Kruger - the big five.

Thursday 11^th August

We said our goodbyes at the airport to our safari group and the guide and driver. Our trip to Johannesburg was uneventful though took all day by the time we checked in 3hr before our flight, the flight time, and waiting for a pickup at the airport, so by the time we got to our hotel it was 5pm.

We did alright with our hotel choice – they did dinner so we didn’t have to go out again, the staff was really nice, the room was nice and big and the price was right. We only stayed the one night but if we ever go back to Johannesburg this place will be on the list.

Tuesday we flew from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit which is the closest airport to the southern end of Kruger where we are staying. Only 50 minute flight so we were there before we could get too comfortable. The airport at Hoedspruit is very small and we waited on the footpath out the front for the luggage to be unloaded. The drive from the airport to the lodge was 2 ½ hours and along the way (on the highway) we saw quite a few animals in the private game reserve near the airport. It was 1 hour to Orpen Gate which was the entry to Kruger. Once we entered the park the speed was much slower and the driver pointed out wildlife as we went along. Our primary objective in Kruger was to see the rhino and we saw 2 along the drive. How good was that?

Was wonderful to see these on the way to the resort from the hotel - sadly they were moving away from us so no head shots.

Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge - the pool was too cold for swimming.

We arrived at the lodge just before 3 and were quickly greeted with a ‘hurry, hurry, quickly have high tea, and you are on a game drive at 3.30). No time to check out the room, just grab warm gear and jump in the 4wd. A great game drive – more rhino, and the usual elephant, zebra, giraffe, impala, and finally lions – 2 mothers and 5 cubs. Could have watched them for hours and as we went to leave another lioness and her 3 (younger) cubs arrived. Fantastic to watch the cubs play, just like kittens.

Starling - there were lots of these around and in the sun they were a lovely iridescent blue.

The lion family - in the end 3 mums and 8 cubs. Three of the cubs were only about 3 months old, the other 5 a few months older.

Another beautiful African sunset.

Yesterday we did 2 game drives. The hightlights of the morning were 2 more rhino, a leopard which we followed for a little bit, and then a cheetah. The cheetah is a beautiful animal – to see her moving she seems to just flow across the ground, and appears to be so light and supple. Then on last night’s game drive we saw another 4 leopard, all separate sightings. The first one we only got a glimpse of before it disappeared into the scrub, the second we were able to sit and watch for a bit. This one was a young male, less than a year old, whose mother wasn’t a very good one so he was out on his own fending for himself. He was having monkey for dinner – we didn’t see him catch it. The third leopard we just got a brief look at him as it was nearly dark. The final leopard was right at the entrance to the lodge – we had arrived back at the lodge and were ready to get out of the 4wd when the guide heard about the one at the entrance so we went back and got to see that one also.

This leopard was just wandering around but the guide said he had a kill somewhere nearby that he was keeping an eye on.

Cheetah - a beautiful animal.

The view from the lodge deck - they have a man made waterhole on the far bank of the river that runs along the front edge of the resort. At this time of the year the river is dry so the animals use the waterhole.

Like most young ones, the baby loves the water and is right in it.

I asked our guide how the private concessions work and he said the area is part of Kruger NP and is leased. The only vehicles allowed there are the concession owner’s vehicles and for this concession there could be up to 8 out at once. They keep in touch via radio and all travel different routes each game drive. When something special is found they only have 3 vehicles there at once and if it is for example a lion with cubs, then it is only one vehicle. It seems to work well – they allow you to get a good look and then make way for the next vehicle.

Our game drive this morning was very quiet – it was colder this morning so the guide thinks that kept the animals from being out and about. Only the usual game – no leopard, lion, cheetah or rhino.

This buffalo also came to the waterhole.

We have one more game drive this afternoon so fingers crossed for something special. Tomorrow after breakfast it is back to the airport and then the long trek home. I’ll be posting this from home because we have no wifi here, and we don’t have phone service either.