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Wild4 African Photo Safaris

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LIONS and LEOPARDS of KRUGER photo safari trip report - September 2017

Posted by Wild4 Photo Safaris on 2nd Oct 2017

Our second Lions & Leopards of Kruger trip again took us to three very different, but all photo productive places, Ngala, Kruger National Park and Mala Mala, all in South Africa,

Some of the highlights we managed to photograph, were a massive Bull Elephant with wonderful tusks in the Timbavati River, fantastic bird life, a young female Leopard in the Kruger National Park, excellent Elephant, Zebra, Giraffe, Impala and African Elephant sightings at all locations, two different packs of Cape Hunting Dogs and an amazing sighting involving the large 26 strong Lower Sabi Pride, chasing a Warthog, catching it and then having to endure the wrath of a huge herd of African Buffalo. Finally the Lions returned to their Warthog meal after the Buffalo left.

As usual Mala Mala offered amazing sightings, starting off with the Senegal Bush Male Leopard who had killed another Impala, the Teardrop Female Leopard and her two cubs, as well as the Tamboti Female Leopard and the Island female Leopard who managed to finally catch some food, a small baby Scrub Hare. We also saw one male Cheetah and the Kambula pride of Lions which we photographed at night.

On our final morning we again bumped into the Island female Leopard, this time with an Impala kill in a Marula tree, only 100 meters from the boom gate !

Many thanks to all the lodge staff that looked after us at each location and also to our rangers, Bernhard at Ngala and Theo at Mala Mala, thank you for your hard work and patience and for getting us into sightings and spending quality photographic time with the animals. Thanks also to the Wild4 back up team who looked after us so well in the Kruger National Park.

Finally, thank you to the participants, Rita, Veeda and Dick, it was great travelling with you all and I think the Warthog kill in the Kruger National Park was one of mother nature's best..

Enjoy some of the photos below.

