Buffalo bulls grazing in the long grass.

Only a short drive, as this was our morning of departure, we headed back to camp for a last hearty breakfast before packing and heading out of the park, bringing an end to a very successful 7 day Safari.

On Safari With Mark From 20 March 2016

20 March 2016

So the begging of a tour and some on sundown drive and some with me on an afternoon drive and with a little communication between guides, both sets of guests got to see the magnificent leopard that was lying on a granite rock enjoy a afternoon snooze. When everyone was there, it was time for this beauty to Yawn and stretch and then stand up and move. Slowly edging it's way towards us. This glamor boy lay on a rock and posed for us approximately 30m away from the car. It was fantastic to spend 1:45hrs with such a beautiful animal. With the time catching us it was back to camp for dinner.

21 March 2016

We left before the rush and found many different new species for the clients: elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, warthog, Impala, steenbok, klipspringer, common duiker, checkmate baboon, vervet monkey, hippos and many bird species.

Our highlight was the 4 lioness and 1 male lion that walked out and crossed the road in front of us. Not another car to bother the sighting and everyone enjoyed seeing these beautiful animals. We returned to camp happy to get out of the midday heat.

After a short rest, we headed out to search for something new. We were in luck, as we were alerted by a fleeting Impala to 4 cheetah. After spending once again 1:45hrs with these beautiful animals it was within seconds that all changed and the animals disappeared into the bush, chasing a herd of Impala. We all hoped and believed that they were successful as no sign of their return to the road, despite the Impala running across our path right in front of us.

Guests are incredibly happy with all the sightings and What's funny is that everyone has had such special sightings of the "big 5" yet we still in search of a "Dazzel" of zebra

With this in our sights we set off tomorrow for our last drive before we return the guests to JHB.

On Safari With Amanda 6 March 2016

6 March 2016

New guests today's from America, Ken and Erin and Stéphanie from France. 

After picking up at Numbi gate we headed off to camp.

My guests were on a sunset drive leaving at 4:30 and enjoyed sightings of zebras, rhinos and buffalos and of course the glass of Amarula to watch the beautiful African sunset.

A hearty breakfast and we set off for a morning drive.

We headed to shithave dam where there were 4 separate herds of Elephants heading to the dam. An incredible sight as they ran thirstily to the water, it was amazing to see the reactions of the separate herds as they greeted each other, none were related but they showed familiarity with each other. Saddle billed storks watch a crocodile cautiously as it approached slowly to the waters edge and we watched it as it caught a fish and then retreated to the depths out of sight.

Zebras ran to edge and came with Waterbuck.  Birds seen were juvenile fish eagles, grey herons, white fronted bee eaters, European rollers and a brown snake eagle.

After lunch we went on a short drive and watched the sun go down . Admiring the amazing scenery the sun glowing on the koppies, breathtakingly beautiful and a lovely way to end another relaxing day in the Kruger Park.