Hi from Southern Most point of Africa

Kennedy that sounds great. It's been years since I've been to Kruger, but some of the best birding there is up North past a restcamp called Punda Maria. Birding was still not that big when I was a child and it was always so funny at that time, because when we saw a bird and stopped to look at it, within minutes we where encircled with cars all peering into the bushes looking for Lions, elephants, Rhino's and what not. Then we showed them that we are looking at a small bird, they all charged off to the next spot....LOL!

I have never understood why people only chased the big stuff and missed the true variety. Here is a pic taken at a lookout...1995, I still remember a fish eagle that we saw here.

Also 1995, the Orpendam I think, with a stork....

Reminder: Do not get out of the car, unless you are at a place where you can do it!

Kruger is not a zoo, we get so angry at some people who think the animals are tame...one year foreigners tried to feed a elephant and it promptly rolled the car.

This elephant bull held us up (1990), because it came down the gravel round and stood on the low-water bridge flapping its ears for a while. You never turnoff your engine (Or I never do) with these fellas, especially when you find a Cow with a baby, when they charge, reverse (R) becomes Racing backward. Luckily they just storm a Few meters and stop, if they do, it is rare. One year we watched employee go head-to-head with an elephant. I used my Racing gear well ..hehehe...anyway, he stopped asked us if we minded that he goes through, we said no, and he drove on...only to go head to head with a female non-to-pleased with his attempt..she charged, he went from going forward to reverse in split seconds, when she stopped he stopped, than he revved the car and charged himself, she turned and charged again, he was coming in reverse again, it went on like that, untill she moved off and he got pass....me I (R)aced backward, everytime, and I am still laughed at, because by the time this was over we nearly needed binoculars to see what was happening....I DO NOT take chances with elephants...hehehe.

Then you see these babies...it always gets to me how big they really are.

Also buffalo (especially on the grass plains), these babies come in at 900kg (nearly a ton)...just 2 weeks ago there was a local story here about a hikers coming across them, and a bull killed a hiker. They are not afraid of lions, why would they worry about humans...very temperamental.

Do I want to scare you...not at all. I am talking isolations, but there are reasons why you should not get out of your car in the Kruger. These are true wild animals and it is such a treat to see them, no need to become brave or stupid...lol.

One of the best sightings I ever had ... Wilddogs...1995. I still remember how alert they were. They are very much endangered.

Hopefully you are excited...Kruger is a great place, especially at night by a fire, when you hear a lion roar or hyena laugh...(spelling). It truly puts us Humans back in our place and you relax like no other. You are part of nature. A Zoo will never be the same, in fact, I hate Zoo's, once you see animals in their natural environment, it becomes heart-breaking to see them in a cage.

Nothing against zoo's, they have their place as well, without a doubt....

Thanks Little_things,
I will heed your warnings. All you show adds to the mounting excitement of this trip

Kennedy

hehehe...I just want you to post some pics...so Please come back...LOL. I just have a healthy respect for nature. You must do this...one night in the kruger, try and get alone for 20min and just be quiet and listen...you will most propably hear nightjars, but thats not the point...I cannot explain, you will understand, if you do it.

Have a GREAT time..I am yellow...we do have the Addo Elephant Park about 70km from us....just need winter to relax a bit, then I'm off.