Feast your eyes on the latest reports and safari game drive sightings hot off the press in Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger area from our team on the ground.
Head down, bum up is risky business.
This has brought all the predators to the waterholes as they have a good chance to catch their thirsty prey. We have had a few good sightings with lots of lions on buffalo kills often very close to the road giving the guests the most amazing sightings and brilliant photographic opportunities.
Elephants visit the lodge carpark.
Guide Raymond tells of a large herd of elephants who came to the waterhole at Tremisana Lodge to drink just as the group was departing for the sunset drive. Throw a few buffalo bulls in the mix and a black rhino cow and her baby, who came super close to the open vehicle, all makes for a pretty exciting game drive – all before they even left the lodge! This same drive they came across a big male leopard, always super exciting!
Raymond and group were on safari at a dam in Kruger where they witnessed four male lionshanging out as a herd of elephants and impala were busy drinking away without a care in the world.
In came two wildebeest to drink, totally unaware of the lions, and as they put their heads down to drink, two of the lions began stalking from behind. An alarmed warning call went out from the impala and the wildebeest were off, endebted to the impala for saving their life. This is why we always safari in open sided vehicles, not only seeing what’s going on but hearing the warning calls and alerts make the drives so much more sensory. The group also came across a pride of lions lying under a tree, right next to the road.
Lions under tree, Kruger.
Young male, Kruger.
Victor had an awesome day in Kruger when he was able to show his guests Africa’s Big 5 (buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhino) all in one day.
It was lovely weather – temperatures ranged between 29C and 35C. We started our game drive at Orpen boom gate where we saw general game including zebras and giraffes. We continued on the H7 where we saw elephants busy feeding right next to the road. On the S36 near Mudzandzeni picnic spot we saw a male leopard crossing the road. At Shimangwaneni dam we saw two male lions next to the water.
We continued our drive towards Satara on the Sweni road and we saw buffalos at the waterhole. After lunch we took the S100 to Xibotwana waterhole where we saw a male lion and a lioness busy mating. On our way out we saw white rhino – so we saw the Big Five in one day.
Rhino sighting
The dinner area at Marula Boma has had many visitors including buffalo, elephant and rhino. Such a great place to enjoy the night sky as well as the nocturnal visitors at the Boma including hyena, honey badgers and enjoying the beautiful melodies of the night is simply spectacular.
Dinner at Marula Boma.
Rex’s month has been superb, he reports that although they had a few super hot days (36+ degrees), the sightings have been phenomenal. Cheetahs before Orpen reception, rhinos at Orpen waterhole, buffalos also drinking there, elephants Timbavati riverbed with general game and lions hunting at Ximangwanini dam and more lions at the windmill added to an incredible leopard sighting on the S147 road. Hyenas just north of Satara and cheetahs before the last boom gate. TAKE ME THERE ALREADY!
Guide Rex.
Nico had a blast in November. One of the days in Kruger was luck struck – we got BIG 5 plus wild dogs in one day.
We started off on the H7 where we found good quality general game including zebra, giraffe, greater kudu and loads of impalas and a troop of baboons and elephant herds. On the S100 we found loads of giraffe and a beautiful lion pride sighting – whole pride lying down as it was way too much work to move in the heat.
On the way back we got an update of a rhino across the river bed – wow – the day just took such a twist, already 3 out of the big 5 – amazing! After lunch, we took the S126-Sweni road – what a road – full of elephants, buffalo and then a magical sighting the wild dogs! Quick pit stop at Mzanzeni picnic spot and off again towards the S36 back to the H7. General game plusostriches. No Leopard yet…..On the way back towards the lodge past the big black security gates, one of the guests spotted a female leopard sitting comfortably in the grass! What a great day!!
Wowsers, November was HUGE, to say the least. Can you resist the urge to book your bucket list African safari after reading all these amazing reports from our expert guides?
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