Our trip started off in Nosy Be and Nosy Sakatia.  The latter is a smaller island, but with great accommodation and also snorkeling, diving and kayaking opportunities. Since there are no restaurants on Sakatia, the lodges include dinner and breakfast.  And the food is good!  You can definitely spend at least 5 – 10 days there.  You also have the option of renting a yacht or glass bottom boat for a couple of days.

Our first night’s stay was at Sakatia Towers and the next morning, after some snorkeling in the warm ocean, we boarded a yacht and spent a day sailing the ocean, snorkeling and visiting some of the other smaller islands with marine reserves and the famous Flying Foxes (bats).  Picture yourself sailing away into the sunset with dolphins playing around the boat, lovely seafood, warm weather… who can say no to that?

From Sakatia it was back to Nosy Be and on to Amarina Lodge further north on the island; a completely different experience. First by taxi to a small village and then by motorboat to the lodge.  Since there is no jetty you have to wade a few meters to get on board.  The Amarina Lodge is a more modern establishment, yet the setting is classic and simply stunning.  My companion for the night was a gecko who kept on complaining every time I moved.  But then again, there were no mosquitoes in my room that night, thanks to him.

After a breakfast on one of the tiny islands and some snorkeling time, we returned to the Lodge only to find that the tide has gone out and we had to wade for a couple of hundred meters to the boat again.  Not that anyone minded.  We were already in the mora mora mood (don’t do today what can be done tomorrow!) so we just took things as they came.

After a short flight we were back in Antananarivo where we spend two nights.  Tana with no street lights, very few street names, small sidewalk shops, lots of cars and lots of people.  It is built on a couple of hills and a photographer’s paradise.  After our stay, we then took the road east towards Andasibe National Park.  The route was a kaleidoscope of colours – green and yellow rice paddies, brown mud houses, sub tropical fruit stalls and lush green forests.  We paid a short visit to one of the sanctuaries where we had to opportunity to see some of the many varieties of chameleons, butterflies, frogs and also some lemurs.  I never realised that there are such small and also such big chameleons in the world!

Andasibe is home to the famous Indri Indri and we were quite lucky in seeing some of them during our visit.  The park has different distance walking trails and we opted for the middle one that took us along well worn trails but also through the indigenous forest.  All around us there were lots of birds and butterflies with a chameleon here and there, to break the monotony.  A highlight during the night walk was some mouse lemurs – so cute you want to take them home!

The last part of our visit was towards the Wild Wild West.  We flew in to Morondava and from there travelled by 4×4 to Kirindi forest for some more lemurs and also a vossa – a jackal like cat.  Basic accommodation and very tough chicken for dinner!  This is definitely for the more adventurous traveller. Early next morning we departed north along the main road.  This road was worse than the worst I have seen in South Africa but is considered good by the locals.  We ended up at the river around 6am and since the ferry was not there yet, our guide arranged a mokoro like canoe “transfer” of about 1 hour across the river.  He warned us to not put our hands in the water as there were crocodiles!  It was a fantastic experience, gliding along the river, the sun rising and the only sound that of the oars and the birds along the banks.

After some tea with condenced milk and toast we departed for the tsingi.  If I though the earlier road was bad, this one was even worse.  At places the 4×4 nearly disappeared in the potholes.  The scenery however made up for this with grasslands, forests and small villages with banana plantations and zebu grazing.  And everywhere there were butterflies.  Yellow, white, lavender and blue!

At the next river we were lucky to still catch the ferry and continued to the Park to view the tsingi.  This is a rock formation that is unique to Madagascar and quite spectacular.  We scrambled up and down walkways and ladders and had a stunning view from the top lookout platform.  Here we had a well deserved rest as the humidity and temperature had sapped all our energy.  We polished nearly two liters of water each per day!

The next morning it was back to the rivers and ferries.  The guide also told me that you can rent a canoe or dhow higher up along the river and do a 3 day cruise down with sleepovers along the banks of the river.  Maybe on my next visit?

Our second last stop for the day was at the boabab alley where we waited for sunset. What a spectacular view! These massif trees spread out over the countryside, villages dotted in-between and cattle grazing next to giants, some of which are hundreds of years old.  Well worth a visit.

