Tag Archives: nature

Snaps on Tour: Spotted Princes and Princesses

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.

Now, you never can guarantee that you’ll see a Leopard; they’re just such experts at camouflage that they can disappear in plain sight. We were therefore all very excited at our first leopard sighting of the trip, in the early afternoon on the main road between Letaba and Satara, though she was certainly difficult to see!

Just look how well this leopard hides in the long grass underneath the thorn bush

Our next leopard sighting was brief but thrilling – we saw a brute of a male strangling an impala he had just caught and then seconds later he pulled the still kicking antelope underneath the dark bush where we could only see glimpses of movement afterwards.

Leopard killing an impala

Another memorable leopard encounter on this trip was that of a female and two well-grown cubs who had their fresh kill stolen by a crocodile, who dragged it back into the Sabie River. All these predators also almost caused a nervous breakdown in a vervet monkey that was anxiously trying to hide in a tree stump whilst making alarm calls. The despondent cats gave us some good views later that afternoon where they lay on the ground and draped over a branch.

Vervet Monkey calling in alarm

Leopard cubs

Leopard cub

Female leopard lying on a branch

Female leopard lying on a branch – just look at the camouflage!

We drove straight past this leopard and all that gave him away was the terrible smell. Just as well that he slinked off to the river, hopefully to wash the blood off his body so that his aroma won’t scare away his next meal!

Leopard disappearing into the thick bush along the Sabie River

Here’s another leopard lying so still and beautifully blended in with its branch overlooking the Sand River that it was almost impossible to see!

Just look how well this leopard blends into its surroundings!

Up north at Shingwedzi we came across this leopard using a gully to stalk a mixed herd of waterbuck and impala grazing in the dry bed of the Shingwedzi River. Eventually though he was thwarted when he was seen by one of the sharp-eyed antelope.

Leopard stalking next to the Shingwedzi River

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: It’s the Lion they’ve come to see

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Seeing Lions in the wild remains a highlight for anyone on safari, whether it is your first trip or your 100th. I knew that combining Satara and Skukuza on our 6-night trip to Kruger with the Steiners and Broesders would give us an excellent chance of encountering the big cats, and it was wonderful to see our first pride while we were still on our way from the airport at Skukuza to Satara, having just passed Tshokwane on our way northwards.

Lionesses just north of Tshokwane

Next morning, we encountered the males ruling the surroundings of Satara just after we left the camp. The white lion who is part of this four member coalition was also there but we couldn’t make out much more of him than a twitchy ear where he was lying hidden behind a thorn bush.

Male lion just outside Satara

We were still on our way to Tshokwane, where we were planning on having brunch, when we found a trio of lionesses giving up their spot in the shade to try and hunt a nyala bull, without success.

Three lioness hiding in the shade – can you see all three?

Trying to hunt a nyala bull

On the afternoon of our arrival at Skukuza, and after taking a quick detour to collect Hannes’ vehicle from the Skukuza airport where a fire was raging, Irving got a report of a leopard on a kill at De La Porte Waterhole just a few kilometres to the south of camp. When we got there however the leopard had been chased off its prey by a lioness and hyena, who by this time was having a stare-off at the waterhole. A second lioness appeared and the two then headed to a nearby koppie, crossing the road very near to our vehicle.

Hyena eyeing a lioness at a waterhole

Spotted Hyena turning tail

Lioness looking up from her drink

Lioness on the move

Second lioness getting up from her hiding spot

Lioness on the move

Late one morning as we were heading back towards Skukuza along the Sabie River, after having brunch at Nkuhlu, we came across a pride of lions with two sets of cubs born a month or two apart. While the females made an unsuccessful attempt at hunting kudus and impalas right next to the road the cubs came following from behind, trying as desperately as their little legs allowed to keep up with their mothers.

lazy here, these lions attempted a hunt just a few minutes later

Lioness on the move, looking for something to hunt

Lioness locked on her target

Tiny Lion cub

Tiny Lion cubs

Lioness and older cub

Lioness

We found the pride still in the same general area later that afternoon, though now a lot less active.

Pride of lions in the bed of the Sabie River

Taking our guests to the Skukuza airport for their flight back to Johannesburg and ultimately Europe for the next leg of their journey offered one last glimpse of lions just 3km from camp, though we couldn’t stay long for fear of being boxed in by the number of vehicles building up at the sighting.

Glimpse of a lioness lying on the bank of the Sabie River

Up at Shingwedzi there was only a couple of pools of water remaining in the Shingwedzi River at the end of the dry season, and the lions were making good use of this fact to wait for their prey to come to them. Sometimes they were lying out in the open and other times they were hiding in ditches or behind clumps of vegetation, but almost inevitably some time spent scanning the surroundings of the pool would eventually reveal the tawny bodies lying in wait.

