Kruger National Park
South Africa
South Africa
Trip Report: Leaf Leopards & Stone Lions: Kamping in Kruger
Biyamiti Bushveld Camp
Cont'd 2
Cont'd 2
Our last full day in the park. Sad? You bet! And while I would like to tell you about an amazing sighting we had, it was a rather lack-lustre day. We drove Croc Bridge Rd down to the Gardenia Bird hide and looped back through the weir. Both times we drove this section of Croc Bridge Rd were washouts btw. It was even very thin with impala (ditto Randspruit Road and Bume as well).
On the way however, a black stork by a river wanted to be a star.
On the way however, a black stork by a river wanted to be a star.
At Gardenia Hide, some turtles were sunning on a ‘rock’ in the middle of the pond. But it wasn't a rock it was a hippo’s back. Blanca got quite fascinated by the colouring of some some Egyptian geese that were way off to one side.
Back at camp for lunch and a rest, the vervets entertained us with their antics. A couple got into a squealing, screeching fight. Note the foot in mouth in the picture.
Late afternoon, we decided to head out the other way on S25 – toward Croc Bridge Camp. I should explain that Biyamiti Camp is on a private road - for residents only. It is hilly and windy with lots of game potential. But I was shooting for a leopard sighting since there had been some both on our road and on S25 which roughly follows the Crocodile River. This road passes through several ecozones so there are lots of varied sightings.
A collection of marabou storks stopped us. Rather ugly things. And while we were stopped, a hyena purposefully came out of the bush and crossed the road.
The next morning I went on a solo drive while Blanca packed . . .
Since our flight wasn't leaving until late afternoon, we slowly game drove our way to the Malelane Gate.
Goodbye to Africa
And with that, we exited the park for the drive to Nelspruit and the airport for the long haul home. A short hop to JNB, an overnight South African Air flight to London Heathrow and then a last leg on Air Canada to Toronto. Of course, the SA flight left late which seriously time-pressured us at Heathrow. As transit passengers, we had to disembark and go down a 3 story escalator, walk on 4 moving sidewalks for a mile, go up 3 floors on another escalator, go through security, go through a passport check, reverse the complete route to get to a gate that was only 3 gates from where we landed. It was very, very tense and we were the last passengers to board. But we did.
And with that, we exited the park for the drive to Nelspruit and the airport for the long haul home. A short hop to JNB, an overnight South African Air flight to London Heathrow and then a last leg on Air Canada to Toronto. Of course, the SA flight left late which seriously time-pressured us at Heathrow. As transit passengers, we had to disembark and go down a 3 story escalator, walk on 4 moving sidewalks for a mile, go up 3 floors on another escalator, go through security, go through a passport check, reverse the complete route to get to a gate that was only 3 gates from where we landed. It was very, very tense and we were the last passengers to board. But we did.
Conclusion:
We have now been to Kruger National Park twice, staying in its public rest camps and self-driving the network of roads in the park. The first time – in 2016 – was a 4 day toe in the water and it was combined with a 2 night stay in a private camp (Hamilton’s in Mluwati Concession) which allowed us to also have a more traditional safari experience. See Hamilton's.
While we really liked the deluxe treatment of Hamilton’s, we walked away feeling that it was a manufactured event. And of course, it is a cookie-cutter tour essentially like any other cookie cutter tour. Repeatable and profitable for the tour operators and booking agents and the customer gets a ‘guaranteed’ wildlife experience. You can go to Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa and get a safari that is much like every other safari. Of course, the geography is different and the animal content varies but it is guides driving tourists to see game.
But . . . as travelers, both my wife and I much prefer to go it alone. Sure it takes more planning but I love travel planning so that is no chore. So if you want a safari but are like us and want a totally independent option, look at Kruger. Btw our total cost excluding international airfare was just under $5K USD for 2 weeks. Accommodation, food, booze, internal flight, vehicle – all in.
We have now been to Kruger National Park twice, staying in its public rest camps and self-driving the network of roads in the park. The first time – in 2016 – was a 4 day toe in the water and it was combined with a 2 night stay in a private camp (Hamilton’s in Mluwati Concession) which allowed us to also have a more traditional safari experience. See Hamilton's.
While we really liked the deluxe treatment of Hamilton’s, we walked away feeling that it was a manufactured event. And of course, it is a cookie-cutter tour essentially like any other cookie cutter tour. Repeatable and profitable for the tour operators and booking agents and the customer gets a ‘guaranteed’ wildlife experience. You can go to Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa and get a safari that is much like every other safari. Of course, the geography is different and the animal content varies but it is guides driving tourists to see game.
But . . . as travelers, both my wife and I much prefer to go it alone. Sure it takes more planning but I love travel planning so that is no chore. So if you want a safari but are like us and want a totally independent option, look at Kruger. Btw our total cost excluding international airfare was just under $5K USD for 2 weeks. Accommodation, food, booze, internal flight, vehicle – all in.