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First of all, this is my first TR after visiting Kruger 4 years in a row…hope I am doing justice in adding value in the same way I have gained from all the forumites contributions.

Thursday, 13 Dec’12 we landed 08h30 at OR Tambo from Cape Town, was disappointed with car hire as I reserved a Nissan X Trail 10 months ago ending up driving a Kia Sportage (we drove one the previous year and loved it, but we were only me, SO and daughter then). The reason was that my in-laws accompanied us this time round, hence needed a bigger car for luggage etc. Nevertheless, all worked out fine with boot space just making it.

We set off to Nelspruit via N4, stopping at Crossings Spar (as per usual), then headed for the nearest gate, Numbi, but for some reason, I missed the turn off, then headed for Phabeni – a first time entry for me. Whilst driving through the towns towards the gate, SO and my in-laws (former northern Free Staters before they moved to Cape Town) were hinting at me stopping to buy some of those white mealies fom the local residents longside the road, but my mission was to get into Kruger and thought they were having me one - which they were not.

First things first before entering, put on the YR on the one side mirror and OR (orange ribbon – KNP sightings) on the other, cameras on my lap, and here we go, taking the S1 Doispane road towards Skukuza. Our first sightings were couple of hamerkop on the bridge over the Hlulamadvodza river followed by a large lonely elephant bull and then this fellow welcomed us with a ‘heads up’ gesture.


These guys were also hard at work whilst we were on vacation...


Before booking in at Skukuza, I had an appointment with myself (that place you will visit giving you the feeling – you are home, peace and quiet) – Lake Panic! There was relatively little activity compared to our previous trips, but the quietness was good as one relax immediately and could hear how noisy the quietness actually is. (For some photos you can refer to Lake Panic gallery started by Jan van Wyk).

After settling in at the Elsie Clark unit as we normally do when visiting Skukuza, and visited the shop to get our Kruger passports with stamps, we did another first and that is to eat out at the Selati restaurant, just next door – and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the service was excellent. Yummy …

It was also a time to pause and think – the morning we were still in Cape Town and now relaxing 1164 miles away in Skukuza.


And so we have started our 16 days south-to-north-and-back Kruger trip i.e.:
Enter at Phabeni gate with 2 nights each at Skukuza, Biyamiti, Lower Sabie, Satara, Mopani, Punda Maria, Shingwedzi and 1 night at Letaba and Satara with exit at Numbi gate.

I might get carried away with detail and refer to previous trips (as per DinkyBird’s threat on “Golden Oldies – memories created over time”, but mine will not be ‘old’, just slightly matured moments…), so please advise if I must rather get more in slide show mode than detail.

Day 2 to follow …a one with dots and painted colours

Hi Kaapsedraai

Thank you for your TR and pics. What a nice first day (Like the food)

Hello Kaapsedraai

Can’t wait to hear about your trip in Paradise. So jealous that this is your fourth year running to the park .

Looking at the quality of your first few photos I am looking forward for more

Hey Kaapsedraai WELCOME I can't wait to TR ill even bite on the back of the tyres for half price

Kaapsedraai,

Looking forward to your TR ....going by your on the Lake Panic thread we are in for a treat.

Ready with lots of

Kaapsedraai, got my gastric juices going there.. looks yummy

more, please.

Loving day one! Food looks great...

Kaapsedraai,

Looking forward to hear about your trip.

Who did you do your car hire through?

I had the same issue in December, but for me it was a choice. Either the Kia, or the Nissan. Went with the Nisan and was very pleased that I did.
There were 9 of us in 2 cars. But often for a drive, up to 8 of us (lots of kids) piled into the Xtrail I had hired. And I must say, everyone seemed ok in the back. Though i am pleased that I was up front, driving

Thank you Philip1, t-bal, Sheenaugh-Lee, Trrp-trrrrrrrr, Meandering Mouse, JeanniR and yoda for your comments
I just hope that the TR live up to your expecations, let see. I will post info regarding day 2 later today - the start of real action.


The hiring was done through a 3rd party with Budget car hire. The issue is just if you enter into a contract 10 months ahead of time for which you paid a deposit upfront for and on the day of collection you have to be satisfied with what is left just does not sit well with me. I guess, you get wiser though these experiences. Lesson for all those hiring specific cars - they advertise a car, but with clause subject to availability, hence worth the while to double check closer to the time that the exact car will be available and obtain some sort of commitment.
Nevetheless, we had an enjoyable and safe trip unlike my unfortunate experience in Addo in June'12 when I had a nasty incident with the protected species - but that is a different story.

Great start with the trip . Love the narration .

Waiting with lots of for more .

Im interested to hear what type of run in you had in June 2012 and with what?

What an awesome start!!!........

Love the dungbeetles!!!

Ready for lots more..........

Thank you barryels, lion queen. Before I get to day 2, let me first answer Sheenaugh-Lee.

In June'12 on our last day we were slowly driving one of the loops in Addo when we passed ranger in his bakkie with an atenna going in the opposite direction. We continued for about a few hundred meters when another white bakkie with honorary rangers badge on the door went passed us in a hurry. We continued slowly and as it was bush both sides of the road we drove extra slowly to look for possible caracal or something alike. As we approached a high bush about 3 meters from it, a black rhino charged out from behind and hit our car's front bumper. Before I could do anything he stepped backwards and charged again, but thgs time he his horn hit the car's radiator. He moved back and ran into the bush. We were totally shocked .

I waited a minute, got out to see what has happened and saw water running out and realised we are stuck. At that time the head ranger stopped behind me as the honarary rangers stopped him and told him that this rhino had charged them just before us, hence him turning back and was looking for this rhino as he has injured the calf that previous night.

John, that the Head Ranger's name, helped us and took us back to the Rest camp, but on our way he took the detour towards Addo police station so I can report the incident. The policeman on duty did not want to assist as the place of the incident does not fall under their area, but John was prepared and insisted and as a result they assisted. On our way back to the camp, I managed to contact the Insurance and on arrival at Reception, the forms were there already. The staff at Addo was brilliant and assisted me to get the forms faxed back to the Insurance and also offered an extra night without cost.

Later that afternoon, the breakdown phoned and was already at the car for pickup and another ranger took me their. On arrival, about 200m from the car, guess who was waiting and ready to charge .... . As he was about to get ready for a charge, the ranger accelerated and managed to get away. At this time I could get a photo of the rhino. The car was loaded on the pick-up for transport back to Cape Town.

The next morning, my Insurance arranged a hired car for us and it arrived as we were about to depart to Tstsikamma, our next stop. I bumped into John at reception again and asked how the rhino is and he told me the sad news that this bull had killed the calf and the cow that night.

The good news is that the rhino is ok and we have not sustained any injuries, just the car damage but that is of a material nature. We are just glad that the rhino was ok. I contacted John again a few months later and he told us "I think it was a territorial issue and you happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Normally this animal is very relaxed and is not flustered by vehicles"

I was hestitant to share this experience as to avoid any tendency in creating sensation. The lesson we learnt is that when you are in their territory, you can expect anything, but obviously with the necessary respect and precausion to be taken - does not matter in which park you find yourself in.

WOW and what a story this is, I agree with you a vehicle is just material objects and your lives are all in tact Im happy for that, aren't your family members now a little more wary around rhino's? As For the territory the other rhino and baby why did he kill them? Was the baby not his? Glad to hear you all made it out safely thanks for telling me the story and ummmmm lol after hearing this well ummmmm id like to change my positioning from biting on the back tyres for half price to sitting on the roof for full price lol

Sheenaugh-Lee, it seems that the calf was his, but was mere a territorial issue according to the Head Ranger.