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other wildlife, Kruger National Park
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other wildlife, Kruger National Park

other wildlife tips and photos posted by real travelers and Kruger National Park locals.
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other wildlife: Serval Cat
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  • Jim_Eliason
  • Updated By Jim_Eliason on April 29, 2004
  • Kruger National Park Page by Jim_Eliason
  • Serval Cat - Kruger National Park
    Serval Cat
    by Jim_Eliason
    We managed to catch a rare glimpse of the reclusive cat during an outing. They are about the size and shape of an american bobcat. Our guide claimed this was the first one he had sighted in 9 years. I apologize for the poor quality photo but it was the best I could get.

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    other wildlife: Giraffe Up Close
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  • Bwana_Brown
  • Updated By Bwana_Brown on February 7, 2004
  • Kruger National Park Page by Bwana_Brown
  • Giraffe - Kruger National Park
    Giraffe
    by Bwana_Brown
    Immediately upon entering Kruger at 12:30 PM, we were overwhelmed by the number and species of wild game that presented themselves for viewing! One of the first ones was this Giraffe - it was so close that I had to veer over to the 'wrong' side of the road to get a decent shot (although, in hindsight, it is not all that 'decent'). A summary of what we saw (thanks to the time recorded on our video camera):

    12:44 Impala feeding at the side of the road
    1:26 Giraffe feeding on trees
    1:55 Duikers and Elephants
    1:58 Hippos in a water pool
    2:11 Baboon on the road trying to stop cars
    2:19 Elephant walking down the road - traffic had to go at his pace
    2:27 Zebras at the side of the road, near Sabie River
    2:41 Zebra and Wildebeest grazing and crossing the road
    2:48 Giraffe crossing the road - had to stop

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  • Directions: Kruger National Park - close to Orpen Gate.
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    other wildlife: Hippos in the Sabie River
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  • Bwana_Brown
  • Updated By Bwana_Brown on February 8, 2004
  • Kruger National Park Page by Bwana_Brown
  • Lounging Hippos - Kruger National Park
    Lounging Hippos
    by Bwana_Brown
    Their camoflage is so good that they are actually difficult to distinguish from the surrounding rocks. Yes, those are partially submerged hippos in the center of the photo. We spotted these ones only an hour and a half after entering Kruger. The next day, on our way to Oliphants Camp, we had a really great look at another bunch of hippos, some of them came out onto land and it is amazing to listen to their grunting as it echoes along the river!!

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  • Directions: In the Sabie River of Kruger National Park, south of Satara Camp.
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    other wildlife: Hippos in Kruger
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  • Waxbag
  • Updated By Waxbag on December 3, 2004
  • Kruger National Park Page by Waxbag
  • Hippos at Crook's Corner - Kruger National Park
    Hippos at Crook's Corner
    by Waxbag
    There is an estimated 3000 hippos in Kruger. There are several good spots to see hippo in Kruger. The best spot is Sunset Dam near Lower Sabie rest camp because there is a large herd there and you can get close to water to view them. They hang out right with the large crocodiles. One big happy family! Another good spot to see hippos is at the Nhlanganzwane Dam on the S107 off of S28 south of Lower Sabie restcamp. Orpen Dam near Tshokwane picnic site between Lower Sabie and Satara is also good. I would also recomend Nsemani Dam west of Satara as another excellent place to spot hippo. Lastly Crook's corner in the most north east part of the park has hippo which is right at the mouth of the Luhvuhvu river. You will also find a lot of crocs here too.

    Hippos are the heaviest land mammal in world behind the elephant. It is also the most dangerous animal to humans causing more deaths each year, with exception to the mosquito. Hippos have enormous heads with long lower canines that can grow up to 18” (45 cm) long. They also have a pair of lower incisors that grow up to 10” (25 cm) long. An adult male can weigh up to 7000 lb (3200 kg). Although they are vegetarian they are fiercely territorial, which is what makes them dangerous. The males maintain their female herds by guarding the stretch of water from other males. They scent mark their territory by spraying urine with a propeller like action from their tail.
    Hippos feed mostly at night out of water covering up to 6 miles (10 km) and eating about 40 kg of vegetation. They social and relax in the water during they day giving them a very lazy appearance. Although hippos are enormous they are not fat. They are extremely muscular and thick skins, up to 2 inches (5 cm). They can out run a human out of the water for very short distances.

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  • Address: Kruger National Park
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    other wildlife: Baboons for Africa
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  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on April 19, 2006
  • Kruger National Park Page by Jenniflower
  • A tall tail if ever I saw one! :) - Kruger National Park
    A tall tail if ever I saw
    one! :)
    by Jenniflower
    Baboons are prolific in the KNP. You might get excited when you see your first one, but when, 20 minutes later, you have seen at least another 30 or so, the enchantment fades somewhat haha. Much like springbok, they too are beautiful creatures, but they are everywhere in the KNP, so people often just glance casually at them, looking for the more elusive animals.

    Baboons spend a lot of time grooming each other and taking care of each other. They are looking for ticks and fleas continuously it seems.

