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Day 1
Part 1. Welcome to the Park!

Jaaaaa man I have returned from 6 nights in a pair of dice!!!! What a barGAIN!
Another solo camping trip wif Casper the Friendly Corsa and lazarus the tent that gets up and walks [url=/en.smiles.26l.com/smile.115207.html][/url]
2 nights at malalane and 4 nights at the Lowest of Sabies yielded a new trend of aMiNals. So for those who reckon I'm the Lion King ... this is not the case anymore! I did have fantabulous sightings though and I hope you have the popcorn warm so I can share with you my Lazy Horses and Other Delights!!

Welcoming me to the park at Malalane gate was the Impi Warrior!!!

And the Purple Chested Fellow singing me a song of joy and welcoming!


Just around the corner I reached Malalane camp and pitched Lazarus and parked Casper. A lekker shady spot by the fence with very few people in camp it was wonderfully peaceful

All ribonned up on the side mirror you see! I had a little nap (I set off from Joburg at 03:00AM) only to be woken by Bobjins!! What a thing!!


So the time had come to set off on my first game drive of the trip!


First up Miss Big Ears pops up to see whats potting!!

Standing tallll above the grass Grafie checks out the scene

At Berg En Dal these Minkeys are scrounging around on the ground to see what they can score!

Have a look at this wonderful outlook from Berg En Dal restaurant



There were a few parts where new found rivers had washed over the road. Drive carefully over those points! There are guys like Terry who make the middle of the road their home these days

It was heck of a hot!! These buff okes headed for the water!

As did these Kanosters!

Fortunately, there was lots of water around






Oh my, what nice ears you have!

All the better to hear you with

And what nice eyes you have
All the better to see you with



These Frankies walked right past me at Gardenia hide!



It was a wonderful welcoming procession!

With these Cape Vultures being the last sighting before the cherry on top

Day 1 Continued



So you remember where we were right??? I had just passed a whole convent of Cape Vultures (which can be identified by their lack of front teeth) up in the tree by the bridge. It seemed the bush was in preperation for sleep time! The vultures had perched up there and were settling in for the night. The same applied for the Fracolins. When you see the Francolins up on tree stumps you know its time for bed. My thoughts wander off to what I am going to braai when I return, when all of a suddenS! On the last stretch before the S110, I see this walking in the road in front of me!!!!!!
Whaaaat!?

Only to find I have been blessed with a poser of a Lazy Horse!!

Only to find my Lazy Horse isn't half lazy! As it runs up to a tortoise and guards it's catch!


what a BEAUT!

Then time to get back to dinner


And off into the bush again!

What a welcome to KRUGER!!

Day 1 - Night Time Surprise!

I arrive at Malalane still quite amazed and shocked at my leopard luck on the first day! Climbing on the phone to tell my parentals what had just played out whilst looking across the Crocodile River and seeing a herd of Elephant grazing peacefully. Moving onwards with my steak on the braai I enjoy the Grunts of the hippos who have moved closer to camp to have dinner!
The coals quietly burn out white as droopy eyes signal bed time. Little did I know the day was not done providing surprises ...
I awoke to the sounds of a raucous elephant herd very near camp! In fact, they were trying to get from the outside of camp, to the inside!!!! They want to get to their Marula fruit!! An Elephant assaulting a camp fence is a frightening thing ek se!
But there is Ecojunkie trying to dissolve the situation ... throwing Marula fruit at the herd. What a classic moment in life! When the elephants still persist in their efforts she tries to make them aware of her presence by a soft leg slap. Even in this moment of Elephant about to break into camp she wants to ward them off in the quietest possible way so as not to wake up guests! Besides myself, there was only one other caravan anyway! Bless her thoughtfulness. With an execution of greater volume the Ellies realised there was a human and were sufficiently spooked out and left.

I find the whole thing simultaneously scary and hilarious!