Best wishes

Stu

Massive Bull Elephant in the Timbavati River, Ngala Game Reserve
Massive Bull Elephant in the Timbavati River, Ngala Game Reserve
Bull elephant in Nsemani Dam, Kruger National Park
Bull elephant in Nsemani Dam, Kruger National Park
Impala with Red Billed Oxpecker, Kruger National Park
Impala with Red Billed Oxpecker, Kruger National Park
Beautiful young female Leopard on the Sweni Drive, Kruger National Park
Beautiful young female Leopard on the Sweni Drive, Kruger National Park
Southern Ground Hornbills, Kruger National Park
Southern Ground Hornbills, Kruger National Park
Egyptian Geese, Kruger National Park
Egyptian Geese, Kruger National Park
Future Lion King, Kruger National Park
Future Lion King, Kruger National Park
Elephant herd, Kruger National Park
Elephant herd, Kruger National Park
Lioness with small cubs on the S100 near Satara, Kruger National Park
Lioness with small cubs on the S100 near Satara, Kruger National Park
Lilac Breasted Roller, Kruger National Park
Lilac Breasted Roller, Kruger National Park
Black Shouldered Kite taking off, Kruger National Park
Black Shouldered Kite taking off, Kruger National Park
Herd of Elephants in the Sabi River, Kruger National Park
Herd of Elephants in the Sabi River, Kruger National Park
White Bellied Sunbird, Kruger National Park
White Bellied Sunbird, Kruger National Park
The 9 lionesses of the Lower Sabi Pride, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
The 9 lionesses of the Lower Sabi Pride, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
One Lioness flushes a Warthog, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
One Lioness flushes a Warthog, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
The unfortunate Warthog runs back towards the rest of the Lionesses, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
The unfortunate Warthog runs back towards the rest of the Lionesses, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
No where to go !, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
No where to go !, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
All over, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
All over, Kruger National Park. still image extracted from 4K VIDEO footage
Then the herd of Buffalo moved in and harassed their Eternal Enemy, Kruger National Park
Then the herd of Buffalo moved in and harassed their Eternal Enemy, Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
One of the 9 Lionesses had 3 small cubs, Kruger National Park
One of the 9 Lionesses had 3 small cubs, Kruger National Park
Wattled Lapwing in flight, Kruger National Park
Wattled Lapwing in flight, Kruger National Park
African Buffalo, Kruger National Park
African Buffalo, Kruger National Park
White Crowned Lapwing at Clyde's Pan, Kruger National Park
White Crowned Lapwing at Clyde's Pan, Kruger National Park
Adult male Giraffe crosses the Sabi River
Adult male Giraffe crosses the Sabi River
Sunset at Sunset Dam with the Buffalo Weavers, Kruger National Park
Sunset at Sunset Dam with the Buffalo Weavers, Kruger National Park
Male Impala, Kruger National Park
Male Impala, Kruger National Park
African Fish Eagle calling, Kruger National Park
African Fish Eagle calling, Kruger National Park
A rarely seen Leucistic Elephant, not an Albino but note the white hair on its tail and the pink coloured ears and eyes, Kruger National Park
A rarely seen Leucistic Elephant, not an Albino but note the white hair on its tail and the pink coloured ears and eyes, Kruger National Park
Natal Spurfowl, Kruger National Park
Natal Spurfowl, Kruger National Park
Nyala Bull at Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Nyala Bull at Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cape Hunting Dog, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cape Hunting Dog, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cape Hunting Dog in the Sand River, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cape Hunting Dog in the Sand River, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Adult Male Bateleur Eagle, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Adult Male Bateleur Eagle, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Pearl Spotted Owlet, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Pearl Spotted Owlet, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
African Buffalo, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
African Buffalo, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Senegal Bush Male Leopard where we found him with another kill (this is the same leopard we saw on the first Lions & Leopards trip), Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Senegal Bush Male Leopard where we found him with another kill (this is the same leopard we saw on the first Lions & Leopards trip), Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Young Bull Elephant mock charges us, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Young Bull Elephant mock charges us, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Teardrop Female Leopard with one of her two cubs, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Teardrop Female Leopard with one of her two cubs, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Teardrop Female Leopard, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Teardrop Female Leopard, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Teardrop Leopard with cub, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Teardrop Leopard with cub, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cub of the Teardrop Female Leopard, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cub of the Teardrop Female Leopard, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Mother and Cub in the Sand River, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Mother and Cub in the Sand River, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cub of the Teardrop Female Leopard up a tree trying to catch Monkeys, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Cub of the Teardrop Female Leopard up a tree trying to catch Monkeys, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Senegal Bush Male leopard having a drink, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Senegal Bush Male leopard having a drink, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
African Buffalo herd in defensive resting position, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
African Buffalo herd in defensive resting position, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Island Female Leopard, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Island Female Leopard, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Island Female Leopard with her kill, a baby Scrub Hare, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Island Female Leopard with her kill, a baby Scrub Hare, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Male Cheetah seen at Mala Mala
Male Cheetah seen at Mala Mala
Final night drive, Lions from the Kambula pride, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
Final night drive, Lions from the Kambula pride, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Island Female out on a Marula Tree branch, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve
The Island Female out on a Marula Tree branch, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve

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Testimonials We just came back from our photo safari with Wild4 African Photographic Safaris. From our first email exchange with Justyna, to being dropped off at Hoedspruit airport, everything was handled professionally and was so well organized. Our guide for our tailor made safari was Jaco who picked us up at Nelspruit Airport. What we did not expect was we were also greeted by Stu and Justyna, together with their 2 beautiful daughters, Molly & Jenny. Stu and Justyna came just to make a point to meet us and ensured that we were in good hands. Over the next 10 days, we were enriched so much by Jaco's knowledge and experience towards wildlife. I will always remember, but could never understand, how 4 lions made a kill, a cape buffalo, but were chased away by 4 hyenas. But that was exactly what we were told by our guide even before the story was unfolding in front of our eyes. This can only interpret as excellent knowledge of animal behaviour. The sightings were superb and the accommodations were great. We have no hesitation in recommending Wild4. They are genuine, personable and will try their absolute best to make sure that your trip is going to be a memorable one. Thanks again, Wild4, for an amazing trip.

Frank & Annette, CANADA

Testimonials Stu - just wanted to say a huge thank you to both you and Justyna for putting on such a fantastic safari tour for us. It was truly amazing! Your endless patience with me and your generosity of knowledge was very much appreciated. Thanks to your help and guidance I am now much more competent with my camera and may even have a few photos to show you, at a later date, to prove that I did listen to everything you told me! Justyna - the travel arrangements were impeccable. All flights and transfers went smoothly and without a hitch, and the accommodation was amazing - both in the camps and at the lodges. I even managed to squeeze in a swim and a massage (which I highly recommend) at the lodge in Chobe. It was a real treat! Thank you both once again for a fantastic trip and I am sure that we will meet again in the future!

Kim Tattersall, UK

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