Out last stop for the day was Morondava, a small fishing village, where we spent the night. Imagine you wake up and when you look out your window all you see is white sand, palm trees, a blue ocean and a dhow gliding by. This is life!

From Morondava it was back to Tana and then home. Tourism in Madagascar is still not fully developed yet even though there are luxury lodges on the islands.  The public transport systems is basically non-existent, the airlines not always on time, the roads terrible but it has a fascination that will be hard to find elsewhere.  The food is good and not expensive, the city, despite its poverty, is clean and the people all very friendly.  Most of them can speak some English but if you know a smattering of French, it will help a lot.

I cannot wait to get back there as there are so many areas I still want to visit and I will definitely go back to some that I have already visited!

Safaris to Madagascar
1. 11 Day 1000 Views of Madagascar
2. 5 Days Nosy Be Beach

Its summer time in Kruger and it can become very hot on some days, with a bit of thunder and lightning on and off!  I just love all the bird sounds that comes with it…and the best for me must be the cuckoos and the Woodlands Kingfisher!

As said sightings were absolutely awesome this week…when we took a drive to Lower Sabie we got, my 2nd, and the first for the girls another Black Rhino.  Far off into the bush..but still a great sighting!  Lions were all over this week again with our first a lone female lying close to the road.

Then getting up and walking off into the bush.  On the S36 towards Nhlaguleni picnic spot we again had the pleasure of seeing a herd of 19 Sable Antelope.  This one darted across the road for me to get a clear picture.

We also went to spent a night at Tsendze rustic camp with friends (a long drive of about 210km) and on the way got these lions walking next to our car in the road.

More lions on the way, but think you have seen enough….as the Mopani bush is now full of leaves, with that comes the Mopani worms.  Really cant believe that ppl actually harvest and eat these creatures!

and a different looking one..

The highlight of the week came on Christmas Day!  Wow, what a sighting…not great pics..but the 4th for me and the 1st for the girls..A Kill!  We sat and watched a leopard lying in the grass nearby some Impalas for about 3 hrs when she grabbed the one male!

She suffocated it for about 15 minutes, then lay down in the grass for about another 20…then started dragging the kill into the bush!

Kruger really delivered this week while the girls were here!  Awesome sightings, nice family time together and offcourse being in Kruger made it a very special Christmas!

Until next week, when I hope to bring you more awesome sightings!

Martie

What a week we had…as you know I took my Mother in law back to the airport last week Saturday and then on Wednesday I fetched my daughters from the airport for their visit over Christmas!  The week was a bit slow for sightings before they arrived…but I did manage to get this funny looking Giraffe!

I think I said before that Im new to birding, but really enjoy it so much..this little Sparrowhawk posed nicely!

As Crocodile Bridge gate is still closed due to the low water bridge flooded..I had to once again drive a long way to Kruger Mapumalanga International Airport..again a round trip of about 300km from Lower Sabie camp.  Fetched the girls and just so great to see them after almost a year!

I think that they brough us some great luck…we had the most awesome sighting of these 5 Cheetah very close to the road…I must say, even I love the pics!!!

The mother sitting up and the teenagers all over the place giving us such a show!

and this little one trying to frighten us with a growl!

and some more…

unfortunately it was almost gate closing time and we could only get this last one before we had to leave!

After this great sighting it was back to LSabie to pack up as we moved to Skukuza on Thursday…not the end of great sightings…

We set up camp at Skukuza with help from some of the workers and went for a quick drive…wow…..we found this Leopard stalking a small buffalo calf!

Unfortunately I did not have time to change cameras, so you can only see the mother looking up at the leopard…she protected that baby all the time…then the leopard climbed down from the rock and the Buffalo took the calf into the reeds.  The Leopard continued following them and that was the last we saw of them!  Really wondered what happened.

Awesome sightings and really difficult to top this!  The rest of the week gave us 3 more Leopard sightings, but really to quick for good pics…also 2 male lions, but again lying in the bush.  A great week with my daughters and I really enjoyed showing Kruger to them this week….only 1 week left and they will be back in Cape Town!