I was there at Malalane in Feb which means the park was very quiet! So I thought it was lovely! You can vaguely hear in the far off distance a farm dog barking sometimes But this was hardly a problem for me! Every night I enjoyed the sounds of hippo, and the sound of ellies (with a tad of stress). Crocodile Bridge is worse for hearing civilization.
I am used to the lions roaring at night in the central camps. And it was wonderful to go to bed to the grunt of the hippos for two nights A very well kept camp. Nice shady spots and the ground is nice and soft! The ablutions are close by and as well kept as any camp I even caught a fleeting glimpse of a civet on my second night walking along the fence So I have only good things to say about camping at Malalane
Anyone camping at Berg En Dal rather than Malalane is missing out big time!


Those are exactly the lenses I have! Obviously, coz they come with the deal And thank you for the compliment I am dead sure you will take fantastic pics with it! I considered the 550D, which takes higher quality pics, but only 250mm lense. and the extra 50mm makes a big difference in the park

My advice for you ... keep it in the camera bag with the cap on whilst you drive. It is tempting to have it at the ready in case a leopard walks across the road! (I just missed a honey badger). But the last thing you want is sand getting in and ruining your nice lens And on the third day I had a spider who was stuck somewhere in the viewfinder When I look to see if my buffalo is in focus ... a spider is all I see It is worth the extra 1,5 seconds reaction to keep your camera safe from the elements

The Ellie Vandals!

An update from EJ!

Day 2 - Morning Sun, Morning love!

Awake before the alarm goes off? But of coarse!! The birdies have been singing in perfect pitch warming up their vocals for another musical bird day Up we get! Make the good juice and wait for the gate to open.
The first Kruger Morning seems the most beautiful!!!!!



Wa-Wa here comes the sun.
Get your green, green tamborine
Lets play in The Park!!
Here comes the Sun.

Morning has broken!

There it be! The life giver of Earth so stunning and consistant! Though our troubles as humans are so small and fleeting they seem so large and all consuming. The powerful forces of nature have a way of downsizing our silly billy problems to an appropriate level. Afterall, the Creator of that Mighty life giving sun also created you! So let us cast away anxiety and insecurities and sing our morning song as boldly as this!

Long Leggsie!

Next up its the warm morning love of Nelliefants !

Hello! You fool! I love you!!


Brother big tusks!

Smallyfant!

And the famdamily!!


Good morning Kruger! You beautiful thing!

Day 2 Morning Continued!!

These fountains of Oil were fascinating to observe! You almost felt a part of the herd the way they carry on their social business as if my car were not there at all. This teenyfant crossed the road.

Then came for some advice from ParentalFant!

If I remember correctly the advice went something like ...

It's not time to make a change, just relax and take it easy

You're still young that's your fault

there's so much you have to know

Find a girl, settle down, if you want to, you can marry

Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy

Well, with that jewel of wisdom from Cat Stevens I felt it should put me in with a solid chance of seeing cats Onward! Seeking the leons!!



A family of Twiggaraffs!!!


Next up was a European bee eater colonizing this dead tree! Not the Dr's favorite bird!


Some Impi Warriors receive the latest skinner from the ox peckers in the wild! The ox peckers, who are Rita Skeeter in nature, are qualified journalists.
G-raffs, Kanosters, Buff okes and Impi warriors are the most loyal subscribers to the Daily Peck!
Here is a family of BLACK Kanosters far from the road near Afsaal! I did look properly with the Binocs. Take my word for it!


At this sighting I met a very nice Lady! She saw my ribbons and asked if I'm on the Sanparks Forums. I confirmed only to find she is not a member! But an avid stalker! And when I told her my name, it turns out she has been stalking my trip reports! I am thoroughly flattered As much as I appreciate a good cyber stalk every now and then, I ask you now you lady (if you are stalking now) to join in the fun with the Yellows and Greens


Still gloating about my stalk-worthy status, I move on to the S113 which brought some open grassland and a Struisvogel just to keep things to the text book


As the terrain changes from grassland to rocky outcrops on the S114, It is these stone jumpers standing stationary on pride Rock!


