Tag Archives: Guided Tours

Snaps on Tour: Cheetahs that weren’t all that hungry…

It was mid-morning as we were driving back towards Shingwedzi along the S50 road that skirts the mostly dry course of the Shingwedzi River when we came across three youngish cheetahs on their way towards one of the few waterholes remaining this deep into the dry season. By then we had already seen Africa’s two other species of big cat, lion and leopard (more about them in posts to follow), on that same stretch of road that same morning, so we were thrilled to add the third to our tally even before 09h00!

As the cheetahs approached the waterhole a herd of impala noticed them and started running away, prompting one of the three cheetahs to follow in hot, if unsuccessful, pursuit. The remaining two cheetahs, less energetically, sauntered to the water and then took up a position in the open to wait for the return of their companion. While lying there a family of warthogs almost stepped right on top of them but our excitement at the prospect of an easy hunt for the cheetahs were quickly dashed when they just turned their backs on what looked like easy pickings.

Cheetah

Cheetahs

Cheetah

Cheetahs

Cheetah

Cheetah and Warthogs. Will he or won’t he?

Cheetah and Warthogs. No, he won’t.

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.

Snaps on Tour: Lowveld Scenery in the Kruger National Park

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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.

The Kruger National Park is an enormous tract of land, for the most part entirely untouched by human interference, where the heart of Africa still beats to its own rhythm, and whether there are any people around to witness it or not makes no difference to her beauty. Scenes like these make my soul soar. I’m sure it had the same effect on our guests.

Sunset over the plains south of Satara

The Sweni Spruit

A pool of water near Satara

Olifants River

Olifants River at the end of the dry season

Looking up into Von Willich’s baobab

Sabie River sunrise

Sabie River in golden light

Sunset scenery around Skukuza

Olifants River at the end of the dry season

Pioneer Dam at Mopani

The bone dry confluence of the Shingwedzi and Mphongolo Rivers

Waterhole north of Babalala

Snaps on Tour: Skukuza Veldfires

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We were heading south from Satara to Skukuza and already noticed the enormous column of smoke from near Tshokwane Picnic Spot, about 35km as the crow flies from our destination. Fire (especially naturally occurring fires caused mainly by lightning) is an integral part of savanna ecosystems like the Kruger National Park and a rather common occurrence at the start of spring, when the end of the dry season results in the vegetation being terribly desiccated. Still, having to pass straight through the fires, feeling the heat of the flames on the side of the road and breathing the acrid smoke, is an exciting affair and leaves one with a great appreciation for the teams of firefighters battling the flames (as they do with unplanned human-caused runaway fires like this one, at the time thought to have been caused by a spark from an electrical pylon). This particular blaze almost took out the airport building at Skukuza, though in the end ironically the building suffered enough water damage from the efforts to prevent it going up in flames to require temporary plans to be put in place for passengers using the facility to bypass the arrivals hall, check-in counters and car-hire offices. Thankfully we didn’t notice any large animals hurt or killed in the fire and no people suffered any injuries worth reporting on, but doubtless many smaller animals succumbed, providing a boon for especially insectivorous birds.

Plumes of smoke rising above the forest lining the Sabie River

Smoke rising from a stretch where the fire already passed through

Fire raging around Skukuza

Thick smoke filling the area burning near Skukuza’s airport

Smouldering veld after the previous day’s fires

Snaps on Tour: Waiting and Watching at Transport Dam

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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.

Hippos in Transport Dam

Crocodile in Transport Dam

Waterbuck, impala and warthog mingling on the banks of Transport Dam

A Fish Eagle flying over Transport Dam

Grey Heron on the bank of Transport Dam

Spotted Hyena lying down at Transport Dam

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.

Crocodile feasting on a wildebeest carcass in Transport Dam

Crocodile feast

Crocodile feasting on a wildebeest carcass in Transport Dam

Crocodile feasting on a wildebeest carcass in Transport Dam – Hadedas take flight!

Crocodile feasting on an impala carcass in Transport Dam

Crocodiles feasting on a wildebeest carcass in Transport Dam

Waterbuck bull looking into the water with some suspicion!

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.

Hyena frantically trying to get a bite of the action

Hyena frantically trying to get a bite of the action – zebras fleeing!

Hyena frantically trying to get a bite of the action

Fish Eagle dropping in for a bite

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…

Grey Heron regurgitating its latest meal

Grey Heron trying a piece of the regurgitated fish

…but not liking it at all

Going down to the water to wash out its mouth

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!

