Category Archives: Memorable sightings

Going in search of rare antelope in Northern Kruger

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The northern parts of the Kruger National Park harbours populations of antelope rarely seen in the wild elsewhere in South Africa, and of course the Wild de Wets just love going in search of these special creatures.  Our recent visit during the winter school holidays, basing ourselves for nine nights at Shingwedzi Rest Camp, yielded wonderful encounters with Eland, Nyala, Sharpe’s Grysbok and Tsessebe (and we’ll just have to get back there soon to find the roan antelope, sable antelope, lichtenstein’s hartebeest and reedbuck that eluded us!)

Eland gathering at a watering hole north of Babalala
Eland in the mopane bush
We found this Eland near the Mphongolo River
Eland in the mopane bush
Beautiful nyala bull
Nyala ewe and lamb
Splendid Nyala bull
Stately Nyala bulls
Sharpe’s Grysbok
Sharpe’s Grysbok
Tsessebe herd grazing on the plains north of Shingwedzi
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Predator sightings in Northern Kruger

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The northern parts of the Kruger National Park suffers from an inaccurate perception that predators there are fewer and harder to find, and consequently that part of the Park sees far fewer visitors than the area south of the Olifants River. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy – fewer people looking for predators means fewer people finding predators – that suited us just fine when we visited the area around Shingwedzi Rest Camp during the winter holidays. We returned home bragging about several splendid encounters with lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and both side-striped and black-backed jackals and hardly ever having to share the experience with other visitors. Please don’t let the secret out though – we’re only telling you! 😉

Black-backed Jackal at Shipirivhiri Waterhole
Spotted Hyena seen at night right from Shingwedzi’s fence
Spotted Hyena scavenging from a buffalo carcass in the Mphongolo River
Serene leopard near Punda Maria
Catnapping leopard near Punda Maria
Beautiful leopard encountered near Red Rocks
Lioness in the early morning twilight, just a stone’s throw from Shingwedzi’s gate
One of the two Kings of Babalala
The two Kings of Babalala
The two Kings of Babalala (Photo by Joubert)
One of the two Kings of Babalala
One of the two Kings of Babalala
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Watchful Lion (Photo by Joubert)
Getting up is hard work for this Lion (Photo by Joubert)
Ready to tackle the day ahead!
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Big male lion in the bed of the Mphongolo River

The lady that stops traffic

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This lioness was using the bridge outside Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park as her own personal catwalk, settling down to give her adoring fans some close up views of her beauty – and I was lucky to get a front-row seat!

Lioness on her way to the bridge at Lower Sabie
Lioness on her way to the bridge at Lower Sabie
Weighing up her options
The Queen of Lower Sabie
The Queen of Lower Sabie
Lioness on the bridge with her adoring fans
Lioness on the bridge at Lower Sabie

But lions aren’t always such show-offs – sometimes they like to keep their distance, and other times they lie hidden in plain sight…

Lions in the grass next to the Crocodile River
Well-hidden Lion

 

Painted Wolves on the move (and quickly!)

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Coming across a pack of Painted Wolves, also known as African Wild Dogs, on the road to Skukuza was another special encounter from my solo visit to the Kruger National Park in May 2019. These animals are highly endangered – it is thought that fewer than 7,000 remain in the wild with the estimated 200 living in the Kruger National Park representing South Africa’s biggest population of the species. Seeing these energetic and attractive animals is therefore always thrilling!

African Wild Dog, or Painted Wolf, on the lookout for prey
Heavily pregnant female African Wild Dog
Heavily pregnant female African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog on the run
Pack of Painted Wolves, or African Wild Dogs, near Skukuza
African Wild Dogs

 

Tiny Quarrels

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Dwarf Mongooses live in close-knit clans, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t the occasional squabble between family members! While walking around Pretoriuskop Rest Camp on a recent visit to the south of the Kruger National Park, I spied two of the tiny tykes continuously working on each other’s nerves, until eventually and inevitably the fight escalated into blows.

A Dwarf Mongoose searching for food in Pretoriuskop
Dwarf Mongoose eyeing another one in the camping area at Pretorkiuskop
The conversation turns heated
And that’s how the fight started!
Dwarf Mongooses settling an argument in the camping area at Pretoriuskop
One of the combatants calling “Uncle!”
Argument settled?

Francolin Families

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We were really surprised at all the Swainson’s and Natal Spurfowl (both formerly known as francolins) families with tiny chicks that we encountered during our recent visits to the Kruger National Park in May and June, supposedly well into our austral winter (and dry) season.

Natal Spurfowl hen
Immature Natal Spurfowl
Natal Spurfowl hen with chicks
Natal Spurfowl chicks
Natal Spurfowl chicks
Natal Spurfowl chicks
Natal Spurfowl hen with chick
Natal Spurfowl chick
Swainson’s Spurfowl hen with her brood
Immature Swainson’s Spurfowl

Love Bites

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Well, apparently, if your a Striped Skink love should bite if you’re doing it right! This couple was having their honeymoon right outside my vehicle in the parking area at Lower Sabie Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, but then headed for the privacy of a crevice in the concrete when the scene was threatening to turn too steamy…

Striped Skink courtship
Striped Skink courtship
Striped Skink courtship
Striped Skinks courtship