The "Not a Trip Report" - Trip Report. Kruger South to North and Back South Again

[Dzombo]

The trip was just myself and my 19 y o son.
No one else invited.
Didn't want wife, daughter, family or friends who weren't going to embrace our program.
We both obsessed Kruger-holics - Drive as much as possible. And into photography.
Have learnt the hard way, that if people aren't into that, it makes it unpleasant for all involved.


South was a mare. Chaos at every sighting. Even common stuff like Kudu.
Had a really horrible experience at a Lion sighting on the Sk / LS road - beyond disgraceful.
As for the "jeep jockies". Way too many. Some are polite and would stop and tell you about something further on. But the majority were absolutely rude and selfish, hogging a sighting and blocking everyone else's view to earn their $$$$$ tips. I started making a note of the vehicle number and was going to report them. But after a day I realized it was a waste of time, there were too many not behaving, and nothing would be done.
One thing I have noticed, is that last Kruger trip, camps and Afsaal was where they stopped. Now it's every picnic spot.
We went to Mlondozi. No where to park, no where to sit. Full of people yapping at the top of their voices.
But enough of the negative.

Did quite a few of the roads in the South and all those ones had been graded. Only one that we drove on was in a bad condition was the link road to Orpen Dam. (can't remember S number).
As I said, the north was fantastic. Quiet and peaceful. Distances can be a bit big. And the Mopane also gets monotonous at times.
Haven't been to Pafuri in 40 odd years. What a magical place. Well worth the drive to and from Shingwedzi.

Overall sightings were great.
It was very dry. And sightings on roads near water was far better than other roads but that was to be expected. Took some pre planning before a drive to try and maximize that.

Did a fair amount of birding.
No migrants and non-breeding plumage meant that over species count was lower than I had hoped, but still ticked over 100 species.

[Dzombo]

I am on a rare bird sightings group.
The periodic update bulletin has just landed in my inbox

Palm Thrush - Crooks Corner
Palmnut Vulture - near Croc Bridge
African Skimmer - Sunset Dam

We were in the approx area at time of sighting but missed them all

[harrys]

[Lisbeth]

Those three are not exactly common sightings

[Richprins]

Dzombs!

[Dzombo]

Those three are not exactly common sighting

Exactly!
That’s why I am so disappointed to have missed them

[Dzombo]

So, as I said, I am not going to do a traditional drive by drive / day by day trip report.
But will just share some highlights, thoughts and photos of interest.

However here is a brief summary of the trip

Day 1
Morning : Entered Malelane Gate. Up to Afsaal for lunch on H3, back to Berg en Dal via the sand roads to the east of the H3 and checked in
Evening : some of the roads to the east of the H3 again

Day 2
Morning : B n D to Satara via Skukuza and Tschokwane
Afternoon: drive S100,S41. Nwanetsi, H6 back to camp

Day 3
H7 to Orpen and back in the morning.
Afternoon drive : S90, S41,S100

Day 4
Morning / Afternoon :Satara to Shingwedzi
All the way up on the tar. With a brief visit to some of the Nshawu and Mooiplaas
Evening drive - short drive out the back gate to Kanniedood

Day 5
All day : Drive up to Pafuri. Via S56 and the rest on tar. Pafuri Picnic spot and Crooks Corner
Back all the way back on tar.

Day 6
Morning : Shingwedzi to Olifants
Afternoon drive H1-4 towards Satara

Day 7
Morning : Olifants to Talamati via Satara via Sweni S126
It was 38*C ! so spent the afternoon and early evening with a productive visit at the hide

Day 8
Morning : Talamati to Lower Sabie via Nwaswisontso S125, H10
Afternoon: S28 to Croc Bridge. H4-1 back to LS

Day 9
Morning : H4-1 to Skukuza, Phabeni road and back to Skukuza
Evening H4-1 as far as Afsaal and back to camp

Day 10
Morning : H1-2 to Tschokwane, H10 to Lower Sabie. H4-1 back to Skukuza
Evening : Briefly along H4-1 and then H1-2

Day 11
Morning :H1-1 and H3 to Malelane and back to Jhb

The total for the trip was 2,050 km !
A lot of driving.
And a lot of time in the car.
But we had some fantastic sightings, so it was well worth it

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Nice itinerary, Dzombs!!

[Dzombo]

Nice itinerary, Dzombs!!

With hindsight, I think we tried to do too many camps.
Could have cut Talamati and Lower Sabie and spent an extra few days at Shingwedzi