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Pretoriuskop Rest Camp

October 29, 2019October 28, 2019Nature Travel Team

Pretoriuskop rest camp in the southwestern area of the world renowned Kruger National Park is most famous for its spectacular swimming pool, built in and around a massive granite rock plate. But the camp offers much more than just a place to cool down in…

Pretoriuskop has huge sentimental value for those that know the history of the Park and takes its name from the nearby “kopje” (hill) where Voortrekker Willem Pretorius, a member of Carl Trichardt’s 1848 expedition to Delagoa Bay, is buried. It is the park’s oldest rest camp, situated in the region of the park that receives the highest rainfall and the area is dominated by a veld type known as Pretoriuskop sourveld. The tall, coarse grasses growing here are not too palatable, so the area does not hold large numbers of grazers, though it is particularly good for the rare and beautiful Sable Antelope.

Some 3,500 million years ago, molten rock forced its way through the earth’s crust and solidified to form the spectacular granite outcrops where Pretoriuskop camp is now nestled. The most impressive of these, the granite dome known as Shabeni Hill, is not far from the camp, and this is a great area in which to search for Leopard and even Long-crested Eagle.

It is immediately apparent to any visitor that Pretoriuskop is unique as brilliantly colourful bougainvilleas adorn the camp, pre-dating the decision to make exclusive use of indigenous plants in laying out rest camp gardens. Nostalgia prompted an exception to the rule for Pretoriuskop, and exotic flowering plants were allowed to stay, enhancing the strong sense of the past that is so pervasive.

It is one of the more convenient rest camps for local South Africans as it is less than 10 kilometres from Numbi Gate (closest gate to the town of White River). The famous Afsaal picnic spot can easily be reached via the game-rich Voortrekker road, and the beautiful Phabeni area north of the camp is a spot renowned for fantastic game viewing encounters. Top mammals in the area include Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Common Eland and African Wild Dog. The area around Pretoriuskop is also very good for many interesting bird species and a number of species are found here that are not seen anywhere else in Kruger. These include Red-throated Wryneck, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird and Amethyst Sunbird.

The camp itself, with its huge Sausage Trees, is also a good spot for all sorts of interesting fauna and flora species, especially on the Sable walking trail. These include Brown-headed Parrot (they love the brilliantly red Common Coral-trees dotted all over the camp), Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Cape Golden Mole and Smith’s Bush Squirrel.

Pretoriuskop has ample accommodation options, including basic huts, bungalows, camping/caravan sites and top-of-the-range guesthouses. Most bungalows are grouped into 3 circles with lush green lawns in the middle. The camp has a restaurant, petrol station and cafeteria, and is also disabled friendly. And don’t forget that fantastic swimming pool!

Northern Kruger Safari

October 25, 2019Nature Travel Team

The huge Kruger National Park is undoubtedly one of the best wildlife reserves in the world. The park welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors every year. All the famous Big Five game animals (Buffalo, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Lion and Leopard) are found in “Kruger”, as it is affectionately known, along with more species of other large mammals than any other African game reserve (almost 150 species). Over 520 species of birds have also been seen in the park, along with vast numbers of reptiles, insects and other interesting fauna and flora.Probably the best kept secret of the world famous Kruger National Park is the vast northern section, from the Letaba river towards the far north at Pafuri and the Makuleke concession.

Of all the regions of Kruger, the vegetation in the north is the least diversified and much of the region is blanketed in Mopane shrub. It is also, however, home to the strange and mythical Baobab tree. There are also several river corridors, the favourite habitat of many species of special mammals, like the exquisite Nyala. This is also the area of the park for rare antelopes, and Roan Antelope, Tsessebe and Sable Antelope are most easily spotted here. Herds of African Elephant and African Buffalo depend on the rivers for water, and predators such as Lion, Leopard and Spotted Hyaena concentrate where prey is abundant.

