Animal sightings during game drives from Tented Adventures Pretoriuskop, Kruger National Park.

2020
The Kruger Park is an iconic destination
for thousands of visitors, both local and international.
Often looking down will produce a “sighting” before even getting onto a game drive vehicle.
Here a tok-tokkie beetle makes its presence known, right outside my accommodation
at Tented Adventures, Pretoriuskop.

 

The first sighting on an early morning drive.
This young female leopard was watching us from the safety of this tree branch
Giraffe have become a favourite amongst visitors…
especially internationals who have almost made them one of the “Big 5”.
Totally unfazed by the vehicle, this male crosses the road majestically.
Fun fact #45: Giraffe have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans, 7 in total
Hitching a ride…
Two red billed Oxpeckers looking for ticks and parasites
 on the back of this White Rhino.
Fun fact #276: The birds have a symbiotic relationship with their host animal.
They get food and the animal gets cleaned of harmful bugs
Even wonder how a rhino midden is created?
Well, now you know!
The midden is used regularly to convey information to other rhinos within a territory.

 

“If I was larger and did this you WOULD be scared”
This young elephant was trying to intimidate our vehicle…
unsuccessfully I should add.

 

Now how does THIS rate as a “regal” profile?
An African Buffalo chewing on a blade of grass…
all the while keeping a beady eye on us.

 

An unusual sighting…
A Klipspringer resting. These skittish animals are often only seen from the rear
as they tend to run from vehicles.

 

THIS is what everyone comes to see.
A beautiful Lion.
Lying out in the open with a belly full of a recently digested kill.
If there are no animal to photograph,
then the innate beauty of the natural surroundings will have to suffice.
This flowering water lily reminded me of a similar species
 that can be found in the Okavango Delta

 

This is a Kudu behaviour that I have only witnessed in Kruger.
The animals regularly use termite mounds as vantage points.

 

A Flap-necked chameleon making its way across the road.

 

A face that only another warthog could love?
This male has an impressive set of tusks.

 

Zebra can be incredibly inquisitive.
They are prepared to stare at us, while we stare at them.

 

It was Marula season…and this young Impala tried, without success
to swallow this piece of fruit.

 

This Vervet monkey had more success.
It was able to enjoy the fruits of its labour with gusto.

 

A Cheetah on the prowl.
This awesome creature often makes for great sightings.
Unlike lions that tend to sleep for up to 20 hours a day,
cheetah are constantly on the move.

 

One of my favourites, the Soptted Hyena.
A species that does very well in Kruger and can be found on every drive.

 

A rare sighting.
Wild Dog puppies with the remains of a kill.
Often left-overs are used as chew toys by the youngsters.

 

And after an exciting game drive, what better way to relax.
The comfortable accommodation back in camp awaits.
To find out more about what we offer,
visit our website:
Tented Adventures recently won a Lilizela Tourism award!
Well done to all concerned.
Rather than drive to Kruger myself,
I make use of this shuttle service.
The drive takes about 4.5 hours and there are two comfort breaks along the route.
A complimentary magazine and bottled water makes this company a pleasure to travel with.
Hector Ndlovu has been the driver on four of my trips and I do enjoy his sense of humour.
We have certainly shared some interesting drives together.
But what happens on the shuttle, stays on the shuttle!
This is the drop off and pick up point in Hazyview.
Most camps will come and collect guests here
and the drive to Numbi Gate takes about 40 minutes
…without whom this Blog
 would not be possible. 
Photo:
Photo:
www.fotofirst.co.za
https://www.ruggedwear.co.za
Photo:
www.cisp.co.za
Photo:
A new “tool” in my camera bag.
This locally made product was indispensable when using a long lens.
The ball and socket might look simple…and it is,
which is why it should be in the gear bag of every serious photographer.
 I got to try out this awesome product on a recent trip to Kruger National Park.
 For tracking birds in flight and animals in motion (what it was intended for)
 it was ideal and it did not much space in my camera bag.
 The base set can be used with either a beanbag or a tripod. 
The advantage of this for me is that it offered the opportunity
 to go from a supported to hand held without have to detach
 from the head of a tripod or a beanbag.
Order directly from www.petersguide.co.za.
An indispensable guide to the Park.
Published by the same company that produces the StabiLens,
this book is the definitive guide to the Kruger Park and all that it offers.
It is also available as an Apple App, but as I have an Android phone,
the paper version works just as well…
Check out www.petersguide.co.za to order
www.sablogawards.com
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and may not be used without permission
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