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Hi All,
Back home after 4 weeks of Kruger. We are just back , from nice and warm weather in Kruger back into wintertime in the netherlands.

We have had a great time with a "few" nice sightings.

On the search for (Big) Tuskers we met some other animals so I guess I can start writing some stories soon if you like

The first animals we saw at arrival were a rhino mother with baby and the last one when leaving Kruger was a rhino too.... let's hope this is a sign they will survive and win the battle !!

During the trip we met several forumites, it was an honour to see the people behind the names and avatars
Two of them were witness of the fact I am not just a Tusker whisperer .... , but that will be part of a nice story later on.
It was weird to experience some people recognized me when I was photographing tuskers.... suddenly hearing "You must be Aat ....." happened two times

In general.... We had wonderful sigthings, some special ones , some very unexpected (the best you can have) including animals / situations we never saw before and.... usual roadblocks and "special" roadblocks.....

Curious ? If so.... I will consider to start a new series of stories soon

Wonderful

Aat , glad to hear you had a great time . Looking forward to reading all about it

Aat , glad to hear you had a great time . Looking forward to reading all about it

welcome back Aat and Elie... in the snow

looking forward to hear about your trip and the specialities you had

Hi Aat nice to see you on the Forum again. No choice re above......IT IS A MUST
Elly?

Welcome to the snow, Aat

I already thought you saw them all but you indeed made me curious about what you never saw before and for sure would love to see all the tuskers you saw

My is ready

Would love a new series, Aat

Aat, it would be great if the outcome of your consideration to start a new series of stories be a positive one

Hi Aat - Great - Another trip report!

Looking forward to this one, hopefully with many tuskers -

Hi Aat,

It was great to bump into you in Shing on the 26th of November, and a TR is an absolute must!!! Looking forward to it

Glad to hear you are back home safely.

TR ? .... Nothing to think about ....eagerly waiting this side with lots of

@ All....

Thanks for the warm welcome again.... and what else can I do then starting the new series of stories...

*** NEW Stories ***
Like my previous TR’s, this is not going to be a day to day TR, but a series of stories about animals and special situations based on our last trip from november 11th 2012 till december 9th 2012.

Story 01 – The Birth of Gomondwane

Hi to all,
Time to start a new series of stories. Elly and I like to share our sightings with you.

It’s almost Chrismas time so I think I could not start the new series better then with this story.
We were witness of a special moment in the life of one of the thousands of Impala mothers giving birth to a new lovely tiny adorable baby.
Yes, in november / december thousands of antelope babies are and were facing the wild world and probably you have seen a lot of them driving around in this period.

Let’s start with the story and we like to share all we experienced with you on november 21st of 2012.

Driving the Gomondwane loop we were just talking about all the gooddies we have seen here, Leopards, Black Rhino, Lions, Hyena Den, White Rhino, Tusker etc etc…. and almost at the end of the loop we just were saying “no specials this time” till …………..

We almost passed this Impala, laying down and something in my mind said “There is something” with her…. Stopped the car , reverse mode and back to this lady Impala.

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At that very moment no one else around and then both of us looking what was going to happen
The Impala on her feet and speachless we were looking at her…….

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Just speachless and looking at this special moment…. Never seen before with our own eyes and so close (about 15 meters)

Next moment the mother turned her head to her baby, like checking everything was ok and was going well

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What a moment… watching this new baby entering the wild world
Since we were the only ones we decided to name “our child” Gomondwane, hoping he/she will have a wonderful time in Kruger.

The Impala mother was going to lay down again to complete the birth of her child…
And there she/he is , first picture of the new born.

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First contact… checking… licking
So far the mother made no noise / sound at all… all in silence

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Then mother Impala started to eat the “left-overs”

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Just a few seconds later the baby tried to stand up … not easy

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I think no words needed for this moment…

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While mother was cleaning the place the baby tried and tried … finally getting on his / her feet… and all within 15 minutes.

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As a good mother she helped her child to find the right place to drink

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Exactly 20 minutes after giving birth the baby was on his/her feet and drinking… amazing !

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Proud mother licking her baby while the little one was tumbling , trying to walk… stand up, tumbling again…

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“our” Gomondwane more steady on his/her feet and mother still licking, making contact… private moments for mother and child…. And we still speachless… what a privilege to see this happen.

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Expressing a proud mother and a baby facing the world….

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Thanks Mom and Gomondwane…. Have a good life

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Born november 21st 2012 at 08:40
Address: Gomondwane loop


Let’s say it is a kind of Christmas story. For us one of the very special moments
Hope you liked this first story and yes more to come soon…

Aat & Elly


Many other pictures of last en other trips:
My Wildlife Photography Site
http://www.awv-photography.com

Hi Aat & Elly,
What a special time to witness and share with this mother,
Thank you for sharing with us,
We hope that the mother and baby impala will be safe at all times

Look forward to more stories