The not a trip report - trip report
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:02 am
I have a huge amount of work to do before the festive period, so may not have time to do a full trip report.
But I thought I would share highlights from my trip, thoughts and experiences. And if I have time, will do a full trip report.
We were in Kruger from 14 to 19 November
Entered Melalane Gate
1st night Skukuza
2nd night Lower Sabie (drove from Skuks up to Tshockwane and then down the H10 to LS)
3rd night Satara
4th night Satara - including a morning drive up to Olifants
5th night Skukuza
Left via Melalane Gate
I think a Kruger trip at the moment isn't "normal" due to the drought.
The South is starting to green up nicely. Up to about 5km south of Tshcok.
North up to Olifants was like a nuclear waste land, with a few small patches of green here and there, but not much.
Some big dams dry: Molondozi, Girvana, Nsemani. Many others are only a tiny percentage full.
Browsers seem to be doing ok.
Grazers not so. And Hippo and Buffalo taking big strain. Saw lots of emaciated specimens of both species.
The veld is littered with skeletons
Had some good sightings, but did a huge amount of driving - 1,450 km in the 6 days.
And sightings were a bit different to normal trips.
Saw loads and loads of Giraffe south of the Sabie.
And also never seen this many Nyala along the Sabie.
The south eastern side from Nkumbe to Croc Bridge was the most productive.
Drove from Satara to Orpen and back without seeing a single Wildebeest or Zerbra.
Aslo very few elephants in the Satara area.
Had some good predator sightings. Helped I think by the lack of long grass and thin bush.
Before the trip, I had set myself 3 "target species" to try and see
Sable, Yellowbilled Oxpecker and Violetbacked Starling.
Of the 3, I only saw the oxpecker. 1 bird on a Bufallo on the north section of the S28.
Did see a Caracal which is a first for me.
I found birding to be a bit slow.
I only added 10 new species to my Kruger list to take the total to 172. Was dissapointed by that.
But saw quite a few "specials" - lots of Ground Hornbills, Saddlebilled Storks, Vultures and Eagles.
It was nice to go out of school holiday time. It was nice and quiet. Was at a Lion sighting on the H4-2 with 1 other car.
But the OSV's are a problem. The minute one of them turns up at a good sighting, they radio their colleagues who then descend within minutes. And try and squeeze the ordinary cars out. And are rude and aggressive if you object to their behaviour
By contrast, I found the staff at reception in the staff at reception and in the camps very friendly and helpful
We would often arrive before the official 2pm check in - generally from 12:30 bto 1:30. I asked to be allowed to check in, and in each case was given the key, with a request that if the unit was still being cleaned, to please not go in until they had finished - fair enough.
Will post some photos soon
But I thought I would share highlights from my trip, thoughts and experiences. And if I have time, will do a full trip report.
We were in Kruger from 14 to 19 November
Entered Melalane Gate
1st night Skukuza
2nd night Lower Sabie (drove from Skuks up to Tshockwane and then down the H10 to LS)
3rd night Satara
4th night Satara - including a morning drive up to Olifants
5th night Skukuza
Left via Melalane Gate
I think a Kruger trip at the moment isn't "normal" due to the drought.
The South is starting to green up nicely. Up to about 5km south of Tshcok.
North up to Olifants was like a nuclear waste land, with a few small patches of green here and there, but not much.
Some big dams dry: Molondozi, Girvana, Nsemani. Many others are only a tiny percentage full.
Browsers seem to be doing ok.
Grazers not so. And Hippo and Buffalo taking big strain. Saw lots of emaciated specimens of both species.
The veld is littered with skeletons
Had some good sightings, but did a huge amount of driving - 1,450 km in the 6 days.
And sightings were a bit different to normal trips.
Saw loads and loads of Giraffe south of the Sabie.
And also never seen this many Nyala along the Sabie.
The south eastern side from Nkumbe to Croc Bridge was the most productive.
Drove from Satara to Orpen and back without seeing a single Wildebeest or Zerbra.
Aslo very few elephants in the Satara area.
Had some good predator sightings. Helped I think by the lack of long grass and thin bush.
Before the trip, I had set myself 3 "target species" to try and see
Sable, Yellowbilled Oxpecker and Violetbacked Starling.
Of the 3, I only saw the oxpecker. 1 bird on a Bufallo on the north section of the S28.
Did see a Caracal which is a first for me.
I found birding to be a bit slow.
I only added 10 new species to my Kruger list to take the total to 172. Was dissapointed by that.
But saw quite a few "specials" - lots of Ground Hornbills, Saddlebilled Storks, Vultures and Eagles.
It was nice to go out of school holiday time. It was nice and quiet. Was at a Lion sighting on the H4-2 with 1 other car.
But the OSV's are a problem. The minute one of them turns up at a good sighting, they radio their colleagues who then descend within minutes. And try and squeeze the ordinary cars out. And are rude and aggressive if you object to their behaviour
By contrast, I found the staff at reception in the staff at reception and in the camps very friendly and helpful
We would often arrive before the official 2pm check in - generally from 12:30 bto 1:30. I asked to be allowed to check in, and in each case was given the key, with a request that if the unit was still being cleaned, to please not go in until they had finished - fair enough.
Will post some photos soon
Very jealous! 
