There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(05-10-2024, 09:32 PM)widmerk Wrote: Hippo Pools Males, mating on S118, just before S114, Oct 2023, Bhekunbuzo was mating.
All of your pictures are incredible, what an amazing trip you had! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have been like. My wife and I had a trip on our bucket list, she liked tigers more, so we were going to try and see both big cats in the wild. Do you have a guide in Kruger, use a guide company, how do you get to see so many different cats in the same trip?
05-16-2024, 07:42 PM( This post was last modified: 05-16-2024, 07:44 PM by T I N O )
the Vurhami young male was sighted with a snare around his neck. Fortunately the SANPARKS vets removed the snare successfully.
Caption: This morning we bumped into one of the Vurhami males. At first we thought that this was an awesome photo opportunity as he was lying in full view of us. As we were still in awe of his beauty, he suddenly turned his head and it was then that we noticed the wire wrapped around his neck and front left leg. I decided to report the incident and was told that help was on its way.
What played out next was something rather special and probably a "Once In A Lifetime" experience for many. The Sanparks veterinarian and his team arrived about 40 minutes later. Very professionally and efficiently the team went to work. We were privi to witness the entire operation from where they darted the lion, removed the snare, right infront of us, to waking him up again. This all played out in a matter of about 20 minutes. The lion is in good shape and is expected to recover well.
This is an experience that myself and everyone onboard, least expected. We will cherish this for the rest of our lives and it would go a long way for storytelling around the campfire tonight.
A giant shout out to the heroes of the day at SANPARKS. It was an absolute honor to witness true conservation at work.
(05-10-2024, 09:32 PM)widmerk Wrote: Hippo Pools Males, mating on S118, just before S114, Oct 2023, Bhekunbuzo was mating.
All of your pictures are incredible, what an amazing trip you had! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have been like. My wife and I had a trip on our bucket list, she liked tigers more, so we were going to try and see both big cats in the wild. Do you have a guide in Kruger, use a guide company, how do you get to see so many different cats in the same trip?
Thanks so much BA0701.
I actually self drive. I love this sh!t so please forgive the long answer. The keys for me are 1) I am in line before camp gate opens and return right at closing gate, every day I am there, usually for 2-3 weeks. This is not a strategy, per se, but I just can’t bear to sit around camp when there are animals to witness (and and I’m usually solo, very different when my wife occasionally joins). 2) given that I self drive, I have the option to sit, sometimes for hours, for bedded down lions to get up and active. Sometimes it doesn’t pan out, and I will sit and swelter for hours only to have to return to camp with them not moving, but often it does and can be spectacular. Most don’t have the patience (obsession) to sit like that. 3) when male lions are walking deliberately and parallel to a road, they often veer deeper in the bush when lots of cars are around, only to return to their original line after 10-15 minutes have passed and cars are gone. You have to sort out their rate of travel because they don’t stop much, but I’ve re-picked up a lot of lions this way. 4) Similarly, again when males are walking with intent, they usually stay on a straight line, so sometimes if they cross the H4-1, for example, you can pick them back up on the S79. 5) usually I will start seeing the same people/cars out and about, and if they are fellow “game spotters” actively looking hard we’ll start comparing notes, i often will tell them “had the Vurhamis 4 km back to the South” and then maybe I see them again later and they will go out of their way to give me a tip back (on the other hand I get annoyed when some people make no attempt at spotting game themselves and ask every person they pass “see anything?”). If I see a tour operator being particularly considerate of us private drivers, I’ll often work hard to tell them about things too, and they are normally very good about returning the favor (some not).If someone did want a guide, there’s a guy I see on Facebook, and have seen in the Park that seems awesome, Nombekana safaris. I am just venturing into more elaborate self safari (done Kalahari, looking to Moremi next), but have done a lot in Kruger over the years. I track this stuff like a nerd, last trip I averaged 2.8 different lion sightings per day (only counts if I get a good pic), but that includes lionesses too. That was my highest, beating my previous record of 2.0 a couple times. It of course varies, last trip I had 2 days with none, but a max of 8 different sightings in one day. I often take remote dirt roads, a bit more risky, you see less because there are far less cars, but you can get some really special sightings where you may be with some males for hours all by yourself. Oh, one more tip, I find lions like a bit of rain, my theory is it masks their scent and they can hunt more effectively. Many stay in camp when it rains making for uncrowded sightings. (Heavy rain different story). I could talk for days on this but by now your eyes may be sore….
05-17-2024, 06:07 AM( This post was last modified: 05-17-2024, 06:09 AM by BA0701 )
(05-17-2024, 05:33 AM)widmerk Wrote:
(05-15-2024, 06:19 AM)BA0701 Wrote:
(05-10-2024, 09:32 PM)widmerk Wrote: Hippo Pools Males, mating on S118, just before S114, Oct 2023, Bhekunbuzo was mating.
