Animal Encounters to Remember – A photo Essay by Mohammed Jinnah

South Africans are doubly blessed as they are amidst two of the great wilderness areas of the world.

Both the Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park can present the most unforgettable

animal encounters.

Driving through these areas is an exhilarating experience as one does not know what is round the next

corner.

Figure 1 - Rare Serval Sighting on H3 near Lower Sabie

The thrill is in finding an animal as your encounters are not staged as in some other parks where you are

taken to a sighting.

Figure 2 - Unforgettable Young Leopard seen at Biyamiti Weir

Kruger offers a rich diversity of wildlife, unmatched and unforgettable. A majestic male kudu in the early

morning sun fills up ones senses.

Figure 3 - Male kudu in early morning sun on S114

As does a black maned Kalahari lion showing his dominance

Figure 4 - Lion pride at Sitzas waterhole in the Kgalagadi.

Our flagship National Parks also offer rare gems such as pearl spotted owlets, the smallest owl in the

world

Figure 5 - Pearl spotted owlet seen on H7

And the endangered saddle-billed stork

Figure 6 - Saddle billed stork seen at Jones Dam on the S36

Brightly coloured birds that leave you in awe

Figure 7 - Lilac breasted roller, probably the most photographed bird in KNP

And others that leave you marveling at their power such as the African Crowned Eagle.

Figure 8 - African Crowned eagle near Pafuri picnic site

Some are just regal in appearance and posture

Figure 9 - Majestic lappet face vulture on the S142

While others let you know who rules - an encounter with a musting African Elephant will be

remembered.

Figure 10 - Charging elephant on S36

I will never forget seeing the king of beasts from the hide at Nossob. No safety of a car between you and

his majesty, a magical moment when you make eye contact.

Figure 11 - Lion seen from Nossob hide

Or getting spooked by an African Wildcat while braaing at Grootkolk in the Kgalagadi park. There she sat

staring at us just like a domestic cat, truly memorable

Figure 12 - AWC seen at Grootkolk while braaing

Then there was a wonderful brown hyena sighting at the Cheleka waterhole in the Kgalagadi. Will never

forget how long she drank for after been chased around by a gemsbok.

Figure 13 - Brown hyena at Cheleka waterhole.

Then there are the once in a lifetime sightings like the cheetah in the tree. The cheetah had killed an

impala which in turn got killed by a leopard and both cheetah and impala were hoisted up a tree where

the leopard ate the impala.

Figure 14 - leopard/cheetah sighting on the S28

And the mating leopards that got chased by a herd of buffalo at Kumana Dam

Figure 15 - Mating leopards

Figure 16 – A herd of buffaloes spoil the party

The photogenic zebra always make a pretty picture

Figure 17 - Zebras seen on the S126

An encounter that will never be forgotten is the majestic Sable Antelope

Figure 18 - Sable at Manzimhlope waterhole on S36

A trip to Kruger or the Kgalagadi guarantees some exceptional sightings that you will remember for a

long time. It is a feeling that has to be experienced. It is a high that cannot be matched and you will want

to return

Figure 19 - Pied Kingfisher seen from Mlhambane Bridge on the S114

Figure 20 - Fish eagle scanning at Nsemani dam