Hluhluwe safari 2015
I met my clients in Durban for our 3 day safari to the Big 5 Hluhluwe Imfolozi game reserve. We began our safari andI covered some of the major history of South Africa, KwaZulu Natal and Durban.
Once we were done we made our way to the Cat rehabilitation center where we interacted with Cheetah and three other species of endangered or threatened cats.
Hluhluwe safari 2015 Serval
We then made our way into the Big 5 Hluhluwe Imfolozi game reserve. Below see some Rhino and Zebra together.
Durban Big 5 safari; Rhino and Zebra
We then made our way to Hilltop camp. Here we had some lunch and checked in before heading back out onto Hluhluwe Imfolozi game reserve just in time for the first Spring rains! Well that was a bit frustrating as it made it very hard to see.
We did find Rhino and four of them at that which crossed the road in front of us.
Crash of Rhino on Hluhluwe safari 2015
It took us some time before we found anything else of great significance. But when we did it was a herd of Buffalo all around us and one on the road in front of us.
This was the second of the Big 5 that we had found and it was a great sighting.
Buffalo sighting on our Hluluwe Safari
We kept trying to see if we could locate these Lions I had seen the day before but the visibility was not so good. This would not stop us and even though we got a tip off we eventually spotted them but too far away for a good photo.
This is Nature though and we can never expect it to go as we would want them. Nature shows up the way it want to.
Lion in the distance at dusk
It was very dark now and time to get back to camp for some dinner. We all met at 7pm and enjoyed some good food as well as some singing and dancing from the kitchen staff.
My clients really enjoyed the evening and it was then time for me to go and get some work done before bed.
Day 2: Hluhluwe safari 2015
We began the day with news of Lions having killed a Giraffe on a bridge and we made our way there after we had some breakfast. The Giraffe was on the bridge and had been pregnant. She had one foot of the baby sticking out of the rear as the Lions had opened her up. Sadly for us with the pressure of vehicles the Lions moved away so we did not see them.
Pregnant Giraffe killed by Lions on Hluluwe Safari
We drove around to see if we could find the Lions with no luck so we continued on. We then spotted a journey of Giraffe which were feeding away and concerned that one of there family had been killed.
On our way back past the Giraffe on our Hluhluwe Safari we saw that a staff vehicle was going to move the Giraffe a little off the road. The guy decided to drive his car into the sand off the bridge and he got stuck. We now were trapped and the only way to get past was to move the head and neck of the Giraffe a little. As the Lions were far away it was safe to do so, so myself and the staff member moved the head as far back as we could and then I was able to get past.
We headed south as planned but it was such a rainy morning that we saw very little. Even a Vulture seemed to be big for us aside of the Impala we could not get away from.
Hluhluwe safari 2015 boasts White backed Vulture
Mission to find Elephants ….
I thought this would not be a problem but as luck would have it we would suffer the indignity of not seeing one the whole day!
We did see lots of other things like Giraffe, Baboons, Nyala, Kudu, Warthog, Wildebeest, Buffalo and Rhino.
Baboons on Safari
These Baboons were grooming each other and we then also watched some Impala pronking away as the rain had stopped. It was getting better and we found Rhino a few times close to the road.
Rhino close to the road
We spotted a herd of Wildebeest in the distance during this part of our Hluhluwe Safari so I snapped a couple of shots before we moved on to see what else we could find.
A herd of Wildebeest on Safari in Hluluwe in 2015
We then began to make our way back up for some lunch having stopped a few time to look at view point and seen nothing!
On route we found another dazzle of Zebra and it was great as they were so close to the road.
A Dazzle of Zebra
We then had our lunch and looked around the curio shop, even I found something for my wife!
We headed back up to camp and arrived around 15:30. I arranged the dinners and an open vehicle drive for the one couple I had with me.
I would be meeting the other clients for dinner which was a lovely meal. And then the next morning we would leave at 6am and try to find those Lions.
Day 3: Hluhluwe safari 2015
Day 3 of our safari began before 6am and we visited the Giraffe carcass. It was hopeless … the Lions had moved off! … and vultures were now landing in the trees. Gone was the romance of the kill from the day before so we left to seek greener pastures!
We headed further north and found some lovely Zebra and Rhino.
Rhino mother and calf
After this great sighting I could see some vehicles stopped in the distance. So I made my way around there as the Lions had been in the area for a few days now. When we arrived we found the Lions all 7 of them! Wow what a sight I am glad we stuck around as the Lions eventually got up and walked over a hill where they spotted a herd of Buffalo walking towards them. They went into hunting mode!
Lion and Buffalo stand off
This is always interesting and was only for the Lions to try and find a weak link in the herd. They tried to circle the Buffalo but the Buffalo stood their ground. There was also some back and forth but no weak links were found. Eventually the Lions gave up.
What an amazing sighting! The Buffalo would not allow the Lions to dominate them.
Buffalo bull charges a pride of Lions
The Lions do not want to risk getting an injury as that can spell death for them. (through infection or broken bones) This is all about trying to establish a weak link for a night hunt.
Wow what a great scene on our 3 day Durban safari in Hluhluwe Imfolozi game reserve.
We continued back to the lodge and had some breakfast before checking out. The next stage was to depart for St Lucia estuary and Isimangaliso Wetland park.
Here we boarded a 2 hour boat cruise to view Hippos and Crocodiles which was fantastic with some great sightings of Hippos and Crocodiles.
Crocodile
The Hippos at St Lucia are very relaxed and have become accustomed to the boat traffic over the past 40 years.
We were lucky on this Durban safari tour to find Hippos playing near the boat.
Hippos playing at St Lucia
We decided to make our way back to Durban and stop along the ways for a bite to eat. It was great to have shared such an amazing experience with such a lovely group of guests which enjoyed every part of the experience.
It was great to get home to my wife for the night and the following day.
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Hluhluwe Imfolozi safari tour from Durban
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