Where We Be
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| Our first and only sighting of cheetah in Southern Africa -- and what a sighting! |
| Crocodile Bridge Camp -- Kruger NP |
Our last three days in Kruger are amazing, with
terrific sightings of leopard, cheetah, and lion.
Near Crocodile Bridge rest camp we have the
premier sighting of our penultimate day: three
cheetah! At first we see just one, resting in the
grass, but then she gets up and walks towards
the road, and shortly thereafter she is joined by
two others. Eventually they all go into hunt
mode, hopping up onto a leaning tree to get a
higher vantage point. What a great sighting!
Next day (our last in Kruger) we dub "lion day."
At dawn we notice cars pulled over and are
treated to the sight of a male lion and his mate
relaxing roadside. A lone lioness appears later
on -- then three more lion pad directly towards
us down the middle of the road, a long line of
cars trailing behind them. We pull over, turn off
the engine, and wait...and the three lion stalk
right towards and then past our car! My window
is half rolled down and I'm treated to the sight
of two of the lion walking within feet of me,
almost at eye level. I swear one of them looks
me right in the eye -- a moment I'll never forget.
terrific sightings of leopard, cheetah, and lion.
Near Crocodile Bridge rest camp we have the
premier sighting of our penultimate day: three
cheetah! At first we see just one, resting in the
grass, but then she gets up and walks towards
the road, and shortly thereafter she is joined by
two others. Eventually they all go into hunt
mode, hopping up onto a leaning tree to get a
higher vantage point. What a great sighting!
Next day (our last in Kruger) we dub "lion day."
At dawn we notice cars pulled over and are
treated to the sight of a male lion and his mate
relaxing roadside. A lone lioness appears later
on -- then three more lion pad directly towards
us down the middle of the road, a long line of
cars trailing behind them. We pull over, turn off
the engine, and wait...and the three lion stalk
right towards and then past our car! My window
is half rolled down and I'm treated to the sight
of two of the lion walking within feet of me,
almost at eye level. I swear one of them looks
me right in the eye -- a moment I'll never forget.
| Alas, our time at Kruger is at an end. We exit the park and drive to Mhlati Guest Cottages just outside Malelane Gate. |
| A lilac-breasted roller captures a huge cricket in its beak and proceeds to whack it repeatedly against the ground |
| We do see a few other animals besides cheetah and lion over these two days -- like this kudu staring straight at us |
| Large herds of impala help explain the abundance of predators in the area |
| Two black-backed jackals sniff at the site of a recent kill |
| And this vervet monkey who appears to be texting something important |
| A adorable steenbok hides in the tall grass by the road -- keeping out of sight of a leopard in the distance |