On my way back toward Malalane I forget like a fool that the Biyamiti river cannot be crossed!!!!
So I have to head toward Skukuza instead. But it wasn't a bad option

Immediately, I get the opportunity to say hi to Ena sluiping out of the long grass!!!



Onward towards Skuks!
TBC

Day 2 Continued

All you penguins remember where we were? Heading in the harsh sun up to Skuks!
Saying howzit was this donkey wearing his jail clothes


Not long after that the honeymoon Leons come out of nowhere!!!! And as soon as they came they were gone!

No public leon pornography on Wednesdays!

At Skuks its time for glasses and glasses of ice water! Holy Shmokes it was hot! But in a nice shady spot I just mellowed out gazing into the distance



This gazing off was like a 3 hour activity. I'm pretty skilled at doing very little But then the time came to head home to Malalane! The first sighting is your usual first sighting! The defender
Impi Warrior


The next aMiNal is more on the Sandton side of life! Its the Koo-girl


Then from the cosmetic queen to the 'not so pretty'. A shallow pig for VVV!

When I was a young Warthooooog!
He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal
He could clear the savannah after every meal

I'm a sensitive soul though I seem thick-skinned
And it hurt that my friends never stood downwind

It's our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!

Indeed no worries! These buff okes know this, chilling out in the Public Pool!


And Kanosters surveying flood damage with a wobble and a bobble!


Then there are those who can perch high in the sky and survey the savanna scenes


Nelliefants cross the road on occassion

And then proceeds to join the Famdamily




Then of coarse we all know the feeling of being watched in the Kruger. And we also know who the guilty stalker is! The tallyRaffs! So when you air punch to a good sighting they are there to say: We don't air punch Dave. I'm watching you!

G-raff in the road



The first sighting is also the last! How biblical. The impi kiss!


Progressive sunset to say goodnight!




Would the Nellies invade again tonight? Or would I have other visitors?

Day 3 Morning

My fingers put off my alarm on my cell-phone within the first second of it sounding. Unzipping lazarus I hear a sound in the bushes on the far side of the fence and scrape around the tent floor to find a torch. Shining into the darkness I catch a glimpse of a civet walking past the fence!! Today is going to be a good day! It was time to move on from Marula Fruit Malalane to go camp at Lower Sabie for the next four nights! Packing up lazarus with a heave and a ho in pitch darkness was not a simple task! Yet eventually with a Casper Corsa full of stuff and a flask full of coffee I set off on my morning exploration!


Today was a dark and cloudy day. The sort of gloom which would usually spell a dreary day in the city, has the opposite effect in the park! Without the sun, you get the feeling you have more hours of cat activity My first sighting in the poor light of darkness in the long grass however, was another Black Kanoster!!


A poor photo I know! But hey! You don't look a gift horse in the mouth It was now a drizzly day and the animals were hiding away. So I enjoyed sitting watching this crocarock gliding swiftly through the water

I was pleased to see the cloudy conditions were coming to an end! And the sun started peaking its head through the clouds

The sunlight seemed to draw out the beauty of the bush almost instantly, as I sat looking out over this river for a moment or two. Before computers, telephone lines and television connect us, we all share the same air, the same oceans, the same mountains and rivers. We are all equally responsible for protecting them.


The windy road finally shone some favour on me when Mom and Son were calmly standing in the road in front of me!


They wobbled and waddled into the long grass and were suddenly invisible. Meandering up the road I stopped on occasion to appreciate the web spinning mastery of the Golden Orbs when the sun caught their webs just right illuminating their presence. Observing the shimmering and glistening Crocodile River which would occasionally have a blob of hippo on the far bank.



Life was moving on and companions were standing in the open having a morning chat

Whilst other warriors waged a pre-breakfast war.

