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Category: Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park South Africa – Day 2

Cruising through Kruger National Park on the second day proved to be full of wildlife, both big and small.

Sunrise Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

If you’ll remember, Joan and I saw ALL the BIG 5 on our first day in Kruger National Park. You might think that would be hard to beat. No way. Joan had me up before sunrise every day. Of course she also had the coffee made, such a sweet woman.

Waterbuck Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

We would be out the gate at sunrise, the best time to catch some animals like this waterbuck in the golden light.

Wildebeast giraffe zebra marabostork kudos Kruger National Park South Africa

wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, marabou storks, kudus

Then spend the morning slowing cruising the roads, scanning back and forth. By noon we’d seen over a dozen species.

Gaelyn driving Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

Joan let me practice driving on the right side, seemingly wrong to me, of the vehicle and left side of the road.

Olifants Rest Camp Kruger National Park South Africa

And we had lunch at Oliphants Rest camp plus saw some Bug Lady wildlife.

Turtles Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

Continuing on safari we were attacked by these turtles…

Crocodile Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

…as this crocodile lay idly by…

Snake Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

…and this snake tried to ignore our plight.

Baobab Tree Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

But we were able to seek shelter, first under this ancient Baobab Tree,

Elephant skeleton Elephant Museum Letaba Rest Camp Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

and then at Letaba Rest Camp where we hid in visited the Elephant Museum. (See what happens when the turtles get to you.)

Lion Night ride Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

Back to camp for dinner and then a guided “Night Ride” with a very unfunny thought he was a comedian driver/guide.

Zebras Night ride Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

We did get to see a few animals.

Sunset Night ride Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

But the best part of the night ride was the sunset.

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Kruger National Park South Africa – Day 1

Orpen Gate Kruger National Park H7 East Mpumalanga South Africa

After five days touring in South Africa Joan and I finally made it to Kruger National Park where I hoped to see abundant wildlife.

Orpen Gate Reception area Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

We checked in at Orpen Gate,

Map showing general route Kruger National Park South Africa

one of several entrances to the park.

Wild Card South African National Parks

I bought my Wild Card which came in handy when visiting other National Parks throughout South Africa.

Guinea fowl Kruger Natioal Park Mpumalanga South Africa

First we spotted a few birds. We saw Guinea Fowl many times and referred to them as breakfast as they aren’t very smart or fast about moving off the road.

Impala Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

Then saw an Impala.

Impalas Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

And several more.

Impalas Kruger Natinal Park Mpumalanga South Africa

And then herds. The bloody Impalas were everywhere.

Rabelais Ranger Hut Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

Stopped to see how the Rangers used to live at the Rabelais Hut.

Windmill & water tank Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

Where are all the animals? Eyes constantly scanning back and forth, along the ground and in the trees as we slowly cruised along the roads for many hours.

Hippo Sunset Lake Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

At Sunset Lake a hippo drank.

Fish eagle Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

While overhead a fish eagle soared.

Wildebeasts Kruger Nationa Park Mpumalanga South Africa

Saw wildebeests playing.

Zebra Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

The zebras looked so friendly, I really wanted to ride one. But we had to stay in our Toyota cage.

Rock leguan monitor lizard Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

This 3 foot Rock leguan monitor lizard ambled across the road in front of us.

Giraffe & White Rhinos Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

The white rhinos roamed with the giraffe.

Ant hill Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

I’m not sure how big the termites are, but the mounds were over my head.

Grasshopper Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

At least the grasshoppers were small. I was with the Bug Lady after all.

Sunset from Satara camp Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South Africa

We camped at Satara Rest Camp watching the sunset and enjoying a sundowner while the hyenas paced back and forth on the other side of the fence about 20 feet away.

After I went into the tent I just had to record the night sounds. Yes, that’s the hyenas serenading me to sleep.

South Africa's Big 5

And I dreamed about seeing all the Big 5 on my first of five days in Kruger National Park wondering what I’d see the next day. All thanks to Joan’s excellent guiding skills.

Click to see more elephant and lion photos.

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Giraffes at Kruger National Park

Giraffe Kruger National Park South AfricaA most unusual animal, so tall and lanky, in fact the tallest mammal on earth plus one of the strongest and most peaceful. But Joan said they can kick real bad, so I didn’t get to ride one. And like the wonderful tour guide she is she told me lots of other things about giraffes as well.

Giraffe and man comparisonRelative to a 6 foot tall man

 A giraffe’s legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles (16 kilometers) an hour over longer distances.

Giraffe Kruger National Park South AfricaEven the giraffe’s tongue is long! The 21 inch (53 centimeter) tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from treetops like the acacia. They eat about 100 pounds a day everyday and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud.

Giraffe Kruger National Park South AfricaThis large size can also be a disadvantage as it is very awkward for a giraffe to drink water and makes them very vulnerable to predators like lions and packs of hyenas. Good thing they only need to drink once every several days as most of their water comes from the plants they eat.

Giraffe Kruger National Park South AfricaThe giraffe’s long neck has the same number of cervical vertebrae that we do. But they have elastic blood vessels in their necks allowing them to drink with their heads down without fainting.

Giraffes Kruger National Park South AfricaThey really do almost everything standing up like sleep about 30 minutes a day and even giving birth. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) to the ground at birth. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth.

Giraffes Kruger National Park South AfricaGiraffes and a few other animals such as brown bears and camels move both legs on one side and then both legs on the other side. Every step they take is about 15 feet (4.57 meters) in length.

Giraffe Kruger National Park South AfricaMale giraffe

You can tell the difference between a male and female giraffe by looking at their horns or ossicones. The male has shorter hair which reveals an obvious bump of cartilage while the female’s longer hair hides the cartilage.

Giraffe Kruger National Park South AfricaThe name giraffe is derived from the Arab word “Xirapha,” which means “the one who walks very fast.” Their scientific name is camelopardalis. This is the Latin version of cameleopard because of their beautiful spotted coats.

Giraffe Kruger National Park South AfricaWhile no two individuals have exactly the same pattern, giraffes from the same area appear similar.

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Lijit

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