Tag Archives: Tshokwane

Satara Summer 2021 – Vervets versus Dikkoppe

Mazithi Dam is a man-made watering hole 10km north of Tshokwane Picnic Site in the Kruger National Park. It is a magnet for wildlife and there is always something of interest to see there. When we arrived at Mazithi around 2pm on the 19th of December, a troop of Vervet Monkeys had just raided the nest of a pair of Water Dikkoppe, aka Water Thick-knees. The birds and primates were in a tense standoff at the water’s edge with the monkeys mostly having the upper hand, although the birds put up a very brave show.

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam. In the top right-hand corner of this image you can see some of the troop snacking on the Dikkop eggs.

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam. This monkey is licking remains from an eggshell.

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)

Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam

Satara Summer 2021 – 22 December

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Today we spent exploring the Tshokwane area to the south of Satara, in the Kruger National Park. Tshokwane itself is a busy picnic spot with a small shop and restaurant where people love to stretch their legs while travelling through the Park and birdlife become accustomed to have camera-toting tourists following them around, while any and all the roads and drives around Tshokwane is sure to deliver something wonderful to see.

Young kudu crossing the road

Enormous tusker

Lions on the S37 near Tshokwane (photo by Joubert)

Spiteful elephant!

Elephant tussle (photo by Joubert)

Spotted Hyenas bathing at Vutomi

African Mourning Dove (photo by Joubert)

Male Knob-billed Duck strutting his stuff

Satara Summer – Day 13 (2019/12/17)

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A long but beautiful day out exploring the Kruger National Park today; we were the third car out the gate at 04:30 this morning as we headed for Nwanetsi Picnic Site for breakfast. From there southwards to Orpen Dam and Tshokwane (where we had lunch), then south to Leeupan, northwest to Nhlanguleni Picnic Site and finally along the S36, S126 and H1-3 back to Satara for and early dinner in order to take part in the guided night drive from 20:00 to 22:00. This gallery shows just a smidgen of everything we experienced on the day; highlights including a sizable herd of Sable antelope, two Kudu bulls in a serious tussle, one of the biggest elephant herds we’ve ever come across in Kruger and a pride of 5 lionesses with around a dozen cubs.

African Wild Cat

Black Crakes at the Sweni River

White-faced Ducks

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Black-backed Jackal

Orpen Dam

Giant Plated Lizards

White-headed Vulture

Wood Sandpiper at Leeupan

African Jacana at Leeupan

Floppy-eared Impala lamb

Saddle-billed Stork

Marabou Stork

Leopard Tortoise

Sable Antelope on the S36 between Tshokwane and Talamati

Kudu bulls fighting

Giraffe

Two very intimidating Buffalo bulls

Woodland Kingfisher

Elephant bull

Elephant cow and calf

Waterbuck cow

Epauletted Fruit Bat

Lion cubs

Barn Owl

Small-spotted Genet

Satara Summer – Day 4 (2019/12/08)

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A soggy day in the Satara area today, but still the Kruger National Park dished up the magic – from terrapins and frogs on the wet roads to different birds feasting on them and emerging termites, to every member of the famed Big Five!

Marsh Terrapin on the wet tar road

Banded Rubber Frog on the wet tar road

Ornate Frog on the wet tar road

Very wet Wahlberg’s Eagle!

Marabou catching frogs

Ground Hornbill feasting on termites

African Green Pigeon

White Rhinoceros

Impala watching a stalking lioness

Buffalo cow

Leopard in a tree

Elephant

Crocodile Bridge was calling

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The September school holidays presented the perfect opportunity to visit the Kruger National Park again, this time basing ourselves with family and friends in the south-eastern corner of the Park at Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp.

Camping at Crocodile Bridge, Kruger National Park, September 2019

Crocodile Bridge is located in one of the Kruger’s most game-rich areas, and even inside the camp there’s an abundance of wildlife that I found quite distracting from camping chores… From blossoms to butterflies and birds, bats to bushbuck, all placed themselves in the cross hairs of our camera lenses, and when we were quite certain we got enough shots of them we could peer just over the fence (or through it, in Joubert’s case) towards the Crocodile River flowing in front of the camp for even more subjects.

