In December I had a short break from safaris and had arranged to go on a birding course in the far north of Kruger. I had three objectives for that week– 1) to learn more about birds plus see some of the unique species of the area; 2) to have a holiday in Kruger Park which involved a lot of walking; and 3) to have that holiday in the Parfuri / Makuleke region which is relatively inaccessible to the general public. So on the 8^th December I travelled to the far north of Kruger, the Parfuri region, to a training camp located on the southern banks of the “great, green, greasy” Limpopo River for a wonderful week of birding. I saw many new (for me anyway!) birds and learnt a huge amount more about their calls and habits. There were 15 of us on the course with 2 instructor guides and we walked for 3-4 hours every morning while it was still relatively cool and drove every afternoon when it was generally too hot to walk.

There is no better option than undertaking a safari to some exotic locations in this world so as to provide your stressed-out mind and body the much-needed relaxation. The accompaniment of your beloved ones with you can make your trip more enjoyable too. South Africa is now turning out to be a hot spot for various luxurious safaris expeditions. Its diverse habitats and alluring landscapes are a source of great fascination as well as relaxation. Equally diverse wildlife is rarely found anywhere in the world. Great hospitality and cultural richness make a safari in South Africa a lifetime opportunity for travelers all around the world.

The drive down to Kruger, from Johannesburg takes around 5 hours and we arrived during midday, not much chance of decent sightings in the middle of the day in the Kruger Park, it is usually too hot and the animals are seeking shelter from the sun and generally remaining inactive.

It’s the end of October and the rains are late. The waterhole has shrunk to a muddy fraction of its wet season fullness. The dry, straw coloured grass is more an illusion than fact. With a closer look one can see that it is not grass at all but the dry, sunburnt remnants of the black jacks, khaki weed and other “herbs” that were so effective at concealing the animals during the wet season.

For me, every day in the bush, especially in Kruger National Park, is “good”, but every now and again a day stands out, for many reasons, but usually for the combination of excellent sightings and the company one is seeing them in. On my last safari, I had one of those days. Here are some of the highlights ………