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Hi all

So, I am going to the Kruger 12-14 Dec and to Sabie Park 15-18 Dec and I would love to share my experience with you all as well as show pictures of previous trips in the KNP. Sabie Park is about 2.5km from the Kruger Gate and our family has a house there, my daily routine at Sabie Park would be to wake up at the crack of dawn and wait readily at the Kruger Gate, be back for lunch and then go out again for a afternoon drive. We have seen special things in the Kruger and that is where my love for the KNP started!
But before we start here is the necessary info:
I will stay in Lower Sabie on 12 and 14 Dec, in a river view tent, and in Berg en Dal on the 13th in a bungalow.
What I would love to see for the first time
*Black Rhino
*AWC
*Pangolin
*Malachite kingfisher
*Aardvark
*Small spotted Genet
*Large spotted Genet
*Serval
*Cheetah
What I would love to see again
*The BIG 5
*Hyena
*Bateleur
*Reed buck
I will be going alone to the Kruger and family will join me in Sabie Park.
Hope you guys will enjoy this trip with me... I will try to take as many photos as possible!

A few pictures of my December trip last year:
Lilac breasted Roller


This 'meneertjie' walked across the road and the car in front of us just drove off without a second glance. It took us about 5minutes to spot him, that was how well concealed he were.




A hyena pup from the den that is about 2km from Skukuza

The most beautiful bird for me...


STUPID STUPID PEOPLE on the green bridge between Lower Sabie and Skukuza


I actually think it is the same bridge Meerkitty saw the baboons!


European Roller


Woodland Kingfisher-I love my kingfishers as well!


That is all for today

This was our Christmas present from the Kruger last year on our way to Skukuza!


I know the quality isn't great...


Can anybody help me with identifying these lizzzzzards?


Dwarf Mongoose


They so much fun to watch!


Pied Kingfisher-such a beauty!

So more pics...

The Giant Kingfisher


LIT


Rock Monitor


Bateleur eating, by the looks of it, a lilac breasted roller


One of my favorite aMiNals in the Park...

@Carolv: Thanks! I had my dates wrong, will be staying only the 13th at LS, I will definitely keep my eyes open for the yellow ribbons
@Meandering Mouse : Thanks! Can't wait till I'm in the Kruger again!
@Pumbaa:Thanks for the kind words

Now more pics of my last trips...
I just love seeing lions in the Kruger but never have that much luck with them, these lovelies I saw about 15km outside Tamboti camp in December on the H7










Klipspringers

I think they are the Girdled Lizards but not quite sure which ones, there are some called Transvaal Girdled so maybe those are them.
Nice pics and sightings except for the bridge walkers!

@ Meerkitty: we had the same thought about that Wild dog but didn't see any open wound
@Elsa:thanks for ID'ing my lizzard Yes I can't believe that people will actually walk freely like that in the Kruger and not think about the wild aMiNals walking about! People like that should be kept out of the Kruger!

Sooo, now for more pics...
This was our second day in the Kruger in December it was a wonderful rainy'ish-at first galnce I thought it was a lioness-I was mistaken but it was my sister's first leopard in the Kruger so we rejoiced




Just outside Satara, we saw these buffs wallowing in mud-it was a HOT day and I whought about joining them


a Beauty




And an eagle I presume-can somebody help ID it for me please

@WendyA:I PM'd Jazil
@Cheetah 2111:Maybe we should high 5 or something so all my 'leopardness' can swap with your 'lion-ness'? Because I only see lions once with every trip and see like 2/3 leopards, but i shouldn't complain?
@Pumbaa:Thanks for the ID'ing of the Bateleur!

So yes, there are more pics, when I go to the Kruger my fingers are snap happy- 'they keep on shuf-fe-ling'

Marabou stork


Rock Monitor


Waterbuck


Chameleon


Mum & baby Ellie


Crocodile, look closely-I only noticed this later, the crocodile's jaw is broken

@Meandering Mouse:Why you feeling like that?
@Cheetah2111:Between Skukuza & Paul Kruger gate and 1 on the Doispane road. Have seen outside Lower Sabie aswell but the pic isn't nice
@Pumbaa:Thanks-never had that thought about the croc...
@Joao:Hi, glad your joining! Thanks, the Klipspringers were one of my favorite pics of that trip as well

So for more pics...
Baby warties at Sabie Park, I was chilling and reading when the family decided that they want to invade my privacy on our stoep


Fish eagle at Lake Panic


Another wild dog-they are lovely!




When you are in the Kruger and you drive the S3 you will see Sabie Park's picnic spot...


This pic was really funny for me, look like the bobjan was doing a raindance or praying

@WendyA:I know you will see a lot of cats and dogs! Don't sweat it! Yes I will be looking for the yellow ribbons-it will be nice to meet up!
@Cheetah2111: It is just sooo scary how 'humanlike' the bobjans are...
@Meerkitty:Thanks! I know I'm counting the days, I cannot wait!

More pics today because it is only 4.5 days and them I'm off in my fiat to the Kruger

Baby Leopard tortoise


Giant snail


Another white rhino, they are magnificent creatures-You guys wouldn't believe how many rhinos we saw on our October trip...


I don't know why people say hyenas are ugly-they are so fluffy, especially the young ones and for me always have that cuteness look that they give me with puppy big eyes!


