Safari tails : Treepol and TreeMum’s adventures in Kruger, Cape Town, Kalahari and elsewhere
This year I was privileged to share the wonders of safari with my mother. The trip was booked as a soft adventure and an introduction to the daily discovery and delights that a wildlife safari delivers. Mum has now been bitten by the safari bug and we plan to return in 2014. The highlights of Mum’s first ever safari were:
Birdlife in the Kruger Restcamps
Two young male lions (hopefully) trailing a very large herd of buffalo near Satara
3 cheetah hunting kudu
Eles and lion at N’semani in Kruger
Wildflowers at West Coast NP
Lunch with Dikdik in Cape Town
Coastal scenery on the flight from Cape Town to Walvis Bay
Living Desert Tour (ex Swakopmund)
Elephant gathering at Rietfontein, Etosha
Meerkats at Bagatelle
Cheetah with 3 x 4 month old cubs, Phinda
The itinerary was:
Forest Camp, Moholoholo Rehab Centre (1 night)
Kruger 7 nights (2 Satara, 3 Olifants, 1 Pretoriuskop and 1 Berg-en-dahl)
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi NP (Hilltop Camp 2 nights)
St Lucia (Lalapanzi B&B 3 nights)
Cape Town (Blackheath Lodge 4 nights)
Swakopmund (Hotel Schweizerhaus 3 nights)
Etosha (Dolomite Camp 1 night, Okaukuejo 2 nights, Namutoni 1 night)
Bagatelle Game Lodge (3 nights)
Phinda (Forest Lodge 4 nights)
Photos from the safari (including accommodation) are now online, https://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol/
The full trip report is available at http://safaritalk.net/topic/9372-safari-tails-treepol-and-treemums-adventures-in-kruger-cape-town-kalahari-and-elsewhere/
Regards,
Pol
Safari tails : Kruger, Cape Town, Namibia and Kalahari
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Sounds like a great trip! Heading to picasa and safaritalk to check out your details. Thanks for the report!
LOVELY photos!
If you are thinking about Namibia some time in your future (as I am) this report will give you many ideas and reinforce that Namibia is worthy of far more than a single visit.
Meerkats are included.
Hi Pol
Great photos and great adventure for you and your Mum!
We used to eat at Forest Camp when I worked at Moholoholo earlier this year. Was the little white rhino Dani, do you remember? She was very naughty and my legs were black and blue from her head butting. Not sure if that was her though as she was born beginning of January. Also I understand that the two male lions together have since died.
Did you see the huge female lioness at Phinda, she is unmistakable as she is uncommonly large, around the size of a male.
My oldest sister is coming with me on her first African trip in June of next year and I think she is going to be as amazed as your mum was, cannot wait!
Kind regards
Kaye
Cristeen, Cateyes555, atravelynn and KayeN thanks for your kind comments.
Kay, I remember that the volunteers were eating downstairs when we at Forest Lodge. I thought the guide said that the baby rhino that we saw was only 4 months old and that she would be raised at Forest Lodge and returned to her owner when she was 12 months old. There was another rhino there but I think the guy said she was 11 months old which also wouldn't fit in with Dani's age.
Mum had her photo taken with the youngster and thought she would be lovely to have in the garden in Devonport, Tas! As our safari progressed she also fancied a baby elephant and a few dikdiks for the backyard - not really, but she was very taken with these babies.
We saw 'Big Boy' - the male lion who 'talks' to Brain Jones and he was in a run with a lioness. As far as I know, he was the only mature male in the compound. There were 2 younger males in a separate compound up behind the vulture aviary.
We did see the huge lioness, Benson estimated her weight at200-250 kg and made special comment about her hunting success. I know that your sister will have a wonderful time and I must say what a joy it has been to 'introduce' friends and family to the safari experience.
Hi Pol
Yes we ate downstairs if the camp had guests and upstairs in no guests in camp.
Dani was born 5 January 2012, so not sure when you were there but the centre got her either that day or maybe the next. She was from a game reserve and the mum had no interest in her at all. She was cute but very determined! I always want little creatures in my backyard as well, though not a baby ele, but certainly little antelope and definitely a hedgehog!
I thought when i was there Big Boy was with another male lion, and I thought the article on Facebook said the two males were together as well. At that time in March/April of this year, they had the two big males and near the wild dog and big male leopard, was another male lioness and lioness together. None of them were on my rounds, so didn't really pay that much attention to them really.
The lioness was massive but never had cubs. Apparently the two males were a bit worried by her, not surprised really!
Yes I am sure Di will have a terrific adventure as we will be fitting a variety of things in for her 3 weeks African adventure!
Kind regards
Kaye