Banded Mongooses doing their early morning rounds Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Black-crowned Tchagra

Blue Waxbill

Bronze Mannikins picking seeds from the lawns in Crocodile Bridge

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Burchell’s Starling

Bushbuck ewe at rest in Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Common Bush Brown (dry season form)

Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epauletted Fruit Bats in Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Turner’s Thick-toed Gecko in Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Female Greater Honeyguide

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Pod of hippos seen in the river from Crocodile Bridge

Laughing Dove

Male Lesser Masked Weaver

Rock Monitor

Orange-breasted Bush Shrike

African Paradise Flycatcher

Female Pin-tailed Whydah

Rainbow Skink

Female Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Harvester Termites

Tree Wisteria blossoms and pods

White-crowned Shrike

Wild Mango blossoms

Bushbuck ewe in Crocodile Bridge

Vervet Monkey looking for mischief in Crocodile Bridge’s camping area

Despite being right at the southern border of the Kruger Park, Crocodile Bridge offers a multitude of drives to choose from when heading into the Park. Heading in a northerly direction towards Lower Sabie is a selection of different routes making for comfortable excursions and providing great sightings along the way. Whether you choose the main H4-2 road or one of the gravel S28, S130 or S82 routes, you are bound to arrive at Lower Sabie excited with what you’ve seen. You can then return to Crocodile Bridge along an entirely different option, getting a glimpse at different habitats and having all new wildlife encounters to boast about too!

Bateleur

Bushbuck lamb on the banks of the Vurhami Spruit

Rattling Cisticola

Crowned Lapwing chick

Elephant cow

Elephant cow and tiny calf

African Fish Eagle

Golden-breasted Bunting

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Grey Duiker and Vervet Monkey

Impala ram in the long grass of the Lebombo plains, along the S28 between Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie

Black-bellied Bustard

Kori Bustard

Lilac-breasted Roller

Magpie Shrike

Natal Spurfowl drinking from a puddle on the road, following an earl morning rain shower

Herd of Plains Zebra on the move

Red-billed Oxpeckers

Crocodile Bridge sunset

Preserved leadwood stump in the middle of the S130 road

Crocodile Bridge sunset

Crocodile Bridge sunrise

A view towards the mountains of Malelane on a clear evening

Spotted Hyena on the run

Steenbok ewe

Swainson’s Spurfowl

Warthog

Waterbuck youngsters

Whether you stop in Lower Sabie for a simple body break, an ice cream from the shop or a meal at the Mugg & Bean restaurant overlooking the river, don’t miss the chance to stretch your legs with a walk on the lawns along the river in front of the bungalows. From the deep shade of enormous trees you can gaze over the river, perhaps being lucky like we were to see a pair of lions hunting right there, and revel in the songs of a multitude of birds flitting about the branches above you.

Black-collared Barbets

Brown-headed Parrot

Bushbuck ram

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Green-backed Camaroptera

African Green Pigeon in a Jackalberry

Lesser Striped Swallow

Sausage-Tree bloom

White-bellied Sunbird (male) on a Wild Mango blossom

White-fronted Bee-eater

White-throated Robin-Chat

Toad Tree pods

Quite literally a stone’s throw north of Lower Sabie is the Sunset Dam, one of two wonderful wildlife magnets no visitor to this part of the Kruger Park should miss out on. There’s a constant stream of wildlife coming and going at Sunset Dam at anytime of day, and the resident crocodiles and hippos (including these boisterous buddies) are easily among the most habituated of their kind anywhere in Africa, making for excellent photographic opportunities.

Nile Crocodile

Grey Heron using a hippo as a fishing island at Sunset Dam

Pod of Hippos in Sunset Dam

African Pied Wagtail

Sunset Dam

Yellow-billed Stork

Just on the other side of Lower Sabie, the causeway over the Sabie River is another highlight. Here too there’s always crocodiles (like this one having fun in a cascade), hippos, terrapins and all manner of wading birds in attendance, often accompanied by elephants, buffaloes, antelope, baboon and giraffe, while the elevated vantage point provided by the bridge offers excellent views into the clear water of the Sabie below.

