Our 2024 Kruger trip: A tale of mishaps and magical sightings

[Carla + Tony]

Beautiful photos from the sunrise and early morning residents not enjoying the cool start - love the light .

Fish Eagle pic

That’s got to be a Tusker -surely

Shot of many species/animals at Nsemani

Thanks C+T

Must admit, I wans't enjoying the cool start either, sitting in the back and driving around with al the windows open
I was quite shocked nobody was picking off the catfish that were flapping around in the mud at Nsmaneni. Would have been a very easy meal.

[Carla + Tony]

Stunning sunrise
By the way. At Satara we nowadays wait 10-15 mins after gate opening to avoid the biggest rush

Crumpy birds at the morning

Zebras & Wildebeest at beautiful morning light

Hyena den

Steenboks very rarely like to pose

Lot of locals @ Nsemani

Thank you for sharing Carla + Tony

All the animals did not look impressed with the very chilly start to the day. Not just the birds

[Carla + Tony]

Thanks so much, Carla + Tony,

it seems you had seen a lot of different animals that day It is, however, looking extreme dry - It must have been lovely to finally have seen the difference during your recent trip

Indeed an impressive tusker you saw at Girivana and also love the shots from Nsemani - It looks in fact totally different we saw the dam during our February's trip

The park was indeed very dry last october. It was so nice to see lots of water when we were there in april. Everywhere was so green. At times t felt like we were driving around at home instead of Kruger

[Carla + Tony]

good to see you back again.

What a beautiful sunrise. My favorite part of the day.

The morning light images are stunning. Such rich colors.

The hyena little ones are supercute. I am also smiling at the baboons.

Wow, that tusker. What sighting.

I am normally not a morning person. But you can always wake me up for a beautiful Kruger sunrise

[Carla + Tony]

I love the early morning drives, everything new from the previous afternoon.
Beautiful photos of the sunrise and game in the early morning light.

People can be We once saw a family standing at their boot under the big trees on the river road leading to Shingwedzi. They were having a picnic.

I think that ellie must be very old and his tusks are incredible. He must surely be a tusker. What a wise old man. I bet he could tell so many stories and tales.

I have no idea if the ellie was a tusker. But they were most definitely very big and very impressive!
It is unbelievable how stupid people can be at times

[Carla + Tony]

The hyena den scene was precious, especially the little ones snoozing while mum kept watch. And that tusker—my word! What a majestic, wise old gent. I’m so glad someone gave the clueless duo at Girivana a firm talking-to... it still boggles the mind.

I always want to stop for hyenas. I love watching them interact and the little ones can be so cheeky

[Carla + Tony]

October 1st continued

After brunch, it was time to tackle the S100. By now it was nice and warm in the sun.
These waterbuck youngsters were certainly enjoying the sunshine.



Somebody had hidden themselves very well to p[rotect their brood. No matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t get a good angle or clear view



First time I had seen these beautiful waterlilies. Definitely worthy of a photo



Can’t see me sitting on my knees for ages like this. You would have to get a crane in to get me up and I would be in dire need of a knee replacement



This one seemed rather pleased I took a photo. Isn’t it a beauty!

[Carla + Tony]

This is a challenge that has been going for a fair few years now. To take a half decent photo of an LBR in flight in the sunshine. We have taken plenty, all blurry, only half a bird on it, no bird on it etc.etc. Finally we succeeded. Not the best picture in the world but…. We did it!!



Then we hit traffic. The reason… way out in the distance lions, doing what they do best… absolutely nothing



All bellies up and of all the bushes and trees in the park, they managed to pick the smallest ones Surely this is not comfortable





We didn’t stay very long as they were quite a way out and there was no sign of movement any time soon

[umtali1]

I think we would all need knee replacements, Carla

Great picture of the LBR in flight

Sleeping lions are boring

[Carla + Tony]

I’ll scratch your back and you scratch mine



Black shouldered kite just landed on a rather small twig



And seemed to be clinging on for dear life



First time we saw a kori with its neck all puffed up



Like this photo of the ostrich in the long grass



On the H6 we ran into a large herd of buffalo



There is always one nosey cow who has to look up



Here too one was wearing a collar (we noticed a lot of animals were collared this time )



We had decided to drive to the end of the H6 and then turn around and come back the same way. It was getting late and we would not have time to drive an entire loop.

Now I have to explain something first. It was decided that it was best I would not do any driving as I tend to panic a little when we get (too) close to elephants (this is based on previous experiences). And there seemed to be quite a few elephants in Kruger So most of the time, I was sitting in the back of the car and was given the nickname “backseat princess’.
From my ‘throne’ in the back of the car, I was spotting lots (I was sitting just that little bit higher).
As we turned around on the H6 to drive back to Satara, I spotted something moving. The others had not seen it and driven past. So I told them to turn the car around because I had seen…

t.b.c.

[pnm]

Love the warthog pics and the vistas with the buffalo. Lazy lions!

Pete

[umtali1]

Someone is perfecting their bird photography skills. Love the BSK

Zebra mutual benefit society

Huge heard of buffs.

Now I wonder what the backseat princess saw..............

[colbol]

Fluffy waterbuck and smiling warthog

LBR take off and Kite in coming
Also nice shot of the kite hanging on for dear life

Lone ostrich and buff herd scenes - love photos like that showing the bigger picture

Cheers C+ T

Ok

[Pumbaa]

Thanks so much, Carla + Tony,

fantastic LBR in flight Love the shots from the buffalo herd and the ostrich shots and for sure love the warthogs

Indeed many water lilies and such a great shot and even lions

[Karin Mitton]

Great episode with lovely photos.
on your LBR photo.
Those lions prove once again that animals do what they want and not what as us humans deem comfortable or think they should do!

Now what did you spot?