Further north there are some fascinating ecozones containing many very localised species of fauna and flora, and the Pafuri region is unlike any other in the park. The Pafuri area is regarded by some visitors as the most enchanting corner of the Kruger, and is undoubtedly the most important locality for birds in the park, especially for rare vagrants and birds from tropical Africa.

On this 6 night safari, we will spend two nights each in Mopani Camp (with its stunning setting on the Pioneer dam), Shingwedzi Camp ( a hotspot for rare birds) and Punda Maria Camp (with its charming old school feel). Each camp has been carefully chosen to provide you with the best chance of seeing all that Kruger has to offer, both in terms of fantastic animal sightings and beautiful classic African landscapes.

For more information on this fantastic 6 night safari to the North of Kruger, get in touch with us at info@naturetravelkruger.com or visit browse to Northern Kruger Safari

Shy 5

October 22, 2019October 21, 2019Nature Travel Team

Here at Nature Travel Kruger we have told you about the Big Five, the Ugly Five and the Secret Seven before, but today is the turn of another interesting group of Kruger’s animals; the Shy Five.

These five mammal species are known for their timid and nervous disposition, both in front of human visitors and other animals. They are all difficult to spot in the wild, but as always the fantastic Kruger National Park gives you a good chance to see one or more of them, especially on a night drive!

Other publications and experts have different versions of which animals are included in the Shy Five, but after years of working in Kruger we feel that these are the five animals that most accurately reflect the true behaviour of the Shy Five.

The first member is the strange looking and almost mythical Aardvark, usually found in open savannah landscape near to termite mounds where it uses its 30cm long tongue to find termites and ants. Normally an Aardvark will be of a colour similar to the soil in the area in which it lives. This one-of-a-kind pig-like creature is active only at night and can walk very far in search of food.

The solitary and nocturnal Aardwolf may look like a miniature, striped hyena at first glance, but this dog-like animal, and number two on our list, also lives on a steady diet of termites. Aardwolf means “earth wolf” directly translated to English and they are in fact members of the Hyaena family. However, they do not have the powerful jaws and large teeth of the other members of the family, and instead make do with pegs for teeth, perfect for consuming the 250,000 termites per night they regularly do.

The third member of the group, the Side-striped Jackal, is not only nocturnal but also extremely timid and rarely seen. They are solitary dog-like animals, foraging for carrion, fruit and insects during the early evening or at dawn. It can change its diet based on environmental conditions, and in certain areas almost exclusively eats fruit. As the name suggests, the jackal has a distinct black stripe running along its body and a white-tipped tail.

Also known as the Cape Genet, the South African Large-spotted Genet is next up. It is a small cat-like creature that actually belongs to the Mongoose family. They are naturally shy and very nocturnal in nature, hunting for birds, lizards, rodents, snakes and insects. Being good tree climbers (using the black-tipped tail for counterbalance), they are usually found in mixed woodland areas where they can scramble along tree branches.

Lastly, the odd-looking Cape Porcupine is actually a rodent, the largest in the region. The entire back and flank area of a porcupine is covered with sharp, black and white quills that can grow up to 50 cm long. The quills can be made to rattle when the animal is threatened and can get stuck into its enemies if they try to attack the porcupine. They are also shy and nocturnal, coming out at night to feed on roots, bulbs and other vegetarian matter.

For your chance to see one, or more, of these fascinating but shy animals, join us on safari in Kruger! For more information browse to our Nature Travel Kruger Website or enquire at info@naturetravelkruger.com

Olifants Rest Camp

October 18, 2019October 17, 2019Nature Travel Team

Olifants Rest Camp is undoubtedly one of the Kruger National Park’s most beautiful camps. It is perched high above the impressive Olifants river with views that are breathtakingly “out of Africa”. The modern lookout platforms allow visitors to observe the river many hundred feet below. The camp has a reputation for being the best place to go in Kruger when you don’t want to do a lot of driving but still want to see the park’s wildlife. All you need is a good pair of binoculars and a zoom camera!