Nile Crocodile

Goliath Heron

Great White Egret

Grey Heron

Hippopotamus in the rapids below the causeway

African Jacana

African Spoonbill

Squacco Heron

Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Beautiful male Mozambique Tilapia (non-breeding) in the Sabie River

White-crowned Lapwing

Because there was so much to see around Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie, we didn’t really feel the need to venture farther, and only took two extended drives to other parts of the Park. One of those excursions was to Skukuza, roughly a four hour drive from Crocodile Bridge along the most direct route past Mpondo Dam. After spending the midday hours at Skukuza’s nursery and a delicious buffalo pie at the golf club, we headed back to Crocodile Bridge via Lower Sabie again.

Crested Barbet

Crested Francolin (photo by Joubert)

Crested Francolins

Dwarf Mongoose

Egyptian Goose gosling on the banks of Mpondo Dam

Young Giraffe

Magnificent Kudu bull

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Tree Squirrel

Vervet Monkey

Baboon youngster

White-backed Vulture at its nest

Powerful Buffalo Bulls

Crocodile Bridge sunset

We only wandered north of the Sabie River once, putting a full day aside to traverse the routes between Lower Sabie and Tshokwane Picnic Spot – where we had to contend with a dusty, blustery wind of note while trying our best to enjoy our picnic lunch! Our rewards for sticking to the planned route despite the deprivations of sand and dust on our ham-and-cheese sandwiches was the little leopard cub and flashy hornbill we showed you a few days ago, so you’ll hear no complaints from us!

Blue Wildebeest

Buffalo herd on the plains north of the Sabie

Elephant cow

Klipspringer ram at Mlondozi Picnic Site

Klipspringer ewe at Mlondozi Picnic Site

Little Bee-eater

Martial Eagle with its Scrub Hare prey

Nyala calf

Dust Storm at the Nwaswitsontso

Sycomore Fig on the banks of the Nwatindlopfu

Sad as it was to return to Pretoria at the end of a fantastic week, we could at least console ourselves with the knowledge that the December holidays aren’t that far way… Guess where we plan to be heading?

First time ever!

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I have been visiting South Africa’s wild places for all my 40+ years, and yet there’s still many of their treasures I am yet to see. Following our September visit to the Kruger National Park I can now finally tick my first ever encounter with a leopard cub! We found the little one lazily watching the passing vehicles from a rocky outcrop along the main road between Tshokwane and Skukuza.

What luck!

Leopard cub (photo by Joubert)

Leopard cub in a rocky outcrop between Tshokwane and Skukuza

Lower Sabie Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

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Lower Sabie must be the most popular destination in the Kruger National Park. It is exceedingly hard to get a booking here if you don’t book a year in advance. In peak season, even just finding parking to visit the shop or restaurant can be a challenge, as visitors from all over the the southern sections of the Park flock to the camp. The camp’s location on the banks of the Sabie River, in an area of exceptionally high-quality grazing in the south-eastern corner of the Park, ensures that its surrounds is frequented by an astounding variety and number of herbivores and their attending predators, making for game-viewing heaven!

The Sabie River got its name from the Shangaan word “saba” meaning fear, probably due to the large number of enormous crocodiles that call the river home. The dam in front of the camp came about after the causeway across the river was built in 1987 (it had to be rebuilt higher after the floods in February 2000).

The first tourist accommodation at Lower Sabie was a 5-bedroom house converted from ranger Tom Duke’s quarters in 1930, but this was demolished again just two years later after becoming dilapidated. The only access to Lower Sabie was via Gomondwane from Crocodile Bridge until the road from Skukuza reached it in 1931. The next attempt at providing guest accommodation at Lower Sabie then commenced in 1936, when three buildings, built in a u-shape and each housing six bedrooms, were erected – these units are still used as accommodation to this day, but has been extensively renovated since. Over the years, more accommodation and a camping site was added to the camp, leading up to an extensive project to revamp and enlarge Lower Sabie in the early 2000’s. Today the camp provides overnight accommodation in 117 huts, bungalows, cottages and safari tents and has space for 34 caravans and tents in its camping area. Lower Sabie’s restaurant (Mugg & Bean), with its deck overlooking the Sabie River, is especially popular. The camp has a well stocked shop for groceries and curios, a fuel station, swimming pool for overnight guests and a day visitors picnic area near the gate. Along the river, in front of the bungalows south of the restaurant, lush lawns and deep shade provided by enormous trees is just the place to spend a lazy afternoon, surrounded by Lower Sabie’s prolific birdlife.