To the cheer leading chant of the White Fronted Bee Eater

Suddenly all heaven broke loose and even the Kruger Stalker was revealing himself about the shrubs!

Minkey broke from the shrubs covering the floor to jump into plain sight!

And even Lucy Mongoosy came twinkle toes out of the bush to tentatively trod on the open ground away from the safety of long grass!

Bruce Mongoose figured that if his wife is still alive, he might as well do the same!

Beautiful creatures!

It was soon after Lucy Mongoosy and Bruce Mongoose that I realized I had been a right dumbo! I had driven to the Bitamiti River crossing!

Casper is not getting through that anytime soon!
So it was time for a rather brilliant detour! Including some biblical wisdom.

"A person standing alone can be easily defeated

But two shall withstand him

But a threefold chord is not easily broken" (Eclessiastes 4:12)


Then who would have thought, whilst plodding along lost in thought, I would see a Lazy Horse!


Rosetta was showing the true meaning of being a Lazy Horse!


Only half way to Lower Sabie! What a morning!

Ag jaaaa 3 Blackie sightings If only they were more co-operative with posing
That Mongoose plural story is one of the reason why they Lucy Mongoosy's and Bruce Mongoose. So I can just say "I saw many Lucys and Bruces today"

one of the things I never told in the episode was

that rhino with the open mouth charged me shortly after that photo!!! If ever a rhino looks at you like that, it means GET AWAY!

Day 3 Morning Continued

I managed to get a better angle of Rosetta!

Looking at me!


Licking the paw!


Sleep time! But the one paw not in ideal position!


There we go! All four legs dangling! Looking quite strange


Byeeee!


Making my way on to the S21 it turned out to be an Aunty Val road! European bee eaters and European Rollers around the top of trees On the top of a tree a stump far away a Brown Snake Eagle surveys the situation. Eventually the birdies pose for me This beautiful Purple Chested Fellow


And Mr hammer head sommer in the road!


Popping out North of Lower Sabie on the H4-1 I saw these Nelliefants!
Splish Splash I was taking a bath!


Calm Coolifants head off happy chappies!


At the Lubyelubye bridge cars were stopping momentarily to check out the landscape, and then driving off again. Clearly there isn't much to see But I join in the routine and stop for a while and decide to look downwards down the cliffs when through the green railings I see

I tried to explain to people about the leopard, but after looking and not seeing it they gave me that look - where is your leopard. They really didn't believe me They moved off and I pointed out the leopard to an Austrailian babe
And the leopard goes:




And gone! And Austrailian babe says "ah you just made my trip, thank you"! Well that was a good moment in life Little did I know I would see Austrailian babe again!!

Day 3 afternoon part 1

I reverse for one last shot of the Big Guy of LubyeLubye!
And bidding farewell to the Aussie babe who had just seen leopard for the first time!

In 37degree sticky hot sun I toiled to set up my tent! I picked a spot with trees on both sides of the demarcated area so I always have shade! Yay by the bay! I would discover later the problem with my spot But for now at least, Lazarus was set up, Casper was sitting in the shade, and I was a happy camper (literally)
The time had come to go chill out in the pool until my fingers were all wrinkily Taking a meandering exploration route through camp I found lizards stuck to the walls like decorative pieces and birds tweeting in the trees. A bachelor herd of Buff Okes were standing and sitting in the glistening Sabie River trying to escape the harshness of the African Sun. Arriving at the resaurant I found relief! The high position allowed wind to gust through as well as fans overhead. I went for the student special – Tap Water with ice Government juice. But then some devilish young boy hops around the floor boards waving around a Magnum Ice cream Against my better judgment I go buy an ice cream and consume it with a ravenous disposition worthy of the LubyeLubye guy

Right! Enough of that! Its 15:30 and time to gooooo!


Turning onto the H10 to go North I stop for a while above the rapids where the wetness in the air is a welcome feeling!

