Kruger National Park
South Africa
South Africa
Trip Report: Leaf Leopards & Stone Lions: Kamping in Kruger
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
cont'd
cont'd
Excursion Day!
We got up feeling somewhat refreshed from the jetlag. I spied a couple of photo worthy critters around camp.
Then it was in the car for an excursion out of the park. Of course, Kruger had some more surprises for us on the drive out.
Blanca spied a giraffe off to our left and I stopped the car. Then she asked if I would move back a bit to take a picture and we were both startled by another giraffe standing in the middle of the road 7m in front of us. No where did he come from?
We got up feeling somewhat refreshed from the jetlag. I spied a couple of photo worthy critters around camp.
Then it was in the car for an excursion out of the park. Of course, Kruger had some more surprises for us on the drive out.
Blanca spied a giraffe off to our left and I stopped the car. Then she asked if I would move back a bit to take a picture and we were both startled by another giraffe standing in the middle of the road 7m in front of us. No where did he come from?
If you’ll allow me a slight deviation from Kruger . . . When I was planning this trip I ran across info about The Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden sanctuary, just 15 minutes south of Nelspruit. My wife really wanted to go because it is doubtful that we will ever get to Central Africa to see them in the wild. The sanctuary houses rescue chimps that had been pets or performing animals when younger. Most were malnourished on arrival and many still suffer the psychological effects of their previous harsh captivity. They can never be released into the wild.
The sanctuary is a small part of a larger fenced reserve in the rolling hills just east of R40. They have three compounds – mixed grassland and dense forest - each with their own small group of chimps. Two of the compounds have viewing platforms where you can view the chimps safely behind a sturdy electrified fence. The staff uses the three guided daily tours to give the chimps some of their daily protein requirement – macadamia nuts – that they love. Yes, they are still ‘performing’ chimps but at least they can come and go and do it on their own terms to some degree. They seemed healthy and happy.
A worthwhile visit, both to see these amazing animals and to despair over the cruelty of man.
The sanctuary is a small part of a larger fenced reserve in the rolling hills just east of R40. They have three compounds – mixed grassland and dense forest - each with their own small group of chimps. Two of the compounds have viewing platforms where you can view the chimps safely behind a sturdy electrified fence. The staff uses the three guided daily tours to give the chimps some of their daily protein requirement – macadamia nuts – that they love. Yes, they are still ‘performing’ chimps but at least they can come and go and do it on their own terms to some degree. They seemed healthy and happy.
A worthwhile visit, both to see these amazing animals and to despair over the cruelty of man.