Trip report on Kruger - sanparks forum

Hi everyone


Just wanted to let you know I have started a trip report on our time spent at Kruger.

Here is the link for you   http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=77226

Lots of photos and videos to come!

Justene

History from Nyalaland Walking Trail in Kruger

This is the view from some ruins - the walls have no cemet or mortar (part of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins) - from 1600-1800s  - the king's place on the top of the hill.  The most notorious king -  Makahane - was a tyrant and literally made his soliders eat his feces - if they vomited it up or couldn't he would have them killed... the history of the place was very interesting - there were fossils of bones of dinosaurs and other amazing landscapes...

Paparatzi Game Drive

Some lions here love the road and are super habituated to the vehicles - we're on a big 22 seater truck for night drive....

Kruger update again

Just when you can't seem to think there's another better sighting out there for you  - like 5 wild dogs on the road trotting along - Kruger delivers!!
We travelled a road and a lady told us of 5 lion on the plains walking away - we spotted them with binoculars - they hunted a couple buffalo - far in the distance but we saw no less than 3 attempts of 1 lion on top of a buffalo's back - rodeo was on.  Unfortunately it was too far to see the outcome!  We were just a few metres down the road congratulating ourselves for the great time we had (alone in the sighting), when we spotted 2 more lionesses walking across the road. We followed them for a while - when they spotted a different group of buffalo and they started to hunt too!!!!!!!!!!! One lioness was so flat in the short grass of the plain, the wind was right, they were close to the road, the buffalo were grazing towards them - 2 pass by between us and the lions. Then 2 more. No move from the lions. (Cars are now piling up on the road!) the last buffalo was the closest yet - he spotted her as he was about 10m away! It was a chase and a half! But no joy for the lions - the buffalo hit the road and now we know what 'hightailing' it means! Those buff had the acceleration on! Sorry the photos are not downloaded yet....

But here are some other buff that we saw:

Diderick Cuckoo male - too beautiful

 Black backed Jackals - (I think they need some flea control!)

Thunderstorm coming in

 African Hoopoe

Female Waterbuck - Christo's favourite antelope - we love the little heart shaped nose!

Ok that's it for now - very little time in the bush left - we may need to upload the rest of the photos once we're back on the cold soil.....

Kruger Leopard

Today we had a great day - back in the relative metropolis of Skukuza camp.  We went with a birding guide for the day to find only birds and found this amazing leopard female which allowed us to watch her for 40mins!

Umfolozi Walking trails Video

Walking with white rhino

Kruger Update

We are struggling with internet connections, I tried for 1 hour to upload one video and no joy!  We will try again with a better connection when we get it! We loved our Nyalalad trail in Kruger - luxury camp and great area with history - human and animal kind, saw lots of birds up north with some 'lifer's. We are currently at Olifants camp enjoying an amazing view over the river. HOT! +40 yesterday and today is heading that way.  Morning drive was amazing - saw a huge Mocambique spitting cobra eating a rock monitor lizard (in camp!!! eeeek Mom!!!), spotted hyena scavenging a dead hippo and a foiled leopard hunt - the impala spotted him and then we spotted him! This is the 5th leopard we've seen - the best one was up at Punda Maria where we watched a large male for a good 10 mins relaxing, walking and marking territory! Photos will come I promise....

 

 

Hyena pup/cub! toooooo cute

 The first leopard sighting - in a traffic jam to see him but we were lucky and he moved while we were in positon

 Grey headed kingfisher going to the nest

And what is Africa without our closer relatives! Baboon! I love the hairstyle...

Ok - until we have a better connection that's it for now!