One wanted to play fetch...


This pick was a belated birthday present-I actually spotted the Leopard all by my loneseome self on the skukuza bridge and had him for myself for about 3 minutes untill the bridge was packed with prying eyes! He was busy chowing on an impala and you wouldn't belive it but people were actually getting out of their cars watching this! But alas the game ranger came and they fined a few people! You go warden!


Sorry he never looked at me

@BS:Thanks, glad you are joining my TR
@Carolv:I am so glad the rangers are giving out fines because I don't want to read in the newspaper that a lion had to be shot because it killed a moron... A lot of forumites are coming to the Kruger this December, we are going to see YR everywhere!
@Meerkitty:Maybe we should do a weekend booking this year-get friends and go the LS or something
@Pumbaa:Thanks man! I love December in the Kruger, you always see the baby aMiNals-I've had the most luck in Decembers as well even if it so hot!
@RayK:It was a 2 week trip, I believe the more you are in the Kruger the more you will see...

BTW I saw 60 rhinos in the 3 days we were in the Kruger in October... It was like heaven! I just love those magnificent aMiNals!

So for more pics!
This is pics of our October trip this year...
Waterbuck at Shitlhav dam


Dwarf mongoose


White Rhino


Daghaboy near Berg en Dal


The quality of these pics aren't very nice but it was a WOW moment!
Rhino & Leopard on our Berg en Dal sunset drive


And then just the leopard...


That's all for now my fellow forumites...

@Cheetah2111:Dit was a belewenis... I talked about that sighting for quite a while
@Meandering Mouse:I've never seen wild dog pups So it will be on my wish list as well! You lucky mouse! Thanks for the kind words!

So, time is getting less peeps! I'm working today and then tomorrow it is time to shop for my holiday, I truly cannot wait! I am driving on Monday morning 1 o'clock from Pretoria to be at the Numbi gate when it opens...
Yesterday I bought Cd's for my drive to the Kruger, I just love driving with my window open-even if it is so early in the morning with a compilation CD and singing in my 'oh so idol' voice... I don't care because my voice cannot compete with the blaring speakers
'Ek gaan wildtuin toe'-has been my mantra this whole week-whenever I feel a bit low or my boss is on my case I just blurt it out. By now my friends says that I irritate them because they are staying in Pretoria and working while I am going on holiday, relaxing in the bush and going to drink WendyA's patented MMC. Life's just good in that way, that I am almost 'so close' to the Kruger that I can do a weekend excursion if I wanted to. So before I bore you and go on and on about how absolutely blessed I feel that I live in South Africa here is some more pics of my October trip...

On our way to Berg en Dal camp we saw a giraffe showing her motherly love... Makes me think of a time when my mum dropped me off at pre-primary and I just imagine the giraffe saying:"Be good and don't bully the weaker giraffes now!"


Now this mongoose boggled my mind-I went through my aMiNals book and the only ID I could give him/her is a Yellow mongoose but the book said that they don't live in the Kruger. Any help with this?


White back vulture


I believe this is a Brown Eagle but do correct me if I'm wrong...


Ellie, look how his face were painted with mud


Magnificent Kudu bull


The 4 amigos

@Cheetah2111:Thanks!
@Meandering Mouse:Thanks hope this December I can see more babies aMiNals
@Davejenni:Thanks for the ID-I never looked at the tail just the color of the mongoose's coat and now after you ID it I went on Google and saw that the slender mongoose's coat can range from brown to orange-red to yellow.
@Pumbaa: Thanks!
@Noel:Glad you could join! I hope that I will have the same amount of luck with this trip Thank you for giving me tips on how to see one of my urban legends-I call them that because I believe that they are characters in a fairytale until I see them with my own to eyes-or maybe take a pic of them if I get lucky I will camp out at Lake Panic and Shitlhave if it needs to be done!

Now for more pics of my October trip...

This was my first side striped jackal ever


We stayed in a Lower Sabie perimeter tent and this was taken from our 'stoep'


Terrapins on the Lower Sabie bridge, the one actually said 'CHEESE'


Bobjans grooming ritual-this was a very funny pic for me...


We were about 30 minutes late for a lion kill-yes I know very unlucky but after being in a roadblock for about an hour I got a few 'half-decent' pics This was about 4km outside Skukuza on the H4-1.








Like I said-not award winning

@Meerkitty:Maybe then we students should organize a 3/4 day trip during the holidays...Take over Kruger?
@Cheetah2111:Thanks-that terrapin was adoringly cute
@Vlakvarkvrou:Where did you see the baby warties? Thanks for your kind words!

So, 1.5 sleeps to go and then I'm on my way to the Kruger! I just cannot wait. I can just hear the bush calling me...
Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh
Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh

Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

In Pretoria, the busy city
the Kruger is calling me now
In Pretoria, the busy city
the Kruger is calling me now

Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

In 2 days I'm going to be free
the Kruger is calling me now
In 2 days I'm drinking MMC
the Kruger is calling me now

Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

Pack the car and leave the city
the Kruger is calling me now
Pack the car and leave the city
the Kruger is calling me now

Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh
Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh

So while I wait for the time to tick off here is more pics...
Baby Impies


Lillies at Lake Panic


Bateleur on the Waterhole road


Brown headed Parrot near Lower Sabie-which was a first for me


Brown hooded Kingfisher


Little Bee eater