Arathusa Safari Lodge Sabi Sands Game Reserve

... was fun and informative – coming on this we knew we'd probably not see any animals but it still was really good. Most of the walk we were following a rhino trial, we could tell this by most of the dung found along the way. We could also spot the trees that elephants had come along and eaten off the bark. We also managed to spot a hyaena paw print on the ground (and I even managed to spot a small piece of an old jaw bone and teeth of a rhino), so we could tell hyaenas ...

The road from Graskop to Kruger National Park is downhill all the way. The elevation drops from over 3,000 m. (10,000 ft.) to just 300 m. (1,000 ft.) and the temperature rises dramatically. By the middle of the afternoon, it must be at least 32 C. (90 F).

We enter Kruger National Park at 9:30 AM. Our first observation is how much lusher it is compared to Masai Mara and the Serengeti, even though this is the beginning of spring and the spring rains have ...

Website: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/

Hop ing to see lots of animals. I will post pics as soon as I can.

xoxo
M

Part 2:

On the way to Kruger we stopped at a waterfall in Blyde River Canyon. We jumped 20ft off a rock into the fall (we saw some boys do it first so we were certain it would be safe). I have photos that I will add when time allows ...

This was the wildlife day of the trip, a full day game drive in Kruger. We had to awake just past 5 o'clock and were ready to go at 5:30, using vehicles and guides from Timbavati and one other company. It was a very good day, although two of the four vehicles were a little disappointed that we only saw four of the Big 5 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, but ...

... 000 impala in the park, it was still a thrill to come across two males engaged in a fight....ramming horns and everything! Apparently they were arguing over whether it's possible to include too many nature pictures in a blog...no, wait, that was Tracy and me; · Perhaps not such a thrill for the children was the lack of liquids we gave them with breakfast before the early morning game drives. These rest camps aren't all that close together, and, as ...

... robbers! We were feeling a little silly though at having over reacted. Dagmar had received a call from Acacia, who had been alerted about a possible hostage situation by the Canadian Government! It was good to see how quickly they reacted, which is a lot more than can be said about the South African Police, who were abysmal! We were told that they were on there way now and we could give statements. From here what should have been simple ...

... mention how adorable the babies are??? one came about 5 feet from our car, lifted its trunk and walked right by. as a baby, that's cute but if it were a 6 ton adult, i might feel differently... (yes mom, i have a whole new respect for their size when there are no sides, roof and windows to the vehicle). our game drives are about 3 hours long and we were maybe 30 minutes into it when the skies were getting crazy dark and we could hear thunder ...

... wondered in 10 years ago, age unknown and in fact the cat of one of the neighbors, who hated us ever since. He is a wonderful cat. I dedicate this to my so beloved Obe,I hope she came back as a big cat ... . And here we met the cheetah. 3 of them, walking around our car. The leader (we think) was walking around, making purr- and bark noises. Very weird sounds. It was breath taking to have that gorgeous, slim, muscled, dangerous animal, just next to us. Look at him...

... food. After lunch we headed to the majestic Blyde River Canyon area, first stop was the Bourkes Luck Potholes (see pictures). The holes are formed by a retreating waterfall and people throw coins for good luck into a particular pot hole. We then drove further on to the Blyde River Canyon and three Rondavells (see photos). This place was spectacular. The three rondavells mountains are named ...