We didn’t think it was even possible, but the Kruger Park definitely left the best for last – our first encounter ever with a truly wild White Lion, of which there are only a handful alive – 3 of them being in Kruger.
Hyena looking menacing as it emerges from the dark
European Bee-eater
Vultures in a tree
White-backed Vultures
Matabele Ants
Swainson’s Spurfowl
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Rufous-naped Lark
Black-backed Jackal
Marabou
Flap-neck Chameleon
Blue Wildebeest
Common Egg-eater found beneath our tent
Buffalo cow
White Lion
White Lion
Tawny Lion
Burchell’s Starling
Elephant procession
DeWetsWild 
That is amazing – to see such a rare animal. What an experience!
A thrilling encounter we’ve been waiting for for so long!
Another fantastic gallery. I should think you are almost on sensory overload by now! What a fabulous time you have had.
Amazingly we realised on our first night back home just how bad the sensory overload is in the city, Carol! Despite being dead tired we couldn’t fall asleep due to all the noise and light around us, after getting used to only bush sounds and complete darkness at Satara! Such a sad state of affairs actually.
Too bad – more like sensory bombardment in the city. I can relate to that awful disorientation getting back to the city after being away in the bush, when it feels like all one’s senses and psyche are being assaulted. I agree that it is sad, and although it is necessary to readjust it is surprising (and sad) how quickly one adjusts back into the urban way of life. Hopefully though you will all feel refreshed for the new year. After being out in nature for a few weeks, I find that I become newly reminded and more aware of what really matters and I think it is important to cling onto that …
Hello Dries,
Thank you for sharing more views of beautiful Kruger. It must have been extra special to view a white lion in the wild. I can imagine even more so, that you could share this moment with your family. I love all photos in this gallery 🙂
It was an amazing moment, Takami – one I have been looking forward to for many decades since learning of the white lions as a young boy.
I didn’t realize there were white lions, either. Do they get along with the tawny lions?
They do, Lois. The “whiteness” is due to a recessive gene – they are not albinos but are white by design, as polar bears are, and can be born to tawny parents (if both carry the gene).
Wow, dis nou regtig n ekstra en spesiale dier om te sien. Sal dit n “geteelde” een wees of n natuurlike een? Toe hul die wit leeutjies by die wildteelsentrum in Potties gehad het om te versorg het ek gaan kyk. Ongelukkig geen fotos wat ek kan wys nie. Jul was darem regtig baie gelukkig met jul tyd in die Wildtuin. Die diere lyk ook in n redelike goeie toestand. Hoe lyk die veld?
Nee, hierdie wit leeu is natuurlik in oorsprong, Ineke, wat dit werklik spesiaal maak om hom te sien. Hy is nou al so 3/4 jaar oud en ons is baie bly om te sien hy is deel van n koalisie met ander mannetjies – hopelik neem hulle op een-of-ander tyd n trop oor en kom daar nuwe wit welpies in die Kruger aan!
Na die onlangse reen is die Krugerwildtuin groen en welig en doen die herbivore baie goed. Dit is natuurlik n moeilike tyd vir die roofdiere want nou beweeg die troppe oor groter areas rond en versamel nie by die watergate soos in die droe tyd nie.
Bly om dit te hoor. Hoop die ou kry n goeie kans in die lewe. Dis waar van die roofdiere en die veld maak dit ook nie maklik om te bekruip nie.
You went out with a bang! I’ve never even heard of a white lion, let alone seen one. Now I have. Thanks for that!
janet
Finally seeing a wild white lion after looking for one for almost all my life is a thrill I hope I will never forget, Janet.
I’m sure you’ll never for get that!!
Mens is amper trots op julle, asof julle dit als self reggekry het! Regtig ‘n uitstekende krop fotos Dries. En die verskil tussen die wit en gewone leeu is duidelik gebeeld.
Dit is baie gaaf van jou, Petru, en dit is wonderlik om te weet dat ons vriende hier die fotos uit die Wildtuin so geniet en waardeer – baie dankie!
What a fine memory to take home with you – and a good omen for the rest of the year!
Oh Anne, I was on the brink of crying when he emerged into the open. Such a lump in my throat. A gift from heaven.
Julle het daardie wit leeu dubbeld en dwars verdien! Voorspoedige Nuwejaar ❤
Wat n wonderlike voorreg was dit nie, Tannie Frannie. Alles van die mooiste vir jou en jou geliefdes in hierdie nuwe jaar!
Ek het lekker saam met jou gekyk en gelees. Wanneer gaan julle terug. Veilig reis!
Daar sal altyd vir jou n plekkie in die kar wees, Tina. Ons is nou veilig terug in Pretoria maar ek dink daar het weer n groot stuk van ons harte op Satara agtergebly. Voorspoedige 2020 vir jou!
Sterkte… dis darem nie die laaste keer nie