On safari With Karen 14 August 2015

14 August 2015

Yesterday was an average day, this morning there were so many highlights, I don't know where to start. Maybe it was seeing the reedbucks for the first time for these guests, or seeing a sable bull for the third day in a row, or seeing elephants 10m past leaving the camp gate. Or the buffalos that crossed the road in front of us shortly after. Or the two white rhinos we saw close to the road. Or the impressive kudu bull we came across being smart and trying to bend down bushes with his horns so he could eat the leaves. 

Or seeing wild dogs coming onto the road right in front of us! At first there were two, then four and then two more joined. One decided to have a poo right in front of us (really? did he have to do it there? I mean REALLY?) and then they ambled around a bit. Then they decided to have a lie down right behind us in the shade of the vehicle. We watched them hang around for about 10 min and then as if on cue they got back up and walked back into the bush. It sure did look like they were on a mission!

Or was it seeing a cheetah, the first of this safari? Well, yes, this was the highlight of the trip! We were told by some kind people that there were two adult cheetah and 6 cubs that had walked down the road and were now in the grass somewhere.

Disappointed we thought we missed it. But then suddenly one adult comes back on the road chasing a kudu! The kudu got away but following the cheetah we knew where she had stashed her cubs. We scouted through binoculars and did see one of the cubs, but the rest was too well hidden in the tall grass and trees. However what made this sighting so great was a second attempt to hunt! The two adult cheetahs actually teamed up. One chased a steenbok and then the other tried to cut it off from the side. With a big leap of the steenbok and the cheetah they all disappeared behind the bush! We thought they had made it but a minute later the cheetahs come back out of breath but preyless. Guess the steenbok made it after all, but what an adrenaline rush!!

In Nelspruit it was time to say goodbye to my last remaining two guests of this week full of safaris. We had many highlights, some lowlights and some periods of quiet, but I hope everyone enjoyed their part of this safari! Thanks a lot for joining us and safe journeys onwards to Jimmy and Jessica, Alex and Chen, Alex, Steve, Cassie and Sunil and Julie!

On Safari With Karen 13 August 2015

13 August 2015

Today was one of those average days that had a lot of quiet times, sightings were average and not so many different animals. However where we didn't see any zebras yesterday, today they were everywhere! They were hiding between bushes, far in the distance, but also close by as well as crossing the road so we got some nice pictures. 

We also had a nice steenbok sighting where it showed us it indeed does bury its poo, saw our first white rhino afar for some of the guests as well as some far away buffalos. Other interesting birds and animals: giraffes, common grey duikers, waterbucks, kudus, impalas, warthogs, a hippo head, crocodile, elephants, a brown-hooded kingfisher and a saddle-billed stork. 

On safari With Curtis 13 August 2015

13 August 2015

Our final day and at last a bright sunny morning. The final morning drive of this tour was dominated by hyena sightings.

The first one not much to write about so I won't!!!

The second a brief but very nice sighting as we spotted two hyenas moving at speed from within the bush, past our vehicle and across the road.

Our third was lovely as we found a hyena twenty meters from the road. It then walked towards the road and plopped itself down and soaked up some early morning sun.

We then noticed a second hyena appear from a drainage tunnel and take a drink.

After a few minutes we were the only vehicle at the sighting and with more room the first hyena got up moved around and took a drink as well.

It then returned to its original spot and posed allowing us to get a few final photos.

Then, sadly, time to say our goodbyes!!! Been great having Frederico, Sylvia, Cassie and Valerie on tour with us. Travel safe and all of you enjoy Cape Town.

On Safari With Karen From 11 August 2015

11 August 2015

Last night's sundowner was a rather quiet one. Although the guests were lucky the overcast day had opened up a bit so they had a wonderful sunset. The animal sightings were a bit scarce. They did come across some impalas and saw zebras in the distance. 

12 August 2015

This morning start off with some active walking. The guests were taken out by two guides of the lodge where they discovered the quiet of the bush while out on foot.

They came across a very dangerous animal: a python. Luckily it was overcast and cold so the animal was a bit sluggish. This way they could observe it nicely from a safe distance! They also learned many things about the smaller things in the bush as well as tracks and signs of animals. 

In the afternoon we went out for our first game drive together. As it was a rather quiet drive in the beginning we made it all the way to see a great lion sighting as was seen by Curtis earlier today! We watched a lioness play tug-of-war with the kudu leg. But the kudu leg was not giving way, so after a minute or so she gave up and laid down panting as if the effort was too much on a (overly) full stomach!

The lion sighting was great but our highlight was seeing lots of hippos outside the water, as this was a common wish of both my guests. At both dams we stopped about 7 hippos were bundled up on a little dried sandbank sunbathing in the warmth as the day had been cold this morning! At the second dam one of the hippos decided to stand up to show himself completely, which was greatly enjoyed. 

Other interesting sightings: impalas, kudus, warthogs, a crocodile, a slender mongoose running across the road, a common grey duiker, waterbucks, elephants, vervet monkeys and giraffes. 

Birdies included: magpie shrike, white-backed vultures, two fish eagles, a grey heron, a blacksmith lapwing chasing a three banded plover in flight, scarlet chested sunbird, forktailed drongos, crowned lapwings, water thickknees, a juvenile bateleur and yellow-billed horbills.