One day run to Kruger.

by Lourens Erasmus.
(Benoni South Africa)

December 9 took a drive to Waterval Onder, Mpumalanga and slept over at a lodge just below the tunnel. Left early Saterday morning for a day visit to the Kruger. Rain on the way there.

Entering Malelane Gate took the gravel road to Gardenia Hide. The Park is green and plenty of water next to the road resulting in no game roadside.

One day run to Kruger. 2

by Lourens Erasmus.
(Benoni South Africa)

From Gardenia Hide we returned back to the main road H4-2 past Afsaal Picnic site.
Took a visit to Mhlabane Weir on the S114 and encountered about 25 Terrapins coming out of the water begging next to the vehicles and returning to the water when the vehicles leave. A sign that they are being fed by tourists. Several Rhinos on the way. At Rhino Pan a good sized Elephant breeding herd arrived with a lot of interaction among them. Skipped Afsaal - no place to park Safari Vehicles crowding the area!

Day run to Kruger 3

by Lourens Erasmus.
(Benoni South Africa)

Time was running out as it was already after 11H00 leaving Rhino pan traveling back road to Skukuza planning to visit Lake Panic. On the way spent time with a dung Beetle and seeing a Hippo out of the water.

Day run to Kruger 4.

by Lourens Erasmus.
(Benoni South Africa)

Time running out as I arrive at Lake Panic at midday. No big game and I go for out of the ordinary. Water lily in bloom, Dragon fly, Three species of Dragon fly floating around. Crocodile at our feet in the water staring up at us.

Day run to Kruger 5.

by Lourens Erasmus.
(Benoni South Africa)

Dragon flies takes my attention and with patience I manage to photograph some resting on a stick protruding from the water. There are 3 species hovering around.

Day run to Kruger 6

by Lourens Erasmus.
(Benoni South Africa)

A Squacco Heron was sitting on a dead tree in front of the hide for an hour. From time to time took a frame and concentrated on the Dragon Flies there after. My attention was drawn to the Heron at one point. And suddenly it took off - my time was now running out and I went to Skukuza planning to leave via Lower Sabie. Leaving Skukuza it was already two o'clock and I traveled half way to Nkulu picnic site and decided to turn back to Lake Panic.

More of day drive to Kruger - Lake Panic

by Lourens Erasmus.
(Benoni South Africa)

Being alone my time was my own and I spent a lot of time at Lake Panic. Getting to lake Panic late afternoon with limited time I found a larger than life Crocodile lying on the sand bank to the right of the hide. Noticed it had been fitted with a tracking device. On return contacted the head of nature conservation and was informed it was a recent fitting and was a test unit for crocodiles and that the old big one was being tracked on his movements on Lake panic.