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Nocturnal Animals of the Kruger National Park

Nocturnal Animals of the Kruger National Park

Aug 18, 2019 | Kruger Night Drives, Kruger Park safaris

Nocturnal Animals of the Kruger National Park

Anyone who has visited the Kruger National Park for a night drive or an evening drive will agree that a Kruger Park safari at this time of day is once in a lifetime experience that you won’t soon forget. 

When the sun dips low in the Kruger National Park and night falls, another, more magical side of the park comes alive. Dusk is the hour that the nocturnal hunters start stretching their limbs,waking up after a lazy day in the African heat. The haunting owl calls start-up and the hyenas start their laughter. Hippos leave their pools to go grazing and burrowers leave their dens for the dinner. And let’s not forget the singing of the jackal which fills the night.

Nocturnal Animals of the Kruger

A study of the trees will reveal several eyes staring back at you. The Bush Baby is surely the cutest of the night animals and is frequently seen going about their night time activities in the trees. These remarkable animals have amazing jumping abilities. 

The largest of the rodents in South Africa is the Porcupine, whihc is another nocturnal creature you might be lucky enough to see. Porcupines normally mate for life and the pair can have up to six burrows that they move their young around in as a defence against predators. Although porcupines live in pairs, they forage alone so it is more than likely that you will only see one and not a couple. 

Lions hunt in prides so if you lucky you will see either a kill or a pride of lions feasting after the kill. At a lion kill you are more than likely going to find hyena hanging around trying to get a bite to eat. Although Hyena can do their own hunting they prefer to scavenge from the other hunters. Leopard typically drags their kill up a tree to enjoy their meal in peace so be sure to keep looking to the trees. 

African Civets are similar to Genets with their striped and spotted coats. African Civets are larger than Genets and where African Civets are found on the ground, Genets are more likely to be spotted in trees. African Civets produce a sharp musk liquid from their pineal glands that were used as a perfume before the synthetic musk was produced. 

Aardvarks are a very rare sighting even though they are common throughout the Kruger National Park. This strange looking animal comes out at night to feast on ants or termites. Aardvarks are solitary animals and only pair up to mate where after the male leaves and the females will bring up their young on their own. 

Another animal that feasts on ants and termites is the Aardwolf. They can also be seen eating other insects that are around at night.

A huge highlight of being in the Kruger National Park at night is the night sky. On a clear night, without any city lights around, you will be awestruck at the amount of bright stars you will see. It will truly make you aware of the enormity of the universe. Looking up you will be able to see millions of stars. The San people have a story about how the Milky Way came to be. It is told that a young girl needed a visible path and so took ashes from a fire and threw them together with some bits of edible root into the sky. And when you gaze at the heavens, it is a story that is so easy to believe. 

Book a night drive with Royal Safaris, the only private company authorised to take guests on an exciting evening trip into the park.

Elephants of the Kruger National Park

Elephants of the Kruger National Park

Jul 29, 2019 | Kruger Park safaris

Elephants of the Kruger National Park

While enjoying a Kruger Park safari with Royal Safaris, guests will almost certainly see an elephant or 6. The Southern Kruger is home to a massive number of elephants and you can imagine just how hard they are to miss!

Once driven almost to extinction on the African continent, the elephant population has grown from a mere 120 in 1920 to about 10 000 to date.  Through a huge conservation effort, the Addo Elephant Park and Kruger National Park now protect large herds which span massive areas across both parks.

About the Elephant

The elephant is the world’s largest land mammal and can weigh up to 7 tons and reach a height at the shoulder of 3.3 meters.  The tusks of the older bulls can weigh up to 60kgs each.  Some of the older elephants have had tusks that weigh up to 90kgs.  An elephants tusks, which are actually their upper incisors, keep growing throughout their lives.  For the males, their tusks are not only used to obtain food but are also used to fight or in self-defence.  These majestic animals can live up to an age of 70 years.

The elephant has a modified nose in the form of a trunk and this appendage has about 50 000 muscles in it.   At the very tip of its truck, it has extremely sensitive finger like appendages that enable the elephant to pick a flower, pull out grass and even take a thorn from their feet.  Its trunk is also capable of finding water, above or below ground.  They have an inch of thick, sensitive skin and they love to swim and after swimming, they will throw sand or mud on their bodies that acts as a sunscreen.

Elephants are herbivores and feed on about 300kgs of grass or bark in a day.  All that eating makes them thirsty and they can drink up to 200 litres of water in a single session.   That results in a heap of dung being deposited every 15 minutes.

Family Life

Due to their 22 month gestation period, elephants only have one calf every 3 or 4 years.  Calves are only weaned after 2 years. Females normally stay in the herd while the males leave at about 14 years when they are expelled from the herd and join other male groups.  Males generally breed until they are well into their twenties.  The elephant is a very caring mother and should a calf become orphaned, another nursing mother will suckle the orphan. Elephant herds are always lead by an older female.

