Africa Wild

*** Travel Tales ***
Trip to Kruger NP 2018 (March 28th > April 19th) New series of Stories

Story 01: What a Start !

Hi all,

We have been in Kruger from March 28th till April 19th. We spent most of the time in the northern regions of the park (Letaba, Shingwedzi and Mopani) then we moved to Satara for some nights and went down south to Crocodile Bridge for 5 nights and ending up in Letaba for our last day.

In general, we enjoyed Kruger very much this time. Last two trips it was very dry but this time it was green !!! and we have seen lots of flowers too. Places like my beloved Tihongonyeni was like the old days… lots green, flowering grass and lots and lots of animals.
Not expected by us but we have had several days with rain and not just a bit but very heavy rain in Mopani and Satara. Good for Kruger but not for us….

Well let’s start with the stories. Landed at Phalaborwa airport , picking up our luggage and getting our car. Funny to experience that we got a free upgrade 4th time in a row. So we took the brand new Toyota RAV and headed to Spar supermarket. After shopping we got to the gate and with a very big smile we entered Kruger. Like always Elly and I make a guess about the first species we will see.
Well, both of us were wrong.

Can you believe to get in the park and after about 15 minutes driving you have a look to the left and see this ?

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May be you can expect to see Lion or WildDogs near Phalaborwa , but Cheetah ?
(a man in a car next to us told me this: “I live in Phalaborwa and come here for about 14 years , many times but never seen Cheetah in this area”)
So a start with a bit of luck …. And what a view … A beautiful Cheetah on a termite hill.

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Elly, tired of all the travelling was watching her most favorite cat with blinking eyes.

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It was clear this Cheetah was searching for prey and thanks to this I could make some nice shots.


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After a while the cheetah lay down and was posing for the camera.
What an entrance / welcome to Kruger.

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Looking at us with these wonderful eyes

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and

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Still enjoying this cheetah suddenly another one appeared. Probably laying down in the grass and now sitting next to the termite hill

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The cheetah on top came down and started to move

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And lucky for us she moved towards us

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And closer and closer…. So beautiful

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She crossed the road in front of us and went away in the bush.
Then… looking back to the place she left the second cheetah another big surprise !!
Not one other cheetah but two. We just could not believe our eyes.

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And

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Standing there together.


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One of them also started to move


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The surprises were not over yet because a few meters to the right another Cheetah appeared

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Cheetah 3 moved to Cheetah 4 and asked me to make some photos , well, no problem…click..click..click..

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And

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A few minutes later Cheetah 1 came back.

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She was chasing some Zebra. The Zebra were crossing the road and running away fast. The Cheetah’s started to run too and disappeared in the bush.

Wowww…. With big smiles we continued our way to Letaba….
Again… What a Welcome


We hope you enjoyed this first story and many more to come…


Aat & Elly

Wow Aat what a awesome start to your trip

what a start....

Your luck is not a fairy tale, it is the absolute truth! That's what I call a Wow start

What a brilliant start, Aat,

for sure cheetahs on top of something is still one of my dream sightings but you hit the jackpot already after a couple of minutes in the park alrady

A wow start indeed, aat!

Wow what a start Aat

Hi Pumbaa,
It was incredible. Just getting used to the car, finding the right radio station etc... and then these Cheetah's. May be we have to make a trip together next time.... later on with the stories you will find out why (thinking of Cheetah's on top of something)

Pumbaa wrote: ↑Sun Apr 29, 2018 5:16 pm What a brilliant start, Aat,

for sure cheetahs on top of something is still one of my dream sightings but you hit the jackpot already after a couple of minutes in the park alrady

Wow, what a start Aat!! Whereabouts did you see them?

Phalaborwa to Letaba , almost opposit of the turnoff to Sable Dam.

Flutterby wrote: ↑Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:45 pm Wow, what a start Aat!! Whereabouts did you see them?