The placid waters of the Sabie River housing the Egyptian geese and Terry!



Sometimes in the Kruger you have a random that makes it into the background of a photo, and often its a blou Willie


I turn onto the S128. My type of road! Open grasslands! However, the grass was rather high!

When it was shorter there were aMiNals to be seen! Like these Bobjins on a mission



Or even in the road! As were these Zapidy Zeebees!
They do look so out of place in the animal kingdom! Seriously, white and black stripes does not fit in with the savanna But this is useful as it confuses the color blind lions! And I hope this little zebbie grows up to be a 350Kg leader! For now, stick to Mom!

Peering over the long grass with superior perspective is Gerald Giraff!:D


There are enough bushes here to keep the Sandton koo-girl happy!


And my Golden Orb obsession is fueled again by this scary specimen!

And every now and then a European Roller for Aunty Val!

When the grass becomes shorter you can see for miles and miles!

Mr Trunk in Air Graced me with his presence!

The Road was apparently the place to be!

He rests his heavy trunk on his sturdy tusk while deciding how long to keep me on the S128

Then he leaves me a gift! A land mine!!

So remember always, keep in mind, that poop is never far behind.

With a sniff of his own stuff he was “Off to see the wizzard, the wonderful Wizzard of Ozz!”

Turning onto the H10 I had a very special sighting But you have to wait and find out what it was
TBC

Day 3 Afternoon Part 2



Eventually Sir Turdalot finds the yellow-brick road veering off of the S128 to visit the Wizard of Oz who graduated from Ravenclaw

If ever, oh ever, a Wiz there was
The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, becaaaaaaause...
Because of the wonderful things he does!!

leaving me with free passage to the H10. I take a look at the K's home and the time And decide to go a bit more North before heading home. But after 1km I find myself reversing from this brute

And I reverse all the way back to the S128 turn off These Angryfants really have it in for Casper the Friendly Corsa!

Coming back down South on the H10 there were just herds and herds of Nellie Famdamilies!! Here is just one!


But who would have thought that between the trunks and tusks such a small surprise would emerge from the long grass!! When one sees a sudden scurry from the road to the grass in the distance one usually assumes it to be a Lucy Mongoosy. I reach over to the passenger seat and lift Mr Cannon onto my lap while engaging 1st gear to bring Casper to a crawl. Pointing the lens in the general direction of the shy Lucy I hope for her to emerge for a pic. When it's shy head pops out of the grass it seems too large for a Lucy! Indeed! This is not a Mongoosy at all! But a Barty Badger! A bustling Barty Badger shoots across in a dasher sort of manner!



Barty heads hurtling into the luscious long grass sending two irate birds shooting out of cover chirping ferociously in protest! This Badger is a bit of a Cadger to snatch up the eggs before they hatch! But such is the ambitious nature of the black and white Flasher to be a nest snatcher! How excited I was to catch a gimps of Barty Badger!!


The King of fisherman was perched on the H10 bridge peering optimistically into the Sabi River


with time permitting, I swung by Sunset dam to find a Snout staring at me in a most disconcerting manner!

I do NOT want to be stranded here after dark!



What a day! Black Rhino, Rhino charge, Rosetta on a branch, Sir Lubyelube on the rocks, Elephant charge and Barty Badger!!
But the day only ends when you sleep until the next And I was in for an interesting night yet

Day 4 Morning!

Wake up in the morning feeling rough and ready to head on steady Northward from the Sabie of Lowness! I've seen all these photies of the cheetah on the H10! Maybe I can get some cheetah for my face




Sprawled out across the H10 are the bobs that lead my way! A large troop of all shapes and sizes are a jollybean bunch to observe

Item 1 on the agenda for the morning is team bonding! If it were not for the lowering of their glucocorticoid levels through grooming, they simply would not cope. They really are social aMiNals!

What a nifty design to have a bend on the tail for smalloons to hitch a ride on!

