Hunting Dogs, Skukuza, Kruger Park

You can spot the dogs that did the hunting and killing the night before, they were all red with blood. Good to see they all had full, round bellies full of food.

With just 120 dogs in Kruger we were so lucky to find a pack of 22.

Leopard, Skukuza, Kruger Park

Oh my dear Lord above !  On our way back to our camp for the night and saw the cars infront brake so alerted that they had seen something good, and it didn't come much better than this that's for sure. A male leopard came up the bank, through the scrub and crossed the road right infront of us. He stopped to spray, marking his territory, and off he strolled ready for the night's hunting.  Ten minutes of leopard that will never be forgotten.

Yes that's me in the mirror. This was definately right place, right time ! 

He really was massive, great big head, thick neck, such power.  

Marking his territory

He was beautiful.

Lions, Skukuza, Kruger Park

A late afternoon drive gave us 4 sleeping lions. They had been here under this tree the whole day, fast asleep. We spent a few minutes with them and realised they were out for the count in the heat on the afternoon. We returned a couple of hours later and to our suprise, they had been joined by a further 6 lions. But most still fast asleep, with just a couple of them beginning to stir, stretching and yawning. Just look at them, they are magnificent. We would have loved to watch them all wake up but time was ticking and we had to be back in our camp by 6.30pm when the gates closed. Any time after that gets you a hefty fine. We just made it !

Siesta time ! 

Skukuza, Kruger Park

African Fish Eagle 

Baobob Tree - a symbol of Africa 

Bateleur 

Whalberg's Epuletted Fruit Bats in the camp reception buildings 

Black Crake 

Chinspot Batis 

Crested Francolin 

Crowned Plover

Wahlberg's Eagle

Tawny Eagle

Wahlberg's Eagles

We had a shower of rain and the trees sprang to life with these lovely flowers, yellow fluff with a pink feather boa. How nice are they ?! 

Giant Kingfisher 

There was a golf course at Skukuza Camp. How very odd in the midst of lions, leopards, giraffes and elephants, a golf course. Watered to death and not a soul in sight.  

These are the units that are for rent in Kruger. The bookings are all made via the Sanparks website. They all look virtually the same in all the camps. This is ours in Skukuza. This was lovely but we did have some that we had to share with bats and squirrels that were not so good.  

Cooking is usually done outside with the fridge well and truly locked away from monkeys and baboons that could open a fridge door in the blink of an eye.  

A hyena strolled past us at dawn - on his way home after a busy night. 

Lots of hyenas walk right up to your car. We had read beforehand that some have developed a taste for chewing on car tyres. Better not turn the engine off......just incase you need to make a swift get away !

Brown-hooded Kingfisher 

Leopard Tortoise 

Dwarf Mongoose 

Vervet Monkey 

A patrol on the border from the poaching police. All the ground was raked to show any footprints so they could see if anyone had come over the fence during the night. They are fighting a tough battle with poachers and we were grateful for their presence. 

Red-billed Oxpecker 

Lilac-breasted Roller 

Some of the rivers were nearly dry, desperate for rain. 

The view from the cafe at Skukuza 

 Tawny Eagle

Warthogs