Kruger Park cont.

another exciting but last day in kruger park 

spotting.......

guniea fowl

giraffe and

elephant.  these two types of magnificent african animals most capture my heart.

crocodile

waterbuck

ground hornbill  

these birds are now an endangered species and are rarely seen outside of conservation areas.  their strange, booming call is often mistaken for roaring lions.  they also carry strong superstition in african culture.

our last full day we came upon a fresh lion kill.  this was a first for us.  it was thrilling but also held a sense of reverence.

everyone you would expect to be at the event was present.....

a pride of lions

plenty of scruffy, opportunistic hyenas

circling buzzards

and scavenging white-back vultures

this little black backed jackal obviously felt confident the lion had eaten his fill as he stayed put right there for quite a while.  the whole experience was absolutely amazing.  

burchell's zebra

enormous ant hills

hippo

a stop at a lookout then lastly....

african wild dog

this was another first spotting for us, a matter of luck.  the wild dog is also an endangered species.  there are only 450 in kruger park securing one of four populations in africa.  a wild dog on his own isn't much of a threat to an animal (their mannerisms seem very domestic dog-like) but a hunting pack is a different story.

and so ends our incredible african adventure 

and begins the 30 hour trip home from the new kruger park skukuza airport.

until next time.........

goodbye, totsiens, hamba kahle