Satara Circuit via Tsokwane, Orpen Dam and Vutomi Loop, Day 6 - (Kruger National Park - ZA)

This route was done on the 16th of March 2024. Day 6 of our Kruger trip consisted of leaving Satara early where we got Lions in the road just over the small bridge on the H1-4. We proceeded down the H7 towards Orpen but turned around at Nsemani waterhole and went back to the H1-4 and South to Tsokwane. After Tsokwane the route to Orpen dam was followed and then North back up to the H1-4 and back down to Tsokwane with the Munywini road taken shortly thereafter. Shortly after joining the Nhlanguleni/ Muzandzeni road the Vutomi Loop Road was taken back to the H1-4 before heading back to Satara. Not the most eventful day in terms of sightings but there were a few noticeable and interesting sightings on the day and the weather had cleared nicely and the mecury rose to 35C. All the routes followed in this series of Kruger wildlife watching trails were done by means of driving in a vehicle. Unless booked on a bush walk, horseback trail or something similar will require a vehicle to travel through the park. Waypoints marked on this trail are only a small sample of the sightings seen on the day. General game sightings in the Kruger are plentiful so the sightings marked in these trails represent only some of the highlights where we opted to capture a photograph or two. It is by no means all that was spotted on the day, some sightings like that of Impala, Wildebeest, Zebra, Elephants etc. are too numerous to waypoint each one. On the other hand, some sightings are too brief or obscured by vegetation that any meaningful identification with a photograph is not worth noting and or marking on the map. The routes followed here are just an indication of what was and could be done for a day's self-driving, road closures and other factors mean that every drive through the Kruger Park in terms of route, time taken to reach points and distance covered will be slightly different from one another. These recordings should act merely as a journal of our experience and are not exact routes which anyone is obliged or recommended to follow. A word of advice would be to plan your route according to the official Kruger Park Map Guides (available at camp and some gate shops) allowing plenty of time to reach your camp or gate before the official closing time. Naturally one must consider time for stopping at sightings, road blockage by Elephants and other game, park speed limits and stopping at bird hides, viewpoints, historical sights and any other interesting attractions that the park has to offer (there are numerous). If self-driving in the Kruger, please make yourself aware of the rules and regulations of the park, be courteous when it comes to shared sightings and leave no trace. Do not litter, feed animals or alight from your vehicle unless a sign indicates that you are allowed to do so. The big five and other dangerous animals are wild and at large in the Kruger so do not take your chances and keep to the safety of your vehicle. If you do alight from your vehicle at bird hides and lookout points etc. make sure that there is no threat in the near vicinity, this is especially true for predators but more so for game which is dangerous but stereotypically not perceived as much of a threat in popular culture e.g. Buffalo, Hippos, Elephants (do your research if unsure). As far as game drives go, they are almost always a hassle- and trouble-free experience. It is recommended that to make the most of a Wildlife experience like the Kruger that one should develop an appreciation for all things in the park and not just seek out large game or the big five. Appreciation of the general scenery, birds, reptiles, plants, and trees to name a few makes a trip to a national park like the Kruger far more rewarding. Enjoy the raw beauty of nature in this world-renowned park and please play your part in keeping it pristine for future generations.