A Fantarantulatastic Trip To Kruger - April 2017

[PJL]

March 30th & 31st
It had been a long 2.5 years since our first trip to Kruger, so we were thrilled to be able to spend 12 nights camping back in the park

We set off from PE at 4am to get a bit of a head-start on the first day of driving, and as the sun started climbing we were already well across the eastern cape



After a solid 12 hours of travelling we stopped near Middelburg for the night then continued towards the lowveld the next day





The drive had been long as always, but after stocking up on supplies in Hazyview we were very excited to arrive and get ourselves into the park at Phabeni gate



Fortunately there was hardly any delay at the gate, and with cameras at the ready we entered the park. Our first 8 nights were to be spent at Satara, so we didn't stop for too much on the way up as I was keen to try find a decent camping spot, but we couldn't help but take pics of the game along the way

It was late morning already so animals along the S1 were heading for shade as the temperature climbed.



It became immediately clear that the grasses were very high and we would have to hunt hard for sightings, but not for the taller animals



This elephant had found a good branch to use as a scratching post



Even the impala were proving to be photogenic as we don't get to see them in any of the parks near where we live



This warthog had found a very shady spot. Strangely on our last visit we hardly saw any warthog, but this time there seemed to be quite a lot of families around



Nearing Skukuza these white-backed vultures were doing their best to hide from any pics

[PJL]

March 30th & 31st continued

Heading north over the Sabie some crocodiles were enjoying the heat



We cruised up from there with only a brief stop at Mazithi dam where a couple of elephant were browsing in the tall grass and we got a glimpse of our first hippo







Arriving at Satara we checked in and went over to see what places might be available at the campsite. Fortunately there was a spot available on the fence line, but unfortunately it didn't have any shade. We decided that the fence was worth the lack of shade and while S and the kids went to swim I duly set up camp. The temperatures this trip were really hot... most days were well into the 30s so after setting up in the heat I was finished and we decided to skip any ideas of an evening drive in favour of relaxing by the fire









We soon became acquainted with the night time visitors and fell asleep to the roars of nearby lions - it was great to be back in the bush

[Lisbeth]

There did not seem to be much traffic

A nice set up and the kids are growing very quickly

[Richprins]

Very nice, Peej! Why do you block out your numberplates?

Was your route to Hazyview ok?

Glad you got a bit of sun and heat...welcome to our backyard...not the same as the sheltered Cape!

[harrys]

Aha another TR to look forward to

[nan]

oups those "open roads"...

nice to be direct at the fence

[RogerFraser]

Great start to the TR

totally agree fenceline over shade every time .

[All-Nature]

Super start to your adventure

Looking forward to more

[PJL]

There did not seem to be much traffic

A nice set up and the kids are growing very quickly

In general I was pleasantly surprised about the lack of traffic Lis. There were one or two sightings which we ducked due to silly amounts of vehicles, but it was nowhere near as bad as I had been anticipating
And yes... kids growing far too fast

Very nice, Peej! Why do you block out your numberplates?

Was your route to Hazyview ok?

Glad you got a bit of sun and heat...welcome to our backyard...not the same as the sheltered Cape!

Number plates just to see who might spot it... must be a bit of OCD there or something
Hazyview route was via the R40 which was fine. No sign of any speed bumps
The heat was a bit unexpected I must admit. Our car was saying high 30s most days and just above 40 one day which was a bit much. Feels very cold back home

Aha another TR to look forward to

Glad to have you on board Harry

oups those "open roads"...

nice to be direct at the fence

Very nice to be on the fence nan

Great start to the TR

totally agree fenceline over shade every time .

Thanks Roger
Yep I would take the fenceline again any time

Super start to your adventure

Looking forward to more

Thanks All-Nature, nice to have you tagging along

[PJL]

April 1st

Apart from the heat and high grasses, another notable issue on this visit was the number of thorns around - particularly devil thorns. There was no walking around barefoot even at the swimming pools, and my slip-slops/flip-flops had to be thrown away after the trip from being torn up by thorns so much!

Our first full day in the park dawned and we were up early to get a decent place in the queue of cars at the gate. Our first drive was going to be along the S100 and down the S41 to N'Wanetsi picnic site then back along the H6. By the time we turned into the S100 we were the first car and we cruised along with eyes peeled for anything of interest. The first sighting was a very scrawny-looking jackal who ran along the road in front of us for ages before realising it could get away by veering off into the grasses



The drive was progressing quietly when we came across a few waterbuck at the side of the road, whilst a handsome male looked on from across the other side





Our first raptor sighting was a good spot from D who found this awesome martial eagle enjoying the sun's morning rays



We pulled into some of the riverbed viewpoints and found a baboon troop messing around in one of them



The rollers were out in force this trip, with this lilac-breasted one enjoying some breakfast



Our detours meant a couple of other vehicles had gone past us and we came across them stopped around a corner. Apparently there had been a lioness on the road and we had just missed her
She was still in the area and was apparently moving around a thicket so we stuck around to see if she would pop out again. Fortunately our patience paid off and we got a few glimpses of her moving around in the grass. Finally she popped out onto the road again



We moved into a better position and enjoyed watching her wandering towards us



Her movements seemed quite strange - as if she was looking for something. We wondered whether she had left cubs somewhere and was trying to find them again
She swung off into the tall grasses again and then came back out towards the road, showing just how high the grasses were and how difficult it was going to be to spot cats unless they were up and moving





Once out in the road again we were treated to some fantastic close-ups as she moved around and started sniffing the ground for whatever it was she was looking for











Finally she made a close walk past our car and moved off to continue her searching





What a great start to the day it had been. We were thrilled with the lioness sighting - having her so close and active was brilliant and there had only been one other vehicle - not a bad start for school holidays