Our second safari stay was at Karongwe Game Reserve, a private reserve. Here we did manage to see the last of the Big 5, the leopard, along with the other 4 members of this clan. But before we get to that, lets talk about our accommodations.

We stayed in a very nice, upgraded tent with a wood floor, an on-suite, queen-size bed, air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and mosquito netting. All around the camp were wild animals; cheetahs, wild boars, nyala, Guinea fowl, giraffe, Cape (African) buffalo, impala, white rhino, elephants, and of course, the Big 5. No shortage of game, just have to find them.

Welcome to Karongwe

Our cabin, #22, for the next few days

And a loo, yahoo!

Unlike Kruger National Park, when game is spotted in Karongwe, only 2 vehicles are allowed to be at the sighting at one time. In Kruger, and later in Chobe National Park, we found that as many as 12 safari vehicles could surround a game sighting. Not very “safari like” viewing, more like Disney or a wild animal park.

Karongwe covers some 22,000+ acres in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Animal spotting here is done more like you see on TV, in a safari truck that seats 9 people, with a spotter that sits on the left front fender seat, plus a driver. Max speed during our “hunt” is about 20mph to enable the spotter to see tracks or fresh game trails from early morning animal movement. They also carry a radio that connects them with the other spotters, very handy when game is spotted.

Bwana Jon

Mom-bear

And you think you’re job is bad…the dung beetle

Safaris here consist of early morning treks, starting around 5:30-6:00am that end around 8:30-9:00am; and again around 3:00-4:00pm ending around 6:30-7:00pm. Mid-day that animals are resting so not much of a chance to see them. They also offer an early afternoon “game walk” that isn’t really for game as it mostly covers flora in the region. However, you are escorted by to guides each carrying rifles and handguns in case there is a chance encounter of an early riser lion or two. This safety practice also carries over for returning to your cabin after dinner. An escort with a very bright flashlight must escort you back to your cabin, again in case there is an animal in search of fat, slow prey.

Plains zebras

Male Giraffe. Females will have a tuft of hair on top of their head and are lighter color.

Baboons

Nile Crocodile – swim up to 35kmh, weigh up to 1,500lbs

Enough chat, here are some of the 1500+ pics we took:

Leopard

Cape Buffalo-one of the most dangerous animals in Africa

Leopard with fresh kill