Category Archives: Mpumalanga Province

Our experiences in the reserves of Mpumalanga, South Africa

An hour or two at Lake Panic

Lake Panic is a man-made body of water just outside of Skukuza, the headquarters and biggest rest camp of the Kruger National Park. The dam originally got its name when a flood threatened to destroy it shortly after it was built, but today, being home to enormous crocodiles and cantankerous hippos, the name is still just as apt.

The hide at Lake Panic, situated at the water’s edge surrounded by lush vegetation, is extremely popular with photographers. In the early morning the sunrise over the water, often shrouded in a cloak of mist, is absolutely breathtaking, and there’s a constant processions of birds and animals to focus on throughout the day.

While staying at Skukuza recently, we made sure we popped in at Lake Panic regularly, staying for an hour or two. These are just some of the sights we enjoyed.

Hippo returning home after a night of feeding

Crocodiles at Lake Panic

Grey heron at Lake Panic

Neighbours looking out for each other at Lake Panic

Looking into the hide

Coming in to land at Lake Panic

Hippos at Lake Panic

Lake Panic sunrise

Golden sunrise on the water

The Fray

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The dust flies as two zebra stallions battle it out for control of a family group.

Fight for dominance

(seen near Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park during a visit in February 2012)

“Fray” is this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge theme

Memorable lion sighting near Skukuza, 3 August 2014

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It was late afternoon on the 3rd of August, and the sun was slowly setting on our first day back in the Kruger National Park. We were enjoying a leisurely drive along the Sabie River, taking in the deep calming atmosphere that comes with sunset in a magnificent natural setting like this, about 5km from Skukuza Rest Camp.

Unexpectedly, a young elephant ran across the road towards the river, trumpeting loudly and shaking his ears and trunk around, clearly extremely agitated. From a short side loop, we watched as he flushed a pride of lions from the reeds, quite some distance from the road.

The young elephant that started the show

Noticing that the lions will now be making their way towards the road, we anticipate where they’ll be moving out of the river bed and position our vehicle in that spot. We have to wait only a minute or two before noticing the first feline shapes appearing among the riverine vegetation, much closer to the road already. The lions are coming, and they are heading straight for us!

One by one, the entire pride of about fifteen animals, including three magnificent males, pass right beside us, crosses the road and moves into the bush on the opposite side. We watch enthralled from inside our vehicle as the big cats move by close enough to stroke (though of course, that would be very foolish to even attempt!).

(You can click on the photos to view them in a gallery, for a bigger view – we’re sure you won’t be sorry that you did 😉 )

Moving out of the reeds

The first lioness to cross – notice she’s blind in her right eye

Second lioness to appear

Two cubs making their way out of the river bed

The first male to move closer, jawning after having their afternoon nap so rudely interrupted by the elephant

The smallest cub in the pride

The second male to appear was a beautiful specimen

The third male, apparently a little younger than the other two

Moving into the bush after crossing the road

Kruger welcomed us back in the most emphatic way imaginable. What else did it have in store for us in the nine days ahead? We hope you’ll join us again to find out!

And we’re back!

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We’ve just returned from ten wonderful days in the Kruger National Park, and we’ll be telling you all about it in upcoming editions of de Wets Wild.

We hope this little albino vervet monkey we saw near the Timbavati picnic spot will convince you just how special our sightings were, and make you come back for more soon!

Albino Vervet, KNP Timbavati, August 2014

Texture

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The weathered face of a buffalo bull, living a hard life in the Kruger National Park

Textures

“Texture” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge

Lake Panic Sunrise

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We’re sharing the beautiful sunrise we enjoyed this morning at Lake Panic near Skukuza, to celebrate de Wets Wild’s 300th post!

Lake Panic sunrise 05082014

Back in Kruger, and what a welcome!

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We’ve arrived back at the Kruger National Park, and ended our day with a magnificent lion sighting near Skukuza; males, females and cubs crossing the road all around our vehicle.

