SANParks.org Forums

After just (well, over tha past 3 weeks) sorting through all my pictures since 2009, I got to the following stats....

1)93000 pics, most of them just proof pic's of sightings.
2)240 odd Lion sightings photographed.
3)24 times Lion on Kill, but only 1 hunt from start to finish.
4)44 Cheetah Sightings, but with 4 Hunts from start to finish.
5)79 Leopard sightings Photographed, but no hunts, and only 4 with kills.
6)356 Bird species, although some could be duplicates with LBJ etc.
7)Rare antilope species include Eland(13 sightings), Roan(7) Mountain reedbuck, Suni, Rooiduiker.
Tornado's stands at 1(one)
9)Hundereds of elephant mock charges, and only 3 real charges.
10)26 possible tuskers, but some known ones, incl: Mashagadzi, Masthutele, Nlanganini, Ma Merle, Tsotsi.
11)4 Scorpion, 29 Spider, 23 Snake(Including Mamba)(Species) on pic's.

Now I am picking up the new cameras on Saturday, so what is the next 3 years going to bring????????I have a few ideas.

Some more useless info:

12)Wild dog sightings stand at 29 only photgraphed(Some the same packs at different times.)
13)Same Lions seen more than once, easily identifiable:
Sable pride-over 30 times
One male at Satara, 2 times, a year apart.
Ngwenyeni 2 males, 3 times in 3 years.
14)2 times White female lions, 1 in Kruger, 1 in timbivati.
15)Same Leopards seen more than once.
Sable female, 3 times in a year.
Kruger Tablets, 2 times.
Maroela loop male, 3 times.
Male on the Phabeni road(same one, same place, sam whisker pattern) 3 times in 3 weeks.
16)Same Cheetah seen more than once.
Masorini brothers, 4 times.

Those are the sort of stats I would love to be able to own up to!

That is a lot of photographs of great sightings Scipio and it shows your passion for Kruger .

According to the “useless” stats provided by Scipio a person has a 0.02% chance of photographing a snake, if my calculations are correct. I do not know what that could mean to some of us .

Just as a matter of interest:

Taken 3 April 2012:


Taken 19 August 2012:


Taken 7 Nov 2011:


He was injured whilst taking down the Giraffe.

Taken 27 July 2012: Wound still there.

What about other related useless stats like days spent in Kruger, days on the road, km traveled, How many beers consumed (the cooldrinks? probably on one hand)

Scips I just noticed your signature

Here is a scary stat from our last trip ...
7 days in the South. only 3 wildebeest sightings. Two lone bulls on the H1-1, and a herd of five on the S28. They in trouble

Rooies, days on the road for the 4 years, Dunno, but probably around 800, Not all in Kruger, but the other SANParks and Natal Parks as well.

Beers/cold drinks consumed, Dunno

Cheetah, thats scary.

Ok, some more useless facts,

17)Times seeing the Big5 more than once a day, different sightings is 6 times.
18)Most Lion sightings in one day is 4.
19)Most Leopard sightings in one day is 3
20)Times not starting the vehicle and seeing Big5 is 2.
Once at Sable dam, but at intervals, once at the Sabie weir, but all at the same time.
21)Most Photographed birds on pic count 1)Bateleur, 2)Vultures(all kinds), 3)Kingfishers(All kinds)
Most photgraphed animals 1)Elephants, 2)Leopard, 3)Cheetah and Lions only thereafter.
22)Biggest Lion Prides: 1)Mega pride, 2)Ntsemane pride at 27 lions and Tshokwane pride at 22.
23)Biggest Wild dog pack: Skuks at 28.


Next post, 5 closest calls, amount of injuries(Except the liver)

It means that I need a lot of from now on...

Heksie Tope five close calls, 2 had elephants in them.

Scips I meant I nee d to pray for a slithering sighting...

I'm also very chilled with ellies, they have never charged me, but I have also known when to keep my distance
But I have been mock charged my a lion before...cheets was with me

Heksie, with rain and weather, Slithering sightings could well be on the cards.

Top 5 close calls:

5)Driving with PJ, due to an emergency I had to take over the driving, nice lions close...I jumped out, ran around the car and PJ moved over to passanger seat(Not legal I know but there was an emergency) Pj does not unlock the vehicle on Driver Side. not nice, and cannot open it she is laughing so much.

4)Walked into elephant, breaking nose, Shades, and a few scrapes.

3)Loo Lions No1: Walking out of Masorini Picnic spot toilets, nearly stepping on whole pride of 7. Went back into loo and lost a few KG's.

2)Loo Lions No2: Finding same lions at Masorini, walking to info hut 30 meters from car. Taking really nice pics of female stalking(ME ) To find out the door of the Info hut was locked. Close indeed.

And at No: 1: Misjudging Elephant charging, and still taking pics of the charge at 40/50km's an hour, so close that said ellie left snot trail on right side of car.

Injuries sustained:

1)One broken nose and scar on said nose.
2)Few lacerations.

Other animal inflicted injuries:
Scorpion stingx3, only one serious enough for anti-venom from Vet.

Most photgraphed Snake: 1)Black Mamba, 2) Cape Cobra, 3)Boomslang.

Would it be impolite of be to ask how you walked into an elephant Scips? (There doesn't seem to be a smiley for 'snigger')

In our trip during end September/October 2012 the first Wildebees we saw was when we got to Tsokwane. South of that we didnt see one. We found then up at Thiyongonyeni but like you said they are very scarce down south.

Scipio, You must have the best job in the world. People around the world dream about doing what you do for a living, only they call it Holiday..... and can only do it for a week or two each year if they are lucky.

When can we buy your biography???

Really interesting stats!