Because Olifants (the Afrikaans word for “elephant”) is situated in a transitional zone in central-northern Kruger, 2 distinct types of vegetation can be found, offering a wide range of game. To the north, the low lying Mopane shrub provide cover for Plains Zebra, Impala, Greater Kudu and African Elephant. To the south, rolling plains are dotted with big trees in the surrounding savannah, good habitat for African Buffalo and Giraffe. Along the Olifants river itself, wildlife such as Lion, Nile Crocodiles and Hippopotamus can be viewed, as well as an abundance of birdlife such as Martial Eagle, owls, storks and many others.

The camp grounds are well foliaged and there are some lofty trees, and is therefore a great place to spot the Grey-rumped Swallow, Brown-throated Martin and Common Dwarf Mongoose. The camp also has a swimming pool reserved for overnight guests, and in the heat of the day this is a welcome spot indeed! Olifants is also a good camp from which to do a night drive, and on one of these exciting excursions visitors could see Cape Porcupine, Serval, South African Large-spotted Genet or even a Pel’s Fishing Owl.

There are two luxury guesthouses in the Oliphant’s Rest Camp, as well as two, three and four-roomed bungalows complete with en suite facilities. There are also two huts available that are wheel-chair friendly, and a 20-delegate conference room.

The camp is one of the few in Kruger that offers guided tours down to the river, walking trails in the wilderness region (the Oliphant’s River Backpacking Trail) and mountain biking trails with armed guards. Everything you need in one camp – that is Olifants!

For more about our Kruger Safaris visit www.naturetravelkruger.com or get in touch with us on info@naturetravelkruger.com.

Central Kruger Safari

October 15, 2019Nature Travel Team

The Kruger National Park covers a vast area of 19485 square kilometres (7523 sq miles) and extends 360 kilometres (220 mi) from north to south and 65 kilometres (40 mi) from east to west. It is the tenth largest game reserve on earth, and undoubtedly one of the best.

All of Africa’s famous Big Five game animals (Buffalo, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Lion and Leopard) are found in “Kruger”, as the park is affectionately known, along with more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve (at almost 150 species). Over 520 species of birds have also been seen in the park, along with vast numbers of reptiles, insects and other fauna and flora.

This safari will cover the vast and mostly flat central section of Kruger. This region spans nearly 30% of the reserve’s territory and supports a huge amount of game. It is made up of mostly grassy plains, filled with animals like Plains Zebra, Common Wildebeest and many species of antelope, which attract an array of predators. The open savannah habitat also makes for great photographic opportunities, and the region is especially famous for photos of classic African sunsets. Five seasonal rivers meander across the central region and, as wildlife is abundant, during intense dry cycles water supplies are often depleted. As a result many man-made dams and water holes were established in the central region. Many of the water holes and dams have become popular tourist attractions as they act as a gathering point for animals. The concentration of predators, especially Lions, in the Central Region ensures that it remains a popular tourist destination.

On this 6-night safari, we will spend two nights each in Satara Camp (with its famous circles of bungalows), Olifants Camp (with stunning views of the plains below) and Letaba Camp (built right on the Letaba river). Each camp has been carefully chosen to provide you with the best chance of seeing all that Kruger has to offer, both in terms of fantastic animal sightings and beautiful classic African landscapes.

For more information, visit our revamped website at www.naturetravelkruger.com or send us your query at info@naturetravelkruger.com

Secret 7

October 10, 2019October 9, 2019Nature Travel Team

Many visitors travel to the famous Kruger National Park specifically to search for the “Big 5” mammals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). Of course, these animals are incredible to look for and see on any African safari, but don’t forget about the “Secret 7”…All members of this exclusive club are extremely rare and solitary nocturnal animals, and are known to live extremely private lives. They are far, far more difficult to see than the “Big 5”.

Hunting mostly at night, the elegant Serval hides away and sleeps during the day in the thick deep bush, almost always close to water. A medium sized cat with a yellowish-fawn coat, black spots and stripes, the Serval is identified by its shortish tail, strong slender body and the longest legs relative to their body size. It adopts a characteristic pouncing technique when hunting small mammals, birds and other prey.

