SANParks.org Forums

The Rude and obnoxious thread got me thinking.
viewtopic.php?f=133&t=69570

Well we all know that at cat sightings, it is not unusal to get a traffic jam.

But what is the least exciting sighting that you have been at that there was a traffic jam.

I had 2 on my recent trip in December.

First was a Kudu male. Deep in the bush, behind trees. Really not a great sighting. But for some strange reason, there was quite a crowd. In fact, 2 of the game viewing vehicles (not SANP) had an accident trying to get a better view.

The 2nd one was just outside B & D.
There was a small herd of Impala with a few lambs. And quite quickly a jam built up.
I guess it was everyone coming and going from camp and there was the "cute factor" too.
In a way nice to see people stop at the little things.

On a very quiet morning along the Biyamiti loop, a favourite road of jeep jockeys, I battled to get past a few of them who were explaining about the ground hornbills in the burnt veld because there was not a cat in sight in the whole area!

I think it was back in 2007 when friend Anton, friend flipp and myself decided that us three families will go together to KNP.

Now friend Anton and his SO are keen botanists We were a mere 5km into the park (we entered via Numbi gate) when friend Anton stopped at a magneficent tree of some sort (till this day I don't know the species or anything else ). Anyway, friend flipp stopped and so did we. And there we were: three cars stopped next to the road, staring into the veld. When the next car came, we said nothing, but just pointed towards the magnificent tree. And the next car stopped, and the next, and the next.

We kept on pointing towards the tree. In the end everyone saw the leopard, or cheetah, or eagle, or civet or whatever, except for us.

Hahahaha that's classic lol!!!!

Well I had an unusual one I was still a kid and were driving the tar road between LS and Skukuza, on my side I was looking into the sun well I am lucky as I have always been able to see far into the bush, on this day looking into the sun I saw a leopards tail in a tree quite a way into the bush, well the cars piled up but couldn't see anything and told us we were crazy and we should stop lying to people and drove away well needless to say later that afternoon on our way back we stopped at the same spot to see our leopard and what do you know he stood up in the tree well the people that doubted us that day couldn't believe their eyes their expressions were priceless

Yoda and all other Mites, that is what Nature do to Nature lovers.

I am in the habit of stopping randomly - usually in well wooded areas - and listening to nature , most passers by seem perplexed at my behaviour when my reply is that I have not seen a leopard / serval / ...

Ndloti

On the Croc River road I stopped one evening because I was aware of a lovely sunset developing behind us. The guests happily took photos, appreciating the beauty. Several cars stopped to find out what we were looking at....and went on disgusted when I said 'the sunset'. Eventually one of the guests (who were enjoying the joke) asked if he could answer the next car....and took great pleasure in pointing out the great sunset!!!!!!

Have had a similar reaction sometimes when stopping to talk about a particular grass or even a termite mound.

During January this year, between Letaba and Satara Camps, there were two chameleons in the road mating and there were quite a few cars where the people were admiring the chameleons. Interesting was the new arrival of cars and the occupants enquiring where we all see the lions, cameras ready . I was happy for the chameleons though, as they took the limelight as it was their moment to cause a mini Kruger “traffic jam”

Recently there was a huge traffic jam at the Letaba crossroads.

We dutifully sat in the queue, hoping that we would see something unusual.

Imagine our disappointment when we realised that it was just a road block by the cops, who were checking permits and licences!!

I love it when we sit with our Cam and people ask "what do you see?" and i point to a little "Purple Flower"....the expressions on their faces and then charging away, unreal.
.....and others who will share with the excitement, causing a mini Jam

I have never been at a traffic jam at a purple flower

I tend to even feel guilty and say "its just a bird" when folk stop and ask. Now why do I say it like that. *Note to self for next trip. No need to make an excuse if it is not a 'BIG 5' sighting we are watching.

We stopped at a long long line of cars once along the H1-1, who when we asked a few in the line what the excitement was about they replied:

"Aparently here is a leopard about 100m there into the deep bush."

Made me realise one can probably start a serious traffic jam with some 'pie in the sky' sighting, drive off and come back a few hours later and have a good giggle at the masses 'spotting'

I can get so frustrated if I land in a traffic jam and the animal is so far away it's not even worth looking, and I can't get out of the traffic jam I'd rather carry on and stop at something I can see, be it a bird, a flower or a lion

I find Kruger jamming a stressful happening and I rarely become interested and seldom excited - I just want to move on as quickly and far away as possible from the congestion of cars, petrol fumes and finger pointing.