Africa Wild

Being asked to write about our flavour of the month I like to mention a few things like camp and route

Our Camp is Mopani
Why? Lovely Camp with very friendly people and most of them we know. It was our very first camp ever in Kruger and brought us a lot of special moments

Many people say , "it's just buffalo and elephants" but.... our experiences are different regarding sightings:
A few times Leopard with small cub (check our travel tale) https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.p ... 3&start=30
Some years ago Leopard in tree together with a sleeping elephant bull
During our trips and stay in Mopani we have seen Cheetah several times, Eland, Roan and Sable antelopes, several (big) Tuskers (Alexander, Mandhevhu, Ngodzi, Kaleka, Nshawani, Mpenza, Tihongonyeni, Marhumbini and more...

Last trip nov/dec 2014 it was special too with Eland, Roan, Sable, Cheetah and Leopard with cub

Our favorite route in Mopani area:
Mopani Camp > Mooiplaas waterhole > S50 > Tihongonyeni waterhole

Next favorite camp is Satara
Why? , feeling home here... with so many options for great routes to follow

some of our favorite routes:
Satara > s90 > S100 > Satara camp
Satara > H7 towards Orpen > S40 > Timbavati picnick spot > Satara camp
Satara > Tshokwane (early morning) > s33, s34, s36 area > Satara camp

Thinking about these routes a lot of special sightings showing up in our memories including last trip:
- Large pack of Wilddogs (about 30+)
- Live kills by Lion
- Big Lion pride (25+)
- Sable antelope
- Leopards


Last Camp to mention is Crocodile Bridge
Why ? Because of meeting so many wonderful people and forumites and so many very special sightings in the area

Some highlights - routes :
Croc Bridge > S28 and small roads within this area
- Watching an Impala giving birth (something you never forget)
- Black Rhino (mother child) even close-by
- "Found" tusker Nhlowa many years ago and saw him "growing up" over the years
- Watching famous Duke two times and even waiting 1 1/2 hour in the heuth till he woke up to show himself better ...but worth every minute
This all next to so many Lion, Leopard and other interesting sightings

For photo's , you have to wait a bit since I have to write several stories in my Travel Tales...

Natal Spurfowl chicks strolling through Mopani camp

and from the terrace

Great view RP !!

Thinking a bit more about Mopani many other nice memories are feeding my mind at the moment:
- First and only African Wild Cat (outside a camp like Satara) along one of the small roads
- Several times meeting Cheetah in this area
- First and only sightings of side-striped jackal
- First sightings of Eland and Roan

Without any doubt Mopani was the "motivator" for my tusker passion.... I never forget we were driving the Old Main road and saw MAC crossing the small road just in front of us. Looking at his thick and massive tusks I was so impressed by him.
Then I met Alexander and Mandhevhu and some others......

Back home I started to look for tuskers and did not find much about them. This was the begin of....

So.... whatever happens Mopani will always be in my mind with special and warm feelings.

Last trip Mopani did not let me down again.... coming weeks I will write some stories about these sightings if you like

Mopani from the Pioneer hide.

View from Mopani over the Pioneer dam.

Me and Skillie testing the refreshments at the Mopani Lounge.