Here’s a little teaser 😉

Lion Sighting 03Aug2014

Zigzag

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Thanks to their teeth and scales, crocodiles are adorned with zigzag patterns from nose to tail 😉

“Zigzag” is this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge theme

Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

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Nestled along the Matjulu Spruit, in the mountainous south-western corner of the Kruger National Park, just 12km from the Malelane Gate, lies the aptly named and very popular Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp (Afrikaans for “Mountain-and-Valley”).

Berg-en-Dal scenery

When it opened in February 1984, Berg-en-Dal’s face-brick architecture was a considerable departure from the “traditional” appearance of other Kruger camps. The camp’s buildings blend in perfectly with the mountainous surroundings and the small dam at the central visitor complex is a popular attraction to visitors who enjoy quietly watching a wide variety of game and birds come to the water.

Berg-en-Dal entrance

Berg-en-Dal dam

The camp covers an area of approximately 24 hectares, in which the natural vegetation has been preserved as far as possible, providing both privacy and a closeness with nature to Berg-en-Dal’s guests. The camping area has space for up to 70 caravans and tents, and accommodation is available in 69 bungalows, 23 cottages and two luxury guest houses. Facilities available include a restaurant and take-away kiosk, shop, fuel station, conference facilities, laundromat, swimming pool and amphitheatre in which wildlife films are shown in the evenings. Guided game-viewing drives and bush walks (the only way to see some of the San rock art found in the area if you are not booked on the three-night Bushman Wilderness Trail) can be booked in advance or at reception. In the reception building, the information centre provides fascinating insights into the biology and conservation of the black and white rhino. A new picnic facility for day visitors has recently been opened just a short distance from the camp, on the way to Malelane Gate.

Berg-en-Dal Accommodation

Berg-en-Dal Camping

Berg-en-Dal film show

Berg-en-Dal Rhino Hall

The Rhino Trail meanders from the dam at the restaurant along the camp’s fence for a total distance of over 2km, exposing guests to a wide variety of aromatic bushes and trees with frequent sightings of Berg-en-Dal’s avian inhabitants and sometimes even encounters with big game, safely on the other side of the electrified perimeter fence. The first part of the trail, about 600m in length, is made accessible to visually impaired nature enthusiasts by a guide rope linking displays and braille information boards.

Poignant memorial on the Rhino Trail

Wildlife encounter on the Rhino Trail

Wildlife encounter on the Rhino Trail – African Leopard Butterfly

Wildlife encounter on the Rhino Trail

Malelane is a small camp just 3km from the entrance gate with the same name, and 9km from Berg-en-Dal. The name means “out-of-sight”, referring to the outpost of warriors posted here to protect Swazi interests in the area in pre-colonial days. Agricultural and industrial development across the Crocodile River, which forms the southern border of the Kruger Park, unfortunately do detract from the visitor experience at this otherwise lovely camp and was a deciding factor in the National Parks Board opting to build Berg-en-Dal in the hills nearby. The Malelane of today is much smaller than the original camp, offering five bungalows and 15 campsites compared to the original camp of 25 huts and 30 camping sites, and does not offer any of the other amenities available at Berg-en-Dal.

Malelane Gate

Guarding the entrance to Malelane Camp

Malelane Camp

Game-viewing in the scenic surroundings of Malelane and Berg-en-Dal can be a richly rewarding experience. Lion and hyena are often seen, but it is leopards and wild dogs that the area is renowned for. Kudu, giraffe and impala, being browsing animals, are frequently encountered, while elephant and buffalo are attracted to the area by the relative abundance of water. A firm favourite (late afternoon) destination with many visitors is the Matjulu waterhole just 4km from Berg-en-Dal, where they while away the last minutes of sunlight before heading back to camp before the gates close for the night. Further afield the H3 main road through to Afsaal picnic site, and the gravel roads to the east of it linking up with the gravel S114-road to the Biyamiti causeway (and onwards to Skukuza) and the S25 that leads to Crocodile Bridge, seldom fails to deliver something exciting.