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We enjoyed the setting sun, and of course i took some pictures....The african sunset is the most beautiful sunset i know!!!!






It looks like the sky is burning...






While i was preparing our braai for the evening, a group of more than 10 Banded Mongooses had their fun in a bush next to our braai...Always funny to watch mongeese




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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"

The next day, we had to get up earlier...We had a guided Morning Drive!!!!
It was quite cold in the morning, but when we saw the first rays of light it warmed up....

It was a great drive....Our Ranger was Tevin. We had some lovely sightings and enjoyed the whole drive so much....




A Mother Rhino with her calf...








Lizzard basking in the morning sun...




We met a single Hyena. It seemed to be on a mission.

About 5 minutes later we saw another Hyena. That one was a bit more relaxed and posed nicely.








After the Hyena sighting we had to realize that the Lion Magnet wasn´t under our car...It must have been in our backpack, or maybe in my camera, or in something else...

Another Lion Kill...2 Lioness protecting their buffalo carcass. It was a buffalo calf. One of the Lionesses was collared...They had just filled their bellies and they were hardly breathing.








After the Lion Sighting we found a breeding herd of Elephants. One of the baby elephants was born about 1 week ago, Tevin told us.

Too cute...






GREAT MORNING DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Tevin!!!


Back in Skukuza we enjoyed our breakfast on the viewing deck!!!!!! Eggs, bacon, toast, tomatos, mushrooms, cappuccino..............MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMHHHHH and the best view you can have.

I took some pics from the plattform.

Egyptian Goose in flight




A pair of Green Pigeons




After breakfast we headed in direction to Paul Kruger Gate.

These buffies stopped us for a while...








We drove the Doispane Road...It was hot outside, but the luck was still on our side...

LIONS again...This time, drinking!!!!!!!!!
They had a kill aswell...I spotted a Lioness with a bone in her jaws. We could see the Male carrying the carcass but he vanished to fast for me and my camera. Must have been a Kudu Kill.










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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"

My face is getting red!!!!!!!!!! Thank´s a lot for all your kind compliments.........

It is such a pleasure for me to write my TR and read all your comments....



So, let´s go on with the next episode....



After the second Lion sighting of the day, we decided to drive the Doispane Road in direction to Phabeni Gate and turn on the S 3, back to Skukuza.

Burchels Coucal (not the best pic)

The S36 was really quiet, instead of Elephants!!!!! We met a lot of them on their way to the river...

We passed Skukuza and drove in direction to Lower Sabie.


A beautiful Pied Kingfisher was posing for us on the bridge






The next Nyala. We had 5 Nyala sighting on the whole trip.




This pic shows, how hot it was....The tar road was mirroring!!!




We had a short stop at Lower Sabie and then enjoyed Sunset Dam for a while.






Sooooo stupid. Shame.... That was at Sunset Dam...








On our way back to Skukuza we decided that we have a new mission!!!!! Finding a Leopard again. I was a little sad about our only Leopard sighting, so that was our final mission for the rest of the trip!!!!!!

Back at Skukuza we had a nice braai with wildebeest and some t-bones, Potatoes and Onions!!!!! MMMMMMMMMMMMMHHHHH...

That evening we joined our 2nd Night Drive!!!! We had some great encounters!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The night drive was fully booked again. We were a funny group made a lot of jokes on the drive.

The first sighting was this snake. I don´t know what kind of snake it is. Maybe someone can ID?!?!




After half an hour on our drive, we met two Lioness. One of them was collared.

Some minutes later they started hunting....but unfortunately we couldn´t see them anymore in the darkness.






Side Striped Jackal




On our way back to the camp, we had another great sighting!!!!!!!

A mating pair of LIONS!!!! Unfortunately we didn´t see the real act!
The male was truely a king...





Before we left, he gave me a big yawn!




The last sighting of the night drive. Scrub Hare...




What a drive!!!! And what a day!!!! 4 seperate Lion sightings in one day!!!!!!! Awesome....


After the night drive we went to bed immediately. We were really tired.

The next morning started FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"

The next morning was a little cloudy. It was our last full day in KNP.
We decided to drive the Doispane Road and check if the mating pair from the Night Drive is still there.


We met 2 Nyala Bulls...




Suddenly we saw a Sanparks vehicle standing on the road. Moving further on i realized that it was our ranger from last night and i saw the reason why they stopped.

I HOPE I DON´T BORE YOU TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

We met the Lions again! Directly on the road.

We had a short chat with the ranger, stopped our engine and enjoyed the sighting....Hope you enjoy it aswell....














Someone told me: "If you look into a Lions eyes, you will never get off from Africa!"
LOOK INTO THESE EYES....



















After the Lion sighting we continued our mission! I promised my girlfriend not to leave KNP without spotting another Leopard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"

We made us on our way to Lower Sabie.

