Just before sunrise on the 17th of August – Joubert’s final day as an eleven-year old – we headed out of Skukuza towards Pretoriuskop, driving along the Napi Road and intent on visiting every one of the waterholes along the way.
Just past Transport Dam we have the first big-ticket highlight of our morning: a cheetah on the hunt! Unfortunately the cheetah caught its steenbok prey at an awkward angle behind our vehicle and immediately carried it into the long grass away from the road, so these are basically the only photos we have of a most thrilling sighting!
Just a few kilometers past the scene of the cheetah kill we encountered a pack of very excited spotted hyenas in and next to the road. It appeared that an interloper was coming a bit too close to their den, causing quite a stir among the resident cubs.
At Shitlhave Dam this grey old Buffalo bull posed for some pictures.
While it was quiet along the Voortrekker Road towards Afsaal, with the day heating up nicely it was easy to decide where to head next: all along the Biyamiti River in the general direction of Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie. As expected, lots of animals and birds where congregating along the dwindling stream of water to quench their thirst.
Nearing Lower Sabie we felt compelled to cross the causeway over the Sabie River, and then back again (as most everyone visiting this part of the Park is wont to do) before heading into camp.
The last stretch of our route today again followed the course of the Sabie River back to Skukuza, through a part of the Kruger National Park famous for its teaming wildlife.
And so the sun set on another extremely rewarding day in the Kruger National Park. The next day would be Joubert’s twelve birthday – more on that in the next installment!
DeWetsWild 
Wonderful, wonderful photos, Dries. So many action shots by you and Joubert. No shot of the person getting his head bitten off by the lioness though.
Thank you, Tracy! The lionesses were quite tolerant of the vehicles, and people, surrounding them.
What a way for Joubert to spend his last day as an 11-year old! 🙂 I do hope he had a very Happy 12th Birthday afterwards. Amazing how children grow so quickly – he will be a teenager next year 😉 Our continued best wishes to you and your wife.
Thanks Takami!
Yep, Joubert’s growing almost too quickly to keep up!
A thrilling series of wildlife images, Dries. And what a way to ring in Joubert’s 12th birthday. Enjoy! 🙂
Thank you very much, Jane. We had a great time and I’m enjoying recounting all our experiences here again almost just as much.
Another fascinating journey with interesting imagery. As always, I say thank you for sharing your trips.
Glad we could take you along, John!
Loving the giraffe photo!
Thank you, Kathy!
This is such a fun trip! Had the privilege of visiting Kruger some years back and it was an experience I will always treasure. Thank you for this ‘second spin around the park.’ ☺️
I know what you mean, Lori! I’ve been regularly visiting Kruger for 40 years and I’ve yet to have a dull day in the Park.
Wow, regular visits for four decades?! You *are* fortunate! Thank you for sharing with the rest of us here…
Ongelooflik om so baie diere en voels te kan sien daar in die wildtuin. Dankie dat jy die ervarings met ons deel, Dries. Die kameelperde bly maar my gunsteling diere!
Dis amper so lekker om die blogposts bymekaar te sit en te deel as wat dit is om daar te wees, so dis n groot plesier Aletta!
Wonderlik! 😃
Now that is a fun idea, to pop in at every waterhole along the way – you were amply rewarded too. I particularly like the photograph of the kudu cow in action.
Thank you very much, Anne!
Dis so lekker om te lees en te sien hoe die dae in Kruger so vol gepak is met opwindende oomblikke soos wat jy dit vertel en wys met al die mooi fotos. Dis kosbare tye.
Dit is beslis so, Ineke. Kos vir die siel waarsonder die de Wets se lewens armer sou wees.
Selfs ons die lesers sou baie armer wees as daar nie so iemand soos julle is wat dit so pragtig vertel en wys nie.
I just get such joy from seeing all these photos every day (or so), except for maybe the killer baboons. As I’ve said before, what a wonderful birthday/pre-birthday. That jackal is quite attractive, I like the giraffe’s graceful look, and, oh, the cheetah! ❤
We had a wonderful time and I’m so glad to know the pictures help convey a little of that, Janet!
How beautiful to see such variety of animals in their own environment. Thanks, D. 🙂
Glad to know you enjoyed it along with us, H.J!
I love the contrasting coat of the jackal. They would be fun to paint. Nice pictures of the buffalo too. Hope Joubert had a good birthday! 🎂
He had a birthday he’ll never forget, thanks Siobhan