South Africa in Three Trips (page 5 of 5)

I’ve had Pungwe in Manyeleti on my list for ages— it’ll be a nice change from Buffels Ndzakha and Honeyguide

No no I’m absolutely sure you mentioned Shindzela!!!

That’s the Kruger part done

A speed that’d leave a cheetah in the dust! 😉 Fancy a Castle Lite at the boma? Or would you rather have a Lion lager?

Good evening Wenze kahle Well, it was raining I was craving something And then once I got started A Windhoek for me It’s windy out there And on top of that, I hope my travel journal will inspire others’ journals. Sizobonana

Hey Haven’t seen it, but I’ll think about it. Thanks

You won’t regret it. You’re constantly walking and running alongside animals. In the past, such a thrill was unimaginable! The first of the 3 trips blew me away.

So at Shindzela we saw lions

But not just that...

Hyenas, lots of them.



Hyenas, among others, attracted by the buffalo carcass and waiting for the lions to finish. Hyena: an opportunistic animal that seizes every chance... They’ll happily snatch prey from cheetahs (exhausted after their run), leopards (though it’s harder since the leopard stashes its meal in trees), and lions (the lion’s number one enemy... "The Lion King" ring a bell?) The hyena has one of the most powerful jaws, perfect for crushing bones to get to the marrow. How do you recognize hyena droppings? They quickly turn whitish... because of the undigested calcium from the bones. In fact, many animals eat them to benefit from that calcium, giraffes included... nothing goes to waste in the bush. Hyena with its cubs (?).





Hyena cub...

The usefulness of termites...

You see some really impressive termite mounds. Just remember, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Termites break down wood (which other insects and fungi then turn into humus). Termite mounds are a hotspot for many insects and detritivores. The mound’s network of tunnels helps water penetrate the soil. Those same tunnels are a boon for roots, plus it’s warm in there. When abandoned, they can even serve as shelter for... hyenas.



For warthogs and many others. (Note: never approach a "hole" or "burrow" dug into a termite mound head-on. If a warthog is inside, it might charge out... and a warthog can do some serious damage. Approach the "hole" from behind or the side. (Just in case you ever get the chance to walk up to a termite mound...)) An abandoned termite mound is a rich spot for "food," warm, well-ventilated, and great for roots... making it an excellent place for a tree to grow. And finally, it plays a part in soil regeneration and elevation (which buries the surface). Soil elevation, thanks to termites or earthworms (our friend who founded the theory of natural selection and evolution had a topic he cared about even more... The role of earthworms... he defended the importance of this animal until the end of his life). Soil elevation of 4 meters per millennium. That was the "science and earth life" minute.

Rhinos



Buffalo





Elephants



Zebras and others



Hippos



My photo quota is maxed out...

VoyageForum’s admin emailed me saying it’s impossible to add a second part to a travel journal...

So I’ll make separate posts for other stops.

So, where’s the rest? 😕

Hi Michel, A few questions that come to mind: How much should I budget for ranger tips without being way off?🤪 You mentioned a hotel-restaurant in the middle of a railway bridge in Skukuza—it sounds amazing! Is it accessible to people who just want to eat there?🙂

Hi there For the tips Tough question—I’m giving 100 € for two people for 4 game drives in a private reserve. In Kruger National Park, 200 rand for the ranger who really went above and beyond during the drive. At Skukuza, There’s super-luxurious accommodation in a train above the river— And I don’t know (and don’t think) you can eat there unless you’re staying. And One of the restaurants in Skukuza, One of which is a railway station with a train— Totally accessible and “normal” in terms of price, But it doesn’t overlook the river.