Kruger National Park – Day 1

We were very excited for our first visit to Kruger National Park since our honeymoon 34 years ago. Little did we know, when planning the trip, that we would start out quite as exhausted after staying up late to watch the Springboks beat France in a very tense Rugby World Cup semifinal and then having to rise very early to be at the airport on time.

Our flight from Gqeberha to OR Tambo International airport was uneventful. At OR Tambo we had a few hours layover and decided to grab a Wimpy burger for brunch.

From OR Tambo, we got an Airlink flight to Skukuza.

We arrived in overcast conditions

After being welcomed by Hennie and Bernhard from B1 Photo Safaris and checking in to our accommodation at Sanparks Skukuza Rest Camp, we went for our first drive in the Park. It soon started raining and as a result, there wasn’t much opportunity for photography. We saw a fresh leopard kill in a tree near the camp, but no leopard in sight.

Our next sighting was of a very lazy honeymoon couple resting next to the road,

followed by a very wet Black-winged kite.

On our way back to the camp we stopped off at the leopard kill again, but still no leopard in sight. However, a few hyenas were seen walking down the road nearby.

Back to camp for an early supper and catching up some lost sleep.

Daytrip to Addo Elephant National Park: 19 November 2022

One of the advantages of living in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is that it is just 40 minutes’ drive from our front door to the gate of Addo. We decided to do a day trip and picnic at Addo.

We spent more than an hour watching the elephants at Marion Baree Waterhole. One group was standing in and around the waterhole, with another group some distance away and a few lone elephants occasionally arriving and others departing.

There was constant interaction between the elephants around, with a few playful tussles.

One tussle appeared to be a little more serious, with one elephant appearing to be trying to prevent another one from getting to the water.

Some warthogs also tried to get to the water, but kept getting chased by the one of the elephants…

…who then also got chased by a new arrival

On our way home, a lone elephant to see us off

Kgalagadi and Mokala May 2022

Xaus

Kalahari sunsets

Birds

Martial Eagles building a home

Birds in flight

Small things

Cats

Giraffe eating a tsamma melon

Interesting interaction

Seeing stars

And some more animals

On to Mokala with another stunning sunset and more stars

Animal sightings in Mokala