ecoAfrica's Blog » kruger safari

Battle of Kruger goes mainstream

Ralph Pina — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:42:02 +0000

National Geographic Wild channel is currently screening a documentary, Battle of Kruger: Caught on Safari about one of the most amazing viral videos ever shot. The amateur video (see below) tells the story of a herd of buffalo who rescue a calf first from the jaws of lions, and then from a crocodile, and then exact revenge on their ancient enemies. The video was made by tourists on safari in the Kruger National Park in 2007, and has racked up 35 million views, and still counting.

Aaaaah, It Was Wonderful To Go Back To The Bush!

Julia — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:33:59 +0000

Upon entering Klaserie Game Reserve we were delighted with the welcoming committee of a solitary Brown Snake Eagle perched high on a dead Leadwood as we zooted off to our unfenced camp. It was an amazing setting on the banks of the Klaserie under a canopy of Jackalberry trees. With an armed ranger and tracker, we explored the treasures of their concession. On our final evening of the 3 nights we spent there, we came across a mating pair of lion on the game drive. After our supper their calls continued echoing across our camp and to our surprise we were later surrounded by calls from 2 other lionesses. There’s nothing like those decibels to get your adrenalin going!

We bid our goodbyes to the Klaserie and entered Kruger National Park via Phalaborwa gate. The first 1.5 days were extremely disappointing and tiring to say the least as we had barely spotted Impala and Elephant. On our final full day in the park, our guide had a good feeling about the day and he was quite right – not only did we see a huge Elephant herd, Buffalo bulls, Rhino and calf and 3 bachelor Lions, but we were graced with a sighting of the elusive Leopard precariously feeding on an Impala carcass high in a Sausage Tree, as well as of a small pack of four Wild Dog trotting off into the oblivion of the savanna. It is true, the animal movements are extremely unpredictable making every sighting a very special moment in time!

It was my first experience staying in the chalets at the various restcamps. Although we didn’t spend much time in the restcamps, both chalets were comfortable and restcamp facilities were adequate.

Our final trip back to Johannesburg entailed a trip back in time to Pilgrim’s Rest, and capturing the awe of God’s Window and Lisbon Falls.

We took back home to Cape Town many photographs and I clocked up to 40 lifers mainly all thanks to Rob, the specialist! By the end of the trip my husband was enthusiastically identifying the various animals. It was a trip I’ll keep very close to my heart!

Kruger National Park Google Earth layer

Ralph Pina — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:05:47 +0000

ecoAfrica has launched a Google Earth layer for the Kruger National Park (2MB .kmz file; requires Google Earth), in the context of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Our layer includes:

Lodges, camps, restcamps and trails camps (book online)
Transport: roads, distances, routes, gates, airstrips (plan a trip)
Ecology: rainfall, biomes, wildlife census – all graphically represented
History: how Kruger evolved and its borders expanded since 1884
National park, transfrontier park and game reserve boundaries

So there’s something there for the traveller and visitor, as well as the scholar.

Travel layer: lodge and camp locations

Travel layer: game lodge information

Ecological layer: animal census

Ecological layer: biomes

Transport layer: roads, gates , airstrips, routes, distances