Kruger Park Day Four.

This morning we had visitors again; two Zebra this time. They came right up to our front gate like they were expecting an invitation inside for coffee or something. They moved around front eventually, where it’s much easier for us to watch them clearly, and they were making noises and scratching themselves and biting each other (play biting I hope). We filled up the “watering hole” outside and while we were doing this we saw a colourful lizard on the tree. We watched him basically change colours as he moved which was very cool. I also saw a butterfly (I love looking at butterflies) and we later identified it as a “Blue Pansy Butterfly”. Just spent the day chilling at the house and relaxing instead of driving around.

One times curious Zebra at the door

Me with the Zebras outside on the deck

The lovely Blue Pansy Butterfly

We went down to the river for sundowners, and we got a really good spot because we were there quite early. So we set up our chairs with our drinks and our chip and dip and watched the herd of elephants in front of us (on the other side of the fence). There was even a little one with them. Then we saw what looked like about a bazillion buffalo coming down to drink a way away from us, and so my sister and I took a walk that way. There were so many of them, and we couldn’t even see them all!

Not even 1/3 of the Buffalo who were down at the river

Went back to the chairs, fought off some ants and enjoyed the sunset. The elephants were trumpeting and then eventually they crossed the river to head off. Watching elephants is fascinating because they’re so family-oriented. For example, when an elephant (relation not known) came towards the group where the baby was, all the elephants moved around it like they were forming a barrier. And then the one trumpeted and all the others starting making their way there, and then they all moved off in a line. There was one lone elephant that didn’t seem to be with the herd, but was also eating on our side of the river. When he realised the others had moved off, he basically broke into a run to cross the river as close to them as possible and then went his separate way. I wonder if this is a safety thing?

Nothing quite like a cold Hunters and an African sunset

My dad was happy because we saw a fish eagle and it made its sound – this is his favourite bird!

Tomorrow we’ll head into the Park again, but it was nice to have a day just hanging out here.

Kruger Park Day One.

After a very long drive yesterday (what should have taken six hours actually took nine because of roadworks) we arrived at Marloth Park. Marloth Park is just outside the Kruger National Park – it actually borders it along the Crocodile River – and this means that there are no predators found here. We were supposed to have a braai but because we got here so late we  just stopped at the restaurant.

I think this is the appropriate moment to put my feelings about being “in the wild” out there to the world. The wild and many of the animals found here make me very nervous. I’d like to think I’m doing better than years back where a pride of lions or herd of elephants would send me basically hiding under the car seat as my first reaction. I realise my fears (or at least the intensity of some of them) are very out of proportion, but they are real for me nonetheless. This is all relevant because I do not doubt for a second that I will have some interesting (read: embarrassing) stories to tell about my time here. Moving on.

Woke up pretty early this morning to my mom telling me that there was a Kudu outside our kitchen door. They are beautiful animals, very peaceful. Turns out there were plenty females at the house and they came right up to our patio. Some of them were pretty young. It was the funniest thing because the second they heard the packets rustling they all came closer. In Marloth Park you’re allowed to put approved food pellets out for the animals to eat, so obviously they know that the packets rustling equals food. We also had our usual visitors of a pair of Warthog at the house – some of these little Pumbas are as actually rather large!

One of our visitors this morning – a lovely Kudu female

We drove down along the Crocodile River and managed to see some Buffalo there, so tick one for the Big Five Checklist.

We got into the Park late morning, and our very first sighting of the day was a baboon troop and impala at a Marula tree. The baboons were all playing in it and eating the fruits, while the Impala were eating the fruits that had fallen off and were lying at the base of the tree. They were also occasionally getting chased by the baboons. Watching the baboons jumping around the tree was cool – they’re so agile! We also saw two baboons mating, and the male baboons face was so funny – he had what looked like the biggest grin ever. Lots of laughter took place once we saw this.

Throughout the course of the day we saw Giraffe, Elephant (tick number two!), Crocodiles, Hippo, Vultures, some Ground Hornbills, and a Secretary Bird. We were also lucky and saw some Rhino’s (tick number three). Whenever we see rhino’s I cannot believe people want to poach them for their horns. It’s so wrong. We also got to see two young-ish lions on the rocks and a male lion lying sleeping right next to the road (tick number four, times three!). He was so lazy he didn’t even move with all the cars around him, except to briefly lift his head. While watching the lions on the rocks we also saw this strange creature run along the ground and go straight into the water! Turns out it was an otter -something I’ve never seen before. They’re really odd-looking, running on four legs, but with this massive long tail behind them.

Ground Hornbill

Giraffe

Lion

Further down we saw complete chaos in the road again, which only means one thing – there must be a cat. There was a leopard lying on a rock just off the road, but it was very difficult to see it clearly. But still, tick number five! Which means we saw the whole big five! This is very exciting, because we as a family have never seen the big five all together.

We stopped for lunch at one of the rest camps (Lower Sabie). It’s really nice there because they have a massive deck overlooking the river and you can often see a lot of animals there. We saw some bushbuck, and also some more buffalo. Our lunch took FOREVER to arrive, which put a bit of a rush on our exit drive, as you need to be out the park gates by 6pm. We also managed to take a different turn to what we had planned on one of the dirt roads and there was a brief moment where we were definitely worried we would make it on time. But we did – we made it with a full five minutes to spare!

Buffalo at Lower Sabie

We got home much later than we planned and so we went to the restaurant for dinner again, rather than braai-ing so late. I had lasagne, and we had a cheese and garlic roll. Early to bed, which is pretty customary for the bush!