Our Journey To Kruger National Park

image of riverside bungalow at skukuza rest camp in Kruger National Park in South Africa

Entrance gate to Kruger National Park in South Africa

Our long-anticipated arrival at Kruger National Park was like a dream come true.  This journey, for me, had its roots tied to historical accounts of explorers Dr. David Livingstone and Sir Henry Stanley and their exploits on the Dark Continent.  Add to that a detailed look at Kenya in one of my high school science projects, and a life-long passion to travel to the deep, dark “jungles” of Africa was born.  Travel to the sub-Saharan region of the continent personified my imaginings of an exhilarating trip complete with risk, daring, incomparable wildlife adventures and unique landscape.  We had to conquer our fears and fan the flames of our adventurous spirit.  As we entered through the Phabeni Gate, our excitement was palpable even though I was withstanding a bout of stomach and intestinal infection that had arisen that afternoon. Read more

Our Armed Safari In Kruger National Park

photograph of people undertaking an armed safari in Kruger National Park, South Africa

armed safari, kruger national park, south africa, pic 10

The night before our scheduled Armed Safari in Kruger National Park, I was so wound up with excitement that I could hardly sleep.  Laying awake from 1:30 a.m. on, I didn’t need the alarm that was set to beep us awake at 3:30 a.m., but the dainty chimes wrested Bob from his sleep and then we prepared for the 4:30 a.m. departure from Skukuza Rest Camp.  The armed park rangers in charge of leading us safely around the savanna were Rouleni and Opa. Read more

Lesser Masked Weavers In Kruger National Park

A image of a lesser-masked weaver bird builds a hanging nest in Skukuza Rest Camp in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

As Bob and I made our way into the Main Pavilion at Skukuza Rest Camp to sign up for a guided night safari in Kruger National Park, South Africa, our mission was interrupted when a flicker of yellow drew our eyes to a nearby palm tree.  We were delighted to see a beautiful Lesser Masked Weaver dangling upside down from a stiff palm frond. Read more