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Still enjoying this lovely morning in KNP with you...

Wish I could now head out to Satara for a Kruger Brekkie...

Lovely hyena Mel-I just love seeing them in the Kruger, they are one of my must sees when I make a list
Nsemani dam does have such an array of animals-I just haven't seen the golden kitties which everyone else have seen there
Love all the kiekies

Heya Mel!

WOW it has been awesome catching up on your Trip Report... so much I want to say but I just can't get over...

YOU SAW WILD DOGS!!!!

I'm so excited for you - that is so truly awesome!!!!

WOW, WOW, WOW - what incredible pictures you got of them also... what a treat, that is the best present ever from Kruger - Wild Dogs on your last day.

I also loved your picture of the buffalo chewing (a few instalments ago) - and really love the cute baby waterbuck, such a lovely sight!

I'm so sad your trip is coming to an end - as all good things do, I guess. Still - we're not there yet, so looking forward to the next instalment!

Hi Mel, took me for e------ver to read up to here, my goodness, the Mites your TR and they really filled up the pages with their replies!!!

I don't know what I liked the best, maybe everything, or the mongoose and the doggies!!!!! or the rockies, no all the birds!!!!!

Glad you're still hooked on the cams, doing the night watch for us, you are to nice.....

Hello everyone!!

I can't believe it's November already!!
Which means I have been writing this trip report for 8 months!!

You are all so patient and wonderful to hang in there with me



Oh yes onewithnature
As first-timers to Africa EVERYTHING Dad and I saw was a wonderful experience



Hi Daron
Even after all that excitement before breakfast, there was still more to come!!



Hi Trrp-trrrrrrrr
I'm so glad you enjoyed the baby waterbuck video
It was such a delightful scene



G'day MM
I read somewhere recently that Trusted Beauty has just been repaired and is all ship-shape for Kruger
So hopefully you won't have to deal with the homesickness much longer





Hi Hilda and Barry

I so appreciate you both checking in always
It would be a great honour to meet up with you when Dad and I return, and perhaps even share some of your lucky charms!!



You're absolutely right Philip
Dad and I completely forgot how hungry we were until we left Nsemani Dam and then boy oh boy did our tummies start growling!!



Thank YOU Pumbaa for all your lovely comments
Even though not one of the "Big 5", seeing the mum and baby waterbuck was a very special sighting



Oh me too Bushbuddies!!!
When are you lucky ducky's heading to Kruger next?



Hi Heksie
I only saw a handful hyena's during our 2 weeks in Kruger. I hope we see many more on our next trip, especially some babies
Plenty more kiekies coming up



G'day Mel

I am so glad you are back from your business trip as it has been very lonely on the nightshift by myself

Did you see wild dogs when you went to Kruger? They sure were a sight to behold
Perhaps you and SO should go back to Kruger in 2015 to look for them!!
And yes, our Kruger leg of the trip is coming to an end, but there's still Karoo and Addo to follow!



Hi Super Mongoose

Yes, I think my SO was hoping that after the trip to Africa my cam addiction might settle down.
It didn't! I'm still as addicted as ever
Glad you are enjoying my TR and cam sightings

Satara and surrounds

Finally Dad and I arrived at Satara for our much-needed breakfast, just after 9.30am
Because it was our last day we had been trying to use up all our foodstuffs, which is why we had no padkos left.
So the bacon and egg toasted sandwiches we had were absolute heaven to our growling tummies!!

By 10.30am we were back in the car to see what else this amazing day had in store for us

Not far along the road we saw a handsome giraffe


He obviously wasn’t as happy to see us as we were to see him, poking his tongue out as we drove by


Next up we saw a 2 big bull ellies. One was walking alongside the road


The other ellie decided to hold up traffic


While we were waiting to move again Dad pointed over to what looked like some grey lumps in the distance
Looking through the binoculars we discovered the lumps were actually about half a dozen rhinos
What a day we were having!!!

They were crowded under a tiny tree which didn’t seem to offer them much shade at all
Then we noticed some warties were close-by and we could just see a waterhole there.
Unfortunately they were a long way off so the pics aren’t brilliant.


Eventually the big bull moved off the road and we could see that the 2 ellies were now heading in the direction of the waterhole.


The rhinos must have sensed the ellies coming so in an instant they were up and on the alert


Dad and I stayed and watched for a while, but it seemed that neither the rhinos or ellies were going to budge!


By this stage of the day it was also extremely hot.
Our Terios was baking in the sun so we continued on our way, to get some air flowing through the car

As we were driving a flock of queleas flew along next to us. Amazing how fast they fly and change direction so quickly.
The picture doesn’t really do them justice.


Dad and I were enthralled by the queleas when suddenly up ahead we saw a Kruger jam

We thought it just had to be a big cat sighting!!

Hope it was a Leopard Melph68!

Lovely sightings .... huge Ellies, Rhinos and Warthogs!

The Queleas never sit still for a picture. They are so busy, but beautiful!

Mel, I love your big bull moving off. Stunning picture

Yup, I am off to Kruger again soon, but not before a few day in Mount Zebra when I go to collect my daughter.

Waiting for more.

Hi Mel!,
Thanks for sharing your great trip with us
Just love the ellies, ronnies and warties all together . I am off to book our 10 day stay in KNP for October 2013 . Hope we get what we want .

love ellies and ronnies!!

Mel - what a nice sighting - 6 rhinos and some ellies all in one place!

No plan in place currently for the Bushbuddies to head out to KNP... But luckily we are never too far away. If opportunity lends itself to it - we'll definitely head there again for a weekend.

I love how you use the word padkos... Mel - you're becomming one of us. It's just a matter of moving here now...

WOW a lot of grey animals you saw there!
And its hard getting a kiekie with more than one Big5 member in them so very lucky
What could the Krugerjam unfold? Please let it be a kitty

When are you coming to SA again? Have you made any Kruger plans?

I've been on board all along and have enjoyed all the pics and the comments - so glad to pick up again after missing for a few weeks - looking forward to more

Hi Mel


I am glad you eat before driving Look at the results

Nice sightings again Thanks

Love the Warties and the Big "Brothers" close to them

Although often eperienced it I never realized completely how huge ellies are compared to cars and the one holding up the traffic is indeed a giant

Great rhino, warthog and ellie encounter

Thanks Mel for a lovely after breakfast drive