This Zulu phrase means wild animals. There are about 12,000 white, and 627 black rhinos in Kruger National Park. This one is looking at you for protection!
Leopards in Kruger are rare and rarely seen.
We were very lucky to see this one! The Kruger population is estimated at approximately 1000, although they are hard to count, because they are hard to find.
1,700 lions are thought to live in Kruger.
There are about 37,000 cape buffalo, and yes this one is sleeping. They do that a lot in water holes!
There are only around 300 nyala. This is a male and two females. Quite a sighting of beautiful, shy, creatures! (Late addition: My blogging friend Quiall, see comments, found a baby nyala’s legs in this photo that I didn’t see. Count the legs and you’ll find the baby!)
2000 warthogs,
5000 waterbuck,
over 127,000 impala,
and more than 8,000 kudu call Kruger home. A trip to Kruger is an incredible experience and aids the park’s impressive wildlife conservation efforts.
Estimates, calculated between 2008 and 2009. Read more about Kruger’s animals and conservation efforts at: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/visitsa/1825-240610-kruger-park#ixzz3duwscq1H
Cheers to you from Kruger’s spectacular izilwane zasendle~
You were so lucky to have a leopard sighting! They are so difficult to find. In my 8 years in Africa, and numerous safaris, we saw a leopard “properly” only twice. A few times we only saw a tail in the bush 🙂 Thanks for all your wonderful photos from the beautiful Kruger park.Their conservation efforts are commendable!
We actually had two sightings, but one was a leopard resting in a bush. You could see some bits of orange and black and a tail that occasionally flicked but that was it. You can get better sightings (and photos) in the leopard reserves, but I prefer it more natural. If you see one great, but if not, there is so much else to see. Still people did see the wild dog packs. That would be a thrill. This is the deal with Africa. There is always more to see!!
awesome shots ❤
Merci beaucoup!
#HeartAfrica
I second the motion!
wonderful!
They truly are!
Your photos are unbelievable! The way you just gaze into the eyes of the bucks and kudu! 🙂 And I love the way a big cat lies so gracefully in a tree. As if he belonged there! Happy weekend, Cindy 🙂
Thank you Jo and that leopard does definitely belong on that tree, not on the floor as someone’s rug!
I’m am consistently awed by your photos – National Geo worthy girl! thank you!
Awwww, so kind & so appreciated!
Amazing animals , Cindy! You saw a lot!
We really did. It is an amazing park!
If we go to Africa, now I think that’s the park I’d like to go to, thanks to you!
It is accessible, safe, very inexpensive, and jam packed with scenery and wildlife. You will have an incredible experience!
All wonderful, but I love the leopard best. 🙂
Just the most beautiful creatures aren’t they!
Fabulous photos, Cindy. I so enjoy your work!
Awww, so kind & so apprecated!
Great dear friend!Good vibes from Brazil!
Brazil does have good vibes and so do you!
What an amazing variety!
And this is just a tiny bit of it!
wow that is amazing!
Africa is an amazing continent!
Yes it is 🙂 My husband was born in Zimbabwe 🙂
I have never been, but I have read so much about Zimbabwe, and seen so many amazing photos. I would love to go!
This is amazing. It’s nice to see animals being protected. Hopefully their numbers multiply. 🙂
I hear that there has been numerical increases since the 08/09 census which is encouraging~
amazing photos, and saddening figures…so hope the figures continue to improve..
I hope so too!
Great photos!
Mil grazi~
Enjoyed your great pics Cindy, really a bad scenario that there is only 1000 Leopards in the park.
Kruger park must cover a vast area and really needs support in keeping these great creatures in a safe environment, the poor old Rhino is a victim of poachers after his tusk, the Elephant and his tusks, these animals need maximum protection by all nations.
Yes they do before it is too late for many species, ourserlves included!
Agree Cindy, sometimes I think we will be gone before the endangered species, ironically then they will proliferate.
It would be nice, wouldn’t it, if we as a species, were capable of self correcting, before it’s too late, but I don’t think we are…..
Very beautiful and magnificent animals. I hope they will be protected under the full extent of the law.
Yes, I echo your hopes!
Moving beautiful and sad. The shots are lovely, as are the animals captured in them and the sense of sadness that so much about them and their habitat has been destroyed my our mindless aggression and need to “civilise” everything
We really have colosally messed up this planet and all of it’s inhabitants haven’t we. We have too much to account for as a species. We are too destructive.
Liebe Cindy, schönen Sonntag, Klaus
Danke und haben eine wundervolle Woche mein Freund!
ich danke
Hope there will soon be enough protection for these amazing beasts.
