On our way to the wilderness – day 1

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Before dawn on the 15th of August ’21, Joubert and I had the Duster packed and were ready to set off for the Kruger National Park. The whole route from Pretoria to Malelane Gate we drove under overcast skies, with thick mist and occasional drizzle.

Signing in at Malelane was a breeze and in no time at all we were on our way to Skukuza. With Afsaal picnic site packed to the brim with visiting people when we arrived we decided to give it a miss. We enjoy the Park packed with animals of all description much more than jostling with other picnickers for a spot at a table.

White-backed Vulture in flight
Kudu cow
Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo
Golden-breasted Bunting
Steenbok
Spotted Hyena family (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena family
Pearl-spotted Owlet
Red-crested Korhaan keeping an eye on an eagle flying overhead (photo by Joubert)
Klipspringer
Warthog
Elephants congregating in a dry river bed (photo by Joubert)
Elephants congregating in a dry river bed
Magpie Shrike

Right at Skukuza’s gates we found this elegant nyala bull – only to find that he wasn’t as elegant as first impressions suggested…

Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)
Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)
Nyala bull – go buy some manners! (photo by Joubert)

At Skukuza’s reception our check-in went just as smoothly and pretty quickly we were unpacked and settled into our bungalow, allowing us a chance to stretch our legs and gawk at Skukuza’s resident birds.

Beautiful impala lily in bloom at Skukuza’s reception (photo by Joubert)
Unit #3 in Skukuza’s Nwaswitshaka Research Camp
Cardinal Woodpecker
African Dusky Flycatcher (photo by Joubert)
Red-capped Robin Chat (photo by Joubert)
Yellow-fronted Canary (photo by Joubert)
Brown-headed Parrot (photo by Joubert)
Brown-headed Parrot

By the time we hit the road for our afternoon game drive there was only about three hours left before the gates would close, so we stuck to the roads around camp and along the Sabie River.

Nyala ewe just outside the Skukuza nursery
Water Thick-knee at the causeway over the Sabie River
Elephant munching on a thorny branch
Hippos in a quiet pool of the Sabie
Spotted Hyena on the move (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena profile
Buffalo chewing the cud

After our braai (barbeque) – what else would two South African men be eating when they’re forced to feed themselves than “pap en wors” (maize meal porridge with barbequed sausage) – and before going to bed, we walked around camp with our torch looking for nocturnal creatures.

We think this might be a baby Turner’s Thick-toed Gecko (photo by Joubert)

On Sunday we’ll tell you about day two as we prepared to tackle the Sweni Wilderness Trail from Joubert’s birthday.

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