Lionesses at the Tinyarhini Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

Lioness at the Tinyarhini Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

Well hidden Lionesses at the Dipeni Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

Lionesses at the Dipeni Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

DeWetsWild adds many more destinations in Namibia!

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Following overwhelming requests from our loyal clientele, DeWetsWild is proud to announce that we’ve expanded our portfolio in Namibia considerably, and we now provide a reservation service for 26 destinations in, around and on the way to Namibia’s fabulous national parks and nature reserves!

In the /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park:
/Ai-/Ais Hotsprings and Spa
Boplaas Campsite
Hobas Lodge
(We can also assist with reservations at camps on the South African side of the Park)

In the Dorob National Park:
Jakkalsputz Campsite
Mile 72
Mile 108

In the Etosha National Park:
Dolomite Resort
Halali Resort
Namutoni Resort
Okaukuejo Resort
Olifantsrus Campsite
Onkoshi Resort

Hardap National Park

In the picturesque town of Luderitz:
Shark Island

In the Namib-Naukluft National Park:
Naukluft Camp
Sesriem Campsite
Sossus Dune Lodge

Popa Falls Game Park

In the Skeleton Coast National Park:
Terrace Bay Resort
Torra Bay Campsite

In historic Swakopmund:
Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre

Waterberg Plateau Park

In the capital city Windhoek:
Windhoek Country Club Resort

Off the beaten track in Namibia:
Duwisib Castle
Gross Barmen Resort
Khorixas Rest Camp

You are welcome to email us on dries@dewetswild.com with your request or alternatively complete the following form if you would like DeWetsWild to take care of your next holiday reservation at any of these properties in Namibia (the more detail you provide us, the better service we can provide to you):

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Name & Surname

Please give us the email address we should use for correspondence related to this reservation only.

Please tell us which destinations you'd want to stay at?

Please tell us which kinds of accommodation you prefer (camping, budget units with communal facilities, fully self-contained units, multi-room family units, etc)

Please tell us how many adults and children the required reservation is for (and please provide the ages of the children at the time of the visit)

Please tell us the dates of your intended visit, and please be as specific as possible about your first night, last night and number of nights you're hoping for at the destination, etc.

Any other information you'd want us to be aware of? Give us as much information as possible so that we can provide you with the best possible service.

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

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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.

Snaps on Tour: Lowveld Scenery in the Kruger National Park

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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: The Loneliest Elephant

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Still on the subject of elephants. Travelling between Letaba and Satara one early afternoon we came across a most harrowing sight of a lone young elephant, emaciated and totally oblivious to his surroundings and most certainly too small to have been expelled from the herd, walking along an elephant footpath towards – well, what? There was no elephant herd anywhere nearby and we could only guess as to why he was so terribly alone, and obviously has been for quite a while, and where he might be headed. Nature can be cruel at times and watching her take her course is not always easy, but in national parks like the Kruger that is exactly what has to happen. There can only be human intervention if the problem was caused by human interference to begin with and in this case there was no reason to suspect that this was the case.

Young elephant totally alone in the wilderness

Luckily we had many other wonderful encounters with elephants during our visit where we could watch their endearing familiar relations and interactions within the herd.

African Elephant

Young elephant

African Elephant

Baby Elephant

African Elephant

Baby elephant

Big old elephant bull between Satara and Olifants in the Kruger National Park

African Elephant

Baby elephant

Elephant

Elephant calf

Elephant Tusker

Tiny baby elephant

Elephant cow walking past Shingwedzi Camp’s entrance

Snaps on Tour: A Stingy Elephant

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Last month, while following the course of the Mphongolo River north of Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park on our morning drive, we came across this amusing scene at the Mavatsani waterhole, just south of the turnoff to Sirheni Bushveld Camp. The day was already quite hot and a herd of elephants, a couple of buffaloes, some baboons, nyalas and warthogs were milling around the muddy water. An elephant cow claimed a hole from which clear water was seeping but had her hands – or is that head, trunk and front leg? – full with a youngster trying to muscle his way in on her treasure. The calf protested with loud screams when she tried to shove him away but he did not give an inch and, her gentle nature obviously winning over her frustration, the cow eventually let him through to quench his thirst from her well.

Mavatsani Waterhole between Sirheni and Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park

Elephant cow bullying a youngster at the waterhole

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: At the top of Table Mountain

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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 Broesder and her husband Gary on a tour of Cape Town and the Kruger National Park.

The iconic Table Mountain looms large over the city of Cape Town, rising to over 1km (more than 3,500ft) above sea level. Millions of people from all over the world visit the mountain annually, traversing it along the well planned network of pathways (always hike in groups!) or using the aerial cableway to get to the flat topped buttress in cable cars with rotating floors, which is the option we went with for our afternoon visit. While we were fortunate that the mountain was not covered in a table cloth of clouds the weather turned rather sour while we were waiting to ascend and it was rather chilly and windy when we got to the top, curtailing our exploration somewhat.