Kruger is about 360km x 60km and is a wildlife conservation area set up in 1926 by a British Major. It is named after a South African who first proposed the park in the late 1800’s we entered the park through the Orpen gate, about a 1 hour drive from our lodge.
Elandela Lodge does not have any elephants because they are so destructive of trees so we set of to Kruger ‘cos they have 16,000 of them, even though the park can only sustain 9,000…
This area is experiencing the worst drought that some can remember. Three and a half years without rain. This has resulted in the death of many animals and the migration of many more. The place is therefore fairly barren, rivers all dry and wildlife is scarce.
Today was cold about 13°, very windy and it rained but not enough to improve things. Any remaining animals went into hiding and after a 7 hour safari we eventually saw one elephant – thank goodness as it was the one thing Mike wanted to see. Not sure where the other 15,999 had gone!
THE Elephant…
Male Kudu
A rather dull and ordinary starling…
Yellow billed hornbill (aka the flying banana)
Dried up river bed