We entered Kruger at the Punda Maria Gate and drove straight to Punda Maria Camp to buy wine and beer.
The first thing we noticed when we drove into the park was the elephant dung on the road. On our previous visit (See South Africa 1995) we struggled to see and elephant and now dung was everywhere. The elephants use the road as it is an easy pathway . Our first animal was this elephant at the side of the road – a bit of a change.
We drove to Sirheni camp where we stayed for the next three nights. Our cottage was at the end of a row of 15 looking over the dam. It is a bushveld camp – no shops and no public areas.
Again we woke up very early in the morning, but no so bad when you can watch the sun rise over the bushveld.
With only a fence between us and the water we had a fine view and saw – Buffalo
Croc, this one about 3 metres long.
Hippos, and elephants at a distance.
After the gates opened, at sunrise, we went for a morning drive, turtles and crocodiles
Returned to camp in the afternoon for a rest – tonight we have a night drive ! So after the gates are closed, we pile into the bakkie, open, and off into the night !
On our night drive we saw, frog, rabbits lions, elephant, little wildcat, night jar and a kudu.
The lions were a female and cubs group waking up and grooming before the hunt.
Back to the cottage for boerewors rolls and bed. Up early in the morning for our ‘game walk’ Into the bakkie with Jerrie and Daniel. We drove for about 6km then walked for 3 hours.
We walked to a river, crossed, walked along one side, crossed again and back to the bakkie.
Our guides where entertaining and made an effort to tailor the trip to suit Aby and Ray interests as well.
Back for lunch and a nap, listening to the gronking and squarking.
In the afternoon off an another drive.
This is what happed when the elephant population gets too big – they break down trees.
We left Sirheni after three nights and moved to Bateleur camp.
An older cottage but just as comfortable, but no sea view.
The kitchen and dining room was open sided, this made it rather pleasant in the warm evenings.
The modern traveller in the bird hide !
We drove north to the Zimbabwe border.
Saw many elephants and some of these – Francolin in dung
The Shingwedzi River – dry now.
Hamerkop bird near water.
Glossy starling – they really are green. Hornbills visited camp
We had our first digital camera with us, but could barely keep up with the battery usage
The water buck and his harem.
Next day, off out the park at the Phalaborwa Gate and back to Pretoria
Back – to Kruger National Park
Back – to Train from Pretoria to Cape Town