The Emotions of an Elephant

Elephants are capable of extreme emotion and even seem to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.  They have been seen grieving at the body of a dead elephant of their herd and even cover the carcass the flowers or leaves. When they come across an elephant carcass they are known to spend time visiting, and gently touching the bones with their trunks.

 

In general elephants are peace loving animals.

Females may show aggression when they have calves with them and males in must can be exceptionally aggressive.   A sick, injured or harassed elephant may also show aggression.  Generally, an elephant will first do a mock charge in an attempt to ward of the threat.  They do this by standing tall and facing the threat with their ears spread wide.  Sometimes they shake their head and swing their trunks.  They may even storm at the threat and then stop before reaching the threat.  It’s best to then move away slowly as an elephant is quite capable of killing its threat and have been known to overturn cars with ease.

When on a Kruger Park safari with Royal Safaris you will see elephants and more as we drive through the park. Contact us to book your Kruger safari, breakfast or bush braai.

James Stevenson-Hamilton

James Stevenson-Hamilton

Jun 20, 2019 | Kruger Park safaris

James Stevenson-Hamilton

Nicknamed by the Tsonga people as “Skukuza”, which loosely translates to “The man that turns everything upside down or the man that sweeps clean”, James Stevenson-Hamilton was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1867.  Although well educated, James Stevenson-Hamilton decided to follow a career in the military and he stationed himself on the banks of the Crocodile River in South Africa before moving and settling at Skukuza which was known at the time as Sabi Bridge.

James Stevenson-Hamilton served as the first warden in the Kruger National Park, which was then called the Sabi Nature Reserve, from 1902-1946.

In 1902, James Stevenson-Hamilton was seconded from the military by Sir Godfrey Lagden, to become the parks first warden.  Sir Godfrey Lagden deemed James Stevenson-Hamilton as a bachelor, a man of means and a professional soldier and therefore fit for this unusual appointment.  After signing a two year contract, Stevenson-Hamilton left for what was described back then as the “White Man’s Grave” with only a map of the area, oxen and wagon, provisions and ammunition.  The area of the Kruger National Park as we know it today, was uncharted back in the day and rife with malaria.  Since “game ranging” was a completely new term, Lagden gave James Stevenson-Hamilton free rein in the area with his only instruction being “Make yourself generally disagreeable and eliminate poaching.

James Stevenson-Hamilton believed that if there was no shooting of game in the area, the game would lose their fear of humans and come back to the area.  He made it his first order of business to announce to the locals, that no shooting would be permitted.  He moved from Crocodile Bridge to make his headquarters at Sabi Bridge.   Here he appointed two rangers, one being Harry Wolhuter, and with the aid to these two rangers they trained local rangers.  Many poachers were caught and soon the locals realised that they were serious about the no shooting rule.  They even caught and convicted senior policemen for poaching in the area.

James Stevenson-Hamilton not only patrolled the reserve to keep it safe from poaches, he also saw the need to thin out the lions and wild dogs.  He managed to convince companies in the vicinity of the Sabi Reserve to lend him land which eventually gave him a huge landscape, spread out in a remote corner in the Transvaal.   This new land extended the original 3 100 square kilometres to 36 000 square kilometres, creating what is today the Kruger National Park.  Wildlife could now roam safely from Crocodile Bridge to the Limpopo River.  Up to this point it was still known as a reserve but in 1912, Stevenson Hamilton presented his idea to nationalise the reserve and transform it to a national park.

In order to do this he needed the support of the public and therefore the reserve was opened to the public.  His idea was put on hold by Wold War 1.  Encouraged by Stevenson-Hamilton, Piet Grobler established the National Parks board in 1926 in parliament and the dream of Paul Kruger turned into the Kruger National Park.  The Kruger National Park was officially opened to the public in 1927.

After 44 years of service to the Kruger National Park, James Stevenson-Hamilton retired and settled in White River, where he passed away on the 10 December 1957 at the age of 90.

The Kruger National Park has a rich and diverse history, and you can find out all about it when you join Royal Safaris on an exciting Kruger National Park safari. Book your trip today.

Owls of the Kruger National Park

Owls of the Kruger National Park

May 11, 2019 | Kruger Night Drives, Kruger Park safaris

Owls of the Kruger National Park

There are few things more hauntingly beautiful than hearing an owl calling after the sun has set. When on an evening drive in the Kruger National Park, or when enjoying an evening braai, it is not unusal to hear these mysterious birds.

A Supersitious Past

Associated with witches and sorcerers, owls have for the best part not being the most liked bird.  The fact that owls are mostly seen at night does not help their plight.  Many people in the rural communities are known to put spikes on their roofs in an attempt to keep them off their roofs, as it is believed that should an owl land on your roof, it is a bad omen.  As owls are fairly easy to catch during the day, witch doctors use them in their traditional medicine, as it is believed that owl ingredients in their potions help patients with eye sight problems and also wisdom and hunting.