Baby Hippo

Blue Wildebeest herd drinking from the Transport Dam

Snaps on Tour: The most beautiful Cape in the world

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Earlier in October I had the immense pleasure of hosting long-time blogging friend John Steiner (of Journeys with Johnbo), his wife Lynn, John’s niece Patricia and her husband Gary on a tour of Cape Town and the Kruger National Park.

On our first day together I spent quite a bit of time with the Steiners and Broesders exploring every corner of the Cape of Good Hope section of the Table Mountain National Park. We took the funicular up to the lighthouse at Cape Point, had lunch at the Two Oceans Restaurant, and took in all the scenic sights and interesting wildlife from the excellent road network.

Scenery at the Cape of Good Hope

The lighthouse at Cape Point

Four-striped Grass Mouse

Bladder Grasshopper

Ostrich on the beach at the Cape of Good Hope

Cape Fur Seals

Scenery at the Cape of Good Hope

Ostriches on the beach at the Cape of Good Hope

Hadedas

African Oystercatcher

Scenery at the Cape of Good Hope

Kelp Gull

Scenery at the Cape of Good Hope

Da Gama cross

Bontebok ewe and lamb

Bontebok at the Cape of Good Hope

Scenery at the Cape of Good Hope

Snaps on Tour: Penguins galore, and much more, at Boulders

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The very first destination I took the Steiners and Broesders to was the Boulders Penguin colony just a few blocks down the road from the Simon’s Town Quayside Hotel where we stayed. While the Penguins are of course the main attraction there’s many other animals and birds and spectacular scenery as well that makes Boulders a must-see on any visit to the Mother City.

Dassie, aka Rock Hyrax

Brimstone Canary

Cape Grey Mongoose

African Penguins

African Penguin youngster

African Penguin

African Penguins at Boulders Beach

African Penguins

Cape Wagtail

African Penguin

Snaps on Tour: The Simon’s Town Quayside Hotel

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My American friends flew to Cape Town directly from Newark and after meeting them at the airport we headed for the Simon’s Town Quayside Hotel. Thanks to their amazing staff, comfortable rooms, fantastic views and excellent meals at Bertha’s Restaurant the Quayside is a firm favourite of mine whenever I am in this part of the country and especially so when guiding guests on tour. With Simon’s Town being the largest base of the South African Navy it is probably no surprise that the decor in the hotel and restaurant has a very maritime theme, with the old photographs of Able Seaman Just Nuisance – a Great Dane that has the honour of being the Royal Navy’s only ever enlisted canine and probably Simon’s Town most famous resident – being especially interesting and pleasing.

Welcome to Simon’s Town

View from my room at the Simon’s Town Quayside Hotel

Simon’s Town harbour

Simon’s Town Quayside Hotel, Boardwalk Shopping Centre and Bertha’s Restaurant

Statue to Just Nuisance in Jubilee Square, Simon’s Town

In addition to using it as a base when we are on tour the Simon’s Town Quayside Hotel is also one of the destinations for which DeWetsWild offers a reservation service – don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you’d like to stay at this gem of a place!

DeWetsWild’s Portfolio grows again!

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DeWetsWild’s portfolio of destinations for which we render a reservation service has expanded again to 307 points on the map, with the following 24 new properties in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia now included:

In South Africa:

26º South Hotel in Muldersdrift.
African Rock Hotel & Spa in Kempton Park, Gauteng – conveniently close to the OR Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport.
Beacon House, Knysna.
Impodimo Game Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve.
Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Buffalo Camp, Kapama Southern Camp, Kapama Karula and Kruger Homestead, all in the Kapama Private Game Reserve.
Khaya Ndlovu Safari Manor, in the Rietspruit Game Reserve near Hoedspruit.
Kubu Bush Lodge & Kubu Safari Lodge, near Hoedspruit in the Lowveld.
Kruger Untamed Tshokwane River Camp in the Kruger National Park.
Kruger Untamed Satara Plains Camp in the Kruger National Park.
Mjejane River Lodge in Mjejane Game Reserve.
Tangala Safari Camp in the Thornybush Game Reserve.

In Botswana:

Chobe Marina Lodge in Kasane
Elephant Sands Lodge near Nata
Elephant Valley Lodge near Kasane
Kadizora Camp in the Okavango Delta
Saguni Safari Lodge in the Okavango Delta
Senyati Safari Camp near Kasane

In Mozambique:

Villa Robal at Machangulo Point on Maputo Bay

In Zambia:

The David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa at the Victoria Falls

Touring Kruger Park – 12 October 2024

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We spent most of today searching for wildlife along the few pools spread along the mostly dry Shingwedzi River to the southeast of camp, and the sightings were thrilling!