All of your pictures are incredible, what an amazing trip you had! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have been like. My wife and I had a trip on our bucket list, she liked tigers more, so we were going to try and see both big cats in the wild. Do you have a guide in Kruger, use a guide company, how do you get to see so many different cats in the same trip?
Thanks so much BA0701.
I actually self drive. I love this sh!t so please forgive the long answer. The keys for me are 1) I am in line before camp gate opens and return right at closing gate, every day I am there, usually for 2-3 weeks. This is not a strategy, per se, but I just can’t bear to sit around camp when there are animals to witness (and and I’m usually solo, very different when my wife occasionally joins). 2) given that I self drive, I have the option to sit, sometimes for hours, for bedded down lions to get up and active. Sometimes it doesn’t pan out, and I will sit and swelter for hours only to have to return to camp with them not moving, but often it does and can be spectacular. Most don’t have the patience (obsession) to sit like that. 3) when male lions are walking deliberately and parallel to a road, they often veer deeper in the bush when lots of cars are around, only to return to their original line after 10-15 minutes have passed and cars are gone. You have to sort out their rate of travel because they don’t stop much, but I’ve re-picked up a lot of lions this way. 4) Similarly, again when males are walking with intent, they usually stay on a straight line, so sometimes if they cross the H4-1, for example, you can pick them back up on the S79. 5) usually I will start seeing the same people/cars out and about, and if they are fellow “game spotters” actively looking hard we’ll start comparing notes, i often will tell them “had the Vurhamis 4 km back to the South” and then maybe I see them again later and they will go out of their way to give me a tip back (on the other hand I get annoyed when some people make no attempt at spotting game themselves and ask every person they pass “see anything?”). If I see a tour operator being particularly considerate of us private drivers, I’ll often work hard to tell them about things too, and they are normally very good about returning the favor (some not).If someone did want a guide, there’s a guy I see on Facebook, and have seen in the Park that seems awesome, Nombekana safaris. I am just venturing into more elaborate self safari (done Kalahari, looking to Moremi next), but have done a lot in Kruger over the years. I track this stuff like a nerd, last trip I averaged 2.8 different lion sightings per day (only counts if I get a good pic), but that includes lionesses too. That was my highest, beating my previous record of 2.0 a couple times. It of course varies, last trip I had 2 days with none, but a max of 8 different sightings in one day. I often take remote dirt roads, a bit more risky, you see less because there are far less cars, but you can get some really special sightings where you may be with some males for hours all by yourself. Oh, one more tip, I find lions like a bit of rain, my theory is it masks their scent and they can hunt more effectively. Many stay in camp when it rains making for uncrowded sightings. (Heavy rain different story). I could talk for days on this but by now your eyes may be sore….
My friend, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your reply, so thoughtful, detailed, and covering all aspects. How often do you take these trips? Truly, thank you, so very much, for taking the time to share this with everyone, it really means a lot! Not to mention it gives me a ton of ideas!
(05-10-2024, 09:32 PM)widmerk Wrote: Hippo Pools Males, mating on S118, just before S114, Oct 2023, Bhekunbuzo was mating.
All of your pictures are incredible, what an amazing trip you had! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have been like. My wife and I had a trip on our bucket list, she liked tigers more, so we were going to try and see both big cats in the wild. Do you have a guide in Kruger, use a guide company, how do you get to see so many different cats in the same trip?
Thanks so much BA0701.