Looking very much like a domestic cat, only bigger and much meaner, the Southern African Wildcat is a shy nocturnal animal that hunts mainly in dense bush and long grass, making it even more difficult to spot. It feeds mostly on small rodents, birds, hares, lizards and insects. Wildcats unfortunately readily interbreed with domestic cats where their respective habitats overlap.

The strange looking and almost mythical Aardvark is usually found in open savannah landscape near to termite mounds where it uses its 30cm long tongue to find termites and ants. Normally an Aardvark will be of a colour similar to the soil in the area in which it lives. This one-of-a-kind pig-like creature is active only at night and can walk very far in search of food.

A fascinating, rare and unique animal, the ant-eating Temminck’s Ground Pangolin is easily identified by their bronze coloured tough scaly bodies and small head. These skittish animals are easily spooked and will roll up into a Lion-proof ball if they feel threatened. They are unfortunately being hunted in alarming numbers for their scales and other body parts; in fact, pangolins are the most trafficked animal on the planet!

Also known as the Cape Genet, the South African Large-spotted Genet is a small cat-like creature that actually belongs to the Mongoose family. They are nocturnal in nature, hunting for birds, lizards, rodents, snakes and insects. Being good tree climbers (using the black-tipped tail for counterbalance), they are usually found in mixed woodland areas where they can scramble along tree branches.

A solitary nocturnal animal, the raccoon-resembling African Civet is found mostly in forested woodland areas. Its unique feature is its secretions, which are used for the musky smell in perfume. Civets survive on a varied diet of rodents, reptiles, insects, eggs, fruit, berries and birds. Interestingly, although mostly terrestrial, the African Civet is a very good swimmer!

The largest rodent found in southern Africa, the Cape Porcupine is well-known for its beautiful but super sharp black and white quills which they use for protection against predators. Spending most of the day sleeping hidden away in communal burrows, porcupines are herbivores and eat the bulbs and roots of plants as well as berries, fruit and tree bark.

For a chance to see one (or even a few if you are extremely lucky!) of these “Secret 7” animals, join us on a Nature Travel Kruger safari. For more information, enquire directly at info@naturetravelkruger.com or visit www.naturetravelkruger.com

Southern Kruger Safari

October 8, 2019Nature Travel Team

Whether you look at the Kruger National Park from a wildlife, historical, ecological, birding, biodiversity or geological viewpoint, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest game parks on the planet.

It covers a huge area of 19,485 square kilometres (7,523 sq miles) and extends 360 kilometres (220 mi) from north to south and 65 kilometres (40 mi) from east to west. It is the tenth largest game reserve on earth.

The park welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors every year yet never feels crowded. All the famous Big Five game animals (Buffalo, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Lion and Leopard) are found in the Kruger National Park, which has more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve (at 147 species). These special species are seen with relative ease in “Kruger”, as the park is affectionately known. Over 520 species of birds have also been seen in the park, along with vast numbers of reptiles, insects, amphibians and other fauna and flora.

Our Southern Kruger safari will cover most areas of the southern section of Kruger. It is the most visited part of the game reserve, and with good reason. Most people enter the park in this region, simply because, for many, it’s the closest part of the park from wherever they’re travelling from. It’s also the area where it is the easiest to see all of the Big Five animals, along with plenty of others when you’re in this area, such as the very rare and endangered African Wild Dog.

The southern section is bordered by the Crocodile River in the south, the Sabie River in the north, and the Lebombo mountains in the east, along the border with Mozambique.

On this 6 night safari, we will spend two nights each in Berg en Dal Camp, Skukuza Camp and Pretoriuskop Camp. Each camp has been carefully chosen to provide you with the best chance of seeing all that Kruger has to offer, both in terms of fantastic animal sightings and beautiful classic African landscapes.

