Another early start—4:30 am departure got us to the Orpen Gate of Kruger by 6:00 am opening time. Getting there right at opening gives us a full day to explore, as well as improving our chances of seeing some of the more nocturnal species. We met our guide at the gate, piled into his game viewer, and we were off!
Because Kruger is a Big 5 area, visitors are only allowed to leave their vehicles at designated rest camps. These are several hours apart, so we made sure we were well stocked for the trip.
On entering Kruger, it was just coming
daylight, and the park was shrouded in a light mist. It was chilly, so we bundled up in jackets and blankets for the first few hours.
Early morning chill
Giraffe in the mist
A tower of giraffe in the early morning mist
This is a highly endangered Southern Ground Hornbill. These birds mate for life, lay a clutch of 2 eggs every 9 years, and there is approximately a 35% chance of a single chick surviving! They live up to 80 years.
A younger ground hornbill—he does not yet have the vivid red coloration of the older bird. This species is the largest hornbill.
Lion tracks! We followed them a long way, but they did not ultimately lead us to a Lion sighting.
Just the landscape itself is stunning. As a bonus, can you spot the giraffe?!
2 crocodiles sunning themselves on the bank of a water hole
And then we started seeing zebra. And more and more and more zebra!
Hippo resting on the far bank of a pool
And a traffic jam, Kruger style!
Aren’t they cute?!
Adult Cape Buffalo bill, having just had a good mud wallow
He looks cute here, but can be extremely aggressive. Once he started snorting and shaking his head at us, we moved our vehicle!
An run there were elephants!
And an enormous herd of zebra.
There were thousands of these zebra
We passed the herd for MILES!
Until we came upon more elephants!
I don’t think there’s anything cuter than a baby elephant!
At our lunch stop, we were visited by a crested barbet
And several Bertrand’s starlings. The starlings appear black, but become brightly iridescent in the sun.
Sun’s out and it is a typically glorious day!
A Kruger triple crown! 2 Bertrand’s starlings in the foreground, Cape Buffalo center back, and a pod of hippos in the water back left corner!
Add in some Impala, and this looks like Africa!
(Yes, it is, and about the size of my leg!)
Phone battery dying—I’ll add the rest of my photos later. If you’re catching this half finished, be sure to come back for the rest!
Phone charged, ready to post Part 2! And I have to hurry, because it’s 5:00 am and our adventures are about to begin again!
More giraffe
Nice water buck (I think—hard to see on my small screen!)
Look closely in the shadow under the tree. Casper the white lion is snoozing away the afternoon!
Puff adder crossing the road
More giraffe
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