Lower Sabie’s restaurant sen from across the river

The deck at Lower Sabie’s restaurant

Lower Sabie restaurant

Lower Sabie shop

Lower Sabie swimming pool

Lower Sabie picnic area

Lower Sabie cottage 93, December 2015

Lower Sabie bungalows

Lower Sabie bungalows and gardens

Lower Sabie Tent 26, July 2015

Lower Sabie safari tents

Lower Sabie huts

Lower Sabie camping area

Beauty in Lower Sabie

Well camouflaged agama

Cape Glossy Starling

Arrow-marked Babbler

Southern Masked Weaver

Spectacled Weaver

Blue waxbill

White-Browed Robin-Chat

Grey Go-away-bird hiding from the heat in a shady Lower Sabie tree

Elephants and impalas mingle on the bank of the Sabie

Crossing the Sabie

Elephant passing right in front of our cottage

Elephant next to the fence

A family of Greater Greater Cane-rat

Night time view from our tent’s deck

We can certainly recommend joining at least one of the guided activities on offer from Lower Sabie, as excellent sightings are almost guaranteed.

All aboard!

Night drive scorpion

The guides are expert at seeing chameleons in the spotlight

African wildcat seen on a night drive from Lower Sabie

Verreaux’s Eagle Owl

Sunset Dam is a brilliant spot just a kilometer from Lower Sabie, and as its name suggests is very popular with visitors whiling away the last minutes before they have to get back to camp in the evening. You can park your vehicle right on the water’s edge, allowing excellent photographic opportunities of hippos, crocodiles, wading birds and herds of game coming to quench their thirst.

Sunset Dam, in daylight

Hippo returning to the water

Yaaaawwwwwnnnnn!

Common sandpiper at Sunset Dam

Yellow-billed Stork at Sunset Dam

Guineafowl hoping for a morsel – don’t be tempted!

Wood sandpiper at Sunset Dam

This crocodile may seem fast asleep, but if anything ventures into the water he’ll be quick to react.

Lurking crocodile

Sunset Dam, at sunset…

Heading north from Lower Sabie along the H10 tarred route to Tshokwane, you’ll encounter the first highlight of this route just minutes after leaving camp. The causeway across the Sabie River is a favourite spot for many visitors, who flock here to enjoy glorious sunsets and an abundance of game and bird species attracted to the water. The plains between Lower Sabie and Tshokwane is home to incredible herds of zebra and wildebeest at the end of winter, and is also an excellent place to look for reedbuck, one of the rarer antelope that occurs in Kruger. Of course, with so many herbivores roaming around it stands to reason that the predators are not far behind. If you, like us, enjoy your game viewing with as little other traffic as possible, try the gravel S29, S122 and S128 loops that turn off the main road as alternatives to explore this area. Two other beautiful places not to be missed is Mlondozi Picnic Spot, overlooking a large dam from Muntshe mountain, and Nkumbe Viewpoint, which offers an exceptional view over the open plains of Kruger.

H10 Causeway at Lower Sabie

Making waves!

Tigerfish in the Sabie River

Giant Kingfisher hunting from the bridge

Green-backed heron

White-crowned Lapwing on the bridge

Warthogs drinking from the Sabie

Hippo jaw on a Sabie sandbank

Lion love at Lower Sabie

Warthog

Reedbuck are often seen between Lower Sabie and Tshokwane

Muntshe mountain seen from the north

Hyena on the S29 to Mlondozii

Elephant bull with Muntshe in the background

Mlondozi picnic spot

Zebra crossing a very wet road

Giraffe under heavy skies

African Rock Python just north of Muntshe Mountain

Black-bellied Bustard

Plains zebra

Pearl-spotted Owlet at Mlondozi

Giraffe, with Nkumbe in th background

Klipspringer ewe enjoying the drizzle

Klipspringer ram on Nkumbe

Wet waterbuck

Nkumbe viewpoint

Herd of wildebeest far below Nkumbe viewpoint

Waterbuck at the Mapilini stream just north of Nkumbe

Lower Sabie sunset

The tarred H4-2 Gomondwane Road leading south to Crocodile Bridge is another very productive route for game viewing, though we personally prefer taking the gravel loops running roughly parallel to the main road (S28 Nhlowa Road, S82 Mativuhlungu Loop, S130 Gomondwane Loop and S137 past Duke’s waterhole) as these carry a little less vehicle traffic.