With that I wish you all a Merry Christmas and will be back next week Sunday to bring you the highlights of this week.

Until then

Martie

I know that last week I showed you, what I thought was a close up of a Leopard, but this week was just so much more special…so close to us that I could actually hear it breath!

So as a storm is brewing again over Kruger I have to make this very quick..and give you the highlights of the week…

This leopard walking in the road…giving us such a show..the 3rd Leopard MIL has seen with me…just so thankful that she could see it a well…first she stopped to “mark her territory”

Then she started moving closer to us….and I got this pic of leopard on the move…

and with all the excitement and the Leopard so close to me, I forgot to change the settings on the lens and only got this very not so good pic…it could have been so awesome…

We also drove the very busy road from LSabie to Skukuza and found some lions on the side of the road but int he bush…I already had it in my mind to come back to see them……

Dropped MIl off at her bungalow and I went back to the lions…a real hot day….sitting in the car for 3 hrs just waiting…but, I got rewarded with this male coming walking out of the bush…right towards me…

and then walking right passed me….

As Ive said before Kruger is not just about lions and leopards there is just so much to see>>>and this was no exception>>>we also found this Eagle that caught a mongoose sitting in a tree…really the best pic I could get of it…

and off course the Impala babies are just so cute…this one gave me such a classic portrait pic…really all ears and not much else…

I also just loved this pic of the Elephants crossing the veld close to the mountain…..the contrast I think was just so great…

and with summer here all the birds are coming back…and I was just so lucky to get this pic of an Amur Falcon…

and the Bateleurs who are such beautiful birds, but not when they are young..cant believe that this ugly duckling will turn into such a beautiful bird…..but he first had to show me that he owns the road…..

and no Kruger experience is ever complete like the sunsets with a sunrise…and today I have one for you, thanks to my mother in law for waking me up at 4 am!!!

With that the end of my week in Kruger…

Speak again next week

Martie

I also found this Leopard with a cub closer to LSabie camp… first time I have seen a leopard cub so close up and the next day I only got a glimpse of the cub, but the mother gave me such a great pic…

Sightings with MIL was very slow for the first 2 days and then our fortunes changed during the week and I really wanted to show my Mother in Law the awesome Leopard sightings and close up lions Ive had… and then this Leopard (the mother of the cub) in a tree not too far off the road… I took many pics, but for the first time since I have been coming to Kruger…I saw a leopard jump through the air to another tree… really amazing… and glad I can show you…

She climbed down the tree and disappeared from view… then we had these close up sighting of the lions… (I still think ppl coming to Kruger only want to see lions… but there is just so much more to see)

and just next to her another 2 females…

Just so nice to see these healthy lions in the South of Kruger!

We also had more leopard sightings and I think, this one of the best I’ve had in Kruger… a young female walking right next to us…

This young leopard was walking in the road and marked her territory right next to us….

and so amazing to have a Leopard so close to you… this pic of it right next to the car…

Staying at LSabie you have the privilege of being so close to sunset dam… not even a km from camp and it can give you the most amazing sightings of birds and sunsets…

First up this Yellow Billed Stork right next to the road…

and off course the most amazing sunsets in Kruger…

With that another amazing week in Kruger…and once again..I look forward to bringing you this week in Kruger next week.

Regards
Martie

I thank you all for reading about Living My Dream…and must show you these pics now… as a massive storm is brewing over Lower Sabie, where I am now and will be until the 17th December…

I arrived here on Sunday and the first day was used to set up camp… the camping sites are not the best Ive seen, like little squares… but I got a nice shady spot… and thanks to friends for helping me unhooking the caravan and pushing it into place…

Monday I was on the road… and as said the most amazing sightings… so good and a thrill to see a Leopard, but one with a cub… I have never seen in all the years Ive been coming to Kruger!

And as I think that pictures speak louder than words… I will show you all the pics of my week… hope I don’t bore you to death!

The mother moving the cub to a more shady spot… as from this day on.. I only saw the cub higher up in the trees.. and

then the next day, close to where the cub is now… the mother showed herself to me..so in the open… I could not believe it..