Smalloons are in a good position to observe the world and develop their sight and depth perception. Unlike human moms who hold their babies against their chest or back Yet as independent as they seem, there are some teenybobs who never want to say goodbye to those mommyjin hitch-hiking days! Like this jealous brotherbob


The social jollybeans bob off into the long grass having a little swing at every bush they pass They are wonderful! Not quite my feeling towards this next bully!


Bullyfant had me reversing for about 2kms!!

Good riddance! Better to see a Nellymucher! That awesome moment when you eating so much it makes you smile!


Our precious stood morning watch on that morrow!

And legolas long neck was sticking his rough tongue amongst the thorns!

The big round ears of a shaggy coated waterbuck decipher its surrounding

I could not believe the flood damage around Tsokwane!

The cry of Africa reaching new areas!

Macdonals anyone?


And nearly back home, some birdies for Aunty Val
The Dr's least favourite roller

Geese from Egypt!

The King of fishers perched up on the rocks!

And Mr Shneaky Shneaky coming back from the banks of sunset dam after being spotted trying to get at some eggs!

Day 4 Afternoon!



The drive began by swinging past LubyeLubye to hopefully see Mr. LubyeLeopie himself! (or was it to try see Aussie babe? ) But the fisher from the woodlands was very calm and no sign of the Spotted Celeb


And no lesser spotted Australasians unfortunately. But if there was, I would probably board down these cliffs to go fetch Spotted Celeb for her to see!
Still, this gives more time for working out This is all good and well, but completely irrelevant isn't it?
Onward then!

I ambled up to the H10 bridge which is always a lekker spot in the heat of the day! I like to park just where the water gushes down for a little cool down. I found the fisher who ate all the pie!!


Terry's were poking their heads around on their Sabie Island!


Even the Hippsters were out of sorts taking a little stroll on distant shores (well, not that distant)

This bridge is a jolly fine place to swing past!


It was Se-r-i-ous-ly HOT! And Buff Brogan was having a chillax sesh in his Sabie Pool


Our precious was barely visible in the long grass


The whole Famdamily of Nellymunchers were just settling down at the table for some greens!


Moving on from family dining I thought I would take the S28! Since that's where all you okes see Cheetah Lizzie Legs was bending down to a scrumptious bush at the entrance!!

She has grace this lady does!


The open grasslands of this road made game viewing a challenge! But these Zebbierebs found a nice short grass section to show themselves to me

They had a little one with them that had a black face. I'm not sure what the cause is? At first I felt sorry for this one. Not as pleasing to the eye as his Zeb friends. But the more you stay and watch the herd, the more you realise there is something different about dark face Zeb! He flicks his head, and kicks his legs out and has a real spring in his step jolly jamming young lad if you have ever seen one! While all the youngins stuck by mom, blackie lead the way! First onto the road out of the herd!

Animals can give me advice on a daily basis just by being what they are made to be. These superficial concerns that occupy our minds are truly irrelevant! I am glad I met Blackie that day. I trust he will become a magnificent leader of Zebs! Maybe I will see him again

Moving on! Just a while down the S28 a far herd of Zebbs accompanied by a Blue Willie. But why are there two cars turned off looking at this I asked the Germans (who were not Pumbaa and Timon as I was hoping) and apparently there is a lone lioness stalking this lot

Eventually she pops up here head! And here is the girly!!!!

Right! Let the stalking begin!

It was over in a flash! Movement in the grass, a puff of dust, the golden girl leaping in the air and taking a swipe at the wilderbeest! Not an effective trip! With everyone looking at her, she walks away in the long grass flicking her tail in annoyance! Wow! What a sighting

Turning around at the tar road a green bush snake dashes across the road in that winding fashion at extreme pace!


The nocturnals are truly on the move! This Hyena slumps across the road at a brisk pace!


Even the battle tank Hippster is out to graze


How does a day in Kruger conclude? With exquisite beauty!