South Africa
Kruger NP
Kruger NP streches for about 300 km along the RSA border with Mozambique. The southern half of the park is bordered by a large number of private game reserves in the west, some of them world famous - but pricy - safari destinations. In the north Makuleke protected area and Gonarezhou NP in Zimbabwe adjoin and in the north east Limpopo NP in Mozambique. All these form the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a 35000 km2 fenceless wildlife area, one of the largest and most important reserves in the world. Kruger alone stretches over a huge area with multiple ecologically distinct areas. While mopane forests interupted by several rivers and home to large herds of elefant and buffalo dominate the north, savanna biomes with grasslands are prominent in the central and southern regions. It is here, where predators can more easily be observed. Kruger is one of the best managed parks in Africa and anti-poaching units are legendary. Still the schier size and inaccessibility of much of the park make it difficult to protect vulnerable wildlife. Sadly Kruger has lost the larger portion of its black and white rhinos to poachers in the last decade. Poachers make use of automatic rifles, tranquilizer guns and helicopters and less well protected areas, in particular in Mozambique, are poaching safeheavens within easy reach. The war for rhino horn continues to this day and claims the lifes not only of rhinos, but also of the rangers dedicated protecting them. Still rhinos can be seen and virtually all other southern african mammals are to be found and thrieve. Since 2002 we have been able to visit most regions in this formidable park, please join us for a drive from north to south.
Nyala antelope (seen here together with impala) are a common sight in the north. They need to be careful when drinking, as crocodiles patrol the river.
The Luvuvhu river in the far north gives a distinct tropical feel. Quite a number of crocodiles can be seen sunbathing.
Crocodiles this size are very dangerous, they can ambush even larger animals coming to drink. Once the powerful jaws have grabbed the unfortunate prey, chances of escape are slim.
manacing hippo at crook's corner
nyala bull near Pafuri
In August 2018 thick tailed bushbabies were visiting flowering trees in Punda Maria Camp at night.
buffalos in the northern mopane region
A solitary buffalo bull is enjoying a cooling bath, joined by a couple of yellow-billed oxpeckers. These bulls are strong and fearsome, they are often called dugga boys in Kruger.
Large elefant herds roam the north of Kruger, this one was seen in a swamp area in Makuleke in June 2015.
Kruger is famous for elefant bulls with exceptionally large tusks, there is even a small museum in Letaba. This magnificent bull was seen at Babalala waterhole in August 2018.
Babalala is also a good place to look for the rare roan antelopes. These selective grazers are one of Africa's largest antelope species and can weigh almost 300 kg.
Leopards are not often seen midday in the open. This young cat followed the Nkayini river near Shingwedzi in August 2018.
It needs luck to encounter wild dogs in Kruger. There are only about 120 individuals in a handfull of packs in the entire park. This pack was crossing the main Mopani - Letaba road.
A radio collared male, probably the pack's alpha male, was scent marking.
Klipspringers are small browsers specialized in rocky areas. They have exceptional climbing abilities with sharp hooves, all four of them could fit on a single coin.
relaxed baboon on a tree overhanging the Olifant's river near Balule
Dwarf mongoose frequently inhabit termite mounts, sometimes together with reptiles like this large plated lizard.
They live territorial with an interesting communal organisation. Only one quasi alpha pair produces all the offspring in the group.
In 2002 white rhinos were a common sight in Kruger. This mother with calf was grazing not far from Pretoriuskop in the hilly southwest of the park.
From Satara southwards the landscape is opening up and large grassy plains attract grazers like zebra or wildebeast.
Reedbuck are one of the less common species. They prefer grass long enough to hide them and are monogamous.
Things had changed in 2018, the rhinos below were the only ones we managed to spot in 10 days! Seemingly rhinos in Kruger have become rare and remaining animals are shy and secretive now. This female with very long horn (and calf) quickly disappeared in thick bush.
The white-tailed mongoose is one of the larger species of this family, it is strictly nocturnal and restricted to the moister savannas in Southern Africa.
According the 2015 game count more than 1600 lions were spread all across the park with higher densities in the south. Being the only cat species living and hunting communally in prides, only the territorial males can produce and raise offspring. They are frequently fed by their females, but have to pay a price: constant battles with nomadic males, which try to take over territory and females, limit the time pride males can pass on their genes to an average of just 2 - 3 years.
Genet cats are frequent nocturnal visitors in camp. These elegant hunters of rodents and birds are excellent climbers.
Civet cats are by no way picky eaters, they are omnivores and take anything from fruits to scorpions, snakes or carrion. They are usually shy and not easy to photograph.
Spotted hyenas are the most numerous large predators in Kruger. It is a myth that they mainly take carrion. They live in clans and can bring down even large prey in nocturnal hunts.
Kruger always gives a chance to spot an elusive leopard.
very relaxed male leopard near Skukuza
In September 2018 these lions in a dry river bed near Crocodile Bridge had killed a warthog and were fighting over the meagre prey.
african sunset