South Africa has so much to offer including its wonderful wildlife! I spent several days at Royal Malewane lodge touring Thornybush Private Game Reserve near Kruger National Park. Reserves are open to the national park allowing access to a much wider area for animals including elephants, lions, rhinos, wild dogs, giraffes, leopards, impalas, several species of antelope and exotic birds.
My guide Noelle van Muiden and her tracker, Lawrence, traveled all over more than 15,000 acres in search of animals. “There are more than 60 types of mammals, more than 300 different birds and approximately 150 different species of trees and shrubs,” Noelle explained as we bounced along in search of our next sighting.
Game drives take place early morning and late afternoon when the animals are most active and the light is perfect for photographing the glories of South Africa. Understanding animal movement and communicating with other guides as well as Lawrence’s incredible sight and listening abilities, the pair usually had a plan when we climbed up into the truck and set out on an adventure.
One morning Noelle was driving down a road when Lawrence says simply, “Owl.” She backed up, got out her binoculars and couldn’t see it. Then she got out and invited her four passengers to get out and look. None of us saw it until it moved and eventually flew away. How he saw it while we were moving still boggles my mind.
On another occasion he said, “I hear elephants drinking.”
Noelle drove slowly drove off-road through thickets and brush until we came to a pond where a dozen or so elephants were drinking water. We sat in the truck along the water’s edge watching and photographing the amazing scene. One elephant came quite close to me and looked me in the eyes before moving on. Others began to eat from trees lining the pond.
Lawrence often spotted lion tracks and could recognize when they were made. We saw several lions on our game drives as well.
Every day we saw the sun rise and the sun set on this magical land.
“How do you put a feeling to the experience?,” asked Director and Head Ranger Juan Pinto one day just after lunch.
Indeed; there are no words to describe the feeling of being in the presence of these majestic animals in the wild.
A great reminder of my time spotting wildlife in South Africa – as you say, a wonderful experience!
I would go back in a heartbeat!!!
Wonderful! Your pictures are amazing, especially the leopard! I’ve done game parks in Tanzania and in Malawi, but never in South Africa. Were there a lot of tourists? In Ngorongoro crater a couple of years ago, we didn’t really have to track anything. All we had to look for was a cluster of stopped vehicles and we knew there was some sort of animal there to look at. All those vehicles sort of spoiled the experience (unlike when we were there in the mid-80s and had it more or less to ourselves).
Thank you! I had so much fun photographing the animals! There are game reserves connected to Kruger National Park. The animals roam free between the parks and the reserves. A handful of resorts are located on each reserve. The entire time I was there I only saw one other vehicle in the distance. I stayed at Royal Malewane; an amazing complex!!
It always amazes me how tuned in the guides are in Africa and how they are able to see or hear the animals way before we do. Makes me want to go to Kruger.
Lawrence was amazing — his senses were razor sharp!! I’d love to go back too…maybe one day!! 🙂
I spent a year traveling across Africa and your story (and photos!) brought it all back to me… rather than watching the rain outside I could smell the savannah after the rains and hear wildlife paws splashing in the water. It’s been too long since I’ve visited the South African bush!
What memories you must have; wow, a whole year traveling in Africa!! Your memories are pure poetry!
I just adored your photos. I would love to see all these creatures in their natural habitat. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Thank you so much!! It is an amazing experience…I hope you will be able to experience it one day!!
An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
Wow…thank you so much for your comment!! I really don’t know much else about the safari, but it is an amazing experience!!
I truly appreciate this blog article.Really looking forward to read more.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you check back often. I post about once a week.
Very beautiful
I cannot thank you enough for the post.Really thank you! Much obliged.
You are so welcome!! Thank you for reading it…I had such a wonderful time in South Africa!