Just perfect, my best Kruger Park experience to date and that with just two persons

Wow, when I got the job to tour the two persons I never expected to have such a fantastic tour.
in this blog I want to show the photos we have taken and also comment on my and my guests personal experiences during our tour, so take a trip with us.

travelling through the Mpumalanga route without first stopping at some of spectacular Waterfalls, this is the Lone Creek Falls. on this tour we also visited the Sabie Falls as well as the Mac Mac Falls,

and there are many more on the Panorama Route.

The regular stops on the Panorama offer spectacular views on a clear day, at God's Window a Vail of mist acted as a curtain to the Window,

This 800 year old Baobab tree is near Hoedspruit in Limpopo Province, and believe me she is not the oldest living tree in the Area, near this one is a grand old lady of 1840 years, that broke apart through its own weight, and still growing as can be seen on my next photograph.

We entered the Greater Kruger Park through York section on our way to Mohlabetsi Private Game Lodge, and encountered Game immediately on arrival, my group was suitably impressed and to be quite honest I have a problem when I encounter Impala antelope, they seem perfectly groomed just for a photograph, a perfect welcome to the wild side of south Africa.

Early the next morning we went for a bush walk, on foot to seek out the small things that also makes an important part of the Park's complex habitat. We found a crocodile (not so small) taking in as much heat from the winter sun as possible, at the water's edge, yes and I do not trust that "smile".

Our walk did not take to long and soon we were on the 4x4's game driving in the hope that we would spot at least some of the big5 along with the other beauties of the bush, we were not disappointed.

This female Buffalo and calf were part of a herd of close to 150, and they were closely followed by a group of really big bulls, and by the look they gave us, none of the bulls were in a friendly mood.

just as the sun was about to set for the day we got note of some lion nearby, and off we went forgetting our sun downer drink. This old lion was wounded by younger males in the squabble for food, the pack has killed a Buffalo the previous day, but he is not the dominant male anymore, and will in all probability be out casted during the breeding season.

 a lone jackal sunning himself in the early morning.

Kudu seem to look directly into your soul, or perhaps they listen to your heartbeat with their huge ears.

Our Morning Game drive was highlighted by these beautiful but dangerous ladies.

The Impala Lilly easily matches their grace and beauty

Birding and Kruger National par goes hand in hand, one could go on a tour just to spot them and you would not be found wanting, here a Red billed Hornbill and a Forked tail Drongo came to visit the lodge before lunch.

 Because we saw two of the Big5 the pleasure was on our Game Ranger to find Leopard, Elephants and Rhino, but first we spotted a little Steenbok, a couple of Giraffe zebra and Impala

The Rhino was a surprise when it just stood there right next to the road and to crown it all so close that one could almost touch him, WOW !!!

It was late afternoon when we were called over the radio, a leopard was spotted and it was quite a few kilometres away, again the group was unanimous forfeit the Sun downer drinks we are going to try to spot the big cat. The light was fading fast but I and my fellow tourists managed to take a few good shots at photographing our Leopard

The last morning before departing Mohlabetsi we did our final attempt to spot the Big5, and soon we got note that some elephant was spotted near the Elephants River Lodge, in the Balule section of the Park, some 30 kilometres away, we had to convince our Ranger, to go there, and he obliged. We even stopped for this beautiful Dark Chanting Goshawk, before we reached the Elephants. We celebrated on the banks of the river with a rusk and a hot Chockocoffee........ mmm great!

Our return trip to the Lodge also delivered a moment to remember when we spotted a shy Bushbuck, Pumba and found this family of Brown Hyena near their den, some of our group could even photograph the youngsters at play before mom chased them underground

Game viewing is always a gamble and when I decided that we would be driving through Kruger Park from Hoedspruit to Hazyview, I took a calculated risk. because we were late at entering the park, because of our game drive and breakfast that followed. It was however a day to remember.

Wildebeest just shortly after we entered Kruger park through Orpen Gate, we have spotted some Giraffe and Impala, and just before we stopped at this watering place we even saw some Zebra, and then to see a Martial Eagle taking a bath is Priceless.

We all love the Lilac Breasted Roller , this one allowed us to sit directly below and allowed us to take as many pictures as we liked.

Shortly after we departed we came across these endangered and rare African Ground Hornbills, and the fantastic thing is they are curious and normally walk up to your car, and provided you dont make any sudden movements , will allow you to take wonderful photographs.

The Burchells Coucal (whitebrowed Coucal) is better known as the rainbird, and some believe that when you hear them call you could be expecting rain on the same day. (for some it works and for some not)

Yes even the Baboons came to have a look to see who was driving through the park, these are wilder than those we find near Cape Town.

if you look at thr grace and poise of a Kudu Bull one can understand that the South African Park have chosen it as their Logo

we were driving towards Skukza when a fellow motorist said that he thaught he saw a leopard crossing the river, we stopped to se if we could confirm when I saw that his leopard was in fact a Cheetah with her cub, I managed to turn around and parked near the spot where she would cross the road, Soon quite a few cars stopped and departed when they could not see the cat. We waited a few minutes langer, and were rewarded when she sprinted accross the road

Then just a few kilometers further we encounter this herd of Elephants with may babys , they crossed the road and then proceded to drink and play in the river.

The Hornbills were also waiting on us on the Road to Skukuza Camp, just wonderful to have these birds so close.

but look it was not only the birds and the Impala that came out all dressed up, this little Bluetailed lizard was so photogenic I had to take one photo.

And then as a finale to the day the local Hippos at Skukza Camp stepped out of the wate to show off their young

All this in a few day's in Kruger National Park, just perfect !!