Safari at the Kruger between Skukuza and Lower Sabie

This morning we woke up at the Skukuza Rest Camp, in the Kruger National Park in South Africa; we have breakfast while the sun starts to rise and then we leave.

We will also sleep here in Skukuza the coming night, so we can leave some things at the camp, such as the table, the chairs and the ammo boxes; in this way we can travel lighter and we are even quicker to get ready.

When we leave the camp we have a big dilemma: should we turn right to go along the H 4-1, the same road as yesterday, or left to take the H 1-2? Both are roads where good sightings are usually made, we choose to turn left and get to know a new road.

Shortly after the road descends towards the river and we find ourselves on a concrete bridge at river level, the sun has just risen and the sky is spectacular; in the water we see several water birds including a beautiful goliath heron, on the bridge we also saw several swifts that flew with their acrobatic flight; in addition we have also sighted a pair of dik diks and some nyalas that probably went to the river to drink.

We do not see much along the H 1-2 and therefore we decide to take the S 83, a dirt road that, starting from the H 1-2, goes into the bush; here we find some nyalas, some vultures perched on the dry branches of the trees and a brown snake eagle as well on a branch, busy scanning the horizon.

In reality we decided to take this detour in the remote hope of seeing a leopard, in this area they are present, but they are very shy and usually remain hidden away from anything that can disturb them, including cars.

Of the leopard we do not find neither the shadow nor the footprints, we know very well that it is not so easy to find it, however, we see a beautiful barred owl illuminated by a perfect light, we take several photographs, we have never seen it so well.

We go back, we pass again on the low bridge on the Sabie river but we do not spot anything special, we proceed and go to take the H 4-1.

We drive a few miles, the sun is still low and the light is warm, my favorite one; at one point, almost all of the sudden, we find four lions on the road in front of our car; they are four young males, the mane is just visible and they seem to have more desire to play than to hunt.

They walk along the side of the road and then slip into the tall grass and go towards the Sabie river; how nice this sighting as we are alone and so we really enjoyed it.

Continuing along the H 4-1 we see different herds of elephants that cross the road, they are all directed to the river for drinking and bathing; they are so many, it's incredible!
 

We continue on the S 79 that runs along the river and meet many zebras and impalas, at one point we are surrounded; they stay in this area because the vegetation is green and the river is near.

Here we also see several giraffes that walk slowly and elegantly along the river; there are also several birds, such as the bee-eaters, that usually choose a branch from which they look for potential prey and leave to catch them in flight and then return to the same branch.

We resume the H 4-1 and, shortly after, we meet some safari cars stopped, they have sighted two cheetahs along the river, but they are on the opposite bank, really far away, in practice two beige patches in the middle of the green vegetation; we watch them a bit with our binoculars but then we continue our exploration.

At a certain moment the wake-up call at 5.00am starts to be felt, so we stop at the picnic area of ​​Nkhulu and we have a coffee, as we have with us everything we need: hot water, Nescafé, milk and sugar; we position ourselves at the wooden tables overlooking the river and enjoy the view and our coffee.

Here at the Nkhulu picnic area there is also a small shop that sells maps of both the park and South Africa, some souvenirs, coffee and some snacks.

After this regenerative break we go back on board our Dr. Livingstone and continue our exploration of the H 4-1 and arrive at the Sunset Dam, a permanent artificial pool, where good sightings are usually made.

In the water we see many hippos, that remain immersed and only show their ears and eyes; sometimes some specimens come out with their whole head and then go back immediately after under water.

On the sandy banks there are many Nile crocodiles that warm up in the sun; here are also several yellow-billed storks and great white herons.

On a dry branch, that is located just above the water, we notice a green-backed heron that fixes the water, it is fishing; usually these birds remain motionless until their prey, mainly fish, is within their reach, at which point they launch the attack to capture it.

We stayed there for a while to see if we could see it at work, it changed position a couple of times, it leaned forward, ready for the dive, several times, but never caught anything; it is not easy for these birds, they must be very patient because if they miss the prey they risk not being able to hunt from that point because the prey escape.

While observing the striated heron, a few meters away from us, we see a monitor that walks fast on the grass, we can take some pictures before it disappears inside a bush; a little further on, a group of guinea fowls busy pecking on the ground, raising the soil.

We stayed a bit here at the pool in the hope of seeing other animals, the hope of seeing some lions coming to drink is always there; after a while we decide to leave and continue our safari.

Before proceeding with the exploration we decide to stop at the Lower Sabie Rest Camp, we take everything we need for lunch and we seat ourselves at the tables that are not far from the shop.

Finished lunch we take the opportunity to do some shopping at the store and buy some souvenirs, then drink a coffee from Mugg&Bean, a sort of South African Starbucks and then leave.

We take the H 10, a main road from Lower Sabie to the North; this is one of the roads where we usually make excellent sightings, in fact we see many giraffes and many vultures that fly or are placed near the carcass of a killing; we also see some kudus and several elephants going to the river.

At the puddle along the S 68 we see several impalas, some greater kudu and an oddly solitary hyena.

We are not very satisfied, we expected more from the H 10, but we know the safari is like that, the fortune factor matters a lot; maybe at a certain moment nothing can be seen and after 10 minutes the sighting of the year is made.

We decide to go back, we will return in the next days to scour this area again, hoping to be more fortunate.

We stop on the bridge on the Sabie river that is as well  on the H 10, it is not far from the Lower Sabie Rest Camp, that can be seen in the distance on the left; in the water we spot some cormorants, the African jacanas, some hippos immersed in the water, the saddle-billed storks and a herd of buffaloes in the distance that goes to the river.

Back on the H 4-1, we stop at the Sunset pool and then continue our safari.

The H 4-1 runs along the Sabie River, the view is one of the most beautiful in the whole Kruger National Park, as well as the sightings.

We see a lot of giraffes at the river busy eating and some are bent to drink water, there are many elephants, practically along the way we see herds of elephants crossing the road to go down to the river or that are in the water or drink or eat, what a show; there are also many puppies and it is fun to watch them while they play or try to learn how to use their trunk.

At one point on a beautiful rock, overlooking the river, we see a lioness that, apparently, seems to lie in relaxation, but, looking at it well, you can clearly see the gaze; it is aiming at a herd of buffaloes and, even if it is too far away to launch an attack, it does not lose sight of them for a moment, maybe it waits for them to approach or the darkness falls.

It is very beautiful kissed by the sun in a very proud pose, probably there are also the other lionesses of its herd, but we cannot even see them with our binoculars, they are probably hidden from our sight.

Continuing along the H 4-1 different greater kudus cross the road; they are very beautiful and elegant, with their long twisted horns.

And then again giraffes, other elephants, other kudus, many impalas; this road gives emotions at every kilometer.

In the water we spot several water birds such as the hammerkops, the goliath herons, the gray herons and many others.

When we arrive at the end of the H 4-1 it is early to return to our camp, the Skukuza Rest Camp, so we decide to return to the H 1-2, maybe we do some sighting.

We see in the distance all the elephants and other animals we have already seen from the H 4-1 that runs on the other side of the Sabie river.

At one point we meet a herd of elephants practically on the road, we stop the car and wait for them to cross; they are calm and very beautiful, and we remain there to admire them.

As we return to Skukuza we stop on the low bridge over the Sabie river and enjoy a beautiful sunset, the warm light is reflected in the water and makes this moment magical; we see the same goliath heron that we saw this morning, probably here it has everything it takes to live.

Even today has ended, we have done 11 hours of safari and we are more than satisfied, now we deserve a little bit of relaxation and therefore we return to our Skukuza Rest Camp.