With that I left… and found some lions on the road…I think that ppl get “silly” around lions, but I had a good spot… and then my cam went on the blink…think my setting were way wrong for this kind of light… but I could get this pic for you..

and off course the birds were around… I got this nice one of the Diedericks Cuckoo… in the sun setting…

And the Black Winged Stilt at Sunset Dam…

and then can you believe, another Leopard.. with yet another cub…

And another scary speciality in Kruger…well that is on the road, they are sometimes seen in camps… glad it was not my campsite… this Mocambique Spitting Cobra..

and the last but not least, no stay at Lower Sabie is complete without a sunset pic from sunset dam!

With that another week came to an end…and tomorrow (Monday) I will fetch my mother in law from the airport as she is coming to visit for the next 12 days.

Until next Sunday..

Martie

We stayed at a private lodge, Shishangeni, Camp Shonga for the first 3 days of his visit…then had the priviledge of staying at the Bushmans Trail camp for a weekend and then it was back to the caravan at Crocodile Bridge camp for the remainder of the time.  CBridge is a small camp with only 15 camping site, 10 bungalows and I think 8 safari tents at the bottom part of Kruger.  A real magic camp that I must say is one of the cleanest and most looked after camps so far!  People there really take so much pride in what they do and how ppl experience Kruger!

I willdo a quick blog and show you the magic that Kruger had on the menu for both of us!  Although I still love the experience of being in Kruger everyday, it was such a thrilling experience to share it with my husband.  I must thank the animals and Kruger for making it just so special.

I will post the pics what I think were special and next week I will be back with a full report of my stay at LSabie!

These lions had caught a buffalo and were just so full…and the cubs were adorable to watch!

We also had the priviledge of seeing lions on the hunt…you must have patience and just wait and look for the signs…unfortunately they were not succesfull, but still such a thrilling experience..

The birds did take a bit of a backseat during this time, not because I did not want to see them, but they stayed away!  This secretary birds was a nice sighting..and always so nice to see them in the open!

My husbands absolute fav animals are the Rhino’s…unfortunately we did not see a Black one…but this little baby was just so cute…he chased the cars and then decided it was better to run along our car…maybe we looked a bit scary!

And the usual Hyena…they are just so comical…Im not sure how or what they think, but everytime I see one it looks a bit lost!

Obviously I wanted to show him the Leopards…and we got these 2…really nice to show him and you!!

and this one who came to finish the last of her/his meal in a tree next to the road!

And this time of the year, with the rains arriving..its also time for the Impala lambs to arrive.  We were just so lucky to see a few of them…this pic of one that I think was about a week or so old!

and last but certainly not least…the very elusive Cheetahs..only about 150 odd of them in Kruger..and it was very special to see them 2 times…first pic of this one that almost made us late for the gate closing time!!!

And I have now tried for the last 10hrs to post this blog and its way after midnight..if it does not work now you will have to wait for the pic…and the awesome sighting on Leopards and cubs next Sunday…

So this one worked…lets see the last of this time I had with my husband….and the rest wont..so I will have to bring you those and the wilddogs on Sunday…really too late for me to try again now!

Until the next time

Martie

On Monday I only did the loops around camp, Matjulu, Steilberg and back on the tar road to camp.  At Matjulu WH, which is only a few km from camp I found this White Fronted Bee Eater posing nice for a picture!

On Wednesday was the birthday of my husband and I really wanted to find something special for him… and did I find something special!  I only left camp late that morning, but so glad I did… First up the first ever sighting for me of a Black Rhino!

and then another one that has eluded me, well I have only seen 2 in all my life in Kruger, but this one stopped for a pic… A Side Striped Jackal!

And then my sighting of the week!  A Leopard in a tree close to the road!

And then the Impalas came around and in a flash she was up!

And with a last look at me, she jumped down and was not seen again!  A great sighting and it must be the highlight of my week!

And so great sightings at BnDal came to an end.  I have moved to a new camp, Malelane, which is a very small camp with only 5 bungalows and 15 campsites..and a great camp it is, but I will tell you about it next week.  Now its time to go to sleep and I hope you enjoyed the pics tonight!

