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Hi all.
This might be a bit of a weird topic but here goes...
We all love Kruger dearly and many of us have obtained incredible memories from it that will last a lifetime. Through years and years of visiting Kruger, each different area, road and camp start to obtain their own unique character and atmosphere.
Certain sights, sound and smells from Kruger become imprinted in your psyche and when you experience these same senses in another place, far away from the bush, your mind is suddenly jolted and taken back to those fond memories.
Then you wish you were there...

What I would like to know is:
What are the things (sights, sounds, smells, tastes) that symbolize Kruger to you in this way?
To give you an idea of what I mean, here is a part of my list:
1) The call of the Woodland Kingfisher is my symbol for the lush, green Kruger summer.
2) The sight of the red, gold and orange leaves of a mopane tree in combination with the brilliant flowers of the Impala Lily takes me to a winters day in Shingwedzi.
3) When I hear the call of a Cape Glossy Starling here in the city, I am immediately transported back to a picnic site in Kruger.
4) The smell of tar takes me back to a bungalow in one of Kruger's rest camps (tar poles on the thatch roof).

Wonderful thread

1. the smell of thatch in the toilets when you arrive.

2. the mumble of voices at the braai

3. the mournful sound of the wood dove

4. the silence of the bush in the middle of nowhere

5. the sun, both rising and setting. One filled with anticipation, the other, reflective and mellow.

1. The hyena you always hear
2. The sight of all the braai fires around the camp
3.The birds sharing your lunch/tea
4. Sunset- that orange/red ball
5. The zillion stars we can see in the night sky

When the sun sets in the evening my heart starts yearning the bush that gets alive when the first star comes out at night.I miss the clear view from the bush on a full moon night. The chat, smile or wave when you pass someone on your way to the bathroom. I miss the excitement of spotting a hyena at the fence. Oh, how I miss the KNP here in the city tonight.

In no particular order of preference:-

1.Sharing sightings and experiences with complete strangers, and feeling you've known them for years.
2.When all has gone quiet from the human visitors, listening to the night sounds like the insect chorus, and a growl here and a bark there, and a screech or two!!!
3.Travelling for ages without a sighting, and just when you are about to give up, finding something!!
4.Waking to the cry of a Fish Eagle.
5.The smell of the thatch, which takes me back to my first visit in 1976.

Roll on November!!!

Ifubesi nice thread

Mine are:

1) An approaching summer thunderstorm and the natural "readiness" of the bush to accept the precious cargo carried by the heavy clouds
2) The chilling laugh of hyena in the dead of night
3) The gracious Impalas
4) Elephants walking far-off against the Lowveld landscape
5) The smell of the veldt very early morning before and during sunrise

1. The smell of the thatch.
2. The sound of Guinea fowl calling in the morning.
3. The smell of bushveld wood, burning into the night.
4. Lions moaning in the distance at night.
5. The silence of the bush, when a predator is on the attack...

Makes one thankful that we can experience Kruger with all of our senses.....

1. The first smell of boerewors being put on the fire
2. Change from day sounds to night with a glass of wine in hand as the sunsets
3. The woodlands kingfisher shrill
4. The call of the fish eagle
5. Turning off the engine at a view sight and just "listening"

In no specific order,

Sitting under a tree on a quiet section of the S50, listening to the wind blowing through the Mopani trees and the lonesome sound of an Emerald Spotted Dove.
The coolness of the bungalow after a long hot drive, and the welcoming smell of the thatch.
The sudden appearance of a herd of elephants out of the bushes right behind you, coming to drink.
The smell of the leadwood fires at the picnic spots (old days)
The incessant cackling of the Arrow Marked Babblers in camp

1. the thatch smell in the kruger shops
2. Switching off the radio as soon as you drive into Krugers gates.
3. the kruger greeting comity (impala)
4. the excitiment when you see cars stopping.
5. lions at night.

1. excitement when descending from the Highveld to the Lowveld
2. the feeling of heat, sun and smell of dust while driving with windows open at 30k/h on the S21 / S39
3. the sound of the bush: rivers flowing, birds, impala chewing or snoring, grunts by a herd of buffalo, the scaring trumpet of an irritated ellie and above all, the "ughhh ughhh ughhh" of a lion at night
4. the privilege of being alone at a waterhole and watch all the small and big activities going on
5. to see a full moon rising over the Sabi River - painting the bush in soft moonlight

I long for Kruger every day and wish I was there NOW ...

Leana

Kruger: May 2013

Me too Leana.

1 Getting up very early to have a quick recce outside - stars, sounds (hopefully lions roaring) of night including owls, prep coffee etc for day, shower and go to the gate. Often chat 'cos all the early risers think the same. 2 Early morning self-drive viewing trip. Exciting and always rewarding. 3 Birding in the camp - you can't drive all day. 4 Afternoon nap then a drive with a sundowner. Get back to camp and stroll around till well dark, quick supper, star gazeing and sitting outside before bed. 5 Get out points like the picnic spots and bird hides - atmosphere of isolation.

(1) Smell of the thatch
(2) the "mash potatoe" smell that is emitted in the evening
(3) the sound of silence
(4) the night sounds of crickets and other insects
(5) talking to the "kruger family" about the days sightings

All of the above


The entrance gates. Then the spirit arrives in bucketloads for me!