In October 2024 I had the immense pleasure of hosting long-time blogging friend John Steiner (of Journeys with Johnbo), his wife Lynn, John’s niece Patricia Broesder and her husband Gary on a tour of Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. In Kruger we were joined by colleagues Hannes Rossouw and Irving Knight, both experts in their respective fields.
One morning we headed out from Skukuza in Irving’s open safari vehicle towards the areas west of the Kruger Park‘s biggest tourist node, and after a few hours arrived at the Transport Dam, an expansive man-made waterhole well frequented by a myriad of birds and animals. At first, all appeared calm in and around the dam with heavy clouds in the sky. A few hippos and nile crocodiles were bobbing in the water, some antelope and warthog were milling around on the banks, a fish eagle was flying overhead, a grey heron stood near us on a rock and in the distance a spotted hyena looked lazily out over the lake.
But as so often happens, patience is wonderfully rewarded in nature. The peace was suddenly shattered by thrashing in the water, coming from both sides of where we were parked! To our right, a massive crocodile was ripping a blue wildebeest carcass to shreds and on the other side a smaller crocodile was doing the same to an impala carcass! They were soon joined by other crocodiles trying to muscle in on the action.
Immediately, the hyena was up and running from side to side trying to see if it could get a cut if the meat, pieces of which were now flying all over the show, while the fish eagle dropped from the sky with the same aim.
The grey heron had a different reaction, regurgitating its latest meal before flying off, only to circle around, land in the same spot and then pecking at its discarded fish meal but opting rather to wash out its mouth with a drink from the dam…
Soon after the last scraps of the carcasses disappeared down the throats of the crocodiles, however, relative calm returned to the dam. A baby hippo ventured onto dry land for a walk about and a herd of blue wildebeest risked moving in for a drink. Anyone arriving then would’ve no clue about the dramas we’d just witnessed!
I am a fully accredited and legally registered tour guide (with all the necessary insurance, professional drivers license and first aid certification) – don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like me to arrange a guided tour of beautiful South Africa and all her natural wonders, like the Kruger National Park, for you as well, or even just to assist with your holiday reservations for our national parks and nature reserves throughout the country.
DeWetsWild 
Shew – never a dull moment! Wonderful photos too!
Isn’t it amazing what nature reveals when you’re patient, Carol!?
Indeed, patience is much more rewarding than dashing about trying to cover too much ground.
love to go again for the 32th time to the Krugerpark and watch the animals, it is beautiful to see them in the wild.
The Kruger National Park really is an amazing place that pulls people back over-and-over like a magnet.
Awesome ppics. Would love to paint it on canvas with oils.
Very kind of you, Marie. Thank you.
What was the date of the Croc ripping the carcass? I have very similar photos of a Croc thrashing about whilst wild dogs stand on the bank as onlookers. I’m wondering if we were there the same time?
It was the 8th of October, Warryn. We did hear through the grapevine that there was a pack of wild dogs at Transport Dam later that same day.
Amazing photos. We were slso in Kruger in October, for 2 fantastic weeks. Awesome sightings. Kruger never stops giving. Joyce & Lionel Powell
That’s is so true, Joyce and Lionel! No matter how often or how long you get the chance to visit Kruger it just never gets boring.
Every day was memorable for us, Dries! I am so glad to have found your blog over a decade ago. You, Hannes, and Irving were wonderful hosts.
That means more than you can ever imagine, John. Thank you very much. It was an honour meeting you, Lynn, Pat and Gary and being able to show you a small slice of our beautiful country. I know Hannes and Irving feel the same way.
Beautiful shots, what an experience.
So true, Bongani. Thank you very much for the kind comment!
What a wonderful expernce for your visitors to witness!
It all came together so beautifully, Anne. I felt truly blessed being able to share this with John and his family.
Awesome shots 👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you very much, Michael!
You’re welcome. Thank you for sharing.
Dis ongelooflik wat julle hier waargeneem het Dries. Die natuur is so fasinerend. Pragtige foto’s!
Baie dankie, Aletta. Dit was n oggend wat ek nie gou sal vergeet nie!
Ek kan dit glo!