wildlife, Kruger National Park

Favorite thing: Sometimes the slightest hint could be the big find. If you look on this picture carefully - this is how I discovered a leopard - just by its tale hanging from the tree. Other cars looked at it and drove on - just to miss a spectacular sighting of a leopard feeding of an impala in the tree - given a few minutes later when the animal came fully into sight.
So if in doubt - stop and watch for a few moments - you never know what might appear!!!

Favorite thing: Some people dislike Kruger because vehicles are required to stay on roads -- not permitted to chase and stalk the animals across the fields.

I admire Kruger for that reason. Elsewhere in South Africa -- and in Kenya and Tanzania -- the animals are pursued by jeeps and vans; and if the driver spots a cluster of vehicles or a flight of vultures, you soon join tens or scores of other tourists surrounding a kill or a group of creatures.

In Kruger you don't; but that doesn't mean you miss the action. In two weeks in Kenya I did not see a single lion kill; in three days in Kruger I saw two. It seems lions have learned that gasoline fumes mask their scent; roadside is therefore a good place to lay in wait for prey.

Overall, I saw more game -- from elephants to baboons -- in Kruger than in East Africa.

Favorite thing: the speed limit must be adhere to they even have speed traps on the roads in the park most often just before closing time of the gate then the people are scared that they dont make it in time and get caught with a hefty fine .......................

Favorite thing: What I loved about Kruger National Park was that everywhere you look there is something beautiful! Whether it wildlife, the landscape or the wildflowers. It was hard to take a bad photograph there!

Fondest memory: My fondest memory is of just driving along with my new husband, not knowing what's around the corner, but knowing that it would be incredible!

Favorite thing: I loved the fact that we were seeing animals in the wild! But remember that the park is huge and it is definitely not a zoo, so you will have to be patient and explore to find the animals you want to see.

At every campsite, there will be a map posting where other people have last seen certain animals. This will help you start in the right direction. Also, be sure to post at the camp when you see some of the harder to find animals. And don't be disappointed if you don't see certain animals. You will see many, but probably not all the ones found in the park. We didn't see any rhinos or cheetahs, but saw lions, elephants, hippos, warthogs, monkeys, hyenas, and numerous other animals ... lots in the deer family.

Plan to spend as much time in the park as possible... we were there 2 days and probably saw less than half of the park. Also, be sure you have a camera with a good zoom lens. My zoom wasn't great on my camera, but was good on my video camera, so I was able to get some close-ups on video that I didn't get to take pictures of.

Fondest memory: I think my fondest memory is of the very first giraffe I saw... we were driving along looking for animals and scanning the trees and all of a sudden I caught a glimpse of a giraffe pretty close to the road, but kind of hidden in the trees. I think I got a bit excited and made my friend back up while I took a picture and video-ed for awhile. I'm sure he was amused because he had been there before and later we saw lots of giraffes. The zebras liked to hang out with the giraffes because the giraffes rarely get attacked by lions. Lions would only attempt to attack a giraffe while it is kneeled down drinking water, as that is when it is vulnerable because it takes it awhile to get back up to a standing position. Here is a zebra that was standing right next to the road posing for me. :)

Favorite thing: On our final morning in Kruger, we had left Mopani Camp by 7 AM as we had a relatively long drive to the south, hoping to reach the Nelspruit area before dark. About a half-hour later, we noticed vultures circling and decided to slow down a bit just in case some action had taken place overnight. Three minutes later, we spotted some White-Backed Vultures in a tree so we figured that we might be onto something. Less than a minute later, we came to a stop as we spotted a lioness sitting at the side of the road. After observing us for a while, she walked out onto the highway, then paused to look at us, before she continued across the highway as you see in the photo. It took her a full minute to make the crossing from when we first spotted her. No trouble telling who was in charge! Notice that I am correctly on the LEFT side of the road as the rules dictate!

Favorite thing: There are not many rhinos in the Kruger National Park (South Africa), so anyone with a particular interest in seeing them, should perhaps rather visit the Umfolozi Game Reserve in Natal (South Africa) where they have succeeded in breeding this endangered species. Rhinos also occur in the Augrabies Falls National Park (South Africa), in the Addo Elephant Park (Eastern Cape, South Africa), the Pretorius Game Reserve (Free State, South Africa) and in the Etosha National Park (Namibia).

Favorite thing: You really need a 300mm zoom lens to capture some great pictures! I took a 120mm handheld, but the zoom was'nt good enough to get the great shots I wanted. Luckily Neil 'The Bearded Heron' let me use his 300mm SLR camera and I got great pics like the one attached! Bring a quicker film speed for low light experiences, ie at dusk/dawn!

Bring binoculrs too for birds and animals deep in the bush! Again my guide Neil had all thses at hand!