For more information, browse to our Southern Kruger Safari or send your query directly to info@naturetravelkruger.com

African Skimmers in Kruger National Park

October 4, 2019October 3, 2019Nature Travel Team

Imagine the joy and excitement while guiding a trip in Kruger, and arriving at Sunset Dam near Lower Sabie and seeing an African Skimmer sitting on the bank- truly amazing! For a second I thought I was imagining things or was on the Okavango River.

Let’s go back a little… While guiding a Kruger wildlife and birding safari within the world famous Kruger National Park, we left Skukuza early one morning to head down to Lower Sabie for Breakfast. This road ranks as one of the best roads in southern Kruger for wildlife and birding. We had enjoyed some good game viewing with us having sights of African Buffalo, African Elephants, Impala, Chacma Baboons, Greater Kudu, Waterbuck, Spotted Hyaena, White Rhino and a gorgeous Leopard sleeping in a tree soon after leaving camp. A fantastic morning in any guide’s book!

The birding was also pretty good with us enjoying sightings of Martial Eagle, Orange-breasted and Gorgeous Bushshrike, Saddle-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Tawny Eagle, Chinspot Batis, Purple-crested Turaco, Crowned Hornbill and African Goshawk being some of the highlights of the morning. As we approached Sunset Dam just outside Lower Sabie, with most of us thinking about breakfast and a bathroom stop our biggest surprise of the morning came in the form of the African Skimmer. There the magnificent bird sat, with its black and white plumage and bright orange bill among the Nile Crocodiles, herons, lapwings and egrets along the bank. I could not believe my eyes!

The Africa Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris is regarded as regionally extinct species within South Africa, with most of the population now regarded as regular only on the Zambezi, Chobe and Okavango Rivers. One can imagine my excitement of seeing this bird in southern Kruger far away from its natural distribution; I am used to seeing these birds on our Birding trips along the Okavango and Zambezi Rivers, but not this far south in Kruger. What a find and sighting we all got to enjoy.

Within South Africa the species last bred in St Lucia on the KZN Coast up to and including 1943 and at the Mkuze River Mouth prior to 1938. The regional breeding population numbered nine pairs in 1942, this former breeding site at St Lucia and the surrounding habitat has been irreversibly transformed and there have been no reports of African Skimmers breeding in South Africa since 1943. They are breeding intra-African migrants to southern Africa, arriving April to May and departing November to February. They breed from July to December on sandbanks devoid of vegetation and surrounded by deep water used for skimming.

A pair of African Skimmers had been hanging around in Northern Kruger for a few months with the most recent reports and excitement coming from a pair very close to Letaba Camp in Kruger. I was lucky enough to go and see these birds on a walk with John Adamson the head guide at Letaba, and when I was watching the pair noted that the one seemed to be digging and it looked like she was nesting, I had mentioned this to John while watching them. Well on the 5^TH of July 2017 John contacted me and let me know that the birds are actually sitting on eggs. This was such amazing news as this is the first confirmed record of breeding African Skimmers in South Africa since 1943; what thrilling news, even more so as it’s the first breeding record for Kruger too. This was such thrilling news and its great news for the conservation of African Skimmers and just shows how important the Kruger Park and its rivers are, and the rivers need to be protected. There has been one chick that had hatched but sadly was found dead, but the birds seem to have laid another clutch, the birds are currently sitting on eggs.

This record is a massive record for South Africa and Kruger and the fact that the birds are breeding in Kruger is such exciting news, with the hope the birds will continue to breed near Letaba Camp for many years to come and for many birders to enjoy. It’s been so amazing to see these birds start to make a comeback in South Africa and we can only hope that we might find these birds breeding again in South Africa.

We offer a variety of different wildlife and birding tours in the world famous Kruger National Park and across southern Africa and the rest of Africa.

As one can see from this blog, the beauty of spending time on a safari in Africa is that anything can happen and one can bump into a spectacular sighting at any time; the beauty of being in the African bush on safari. The spectacular sunrises and sunsets that greet us daily also make the African safari so special.