I actually self drive. I love this sh!t so please forgive the long answer. The keys for me are 1) I am in line before camp gate opens and return right at closing gate, every day I am there, usually for 2-3 weeks. This is not a strategy, per se, but I just can’t bear to sit around camp when there are animals to witness (and and I’m usually solo, very different when my wife occasionally joins). 2) given that I self drive, I have the option to sit, sometimes for hours, for bedded down lions to get up and active. Sometimes it doesn’t pan out, and I will sit and swelter for hours only to have to return to camp with them not moving, but often it does and can be spectacular. Most don’t have the patience (obsession) to sit like that. 3) when male lions are walking deliberately and parallel to a road, they often veer deeper in the bush when lots of cars are around, only to return to their original line after 10-15 minutes have passed and cars are gone. You have to sort out their rate of travel because they don’t stop much, but I’ve re-picked up a lot of lions this way. 4) Similarly, again when males are walking with intent, they usually stay on a straight line, so sometimes if they cross the H4-1, for example, you can pick them back up on the S79. 5) usually I will start seeing the same people/cars out and about, and if they are fellow “game spotters” actively looking hard we’ll start comparing notes, i often will tell them “had the Vurhamis 4 km back to the South” and then maybe I see them again later and they will go out of their way to give me a tip back (on the other hand I get annoyed when some people make no attempt at spotting game themselves and ask every person they pass “see anything?”). If I see a tour operator being particularly considerate of us private drivers, I’ll often work hard to tell them about things too, and they are normally very good about returning the favor (some not).If someone did want a guide, there’s a guy I see on Facebook, and have seen in the Park that seems awesome, Nombekana safaris. I am just venturing into more elaborate self safari (done Kalahari, looking to Moremi next), but have done a lot in Kruger over the years. I track this stuff like a nerd, last trip I averaged 2.8 different lion sightings per day (only counts if I get a good pic), but that includes lionesses too. That was my highest, beating my previous record of 2.0 a couple times. It of course varies, last trip I had 2 days with none, but a max of 8 different sightings in one day. I often take remote dirt roads, a bit more risky, you see less because there are far less cars, but you can get some really special sightings where you may be with some males for hours all by yourself. Oh, one more tip, I find lions like a bit of rain, my theory is it masks their scent and they can hunt more effectively. Many stay in camp when it rains making for uncrowded sightings. (Heavy rain different story). I could talk for days on this but by now your eyes may be sore….
My friend, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your reply, so thoughtful, detailed, and covering all aspects. How often do you take these trips? Truly, thank you, so very much, for taking the time to share this with everyone, it really means a lot! Not to mention it gives me a ton of ideas!
At least once/year, sometimes twice. This website helps me a lot, I’ll often see a male coalition mentioned here and then specifically seek them out in there territory. So have you booked that tiger trip? India?
(05-10-2024, 09:32 PM)widmerk Wrote: Hippo Pools Males, mating on S118, just before S114, Oct 2023, Bhekunbuzo was mating.
All of your pictures are incredible, what an amazing trip you had! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have been like. My wife and I had a trip on our bucket list, she liked tigers more, so we were going to try and see both big cats in the wild. Do you have a guide in Kruger, use a guide company, how do you get to see so many different cats in the same trip?
Thanks so much BA0701.
I actually self drive. I love this sh!t so please forgive the long answer. The keys for me are 1) I am in line before camp gate opens and return right at closing gate, every day I am there, usually for 2-3 weeks. This is not a strategy, per se, but I just can’t bear to sit around camp when there are animals to witness (and and I’m usually solo, very different when my wife occasionally joins). 2) given that I self drive, I have the option to sit, sometimes for hours, for bedded down lions to get up and active. Sometimes it doesn’t pan out, and I will sit and swelter for hours only to have to return to camp with them not moving, but often it does and can be spectacular. Most don’t have the patience (obsession) to sit like that. 3) when male lions are walking deliberately and parallel to a road, they often veer deeper in the bush when lots of cars are around, only to return to their original line after 10-15 minutes have passed and cars are gone. You have to sort out their rate of travel because they don’t stop much, but I’ve re-picked up a lot of lions this way. 4) Similarly, again when males are walking with intent, they usually stay on a straight line, so sometimes if they cross the H4-1, for example, you can pick them back up on the S79. 5) usually I will start seeing the same people/cars out and about, and if they are fellow “game spotters” actively looking hard we’ll start comparing notes, i often will tell them “had the Vurhamis 4 km back to the South” and then maybe I see them again later and they will go out of their way to give me a tip back (on the other hand I get annoyed when some people make no attempt at spotting game themselves and ask every person they pass “see anything?”). If I see a tour operator being particularly considerate of us private drivers, I’ll often work hard to tell them about things too, and they are normally very good about returning the favor (some not).If someone did want a guide, there’s a guy I see on Facebook, and have seen in the Park that seems awesome, Nombekana safaris. I am just venturing into more elaborate self safari (done Kalahari, looking to Moremi next), but have done a lot in Kruger over the years. I track this stuff like a nerd, last trip I averaged 2.8 different lion sightings per day (only counts if I get a good pic), but that includes lionesses too. That was my highest, beating my previous record of 2.0 a couple times. It of course varies, last trip I had 2 days with none, but a max of 8 different sightings in one day. I often take remote dirt roads, a bit more risky, you see less because there are far less cars, but you can get some really special sightings where you may be with some males for hours all by yourself. Oh, one more tip, I find lions like a bit of rain, my theory is it masks their scent and they can hunt more effectively. Many stay in camp when it rains making for uncrowded sightings. (Heavy rain different story). I could talk for days on this but by now your eyes may be sore….
My friend, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your reply, so thoughtful, detailed, and covering all aspects. How often do you take these trips? Truly, thank you, so very much, for taking the time to share this with everyone, it really means a lot! Not to mention it gives me a ton of ideas!
