On Safari With Robbie From 1 September 2014

1 September 2014

The day of the 'Cat' turned out to be a reality when close to the 114/Mathimiri junction we came across a stunning and well fed male Leopard feeding on an Impala in a Jackalberry tree 5m from the road! The smiles on the vehicle said it all!

Suddenly he jumped down and lay on some rocks even closer to us lazily showing us his fat belly! Within 30 minutes of this sighting I came across 6 Lions sleeping in the Sabie river banks! We now have 6 of the magnificent 7 been seen!

Sometimes when one has a cracker of a morning drive , the afternoon turns out to be quiet! For us that was not going to be the case! Noticing a few vehicles stationary on the koppies I took a chance and to our amazement we came across the 3 Wild dog from the day before! Suddenly 5 pups of not more than 3 weeks old appeared from the den above us suckling on their Mom! We watched the pups interacting with the rest of the pack for a good hour till sunset when instinctively they all disappeared into their den!

2 September 2014

This morning we drove out to the wild dog den again and in awe we saw a female leopard was on the move very close to the den! Not wanting guests to see the leopard killing the pups we left the sighting. To our relief a call came through on the radio that all 5 adult dogs had chased the Leopard away with her tail between her legs!

On our last game drive we only missed Lion and the guests chatted happily amongst themselves that in 3 days they had seen 6 of the magnificent 7!            

It was a truly memorable and fantastic safari!

More coming soon!!

On Safari With Karen From 1 September 2014

1 September 2014

After a drive from Nelspruit to Numbi Gate we entered the park on our way to Nkambeni Safari Camp, which would be our home for the upcoming days. On Camp road we spotted our first animal: a grey duiker. As he froze on sight it took some time for all to spot him, but he gave away his position by running away. We also spotted some impalas in the background, but chances are we will see them closer by!

We checked in and then first had a spot of lunch. It was an entertaining affair as we saw some elephants passing by, heard hippos as well as zebras and in the end even spotted the hippos too.

The guest then had some time to relax as their first drive was a sundowner safari.

They were taken to a beautiful spot where the enjoyed the sunset with a drink in hand. To make the safari an extra success they had some amazing sightings: a big herd of buffalo, a couple of elephants, a large spotted genet and because some elephants had been rude and blocked a road with branches they had to take a different route back which happened to be the same road as a leopard was walking!

Sharing stories at dinner was a bit more difficult than usual as the cultural Nungi tribe was giving away a show. But it made dinner quite entertaining. It was a very good first day of this safari!

2 September 2014

Early this morning we set off for our morning drive. Camp road was busy this morning as we came across a group of buffalo bulls, some elephant bulls as well as a grey duiker. When we turned onto the Numbi tar road even more buffalos were hanging out close to the road. We saw a bachelor herd of impalas with a duiker that looked a bit out of place. Also the impalas weren't quite sure if he belonged in the group as they all stopped to stare.

Then there were the first kudus of this safari as well as vervet monkeys and zebras.

We had heard about wild dogs denning on the Pretoriuskop Koppies and wanted to take a look. We were in luck as we did see first an adult wild dog lying on a rock and shortly after we saw a couple of wild dog puppies coming up to play. Those little buggers were very cute, but so energetic it was difficult to photograph or even count if it were four if them, five or maybe even seven! Nonetheless it was great watching!

Then a driver of another car pointed out a leopard to us, which was watching the same sighting as we were. As the leopard crept closer bit by bit we grew worried he was after the puppies. And even though every tourist, secretly or not, wants to see a kill, a leopard killing wild dog puppies isn't really what they have in mind. Relief showed on their faces when the adults noticed the arrival of the enemy and when he dared came closer, the wild dogs chased the leopard to the other side of the rocks. Like clockwork, the puppies had disappeared back into their den.

When the adults had returned the puppies played a bit longer in between the rocks closer to the entrance to their den. But the little puppies are barely visible in between the larger rocks so all we got was glimpses. We left the sighting to go around the block and maybe look for the leopard. As luck would have it, the leopard had decided to come look for us too. As soon as we got to the other side, a line of cars were standing still, all staring into space. But right where we were the leopard was walking from open area in between trees to hopping on rocks. The moment other cars showed up though, he had disappeared into the bushes once again. This lovely play happened another couple of times before even for us he stayed invisible.

We then made a trip around Circle road where we saw kudus multiple times, once even suckling a little one as well as a young bull, cape glossy starlings, zebras, impalas, warthogs, a large herd of elephants crossing in front of us (and disappearing in mere minutes), a dwarf mongoose and vultures circling on a thermal.