The drive was really quiet with less sightings. We had breakfast in LS and headed in direction to Croc Bridge, because i heard of some cheetah sightings in that area in the morning.

We drove the S28, the S137 and the S130, but no Cheetahs, it was really quiet in that area. And the weather was not that good for taking bird pictures....








Back at Lower Sabie we met a huge Elephant! He went back in the bush, so i hoped to see him a bit further on.
We wet to sunset dam. And there he was. ZAMBHALA...a named Tusker! (Thanks Aat )








Great to see such a gentle Giant!!!!!

On the way to Skukuza we had not that much sightings.










Back in Skukuza we had lunch! Nice burgers with chips!!!!!!!!! After lunch we went to the toilette and saw a big crowd of people. A few moments later we saw the reason.

A Chamaeleon





It was absolutely fantastic to see it moving....


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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"

THAAAAAAANK YOOOOOUUUUUU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


All your compliments make me feel !!!!!!


Well, now it´s time to come to an end...

It´s time for the next episode....The last evening drive of the trip!!!!

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We decided to drive the H1-2 and then the Maroela Loop back.
It was quiet, instead of this...










About 4 km on the H1-2, we saw a single car standing on the wrong side of the road. I stopped next to him and asked what he had seen. He said, Leopard, but it´s gone in the deeper bush.
My first thought was YEAH, my second thought DAMN!!!

The other car drove away.... I wanted to see another Leopard!!!! So, i decided to stay and check the bush intensively.

I was the driver....so i drove very slow on the wrong side of the road and watched every meter of the bush. Again and again i stopped to watch while standing still. My girlfriend was on the backseat to check the bush aswell.

We were the only car there for about 10 minutes.... It was really difficult with the thick bush.

SUDDENLY I SAW IT....THE LEOPARD....... Just for one second and it vanished again.

I whispered to my girlfriend: "There it is, i saw the Leopard!"
"Where, where...???!" She shouted.

I calmed her down and said, that we have to be patiened. Maybe it will come out of the bush.

Moments later i spotted it again. It came closer...



Another car appeared. I told the guy what i´ve just seen.

I drove slowly to follow the Leopard because he was walking parallel to the road. It came closer and closer.....It was a Male....I started to take pictures.....

Some other cars appeared....

Now we could see him reglarly between the bushes and trees!!!! It was really difficult to drive, watch the other cars, watch the Leopard and to take pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the bush was really thick.... Everytime we saw him, a branch was between me and the leopard.....He moved fast so the pics are not the best, but i´m proud about to found our second Leopard of the trip, how i promised to my girlfriend!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We followed the Leopard for about 10 minutes! Then he crossed the road and disappeared in the bush. We just saw two Bushbucks jumping out of the bush...........



















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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"

Thank you all together...............

I was so happy that we found a leopard on our last evening!!!!
That was really special....


Well, unfortunately i have to post my last 2 Episodes. But i have to show some more pics, how i promised (like the Flamingo from Lower Sabie). So, i won´t finish the Report yet.


But first, the last sightings after our Leopard.










This guy came towards us in the road and didn´t left for about 15 minutes. We had to return and wait till he went off into the bush.
That was one of the biggest Elephants i´ve ever seen...







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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"

Oh my god!!!! I almost forgot something really special!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shame on me!!

Shortly before Skukuza, it was already getting dark, we saw some cars...We joined them and saw the reason immediately.

A pair of Lions in the bush. The other cars left and we stayed for some more minutes....AND suddenly they moved....They stood up walked a few metres......AND BEGAN MATING!!!!!!
WOW....

Not the best pics! But it was really amazing to see them mating. And we were the only car there....










We had to hurry back to the camp!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last night in KNP i couldn´t fall asleep.... I did not want to leave paradise...........



The next morning was rainy....My girlfriend said: "When angels travel, heaven cries!"

I would not call me an angel!!!!!













We left Kruger through the Phabeni Gate and made us on our way to Jo´burg. Our plane to Cape Town started at 2 pm.

We stayed 5 nights in Cape Town and had some nice days there....

Whale Watching at Hermanus, White Shark Diving at Gaansbai, Huey Helicopter Flight at the Waterfront and of course a lot of shopping with my girlfriend!!!!!!!

SA when will i be back again???? Maybe next year!

Hey Folks,

here are some pics i just forgot to post!!!!!!!!

The flamingo i promised to show.... We saw it from the viewing deck in Lower Sabie.




A Gymnogene (African Harrier Hawk)

Such a pleasure for me that you enjoyed my TR......... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!



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Here are some more pics of the trip.




This raptor was attacked by the Fork Tailed Drongo. Can anyone help to ID?











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"Happiness is the only thing that doubles if you share it!"