    However much you would like to do so, please do refrain from feeding them peanuts or any other treats. They have become domesticised to a certain degree due to feeding by the public, and this is alien behaviour in a wild game park. They are wild and must not become at all dependent on humans.

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  • Address: Throughout the KNP
  • Phone: +27 (21) 424 1037
  • Directions: Throughout the KNP
  • Website: http://www.krugerpark.org/
  • Other Contact: http://www.sanparks.org/
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    other wildlife: The hungry hippo
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  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on April 19, 2006
  • Kruger National Park Page by Jenniflower
  • The hungry hippo - Kruger National Park
    The hungry hippo
    by Jenniflower
    Hippos love water. They lounge about in it, submerged, for most of the day, mostly due to the intense heat on the surface. They are keen swimmers albeit their heftiness. When they lie in the water one can only see the tips of their nose, ears and eyes, so they are still totally aware of what is going above water, but keeping cool at the same time.

    It is because of this too that so many people are killed every year by hippos. They cause the most deaths to humans than any other creature. They lurch out of the water at their unsuspecting victim, who might be swimming or washing their clothes, and with jaws like these, there is little chance for survival.

    We had been trying for about 45 minutes to photograph this hippo with it's mouth open. We had nearly lost hope, when it gave this delicious yawn :)

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  • Address: Throughout the KNP
  • Phone: +27 (21) 424 1037
  • Directions: Throughout the KNP
  • Website: http://www.krugerpark.org/
  • Other Contact: http://www.sanparks.org/
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    other wildlife: Africa's own river horse
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  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on April 19, 2006
  • Kruger National Park Page by Jenniflower
  • Hippos lazing in the river - Kruger National Park
    Hippos lazing in the river
    by Jenniflower
    The word HIPPOPOTAMUS comes from 2 Greek words, meaning RIVER HORSE. They are closer relations to the pig though, than to the horse.

    Little baby hippos are born underwater, swimming before they van walk! Haha

    They have this red coloured pigment that seeps out of its skin that lubricates and helps protect it.

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  • Address: Throughout the KNP
  • Phone: +27 (21) 424 1037
  • Directions: Throughout the KNP
  • Website: http://www.krugerpark.org/
  • Other Contact: http://www.sanparks.org/
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    other wildlife: Policing the Park?
  • Tip Rating:
  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on April 18, 2006
  • Kruger National Park Page by Jenniflower
  • The Park 'bobby' - Kruger National Park
    The Park 'bobby'
    by Jenniflower
    A sedate and genteel sort of creature, the giraffe is much loved by all. She is seen as a beacon in the wild, and can spot danger many miles away because of her advantageous height!

    She can stand as tall as 5.4 metres high, and usually sleeps in this position, as if she is on the ground when sleeping, if danger comes, she would probably not be able to get up and away in time. It would be quite dangerous for her!

    She is a vegetarian and can go for a few weeks sans water, getting the much-needed water from the vegetable shoots she eats.

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  • Address: Throughout the KNP
  • Phone: +27 (21) 424 1037
  • Directions: Throughout the KNP
  • Website: http://www.krugerpark.org/
  • Other Contact: http://www.sanparks.org/
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    other wildlife: Domesticated wildlife?
  • Tip Rating:
  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on April 19, 2006
  • Kruger National Park Page by Jenniflower
  • Domesticated wildlife? - Kruger National Park
    Domesticated wildlife?
    by Jenniflower
    We have had many encounters with giraffe over the years. I think the best one was when we rounded a corner having just left Olifants restcamp, and had to almost immediately apply the brakes. There was a HUGE giraffe, sedately walking in the middle of the road!

    That is was blocking the way was not something it was aware of, and we followed it for about 300metres, till it disappeared into the thick bush on the left. We were so close, we could almost reach out and touch it.

    This begs the question of whether it is good that animals are so domesticated that they dont worry when a car is travelling behind it... hmm...

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  • Address: Throughout the KNP
  • Phone: +27 (21) 424 1037
  • Directions: Throughout the KNP
  • Website: http://www.krugerpark.org/
  • Other Contact: http://www.sanparks.org/
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    other wildlife: Unravel the mystery
  • Tip Rating:
  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on April 19, 2006
  • Kruger National Park Page by Jenniflower
  • Hiding from us gawking viewers! - Kruger National Park
    Hiding from us gawking
    viewers!
    by Jenniflower, 2 more photos
    The giraffe is a creature that many people find intriguing. It seemingly doesnt make any noise (although this is untrue, they do, this is called 'infrasound'), and is rather aloof and mysterious.

    They live to about 25 years old, with a tongue that can reach 53 centimetres long! They are 'prehensile'.. which means that they can easily grab and hold onto various objects with this tongue. They are the tallest creature in the wild, standing a proud 1.9metres tall at its birth (and in its socks haha)

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  • Address: Throughout the KNP
  • Phone: +27 (21) 424 1037
  • Directions: Throughout the KNP
  • Website: http://www.krugerpark.org/
  • Other Contact: http://www.sanparks.org/
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