We had an awesome start of the morning and deserved a break so we stopped at Pretoriuskop. After coffee we headed out to Shithave Dam. There were waterbucks lying close by and a bateleur was flying over. But except for some terrapins on a rock, the dam was rather quiet. We turned around to make our way back to camp when we spotted some elephants feeding.

We drove back on Napi and Numbi tar getting our first giraffe, but this lady wasn't the youngest and was battling old age by the looks of it. Red-billed oxpeckers were frequenting her back as well as neck and behind in search of ticks. And we saw more kudus, even more elephants, a large herd of buffalos that had just crossed the road and a brown hooded kingfisher on a branch right next to us.

In the afternoon we set off again for another game drive. This time we drove up Albassini where we saw a large group of impalas, kudus and zebras right at the entrance. A stop at Mestel Dam showed us some snoozing hippos at the opposite bank as well as a couple of them with their head bobbing on the waterline.

We continued past the overflow where we saw a troop of baboons crossing the toad in front of us. The little ones were playing and goofing around, while the adults just stopped once in a while to have a snack. A steenbok ran across in the opposite direction, disturbed by the baboons. But nothing prepared us for the havoc that happened next. When the baboons settled on a rock further into the field we were about to pull away when all hell broke loose. Baboons started screaming from multiple directions, big clouds of dust flying in the distance and baboons viciously chasing and attacking each other. The kings tried to call for order or encourage them, we didn't know, but the sound of them got overpowered by the rest of the noise. A grey duiker got caught in the middle of the mayhem and was seen running from left to right and back scared of everything. As none of the on looking baboons climbed in trees, but just stayed wary behind little bushes, we ruled out a predator attack. It seemed to settle down when two baboons crossed the road behind us in opposite direction, only to flare up again a little while later. More baboons were running away, scared of others, giving us the idea that two rival gangs had met on the streets of New York. If we were right, who knows. We didn't dare ask one of them as the were all baring teeth at each other...

When it had quieted down for quite some time we decided we would never know what just happened and decided to continue our drive. We turned onto Shabeni Link where we saw a bull elephant in the distance as well as a giraffe feeding quite close to the road.

We then drove back to the place where we had seen the wild dogs this morning. And we were in luck as upon arrival the puppies seemed to come out and play. First we spotted them on the rocks, together with some of the adults. Then they descended and it looked like the adults went of to go on a hunt. Hungry puppy stomachs needed feeding. The pupies however started playing tug of war with a little bush. Five little puppies versus one little bush! All the bush lost was a leaf, the puppies their belief of being a strong warrior. One by one they gave up and plopped down for a nap. That was our cue to make it back to camp as it was getting close to closing time.

Our new guests didn't join on this afternoon drive, but went out on a sundowner. They actually caught up with the adult wild dogs that were indeed hunting impala. Trying to ambush them on opposite sides on the Numbi tar road they had an excellent view on strategy. However this one was one of the few failed attempts a wild dog makes. Although, when we past the spot later on, and were told the wild dogs had just crossed and ran into the bushes, we saw multiple vultures descending and land in nearby trees. They were hoping for a successful ending of the hunt for the wild dogs, or maybe already knew it had...

On Safari From 25 August 2014

25 August 2014

We picked up guests from the Protea Hotel OR Tambo close to the airport and made our way out of Johannesburg onto Nelspruit.

Upon arriving in Nelspruit, we made our way to the change over point. After changing from the closed vehicle into one of our open safari vehicles we made our way to the Kruger National Park on the last leg of the journey.

Upon arriving at Nkambeni Safari Camp, clients were checked in and given chance to have lunch and a rest, before leaving on a game drive at 15h30.

We left the camp and made our way up the Numbi Road getting good sightings of impala, kudu, buffalo and common duiker. We turned onto the Napi Road and made our way in the direction of The Napi Boulders getting more sightings of impala, kudu, zebra, common duiker, buffalo and elephant.

At around 17h30, we made our way back to the Nkambeni Safari Camp for the night, guests enjoyed dinner and then retired to bed.

26 August 2014

It was up early this morning, leaving the camp on route for the picnic spot of afsaal.

We made our way down the Numbi Road and onto the Napi Road getting good sightings of buffalo, impala, kudu, warthog, zebra, as short distance down the Napi Road we came across a large herd of buffalo, carrying on down to afsaal for a break the following was spotted, impala, kudu, buffalo, elephant, wildebeest, warthog and hyena.

After enjoying a break at Afsaal picnic spot, we made our way back in the direction of Nkambeni Safari Camp getting much the same animals throughout with the exception of a couple of extra bird species.

Guest were given the break to enjoy lunch and due to it been a hot day, some rest time before leaving on the game drive at 15h30.

