Arrived at Phabeni Gate at 08:00 with no queue ahead of us. Did not want to risk being  turned away so I had a booking but I think it was unnecessary.

Our route for the day was via Skukuza, down to Afsaal, across to Pretoriuskop via the Voortrekker Road, down to Transporter Dam and back to Phabeni Gate. The bush and grass is typical of winter but still looks good. The dams we visited still have enough water with Transporter looking the best. Strange, but there were few animals at the dams, waterbuck, hippo and crocs being predominant.

Visited Skukuza and Pretoriuskop offices to enquire when the campsites open. The answer at Skukuza was, "We are not sure yet". The answer at Pretoriuskop was "We open on 14 August". Drove through the campsites. Clearly no maintenance to the sites have been done yet with branches and leaves all over.

Was not a good day for sightings and fotos as the day was windy, cold and overcast.

Nearly saw a leopard. About 10 cars all jockeying for position and people pointing in the same direction but it appears only one or two cars have the prime  spot. Stopped next to one of the cars in the prime spots and asked where must we look. He explained in much detail but added the leopard is lying down so it is not visible. We left, wondering how long they all waited for the leopard to get up. 

So no cats for the day but here are a few appetizers.

Been waiting a long time to catch the elusive Sable Antelope that are in the Pretoriuskop area. For once the normally dead Voortrekker Road delivered.

These Zebra had a good fight. Quite a lot of tactics involved from both sides.

And just next door mother and child are happily eating.

Thanks HM. Now you turned on my appetite for Kruger. I trust we'll be able to do inter-provincial travelling by November when we're booked in the park for 9 nights.

A consolation prize is our short 10 day tour in the Western Cape, starting next Saturday. It includes a 1 night visit to Bontebok National Park and 4 nights in Karoo National Park.

Goeie aksie foto van die zebras.     Dankie vir die terugvoer. 

Thanks Hendrick....nice Sable sighting, don't recall seeing one on our tour last year....but then we did not do the Voortrekker road.

It is for the first time seing such a fight. What a  beautiful pic!!

ai kan ons nie maar net weer die ou Transvaal word nie dan kan ons in GAUTENG ook weer die Kruger gaan besoek.... Mooi foto's

The Sable sighting is more special ( and rare ) than a leopard sighting in my opinion.

Thanx for the photos

pieterc wrote:

The Sable sighting is more special ( and rare ) than a leopard sighting in my opinion.

Thanx for the photos

Ek stem 100% saam. En 'n bastergemsbok (roan) is selfs nog meer "special".

Chris, gaan jy met die karavaan toer? Groete. Maurits

Maurits - Nee, dis nog te koud (en nat) vir my om met die wa te gaan. Ek is maar sissierig vir koue - en Ralie heeltemal bevrees daarvoor.

Daarom bly ons in Bontebok en Karoo in chalets, Barrydale en Oudtshoorn in Lekkeslaap selfsorgplekke en by Dwarswegstrand in een van hulle seefront-woonstelle. Die ou lotjie kos uiteraard heelwat meer versus kamp, maar nou wil ons net 'n slaggie bietjie wegkom.

Dankie vir die mooi fotos Hendrick.  Ek sal maar my lus moet inhou vir nog 9 maande tot Mei 2021, danksy Covid-19 se uitstellery.

Intussen sal ek maar hier naby 'n paar kampe moet inkry.

Dankie vir fotos. Ek het 4 jaar laas n Sable in KNP gesien....dit was ook net buite Pretorius Kop, maar was nie so oop vir foto nie, hulle was in daai ruig bosse gewees. Zebra foto is ook baie spesiaal

Dankie vir fotos soos ek al baie gese het die wiltuin bly n wenner