Solo trip to Kruger *

[harrys]

Hi everyone

I will be solo in Kruger for 5 days starting on Sunday 12 May , my accomodation will be a hut(HE1)for the first time ever(I usually camp) .

I don't really have a wishlist this time round I just want to enjoy the wild and relax (I would looove to see some Doggies and a Leopard or 2 )I will try to do some live updates from my phone

[harrys]

Morning everyone I will be on my way in about 20 mins . I will try a update when I get to Malelaan gate

[harrys]

just arrived in Lower Sabie, drove from Malelaan gate to Berg en Dal and from Berg en Dal to the S25 and then to Lower Sabie. Got chased twice by grumpy Ellies on the S25, sightings of warties, zebras,wildebeast, giraffes,hippos, crocs, some eagles, ground hornbills and offcourse the scacest antilope in Kruger......impala. Going for a drive in a few minutes, lets see what turns up

[harrys]

Yesterday afternoon delivered 2 big herds of buffs that blocked the road for about 40 mins, rhino; bushbuck, RP's famiy, more hippos and crocs and that was my first day

[harrys]

Day 2: Went out for the whole day from 8:00 till 17:15, what adissapointing day, sightings was very scarce, saw buffs, hippos, fish eagle, giraffes, impala, kudu, duiker, ellies, zebra, warties, baboons, monkeys, kory bustars and hayena. actually if I think about it it wasnt a bad day

[Sprocky]

Glad you having a good time Harry!

Don't get too bored, if you do, try looking for this one...

SA Rare Bird News › BREAKING NEWS: Egyptian Vulture in southern Kruger

A sub-adult EGYPTIAN VULTURE was seen and photographed yesterday along the S28 between Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park. The news has only filtered through to me via Duncan McKenzie a little earlier today and he only received the photo this morning. However, it would definitely be worth keeping your eyes open if you happen to be in that area over the next few days.

Although it may not be comprehensive, I can only find reference to 6 previous records for the Kruger National Park with the last one being back in April 1994, so it’s certainly seems to have been a while since there has last been a confirmed record for the park.

That should keep you busy.

[harrys]

Day 3:

This was another day with sightings far appart, I saw Rhino, elefant, buffs and the usual suspects, but it was a great day relaxing wise.

will continue later

[harrys]

Day 4: Lower Sabie via Nkulu to Satara:

I left camp at 6:30 determined to see at least one kitty, just before Nkulu I found a IIT but that was all, so I headed for Tshokwane as first stop. After about 15km.............something in the road........ Doggies what a sight my whole trip changed and O was very happy, on the way to Tshokwane I saw some warties, kudu,zebras, baboons, buffs and wildebeast. Got somethong to eat and drink and went on.

About 6 km from Satara a traffic jam.......if you guest Lions you are right, what a mess, people loose their manners at sightings like these, I took some pics and weaved my way through the traffic and headed for Satara where I filled up with diesel and headed for the S100. I had some ellies, waterbuck and then more Lions right at the end

The drive back was quite till I reached Nkulu....well 3km past to be correct. There in the tree where I found the IIT I found a LIT and that was the reason for the IIt .

What a day, I couldn't ask for better

[harrys]

Hi everyone I'm back home so let me do the final update then I'll start the pics

Day 5:

I left camp at 6:30 and headed for Crocbridge on the H4-2 and the H5 and S25.Back to LS on the S28.

Just outside LS my first Lion for the day was a huge male with one eye , the rest of the trip to Croc Bridge was quite till I reached the H5 where a Lioness walked in the road and entertained us for about 2kms, offcourse there was the idiot who wanted the sighting all for himself and drove in the middle of the road not letting anyone past till a guy in a big bakkie explained to him what will happen if he keeps on being selfish he let us all past and so we had some photos of our own. On the S25 I had a glimps of 2 Badgers crossing the road and that caused a bid of chaos as I tried to get my camera, but all in vain as they passed over the road so fast I missed them and redid all the settings on my camera . I stopped at Hippo Pools and just sat and took in the view and later went on to Croc Bridge.

I took the S28 back to LS and it turned out to be a wise decision as there was a road block of 6 cars just 5 kms from the tar road. People was standing in the road all with big cameras and lenses that you can see the moon with clearly . I was told that the Vulture everybody was so exited about was in a tree about 300m away. I was offered a chance to have a look at the vulture through the binocs of one of the spotters . After all that excitement I headed back to LS and went for a nap ......I was tired ok .

Later I took a drive to Mlodolozi picnic spot and saw my first BBJ, but it was in the long grass so no pic . i saw some Ellies and lots of Hornbills and that brought my last full day to a end.

That night I had my dinner wich was lamb chops and "braai broodjies" and some beers to try and cure my kidney stones, wich later got better . After my meal and shower I re-started my fire and burned 2 bags of wood while just relaxing and listening to Krugers night noises ......now thats the life

Will finish my few ours trip out a bit later.....and it was a interesting one at that..................

[harrys]

The last 3 hours in Kruger........

So my last few hours in Kruger has come my car insisted we we go from LS to Skuks and exit at Malelane gate ..so we did and what a wonderfull decision (note to self..this is a great car )

I followed 3 bakkies on the H4-1 to Skuks, about 12 kms on the road the one bakkie stopped and out of the bush came my second LEOPARD I just kept my finger on the button of the camera and took about 15 pics of the Leopard , after that my day was made but mother nature had some more for me 10mins on 3 Rhinos and just a few minutes later a big heard off Ellies ...3 awesome sightings in just 30 mins .

I had a break at Skuks and went on to Malelane, on the way I had another 9 Rhinos, lots of Ellies but unfortunately no Lions or even Buffs but I'm not complaining, after a slow start I had a excellent trip and lots off good memories

Now for the next trip....................