We made our way out on the afternoon drive deciding to go around circle road, we were able to get great sightings of impala, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe, common duiker and stenbuck, before returning to the camp at 17h30 for guests to have a good dinner, and a chance to have a good rest.

27 August 2014

This morning it was back out on the road early going down the Albasini Road and then onto the Doispane Road in the direction of the main camp called Skukuza. On the drive good sightings of elephant, impala, kudu, warthog, hippo, common duiker and stenbuck were seen.

After a break at the camp of Skukuza was enjoyed, we made our way out of camp, getting a radio message that there was some lions lying on the Alpha Loop, we made our way in that direction, getting a good sighting of the two females lying in the river line watching some buffalo.

After enjoying the sighting, we made our way around the triangle and then it was back to skukuza getting great sightings of elephant, buffalo, vervet monkeys, kudu, impala and more hippo. We decided to make our way back to the Nkambeni Safari Camp, so guests could get a chance to have lunch and a rest before going out on a game drive in the late afternoon.

We left camp at 16h00, going up the Numbi Road and the onto Shabeni Kopies, were little was seen. We then went onto the other side around the camp of Pretoriuskop, getting great sightings of a buffalo herd as well as impala, kudu, warthog, common rheedbuck, hippo and elephant. We returned back to camp getting in just before 18h00.

28 August 2014

Today after enjoying breakfast, it was back out on the road, getting numerous good sighting of large elephant bulls, as well as numerous sightings of buffalo as well as large kudu bulls.

We then made our way in the direction of Numbi Gate, in order to travel back to Nelspruit, change over vehicles and then it was onto Johannesburg, arriving at the guests hotel at 15h00.

Feedback was that the guests enjoyed the safari.

On Safari With Robbie From 26 August 2014

26 August 2014

Today was a early morning, after a good breakfast we climbed into the open safari vehicle to head out and see what we could find.

We got some amazing sightings such as a total of 11 lions, a herd of about 200 buffalo and numerous breeding and bachelor herds of elephant.

General game was seen in abundance they include: Rhino, impala, zebra, giraffe, kudu and waterbuck.

The guests were thrilled with their first day out!

27 August 2014

Today we started our safari from Nelspruit and arrived at camp midday ...

The guests had a rest and then went on the night drive where they encountered a large herd of Buffalo .

28 August 2014

Today was definitely the Rhino ,Buffalo and Elephant day as we had 23 brilliant sightings of White Rhino which were all good visuals! Elephant bulls were seen on no less than 26 occasions with absolute fantastic photographic opportunities with the pure blue sky as a backdrop .

We saw 2 herds of Buffalo with over 200 in each leaving the guests in awe.....

Other sightings included a Giraffe herd of 11 strong and a Hippo pod out of the water sun bathing!

We returned back to camp for a good nights rest happy with what Africa had to show us.

29 August 2014

Today we continued searching for Cats which the eager guests were so keen to see! A call came through on the radio for a Leopard but the elusive one disappeared into thick bush unfortunately . A huge drop in temperature and excessive wind interfered with sightings on the Napi although we still managed to see Buffalo, Elephant and good sightings of a Hyena clan and a black backed Jackal!      

30 August 2014                                    

After a below freezing night I set out this morning saying a 'cat' prayer for my still as keen as ever guests! The Napi road turned it on with brilliant sightings of our 3/5 already seen as well as 3 prolific sightings of magnificent Sable Bulls in different locations! however looking at my watch I felt perturbed as only an hour of safari was left! I drove to flat rocks and as I turned the corner I thought I was seeing things with 2 male Cheetahs walking on the road directly at us in perfect morning sunlight with us being the only vehicle! To describe the excitement on my vehicle was impossible! To top it all both males scent marked 1 m from our vehicle and traversed next to us for more than 2 km until they lay down on the warm flat rocks ! I haven’t had such happy guests in a long time ........ Their patience and positiveness had brought them success in the best possible way!

31 August 2014

Proceeding on a decided route we were diverted this morning first thing when a call came through on the radio! We arrived at a magnificent sighting with 3 Wild dogs on a kill! We watched the rare dogs for ages and observed them chasing the White back Vultures away! The Vultures were arriving in numbers at the kill and after 20 minutes the Dogs surrender the kill! The vulture invasion and interaction was a sight on its own! To top it all a huge herd of Buffalo arrived on the scene unknowingly giving the vultures some of their own medicine and chasing them off the kill! Soon they were back in their masses flocking the carcass and by now very little meat or sinew was left! It was by far the sighting of the week!                

The rest of the day we had superb Elephant , Hyena ,Buffalo, Giraffe and Zebra sightings!

1 September 2014

Today we are on a Cat mission!

More coming soon!