Lower Sabie sunrise

Scrub hares are often seen in the early morning

Kudu crossing the road

Passing close-by!

Leopard tortoise feeding on fresh shoots next to the road

African Green Pigeon

Plains zebra are plentiful along the roads south of Lower Sabie

Kori bustard, one of the biggest flying birds on earth

Impalas are a regular sight around these parts

Side-striped Jackal

Spotted hyena mother

Excited young elephant

White rhinoceros

Landmark on the S130

Swainson’s Spurfowl

Warthog cooling off in the midday heat

Fight for dominance

Crested Francolin chick

Blue wildebeest

The H4-1 road between Lower Sabie and Skukuza carries more traffic than any other road in Kruger, and not without reason. There’s an excellent chance of seeing all the “big 5” game animals and so much more along this route, which follows the course of the Sabie River, on just one drive. The vegetation along the portion of this road nearer Lower Sabie is much more open than the stretch between Nkuhlu and Skukuza, making for even better game viewing. Keep your eyes open for lions and leopards at the rocks at the Lubyelubye stream crossing about 5km from Lower Sabie, as this is one of their most reliable haunts. Also, don’t miss the short S79 gravel loop that crosses the Nwatimhiri causeway, which is another favourite spot for feline predators. Nkuhlu Picnic Spot is a great place to get out, stretch the legs and have a bite to eat (though beware the monkeys and baboons that hang around here, as they will attempt to steal your picnic if they get even the slightest chance!). The gravel S30 Salitje Road along the northern bank of the river is a wonderful alternative route back to Lower Sabie.

Elephants on the move in the Sabie

Leopard lying in the bed of the Nwatimhiri near Skukuza in the Kruger Park

Buffalo crossing the H4-1

Nkuhlu Picnic Site

Arrow-marked babbler at Nkuhlu

Water Monitor at Nkuhlu

Saddle-billed Stork fishing at Nkuhlu

Elephant cow and calf

Common Duiker ewe

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Baboon

Kudu bull

Lion greeting near Lubyelubye

Rocks at Lubyelubye

If all these photos did not convince you, allow us to reiterate: Lower Sabie IS game-viewing heaven! Remember to book early if you also want to enjoy all it has to offer.

Satara Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

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Satara is unique among the Kruger National Park‘s camps. It is not situated on a serene river bank or atop a hill commanding views over the wilderness. Instead, it is located seemingly in the middle of a vast plain of flat grasslands and thornveld as far as the eye can see, inhabited by thousands of grazing animals and of course the predators that follow them. And that’s exactly the reason for Satara’s popularity; it probably has the highest density of large African predators in the entire Kruger.

Satara is a misspelling of the Hindi word “satrah”, meaning seventeen, and so named by a land surveyor and his Indian assistant measuring up this piece of the lowveld for farmland in the late 1800’s. Colonel James Stevenson-Hamilton appointed Tim Healy as the first ranger to the post at Satara in 1910, and he was followed by ranger W. Lloyd, who met an untimely death due to pneumonia and was buried by his wife and a servant in a coffin made from ceiling planks, just outside the present perimeter of the camp. By 1929, 3 years after the Kruger National Park was proclaimed, the first twelve huts at Satara were made available to overnight visitors, and by 1974, with the threat of malaria and soggy roads in the rainy season adequately under control, visitors could enjoy Satara all year round (instead of just during winter).

Today, Satara is the second biggest, and by far one of the most popular, rest camp in the Kruger National Park, offering a variety of accommodation and camping options to overnight guests, serviced by a restaurant, shop and filling station. Satara has a large amphitheatre where wildlife filmshows are presented in the evenings, and in the projector room is an interesting display about the camp and the Park’s wildlife. The camp also has a large swimming pool and play area for those hot summer days, and guests can join a variety of guided activities like walks and drives. Inside the camp a rich variety of smaller animals and birds are quite at home; Satara’s famous for its owls, badgers and wild cats.