At least once/year, sometimes twice. This website helps me a lot, I’ll often see a male coalition mentioned here and then specifically seek them out in there territory. So have you booked that tiger trip? India?
Wow, that is absolutely incredible! I can't imagine how exciting that would be. I don't my friend, but my interests are certainly peaked, for sure, I hope to be able to hear more of your travels! Thank you, so much!
(05-10-2024, 09:32 PM)widmerk Wrote: Hippo Pools Males, mating on S118, just before S114, Oct 2023, Bhekunbuzo was mating.
All of your pictures are incredible, what an amazing trip you had! I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have been like. My wife and I had a trip on our bucket list, she liked tigers more, so we were going to try and see both big cats in the wild. Do you have a guide in Kruger, use a guide company, how do you get to see so many different cats in the same trip?
Thanks so much BA0701.
I actually self drive. I love this sh!t so please forgive the long answer. The keys for me are 1) I am in line before camp gate opens and return right at closing gate, every day I am there, usually for 2-3 weeks. This is not a strategy, per se, but I just can’t bear to sit around camp when there are animals to witness (and and I’m usually solo, very different when my wife occasionally joins). 2) given that I self drive, I have the option to sit, sometimes for hours, for bedded down lions to get up and active. Sometimes it doesn’t pan out, and I will sit and swelter for hours only to have to return to camp with them not moving, but often it does and can be spectacular. Most don’t have the patience (obsession) to sit like that. 3) when male lions are walking deliberately and parallel to a road, they often veer deeper in the bush when lots of cars are around, only to return to their original line after 10-15 minutes have passed and cars are gone. You have to sort out their rate of travel because they don’t stop much, but I’ve re-picked up a lot of lions this way. 4) Similarly, again when males are walking with intent, they usually stay on a straight line, so sometimes if they cross the H4-1, for example, you can pick them back up on the S79. 5) usually I will start seeing the same people/cars out and about, and if they are fellow “game spotters” actively looking hard we’ll start comparing notes, i often will tell them “had the Vurhamis 4 km back to the South” and then maybe I see them again later and they will go out of their way to give me a tip back (on the other hand I get annoyed when some people make no attempt at spotting game themselves and ask every person they pass “see anything?”). If I see a tour operator being particularly considerate of us private drivers, I’ll often work hard to tell them about things too, and they are normally very good about returning the favor (some not).If someone did want a guide, there’s a guy I see on Facebook, and have seen in the Park that seems awesome, Nombekana safaris. I am just venturing into more elaborate self safari (done Kalahari, looking to Moremi next), but have done a lot in Kruger over the years. I track this stuff like a nerd, last trip I averaged 2.8 different lion sightings per day (only counts if I get a good pic), but that includes lionesses too. That was my highest, beating my previous record of 2.0 a couple times. It of course varies, last trip I had 2 days with none, but a max of 8 different sightings in one day. I often take remote dirt roads, a bit more risky, you see less because there are far less cars, but you can get some really special sightings where you may be with some males for hours all by yourself. Oh, one more tip, I find lions like a bit of rain, my theory is it masks their scent and they can hunt more effectively. Many stay in camp when it rains making for uncrowded sightings. (Heavy rain different story). I could talk for days on this but by now your eyes may be sore….
My friend, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your reply, so thoughtful, detailed, and covering all aspects. How often do you take these trips? Truly, thank you, so very much, for taking the time to share this with everyone, it really means a lot! Not to mention it gives me a ton of ideas!
At least once/year, sometimes twice. This website helps me a lot, I’ll often see a male coalition mentioned here and then specifically seek them out in there territory. So have you booked that tiger trip? India?
My friend, you are living the life! Looking forward to seeing more of your sightings!
S21 male warning tourist in vechicle who where too close, I remember this male doing same thing back in 2020, he doesnt like vechicles (also, he looks absolutley massive) :
05-18-2024, 10:09 PM( This post was last modified: 05-18-2024, 10:10 PM by afortich )
Quote:S21 male warning tourist in vechicle who where too close, I remember this male doing same thing back in 2020, he doesnt like vechicles (also, he looks absolutley massive) :
Unbelievable that the tourist didn't move his car. Sometimes people are so disrespectful with animals.
(05-18-2024, 10:02 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote: S21 male warning tourist in vechicle who where too close, I remember this male doing same thing back in 2020, he doesnt like vechicles (also, he looks absolutley massive) :
Absolutely enormous, for sure! That boy could have gotten into that vehicle if he really wanted to, and nobody could have done a thing about it. I hate it when people are so disrespectful.
Madala the last Mluwati male seen last week with 5 of his sons the Kumana young males feeding on a buffalo carcass in KNP
Photo credits: Magdalena Kurz
Coalitions of Kruger National Park