Until next week,

Martie

This week I had great sightings again…lions, mating lions, lots of Rhino (still looking for that elusive Black Rhino, but know that I will find him soon), Leopards (sadly only 2 this week, but great sightings)…and lots of Elephants…breeding herds, lone bulls…they were all around…

And the birding has picked up, with summer approaching so many of them coming around…and talking about the weather…we had a nice cool week, after  blistering heat for a few day, the clouds took over and it was really nice…I do not look fwd to all those hot days coming our way, but then….that is Kruger…

My week started off with the mating lions again…this time I got a pic of the aggession on the females face…I was told that the male had some hairy spikes on his “thingie” that makes her react this way….they mate every 20 min for 3 or 4 days, they dont eat, drink or sleep…only a nap now and again..please know, Im not an expert, only telling you what I was told…but still a great sighting!

I also drove to Skukuza one day looking for the Phyton again, but must have missed it, or maybe it was in its hole….bought a take away from the shop and had it at Renosterkoppies dam…great sightings….Zebra, Impala, Kudu, Elephant alll drinking, until this one came around and had no need to drink, but as it was a hot day, all he wanted to do was cool down!

I found more lions, this time 4 males lying next to the road as I was driving to PKop and then onto Skukuza one day.  A full days drive, but it gave me the Big 5 again…I watched them in the morning for a while, and when I returned again after about 7hrs they were still lying there!

The only time they moved was to find a bit more shade.  Already had Elephants on the way, now lions, still needed Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard…I was not dissapointed.

A quick look at this Leopard before he crossed the road behind me.  Before the picnic spot Afsaal, a Rhino lying far off in a clearing…and then about half an hour later 4 Buffalo in the riverbed…The Big 5 completed.

Its always nice to also see something different..and this week I had a great sighting of a Monitor Lizard that crossed the road.

And with that another week came to an end…I only have one more week left here at BnDal, moving to Malelane camp on Friday!

Until next week

Martie

As you know I left PKop on Monday and moved to BergnDal.  A camp situated appr. 12km from Malelane Gate.  The camp is situated on the banks of the Matjulu river and is surronded by mountains.  A favorite of many who come to Kruger!

It took me a while to set up camp as the first spot I had was not level and really on a slope.  I will not go into the whole story, but let me just mention that the caravan took me for a walk!!  I was a bit bruised and very blue for a few days, but once you get out on the road and have awesome sightings its all forgotten.

My trip down here set the scene for what was to come!  Not even at BergnDal yet and I found a LIT (Leopard in Tree).

Its really very difficult to sit at a sighting with the caravan in tow, as you are taking up so much space and I think its really rude to take away from the other visitors trying to see!  I did not stay long and left as I still had to get to camp and set up!  Then just a few km from the gate, a LOG (Leopard on Ground).  Really awesome to see 2 leopards in 1 day  (Many ppl come to Kruger and have not seen a leopard for years…not sure why Kruger is so kind to me to show me so many)!

Camp got set up and I was really happy with my day… I had to go to town to stock up on supplies, but could not get myself to leave Kruger so soon after arriving at BnD… so I decided to wait… when you leave the camp, you have 2 ways to travel… either down the tar road towards the main Malelane Gate, or you could take the gravel road down to Matjulu Waterhole and over Steilberg… I decided to travel down the tar road… what a good decision… lions all over the place… and not just lions, but mating pairs.

These 2 were so fascinated by the cars that they forgot to mate!  Its an amazing experience to be so close to these beautiful creatures!

I then had to go to town as I had a problem with the car and had no choice…. so off I went… luckily Malelane Town is only a few km away, got the car sorted out… some bolt broke off somewhere on the wheel, now sure where… and I could also use the time to do some shopping… fresh vegs, bread and meat…

Kruger has always got something to show you, it might be a usual sighing of Impala, Elephant, Buffalo, Zebra, Giraffe… etc. but then one day, you get one of the rare ones… and I was just so glad to see another one of Krugers special and rare ones… Wilddogs

And with last pic of the wilddogs, I wish you all a good week ahead… I should have been in bed ages ago. In Kruger you get up early and go to bed early… the animals dont wait for you!!!

With that you can see what an amazing week I had…

Until next week

Martie