Yes, I am hoping with you! ❤
We found the legs of the baby 😀 Great photos, Cindy. Unbelievable how beautiful the animals are 🙂 Pawkisses for a Happy Sunday 🙂 ❤
Can you believe Quiall found that for us? When I saw that I was blown away! So glad you found the baby too. They were using all three bodies to protect him!! ❤ ❤
Beautiful animals!
Merci beaucoup mon ami~ ❤
Cindy vous avez capturé une telle beauté. Merci beaucoup! Thank goodness for that translating thingy! 🙂
I definitely need it for French as I don’t speak it!!!! But thanks much Gary, I do get the drift~
😉 😉
Cindy, thank you for sharing these awesome images. This must have been quite an experience for you, to see them so close up. Hugs! Veraiconica
Yes, Africa is just a must do in a lifetime experience, if one loves wild animals.
Stunning pics, Cindy. I’ve been recently watching a show called Big Cat Diaries. An English crew documenting their time in Africa while following Leopards, Lions and Cheetahs. I’ve enjoyed it so much, learning about these cats; how the live, their instincts, how family oriented they are. It’s awesome for me to see them through your eyes. Makes it feel more real for me. Is that crazy?!! lol Lovely and sharing it now. 😉 xoxo
I am pretty much addicted to seeing & photographing wild animal eyes, especially when they look directly at me, which they do all the time. You need a telephoto to see how often wild animals are looking directly at you. It is the most amazing feeling of communion to look right back at them. The other things that compels me is the complete diffference in the eyes of a wild animal in comparison to a domestic or zoo animal. There is really no comparison. The wild animal eyes are so alert, so bright, so alive, and not depressed. Zoo animals have depressed eyes.
What gorgeous creatures and your beautiful photos and words reflect their vulnerability to human encroachment and worse. This has been a lovely trip to parts of Africa – thank you.
Awww, it has been so lovely to have you along! ❤
You are so lucky to see a leopard!
I know, Unreal and wonderful! They are quite sparse in Kruger. You can see them more easily at leopard perserves, but it isn’t the same as spotting a truly wild one. Half the fun is beating the odds!
You are a woman to defy the odds and win. 😉
Except of course, usually, when I do neither! 😉
That leopard seems to be having a great time, just up there in the shade taking a nap…..he seemed quite comfortable……until you found him and disturb his sleep!! You are lucky to find one then, how many times to you go to Safari´s ? Just curious with all the pic´s and all, don`t have to answer.
Yes, leopards chill out a lot after they gorge, often in trees. We actually saw two on this trip, but only one was photograhable. We have been to Africa two separate times. Both times to South Africa, spending most of our time in Kruger, and self driving each time. We stay in, and around the park, and do some ranger led game drives and walking safaris with rangers. But mosly we go on our own and prefer it this way. On our first trip my son came with us. Each trip is 22 hours of flying one way!!! Since I hate to fly, you can imagine how much I love Africa!
That sounds like a blast really, except for the 22 hour flight, but it sure seems it´s worth it
Definitely worth every unpleasant hour! 😉
Found the baby. 🙂 Stunning photos, as always. Thank you so much for sharing these.
Thank you for looking for the baby and Quiall for finding him in the first place! ❤
Loved the leopard shot ~ so rare in the wild, yet so popular. What a trip you are having ~
Thanks and you have been, so you know the magic that exudes from the place!
I think the water buffalo needs a new do. That horn style seems a bit outdated. 😉
I know! So many millions of years old, scheesch!
Reblogged this on Illuminate.
I love the photos of the leopard on the branch. They blend into the dappled shade so well!
Such a thrill to see such an elusive creature! Glad you like him too~
Wonderful shots and an adventure for sure! Impalas are very elegant and I love buffalos. My husband went last year but wasn’t lucky enough to see any leopard – congratulations!
They don’t care for people much. Can’t say I blame them since their pelt has been harvested so extensively for so long.
Agree.
The leopard was the only one that eluded us. We caught a glipse of one, but by the time I had the camera up, it had slid down the tree trunk into the brush. As to those impala, after two days they looked like white tail deer along the freeways on the East Coast.
Oscar
Yes, But I never tired of the impala, they are so graceful and delicate. Fun to talk with someone whose been there Oscar & cheers to you my friend~
Will you adopt me???
Yes! ❤ ❤
What a rewarding and fantastic journey for you. The leopard was a great capture and rare!! And you even made it home safely.
Laughing, yes I am always grateful to not contract some awful disease on an airplane, that is what scares me the most!!! 😉 😉
amazing photos!!
Awwww, honored!
😉
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