We knew our December 2015 visit to the Kruger National Park was going to test our personal thresholds for high temperatures. It is general knowledge that South Africa’s Lowveld region has sweltering summers, confirmed by the weather forecasts in the week before our departure. On our early morning way, descending into the Lowveld along Schoemanskloof on the N4-highway, we were amazed at how quickly the outside temperature our car was registering was climbing upwards. By the time we arrived at Malelane Gate just after 08:00, we had reached 33°C, with the sun blazing down relentlessly. And yet, we couldn’t think of any place we’d rather be; we were back in South Africa’s flagship National Park, one of our favourite wild places, and we had ten days to explore the length and breadth of it to look forward to!
We were heading to Lower Sabie, and instead of following the tar roads via Skukuza we opted for the more direct route, along the gravel S25 and H5, from Malelane. Of course we had wonderful sightings along the way, most especially of some sleepy elephants! Early December is lambing season for the impalas, and each herd we passed had a few new members, all ears and long legs, to broaden our smiles.
By the time we checked in at Lower Sabie Rest Camp for our 3 night stay, the temperature had soared to a searing 43°C. Our cottage (unit 93), with a lovely view of the Sabie River in front of the camp and surrounded by huge, shady trees, provided welcome respite!
But of course no amount of heat was going to keep us indoors for long when there’s Big-5 country to explore outside! Our afternoon drive took in Gomondwane, Duke’s waterhole and a section of the Nhlowa-road to the south of Lower Sabie, after a quick visit to Sunset Dam just outside camp. Highlights of the drive included an unusually relaxed black rhinoceros, our best sighting ever of a side-striped jackal, and the cutest little warthog piglets you could imagine!
The itinerary planned for Sunday 13 December meant that we would be out of camp all day: a slow early morning drive (the camp gates open at 04:30 in high summer) to Skukuza along the Sabie River, visit with good friends at Skukuza over lunch, and then back to Lower Sabie via the Sand River, the Salitje road, Muntshe Mountain and Mlondozi Picnic Site. Covering that big an area is sure to deliver some unusual sightings; apart from a skittish leopard and all the more commonly seen game animals, we even found an African Rock Python along the way. Our final wildlife encounter of the day was with a pair of mating lions, within sight of Lower Sabie, resulting in sightings of all the Big-5 on a single day!
That wasn’t the end of the day however, as we were booked for a guided night drive after supper. Unfortunately strong winds sent the nocturnal animals into hiding, and the drive did not yield much more than a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl and enormous scorpion to get excited about.
We had one more day to explore the Lower Sabie area, and headed for Crocodile Bridge along the Nhlowa Road as soon as the camp’s gates opened. About halfway we met a large pack of hyenas at their den, and after spending some time with them our grumbling tummies told us that it was time to go enjoy our picnic breakfast at Croc Bridge. More great sightings on our way back to Lower Sabie along the Gomondwane Road, including a herd of elephants coming to drink from the Sabie River. We also noticed a male lion lying on the river bank and after slaking their thirst, the elephants started crossing the river. This was the lion’s cue to vacate his spot, and we were thrilled that he chose to head into the bush straight past our vehicle!
Lower Sabie is a wonderful place to while away the hot midday hours as there’s a constant stream of animals coming to drink from the river and birdlife abounds in the camp grounds!
There’s no better way to spend your last afternoon at Lower Sabie than slowly driving along the river, and spending some time at Sunset Dam. So that’s exactly what we did!
With that, our final night at Lower Sabie had arrived. Next morning we’d depart for Olifants Rest Camp, further north in the central regions of the Kruger National Park. We’ll share more about our time at Olifants next week, and will dedicate a special post in which we’ll tell you all about Lower Sabie and surrounds in an upcoming edition of de Wets Wild.
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Reblogged this on Roaring Reservations.
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Daai leeu pla my… wat sal Tannie Koeksuster en die Dindsdag aand gemeente besaar kwyd raak as hulle uitvind jy wys sulke bok-bokkies?? 😉
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As Mufasa en Sarabi nie so bietjie by mekaar gekuier het nie, is Simba nooit gebore nie, het Timon en Pumbaa nou nog goggas in die woud gevreet en het ons nooit “The Lion King” oor en oor moes kyk nie…
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I am so jealous you saw a snake!
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Only the third time ever that we saw a python in the wild, so we were ecstatic!
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Pingback: Summer heat at Olifants | de Wets Wild
Thank you, your photos bring the place alive:)
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We’re glad to know you enjoyed visiting Lower Sabie with us, Mukhamani!
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Ai, sulke mooie fotos. Was lanklaas in Addo…ons het die hitte na 28ste gekry. Aaklig. Baie gesien, hitte en al.
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Dankie Boeta! Hier by ons in Pretoria darem nou al 4 dae van heerlike reenbuie in n ry gehad, en die hitte vir die oomblik gebreek. Daar by julle ook so droog en warm?
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Ja, benodig reen
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Pragtige reeks fotos! Ja, die hitte het ons ook nie weggehou nie. Selfs die kampery was nie so erg nie.
