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Archived issues (available soon) |
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Bird Call June / July 2003 |
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| The Kruger is alive and well, and still producing some of the best game viewing opportunities on the African continent. I say this because there is a perception out there that the Kruger delivers a 'tame' experience compared to other African countries. I'd like to set about putting the record straight. | |||
| The Kruger, like all other African wildlife destinations, has several faces she can show you on tour or safari. These faces depend on the type of experience your operator delivers, the overnight stops that your operator uses, and the level of guiding your operator is prepared to deliver. |
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| A Kruger tour | |||
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Kruger has 24 lodges (South Africans call them rest camps) which all have
their own style, accommodation types and services. They are all in the
bush - but 16 of them are geared up for the high numbers of visitors that
come to see the Kruger each year. Accommodation, shops and restaurants at
these rest camps provide a friendly and welcoming service for the 1000
beds each.
The Kruger can be a 'very nice, well-managed encounter with one of Africa's greatest game reserves. It could be shown to you in an open game viewing vehicle, a coach or minibus. Your meals can be either be taken in the main lodge restaurants, cooked on open fires, or self-cooked. |
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Activities
on the above type of tour can include:
Generally this type of tour is organised at public camps in varying accommodation - from tents to chalets. |
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A Bearded Heron Safari |
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Bearded
Heron Safaris is all about showing a very different side of the Kruger to
International guests. A much more personalised, very luxurious, and more
important, exclusive side of the Kruger that few operators can muster. It’s
a more expensive option because Bearded Heron Safaris manipulate the
accommodation options to exclude much contact with the public face of the
Kruger. I use very specific locations that are smaller, set deep in the
bush, in idyllic locations that have no access for coaches and large group
operators. On a
Bearded Heron safari the following services are included (part and parcel
of the safari) and without compromise. All
our meals are prepared on sight in a traditional open-fire manner. They
are three course meals and prepared by a chef who accompanies us on
safari. My
guests have access (part and parcel) to whatever they want – from
beverages to the odd sandwich, and crisps, etc. if they feel peckish. My
game drives and activities are completely customisable on safari –
whether we decide to stay in, drive around, spend time at a nearby
waterhole or do some bird watching, spoor identification, etc. depends on
the advice of the guide, and the whim of the guests. Accommodation
is private, luxurious and exclusive – always en-suite bedrooms and
always more special than normal. |
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I do not accompany you on
safari to simply show you animals and drive you around. I am a specialist
Kruger guide and qualified field guide – my motivation for starting this
business is to share my interpretation of the bush, and to give you an
opportunity to experience the world that I love and am passionate about. We
will discover and learn about ‘tracking, animal behaviour, the night
skies, birds, trees and ecology. Our
sightings of the big 5 are not contrived or taken for granted – we become
part of this great place rather than mere on-lookers. |
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| Bearded Heron Safaris is about 5 star service while delivering experiences that you will treasure and remember for a very long time to come, it’s the experience of the Kruger showing one of her more adventurous faces. | |||
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Graham, Carole, Gina and David were treated to
some fantastic sightings and some very special moments on their safari - not
to mention "living with a Mamba" and some close encounters with
elephant.
Our mornings were filled with the bush waking up, from restless Dikkops (water birds) and Hippos shouting out their territorial boundaries to the more dramatic sightings of three big male lions surveying the lie of the land. On one of the mornings we came across an elephant bull that displayed his prowess in a head shaking irritation at our presence. Quite a rush for us mere observers! The birds were also prolific going about their business. We recorded sightings of 65 species - quite a list when one realises that at this time of year a lot of the birds have flown to warmer places. The safari started delivering plenty to talk about over the evening fire once we moved to Roodewal - a black mamba moved in as we did - not that the snake was a problem, but its presence made everybody a little more aware that we were visitors in its territory, and not the other way around. Although we did not see the snake, we identified the tracks, and found its resting place - a notation that we, like the field mice scuttling for safety each night - highlighted in our conscious thoughts. Our nights were beautiful - star filled night skies, silent and infinite broken only by our excited conversation and roars of a nearby lion. Graham, David Gina and Carole went for a walk with the elephants on their last day - perhaps not planned but their experience of 'walking' in the bush as the evening sun was setting in the west will become a memory they are unlikely to forget. The elephants (approx. 40) got between them and the camp on their way back - the armed guides had to take them around the herd, and when they walked into camp - a strong Gin and Tonic was the order of the day. This adventure wasn't only about big rushes from dangerous situations. We also watched a giraffe getting rid of an itch by using an acacia thorn tree, and a flock of ostriches in flight - amusing, but fantastic opportunities to see real wildlife in real situations. Doug's menu was superb and once again thanks all round for a mouth-watering accompaniment to some fantastic wildlife experiences. Our leopard topped off the safari - in the distance, lying in the sun without a care in the world, and to allow me to add another safari - complete with the big 5 to my list of big 5 adventures. I look forward to hearing from all of you
soon - I'll let you know when the additions to my sight are complete, and in
about four weeks, I'll have a corporate Bearded Heron video on sale which
I'm sure will bring memories of all of your trips flooding back. (Read some of the letters sent to us - click here) |
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Kind regards Neil Heron The Bearded Heron Send your comments to neil@beardedheron.com
Subscription information: To refer a friend : click here (and add an e-mail address) |
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