On Wednesday we had booked to go on a morning game walk, and Rheanna’s parents had been booked on a morning game drive. The start was even earlier than the previous days, as we could leave before the gate opened. We drove almost an hour to the place where we were going to walk. It is a bit off the beaten track so that there are no other tourists or vehicles around to disturb the animals.

Luckily we were only on the walk with one other couple (from Montreal), and 2 guides who were armed with rifles and a magazine of bullets. Obviosuly they will only shoot as a last resort (at the animals we think!).

We tracked a Black Rhino for a while, and were shown tracks for Lions that had been through, and also elephants. We studied dung from the black and white rhino’s, (which were fresh) and also elephants.

Black rhino are ‘browsers’which mean they eat leaves etc, whereas white rhino are ‘grazers’ which mean they eat grass. This means that their dung is quite different. We also learnt about the white rhino’s ‘midden’. This is basically their toilet. They have a number of these ‘toilets’ around their territory and they always do their business in one of these – as a means of marking their territory. For another rhino to use one of these, would be a challenge for the territory.

Black Rhinos are also aggressive animals, so you don’t want to be found downwind from them as they will attack.

It is also a slightly nervy feeling walking through thick reeds and bushes, knowing that a predator such as a Leopard or Lion may be greeting you at your next step. When I was walking last, I made sure I kept turning around to watch my back often!

Unfortunately though, other than tracks and dung, the only thing we saw on the walk was baboons and Impala. It was very interesting though, and we learnt alot.

Kruger park - morning walk	Kruger park - Rhino midden (toilet)

We then decided that time was running out and we really needed to find some Lions. Sanjay really wanted to see Lions (during the day). So as soon as we got home we went with Rheanna’s mom for a ‘short’ drive. As soon as we left Skukuza, Sanjay saw another leopard. Unfortunately it walked into the bush, and we lost sight within minutes. We also saw  giraffe, ground hornbill, and a chameleon crossing the raod! He was so slow. He picks up his leg, pushes forward about 3 times to get momentum to take the step. It was painful to watch!

We then came across 2 kudu. They looked like they were about to start mating so we stopped and were taking photo’s, and video. Isn’t it kind of weird how we find this so cool, yet the human version is best left alone! Meanwhile a car drove up to us and says there are Lions 2km down the road, they are lying in the road! So in a huge rush, we left the Kudu to do their business and we were off to find Lions!

Kruger Park - Giraffe	Kruger park - chameleon crossing the road
Kruger park - Ground hornbill	Kruger Park - Kudu trying to 'get it on'

Kruger park - Leopard