Africa is calling. Answer now!

Birding Day Trip in the Kruger Park

October 1, 2019Nature Travel Team

The world famous Kruger National Park is not only home to Africa’s Big Five mammals and many other species of fauna and flora; it also supports more than 500 bird species or about 60% of the total number found in the entire southern African sub-region. Simply put, Kruger is without a doubt the best birding destination in southern Africa.

The 19,485 km² (7,523 sq mi) park in South Africa’s Lowveld region is a mosaic of lowland savannas and woodlands, bisected by wooded, seasonally flowing rivers, with dams and pans dotted throughout. This creates a varied and rich habitat for all sorts of avifauna, making Kruger an essential stop for southern African and worldwide birders.

We offer birding day trips to Kruger and the important surrounding birding hotspots. Our expert guide will pick you up from wherever you are staying close to or inside the park and you will embark on your trip in an open-sided safari vehicle which affords all guests great comfort and the optimal viewing angles for birds.

Apart from seeing all the “usual suspects” of Kruger, your guide will focus on finding you the best birds of the Park. This could include Woolly-necked, Saddle-billed and Marabou Stork, African Openbill, White-backed and Hooded Vulture, Martial and Tawny Eagle, Bateleur, Kori Bustard, Secretarybird, Southern Ground Hornbill, White-crowned Lapwing, Bearded Scrub Robin, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Brown-headed Parrot, Retz’s Helmetshrike and many more. If you are very lucky you could even find some specials like Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Black Stork, Lappet-faced, White-headed and Cape Vulture, Pallid Harrier, Senegal Lapwing, Crowned Eagle, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler and others.

Learning about the trees, animals, insects and general bush and nature around you is also on the cards. And don’t be surprised if you see a few members of Africa’s famous Big Five! You will stop at picnic spots and rest camps throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and restroom breaks.

We also offer day trips a little further afield, including to the subtropical town of Nelspruit, the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, Mariepskop’s dense Afromontane forests, and picturesque Magoebaskloof.

All these day trips can also be combined as an extension before or after your existing Kruger National Park safari with us. For more information browse to Birding Day Trips or enquire directly at info@naturetravelkruger.com

Jock of the Bushveld

September 27, 2019Nature Travel Team

Man’s best friend is often seen as merely a guard dog, now-and-then friend or backyard ball play companion, but Jock of the Bushveld was all of this and so much more. He was undoubtedly South Africa’s (and Kruger’s) most famous dog!

Jock, a Staffordshire Bullterrier cross, started life as the runt of the litter in 1885 somewhere near the modern day Pretoriuskop camp in Southern Kruger. He was adopted by Percy Fitzpatrick, a transport rider who carted supplies for the goldfields at Pilgrim’s Rest in the old Transvaal province from the harbours in Mozambique.

Jock started following Fitzpatrick from when he could walk, without any coaching! Jock would eventually accompany his master on all his journeys through the Kruger Park as well as the neighbouring areas. He grew up to be a faithful and obedient companion, but also a champion fighter and fearless protector, as well as a successful hunter. Many incredible stories of Jock’s bravery, cunning and dedication followed through their years together.

Jock permanently lost his hearing when a kudu kicked him, and he was never the same after that. Jock died in an unfortunate accident, when a friend of Fitzpatrick shot him, thinking he was stealing chickens when in fact he was trying to catch the chicken thief! The exact location of Jock´s grave is unfortunately not officially marked or known.

The classic book Jock of the Bushveld was written by Fitzpatrick in 1907, telling all the famous stories about their adventures together. It was originally intended to be for only his children to read as bedtime stories, but has become one of South Africa’s most loved tales and has never been out of print. Several movies have also been made about Jock’s life, retelling the stories of this hero dog.

Jock’s incredible adventures are remembered in Kruger by bronze plaques on rocks placed wherever the canine’s route crosses the modern day Kruger roads; a fitting tribute to a legend!