Caracal statue

Satara bungalows

Satara cottage

Satara camping

Satara Restaurant

Satara shop

Satara swimming pool

Satara Picnic Area

Satara film amphitheatre

Satara film show

Satara Guided Night Drive

Satara Night Drive Chameleon

Satara Night Drive Lion

Common Mole Rat

African Scops Owl

African Wild Cat in Satara

Grey Go-away-bird

Mention Satara, and anyone who has ever been there will likely immediately think about the S100; a gravel road leading to Nwanetsi Picnic Spot and the most popular drive in the Satara area. The S90, S100, S41 and H6 roads explore the game-rich area to the east of Satara and seldom disappoints. Nwanetsi has a cliff-top viewpoint overlooking a peaceful stretch of water, while the Sweni Hide nearby is probably the better option for serious photographers.

Baboon near Satara

Cheetah, S41, Kruger National Park

Crocodile, S41

Giraffes, S41 (Kruger)

Ground hornbill, S100

Gudzani Dam

Hippos, S41

Hyena Queen (H6, Kruger National Park)

Impala, S100

Nwanetsi

Scenery, S41

Sweni Hide

Waterbuck, S41

Waterbuck, S100, Kruger National Park

Zebra, S100

The most direct access to Satara is through Orpen Gate, about 50km to the west along the tarred H7-route. This road offers excellent opportunities for seeing the “Big 5“, especially near Nsemani Dam, or along the short detour to Girivana waterhole. In fact, we often end our time at Satara by spending our final afternoon at Girivana, enjoying the procession of animals and birds coming to slake their thirst in the golden light of the setting sun.

Elephant, Girivana

Elephant, H7

Elephant, Nsemani

Giraffe, Girivana (Kruger)

Girivana

Lioness, H7

Lions, Nsemani

Satara sunrise

Warthog, Nsemani

Waterbuck, Nsemani

Zebra, Girivana

Two long but very rewarding gravel roads turn of the H7 about 20km from Satara: Turn north and you’ll be following the S39-road to the popular Timbavati picnic spot and Ratelpan Hide (and onwards to the Olifants River if you wish), or turn south and follow the S36-road towards the rustic, and much quieter, Muzandzeni and Nhlanguleni picnic spots. Over the years, we’ve had excellent sightings on both roads though the road towards Timbavati probably offers slightly more frequent encounters with Kruger’s big game. Along both routes there’s also turnoffs that will get you back to Satara quicker, if you find yourself pressed for time, and that also provide good game viewing opportunities.

Elephant, Nwaswitsontso Loop

Leopard in a tree, S36 (Kruger Park)

Muzandzeni

Nhlanguleni

Zebra, Muzandzeni

Impala, S39

Ratelpan Hide, S39

Scenery, S39

Timbavati

The H1-3 road south to Tshokwane Picnic Spot, and the H1-4 northwards to the Olifants River, both passes several waterholes and often offers wonderful sightings of the big cats, especially in the early morning. It’s also worthwile taking a longer detour to the Lindanda Memorial, at the site where ranger Harry Wolhuter had his epic battle with a lion.

Buffalo, H1-3

Elephant, Kumana

Lindanda Memorial

Lion, Mazithi

Tshokwane

Verreaux’s Eagle Owl

Elephant, H1-4

Fleeing kudu, H1-4

Giraffe, H1-4 (Kruger)

Hyenas, Ngotso (Kruger Park)

Kudu, H1-4

Ostrich flock, Kruger Park (H1-4)

Lilac-breasted Roller, H1-4

Satara sunset, H1-4

Satara’s an excellent choice for those hoping to see Africa’s big predators in abundance, but it has so much more to offer and enjoy. Spend a couple of hours at Girivana, soaking in the peace and quiet of a golden African sunset, and you’re sure to agree.

Just another day in the Kruger…

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… as if there’s such a thing!

While touring the Lowveld in February, we concluded our trip with a stay at Swadini in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve – more on the time we spent there in an upcoming edition of de Wets Wild. Having first explored the Pafuri area in the far north of the Kruger National Park and then spending time at Letaba in the Park’s central region, we wanted to make one more day visit to the Park, and Swadini being only 70km from the Orpen Gate made that an easy undertaking.

Our route took us from Orpen Gate down to Muzandzeni Picnic Site for breakfast, past Nhlanguleni Picnic Site to Tshokwane Picnic Site where we had lunch, and back to Orpen via Satara Rest Camp. Despite it being an overcast day with regular downpours, we still managed great sightings, as evidenced by this little gallery of images we took on the day (you can click on any of the pictures for a better view).