Satara to Biyamiti via Skukuza, Day 7 - (Kruger National Park - ZA)

This route was done on the 17th of March 2024. Note elevation data failed on this recording. Day 7 was an eventful day that began early and covered a lot of ground from the middle section of the park all the way down to one of the most Southern of the park’s camps. After leaving Satara on the H1-3 was taken South with the same Lions seen the day before were sighted just on the other side of the road. Then where the Vutomi loop joins the tar a large male Leopard was spotted lying under a tree, face still with patches of blood on it. After taking the H1-2 and then the H4-1 Nkulhu was the stop for lunch. Taking the N-watimhiri road West to the Stevenson Hamilton Memorial and then on to Skukuza before taking the Biyamiti loop and private camp road to the evening’s accommodations. An eventful day with ample sightings and interesting stops. \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.