Africa, Travel Moments, Travel Stories

Dense in Africa

I am in Africa but no; I am not the dense one… I hope. 🙂

KNP - Ngwenya

I took the two photographs (above and below) from the restaurant of Ngwenya Lodge. Beyond the open area is home to the wilds.

KNP - Ngwenya

Ngwenya Lodge is situated in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, on the border of Kruger National Park*. The resort overlooks the Crocodile River; about 3km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate of the game reserve.

*Kruger National Park, in South Africa, is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It has a high density of wild animals including what we refer to as the Big 5! The Big 5 are lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffaloes.

Kruger National Park

All the photographs are of the wildlife in the southern park of the Kruger National Park. We were heading to Skukuza, the park’s administrative headquarters and main camp. It is HOT, HOT, HOT there… all year round! I had been to the game reserve prior to our visit to Ngwenya Lodge. We went up north though, via the Phalaborwa gate. Of the times I have visited the Kruger Park, Skukuza gave me the best show of wildlife.

KNP - Skukuza
We were quick to spot the elephant in the middle of the thick bushes
KNP - Skukuza
These elephants were pretty thick, too. 🙂
KNP - Skukuza
And I thought there were only a pair! This was such a treat!
KNP - Skukuza
Dense, no contest.
KNP - Skukuza
They stand guard; impenetrable!

There were also other wild animals that showed up. Perhaps, I am biased. I do seem to like my majestic elephants a whole lot as seen when we took the Chobe River Boat Safari although the hippos did their best to steal the limelight.

Even the elusive king of the jungle showed his face. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t have lions roaming our city streets except for members of the Johannesburg rugby team.

KNP - Skukuza
Most relaxed lion I have seen
KNP - Skukuza
Did he pose for me?

 

KNP - Skukuza
The cutest tortoise ever! No, we didn’t take it home. It is illegal to keep them as pets.
KNP - Skukuza
Regally yours, he seems to say.
KNP - Skukuza
He did love to pose.
KNP - Skukuza
A beauty, too!

On this trip, the wildlife was the icing on the cake. We didn’t go to Skukuza for the animals. They are indeed magnificent creatures but we wanted to play golf in hot Skukuza. I know, we’re masochists like that. Lol! 🙂 Consider that the crocodile come to watch sometimes.

KNP - Skukuza Golf
Heat doesn’t matter much when the place is lovely.

KNP - Skukuza Golf

I did get a little scared of the crocodiles but I didn’t mind these wild boars. They posed. They played. They watched. We co-existed.

KNP - Skukuza Golf

Here I was trying hard to play. 🙂

KNP - Skukuza Golf

I really don’t know what the bokkies (deers) thought of my golf. They probably laughed a lot at my attempt.

KNP - Skukuza Golf

It was one memorable and lovely trip to Skukuza / Ngwenya Lodge for sure. I do think that a visit to the Kruger National Park completes any traveler’s or visitor’s trip to South Africa.

And you don’t have to play golf. Making a fool of self is not a prerequisite. 🙂

P.S.

My golf has improved ever so slightly since then.

Published by

Anne J.

I'm a Philippine island girl in Africa, a Filipino-South African. A mad banana woman that I am, I live "la vida loca". The banana part isn’t only because I'm Anna (Banana) but because an old boyfriend had observed that although Asian (yellow on the outside) I'm very much Caucasian in my way of thinking (white in the inside) and my actions, too. It's a rather accurate observation. I am that liberal-thinking and modern-acting Filipino... I remain my tragic-comedic self with a day job in slightly more serious field of Finance, Business Operations and Corporate Affairs.

49 thoughts on “Dense in Africa”

    1. I think some parts of the Kruger get coolet. Skukuza is always hot. I think the temperature does drop but at night. Like Durban and the Northern Province, some parts of SA don’t really have winter like Johhanesburg/Gauteng gets, or even Western Cape.

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      2. Some parts of the country has limited water supply. We had some rains in Joburg at least so our water restriction has been lifted. We were not allowed to water our lawn/grass or wash cars with a hose pipe or we got charged a higher rate for the consumption in excess of threshold. We’re heading for winter soon so normal in the highveld to have no rain. The Cape will be raining.

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      4. Haha. They don’t. Cape TOWN can be freezing cold and Joburg will be hot but never humid while Durban will have 80% humidity and raining. The 3 main cities have totally different climate… as far as I can observe.

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    2. Thank you so much. 💖 The game reserve is amazing and the lodge where we stayed is fine. Next time though, it will be great to stay in one of the camps in the Park. They’re just pricier but the experience should be worth it. The wildlife is awesome! The golf was fun and one day maybe I can call me a golfer, albeit social. It’s not easy. Haha! I’ve been trying to play for 10 years now with a break for 2 or 3 years in between. Thank you so much for dropping by and for your lovely comment. 🤗

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    1. Thanks so much, Kim! 😊 This trip was the best for wildlife (excluding Botswana). We did once get caught speeding on our way out. We were not staying in the Park and didn’t want to get locked in. 😝 Thank you for checking out my blog. 🤗

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    1. Thanks so much, Geraint! Oh wow! You’ve gone to the Kruger more times than I have and I live here. 🙂 I think we take it for granted. We’ve stayed in Kruger Park Lodge (outside the Park) for a weekend of golfing twice and we didn’t at all go to the Kruger. From the north, I’ve only been to the park once. I must convince hubby that we pretend to be tourists and do a proper safari. 🙂

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      1. You’ve got to. It’s right there. I love golf as well but sometimes you can leave the clubs in the car and watch the elephants

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      2. It’s definitely up for consideration now. I don’t want regrets if and when we move out of the continent and we’ve never stayed in one of the park’s camps. And we’ll have golf days and wildlife days. Thank you. ☺

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  15. I looked at this agian now and obviously all those animal posed for you. I must admit this time round I read this comment “Here I was trying hard to play. 🙂” in relation to the wild boars!!!!
    I just want to confirm that you cannot possibly a wild boar. Wild – yes ; Bore – certainly not 🙂

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    1. I know this is such a delayed response. Playing catch up is so difficult! Haha! Anyway, thank you so much. A little wild 😜 maybe 🤣😝 and definitely not a bore… I think… I hope. 😅

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