Kruger National Park is South Africa's largest reserve. It's bigger than the entire state of Connecticut. In order to have the best chance to see the greatest amount of wildlife, you have to get there early. So it was up at 4:30 and to the park by 5:30 AM.
Warning - if the previous safari was impressive, this one was just totally mind blowing.
The goal for the day was to see the Africa Big 5 and then a possible side mission of seeing the Africa Ugly 5. The Africa Big 5 are the Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhinoceros, and the Leopard. We'd seen the first four on the first safari, but the lion was a bit weak. We hadn't seen the leopard at all. The Africa Ugly 5 are Hyena, Vulture, Wildebeest, Warthog, and Marabou Stork. We had our work cut out for us.
Our guide said he'd only stop for a single impala and that was only if he was close to the road. Of course that was the first thing we came across. Check that off the list. No more impala stops.
Then it was on to zebra's standing defiantly in the road.
And finally some Cape Buffalo's. These are all three older males enjoying a water hole that had just filled up the previous night due to a rain storm we had come through in the late evening. Older males are kicked out of the herd when younger males take dominance. They go off and form there own male only herd ... and tend to be a rather aggravated aggressive animal.
So one down off the big 5 list.
Then a big male elephant came sauntering in. Check off number 2 of the big 5.
This is actually another male elephant we came across shortly later. Tina wanted me to post this since it shows the canvas of the vehicle and gives some idea of just how close it is to the vehicle.
This was an iffy check box 3 since these lions were actually pretty far away sitting up on the top of a rock. It was still pretty neat view though.
Then it was time to pick off one of the ugly 5. However, if anybody can call a baby Hyena ugly, I don't know why. According to our guide this little guy was waiting for his parents to come back from a hunt. Truly cute.
A better lion pic. This guy was a bit closer.
Number 2 of the ugly 5 ... the Wildebeest.
I believe our guide called this an Ombi Antelope, the smallest antelope in the park.
Then our first Rhino; check off number 4 from the big 5 list. This is a White Rhino.
Then we came across an entire pride of lions.
In the watering hole next to the pride was a hippo giving a free ride to a turtle. :)
Off away from the rest of the pride was the male keeping cool under the shade.
Then another male came walking up ... limping badly actually ... and slowly made his way to the watering hole and laid down to drink.
Number 3 of the ugly 5 - the Warthog.
Another Ombi Antelope. Notice the big beautiful eyes.
A Kudu Antelope.
Birds enjoying a free ride on a hippo.
Another Kudu.
And a Kudu couple.
Then FINALLY ... the elusive leopard hiding in the shade underneath the buses - hardest of the big 5 to find. That completes the "Big 5".
A Vervet Monkey eating some fruit.
Number 4 of the "Ugly 5"- the vulture.
Another giraffe getting ready to chow down.
Awwwww ... she's a bashful one.
Turning away.
Before giving us a full frontal facial view. Note the scars on her face and the beautifully long eyelashes. Probably uses a ton of makeup in the morning.
A 7 foot tall termite mound. Everything grows big in Africa.
So this guy wouldn't come out, but he represents the "ugly side "of the Hyena family.
A Water Monitor Lizard.
A female Cape Buffalo.
Another big smelling like urine and proud of it male elephant.
A pair of Vervet Monkeys.
Tina picked up on this crock before our guide even recognized what it was. Atta girl T-Bo.
THE FINAL OF THE UGLY 5 - a flock of Marabou Storks!!!!! Ugly 5 and Big 5 done in one day.
During a lunch break this monkey ran over to another tours vehicle and stole a container of yogurt. Not good for a wild animal to eat human food ... but yogurt ought to be healthy for it, no"?
A Waterbuck with the tell tale sign of the toilet seat ring around it's rear end.
Another thing you typically don't see at a zoo. A baby zebra hanging around it's Mother and the finally nursing off of her.
Another hippo pining over Tina.
A Cape Buffalo skull ... most likely a tasty meal for a lion.
And the final spotting for the day - lonely bamboo running across the plains.
A long long day ... 10 hours in the park ... but worth every minute of it. Until next time - keep your trunk clean.
