The freezer in the general store at Skukuza Camp contains various cuts of wild meat. Let’s go look at wild animals before devouring them.
Camping in Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park encompasses 7,523 square miles (19,485 square kilometers) of game reserve. The best way to see Kruger is to camp. We return the camping gear that we purchased back to Sportsman’s Warehouse, and book a safari tent for less cost.
Ground Hornbill
Our little Honda w/out 4WD proves adequate for game drives, and dodging the most beautiful Ground hornbills I had ever seen.
Lions resting near the side of the road
Lions sleep in the weeds during the day, yet another reason for rules that keep you inside your vehicle.
This guy just would not move on
Stay a safe distance from elephants. This one delays us for about fifteen minutes.
Well hello there!
A family of giraffes cross the road and brings Mare to tears. Baboons do what Baboons do.
Baboons
Temperatures soar back at the safari tent, which comes equipped with a fan and refrigerator. We stay cool by rinsing in showers in the shared bath across the road, as well as frequent dips in the pool.
After the storm – Sunrise Safari
An evening thunderstorm cools things, while lightning bolts create strobe light effects under the clouds. Sleep to the sounds of the jungle…an insectophony if you will.
African Wild Dogs
We wake early and get in line to wait for the gates of the Camp to open. Drivers, start your engines. Colorful, energetic wild African dogs surround our early morning ride!
We follow our safari guide “friend,” as do the wild dogs
Let’s follow the hired guide in the fancy safari truck. Maybe he knows where the lions sleep today. And he does. After “guiding us to them,” he says, “I’ll send you the bill.” Oops. He does not send a bill, but I guess we made a faux pas.
Thanks safari guide!
White Rhinos are plentiful.
White Rhino
A lioness, (spotted by Mare) claims the river bed. For some strange reason, we’re starving.
Lioness in the river bed
Back at camp, we are the fenced-in population, while the animals watch us. Signs prohibit throwing food over the fence to hyenas and monkeys.
Living the Braii life – with the wildlife
Let’s live the braii life…Warthog, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, and Gemsbok dominate the grill tonight. Where else could this happen? That wildebeest may have tasted better had I not dropped it in the dirt, but what an exotic feast!
Adios Kruger NP
A giraffe bids us farewell on our final morning drive back to “civilization.” Wait a minute, let’s turn around and purchase one last batch of wild game meat for the road. Ron Mitchell