Die slang is besonders. En die kleinkies is pragtig hierdie jaar. Ek sien die olifante is baie verminder by Satara. Was die projek geslaag, of het die olifante getrek na waar meer waters is?
Eks bekommerd oor die droogte. Dis erg hierdie jaar . Jou leeus is ook pragtig, net jammer die liewe Luiperdjie het ons weer ontduik hierdie jaar … (sug) Ons beste oomblik was ‘n maanhaar wat in ons kar se koelte kom rus het. Ons kom sy asemhaling hoor en hom ruik…
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Ek sien so uit daarna om als van jul onlangse besoek op jou blog te lees Spokie! Om die groot kat so naby te he moes n wonderlike ervaring gewees het!
Dit het ons ook opgeval wyl ons by Olifants gebly het dat daar glad nie so baie olifante rondom die Letaba en Olifants riviere was as wat ons sou verwag het nie. Maar toe ons bo by Shingwedzi gekom het, waar daar klaarblyklik bietjie meer reen geval het, was hulle regtig volop. Miskien het hulle maar agter die reen aangetrek na beter weiding. Selfde geld vir die buffels.
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Wow, what a place that must be to visit!
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One you can’t help but return to again and again!
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All great photos as usual!
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Thank you so much, Peter!
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Soos gewoonlik…asemrowend!Ek dink julle was baie gelukkig om die luislang te sien…gebeur nie sommer elke dag nie.
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Baie dankie Dina! Dis maar net die derde wilde luislang wat ons in al die jare sien, 2de keer in die Krugerwildtuin, en ons was baie opgewonde daaroor!
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Ai tog oom… waars al die skoenlappers?? 😉
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Nee wat, dis jou forte daai AJ. Die goedjies dartel te vinnig rond vir my, en dan lei die olifante en leeus my aandag af…
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Slegte leeus en olifante!!
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Sjoe dis weer mooi foto’s – soos gewoonlik!
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Dis baie gaaf van jou, dankie Tina!
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Wow that’s a lot of sightings! Black rhino so cool. Love the monitor and the rock python! Also the piglets of course.
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Thanks Michael! Yep, Kruger really delivered on this latest visit 😀
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I’ve been in Death Valley when the temperature hit 47. And no shade. And no wonderful animals, either. Well, some. That giraffe looks like it’s mugging for the camera. Great pics!
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Wow, Pat! 47 and no shade! You must’ve drunk gallons and gallons of water!
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Done! Good luck. 🙂
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Thanks very much Amy!
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Who said Hyenas are ugly? They are adorable, a bit smelly, but still lovely!
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We absolutely agree, Maciek!
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Amazing as always! All the best with the blog awards…will vote!!
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Thank you Namz, we really appreciate the support!
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The pure numbers of wildlife encounters you had left me breathless. That must have been so exciting to wonder what you were going to see next.
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I think that’s what makes our wild places so addictive, Lyle!
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As I was scrolling through these photos I kept thinking, “You really should put these in a book!”
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You won’t know just how much your kind comment brightened my day, thanks Kathy!
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You really got some excellent photos, Dries. the Blue Waxbill is so pretty and so is the Bushbuck ewe. Your crocodile lurks just like my Mr. A does. 🙂
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Luckily the crocodile isn’t lurking in our backyard as your Mr. A does!
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Are you jealous?
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A little… No, actually a lot! 😀
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I can’t get over the colors of birds you have there, so beautiful! This looks like a great place for animals. Thanks for sharing your trip 😃
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Thanks for coming along, Ilex! Kruger Park has an astounding variety of birds – almost 500 species! It also protects the biggest variety of mammals in the country, with 145 recorded species. Add to that the diversity of trees, grasses, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and you’ll see just why this place can seem like paradise!
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Wow, WHAT a great trip!! Thanks so much for allowing the ‘ride-along’. 😀
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Glad you liked it so much, Lori! There’s two more installments on the way, and of course you are most welcome to join! 😉
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My favorite camp, always so much to see around there. Happy New Year to you and your family.
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Happy 2016 to you as well Kelly, with lots of trips to our beautiful wild places!
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I’d love to go to Kruger in summer one day. Did you feel the need for malaria tablets?
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To me Kruger’s most beautiful in summer, Jennie, despite the heat. And yes, we take malaria prophylactics very seriously; we’ve had family members suffer from malaria before and mosquitoes seem to have a liking for the taste of de Wet blood, so we don’t take any chances.
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Wonderful photos! The striped jackal is one I’ve not seen before, not in person or photos, so I’ve now learnt my one new thing for the day 🙂 Thanks!
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Glad we could introduce you, Jen, and thanks for the kind comment! 😀
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Mating lions? Wow, what perfect timing! Beautiful photos.
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When mating, they do almost nothing else for up to three or four days, so if you find a couple you don’t need to wait long for the “magic” to happen 😉
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interesting fact! I will keep that in mind. 😉
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Great Post.
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Glad you liked it so much, thanks Mukul!
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