Kruger National Park in the northeastern part of South Africa was — as the South Africans would say — very lekker man. Lekker (you might have guessed) is a term used to say that almost anything is awesome or amazing; and Kruger was just that.

We arrived in the 7,500+ square mile park after a short morning flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg followed by an all day drive to the park. Once you pay the park fee and enter you are free to drive wherever you choose as long as you follow all the rules. The most important of all the rules; “NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR CAR” or you could be lion lunch… seriously!

We were set to be at Satara rest camp for 2 nights followed by Lower Sabie rest camp for 2 nights. If you’re lucky enough to stay in one of the 13 rest camps in the park you must be in the gates of that rest camp by 6:30 or be ready to pay a hefty fine. The rest camps are like little villages only with electric shock fences around them. If you want to get out of the rest camps at night you hire one of the tours the park provides. We chose to do a sunset drive on the last evening in Kruger, but there was no sun to be found (bummer!) but there were plenty of other creatures out and about.

The reason most people flock to Kruger and any other game reserve in Africa is to catch a glimpse of the Big 5; lion, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, African elephant and leopard. We got to see 3 out of the Big 5, the rhinos and leopards were MIA. There has been a problem lately around Kruger with rhino poaching. The tusks are extremely valuable in the east, getting anywhere from 21,000-54,000 dollars per kilogram. So many helpless rhinos have been either de-tusked or killed because of the greed of humans. Such a sad situation.

Kruger is a special place indeed and we have both agreed that it is one of the coolest experiences of our lives. To be on your own in the REAL circle of life is indescribable. I have been feverishly trying to edit my over 10,000 photos from our 4 day safari adventure. The images below only scratch the surface. If this is your bag then stay tuned for many more photos, including some elephant adventures and a post on the birds of Kruger.

 

Not so camo

European Roller

Giraffe Family

Blue Wildebeest

Kori Bustard

Cape Buffalo

Traffic Jam

Bambi!

Love

Well Hello

Sun Kissed Afternoon

Mohawk

Heart-Shaped

Happy Child

Just Grazin’ Around

Which one of these is not like the others.

I See You

Passing Through

Olifants River

Southern Carmine Bee-Eater

Afternoon graze

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