Although owls have huge eyes that do see well at night, it is the exceptional hearing that enables them to hunt successfully at night.  Owls are usually found in woodland areas of the Kruger National Park.  The most common owls found in the Kruger National Park and surrounding areas are the Barn Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl and the Marsh Owl.

Verreaux’s Eagle Owl

The Verreaux’s Eagle Owl stands about 66 cm tall and can weigh up to 2.3 kg.  This owl has a wingspan of 1.5 meters, and it has a pale grey body, a set of distinctive ear tufts and a pale face that is black rimmed.  Although its eyes are dark it has pink eyelids.

The Verreaux’s Eagle Owl is known to snatch roosting birds out their nests at night.  It also preys on bats, springhares, mongooses, rodents, frogs and a variety of insects and fish.  A special treat for this owl is a hedgehog, after peeling away the spiny skin, which it neatly discards, it tucks into the flesh.

In Shangaan folklore the Verreaux’s Eagle Owl is known as Nkhunsi, a messenger of death sent by a malevolent person.  To undo the death spell you will need to sever the head of the owl, that way you are able to send the ill fortune back to the person that sent it to you.

Barn Owl

In comparison, the Barn Owl is smaller and is only about 36 cm tall.  It weighs about 500g and has a wingspan of about 90cm.  The  Barn Owl can be found in and around rest camps as they are comfortable around humans.  It has a golden buff and pale colouring with a distinctive heart shaped face.  This owl preys mostly on rodents, although it does prey on birds, frogs and lizards.  At dusk Barn Owls and be seen gliding low over the ground or beating bushes in an attempt to get the smaller birds out.  They only hunt from dusk as they can easily become prey to other raptors during the day.

 Marsh Owl

An adult Marsh Owl is about 36 cm, weighs 310 grams and has a wingspan of about 90cm.  This owl has a gray disk face and centrally placed ear tufts.  The rest of his body is shades of brown.  A favourite meal is the Mole Rat, but it also preys on small birds and rodents.  The Marsh Owl also eats termites and beetles.  As its name predicts, Marsh Owls are commonly found in marshy areas, particularly where there are thick reeds of grass.  They can also be found in open thorn savannah though out the Kruger National Park.

Book your Kruger Park night safari with Royal Safaris and keep a look out for one of the many owls that frequent the park.

Why a Guided Kruger Park Tour is better than a Self-Drive

Why a Guided Kruger Park Tour is better than a Self-Drive

Apr 10, 2019 | Kruger Park safaris

Why a Guided Kruger Park Tour is better than a Self-Drive

Most South African’s are lucky enough to have visited a wildlife park of some kind in their lives, whether as children or as adults.

While self-drives are the most conventional way for South Africans to go on safari, there is another way to see the wildlife and the other exciting things that South Africa’s parks have to offer.

Guided safaris with a professional safari company, takes the stress out of your time in the park, and with Royal Safaris, not only do you get to experience the ultimate safari but you can also enjoy a bush braai or breakfast out in nature.

Why the guided Kruger Park safari is the better option

  • Accidents happen and there have been numerous accidents in the Kruger National Park with tourists cars been attacked by wild animals. In 2013 an elephant overturned a car and a British lady was seriously injured.  In 2016 a car was severely smashed by stampeding buffalo and a car was attacked by a lion.  Most of these could have been avoided had these people been on tour with a safari company, as the guides know how close to get to the animals and also know which animals are safe to get close too.
  • Safari companies have professional guides that visit the park daily. These guides are not only trained in the ways of the wild animals but are also constantly in touch with other guides in the park so they know where the best sighting are during the day.   Guides also have a wealth of information about the animals and while relaxing and game viewing the guides can explain all about the animals and their behaviour.
  • Guided safari companies know where the best places are in the Kruger National Park to ensure that you see the most animals in the least amount of time. Guides also have knowledge of where some animals have their lairs.  While it is unrealistic to expect to always see the Big Five, it is safe to say that with a safari company you are likely to see more than you would on your own.   On your own, you may drive around for hours and hours and see nothing.  Guides can also give you valuable information about the veld, plants and trees and also tell stories about all their bush experiences.
  • Safari companies offer a variety of packages for you to choose from. They can take you on an early morning drive or an afternoon drive, or if you want to spend the whole day in the park, they offer that service too.  Safari vehicles are open so you get a real feel for the bush, with the breeze blowing around you and the advantage of being higher than a normal vehicle enabling you to see over the roadside bush and view deep into the wild.
  • Safari companies will also take you to camps or picnic spots where you will get to stretch your legs and grab a snack or curio from the available facilities. It is safe to say, that going with a safari company will let you enjoy a safe journey through the Kruger National Park and get back home relaxed and bush wise.
  • Finally, some companies go above and beyond simply offering the average safari. Royal Safaris offers unique bush braais, early morning champagne breakfasts and exciting dinners close to the wildlife.

To find out more about our exceptional Kruger Park safaris and unique touring packages, contact us today or browse through our website.