Day 3 began with clouds and light rain as we left the Skukuza gate that had been closed upon arrival the night before.

While it was another early departure, we were a bit more relaxed because yesterday had been so productive. Kruger National Park is roughly the size of New Jersey. It is said that if a person were to travel every mile (or kilometer) of road in the park, over 95% of the park would remain unseen.

We stayed in the southern area of the park. We entered at the Paul Kruger Gate the first evening and went directly to Skukuza camp. On day 2, we drove the loop down to Lower Sabie camp, then to the north and back to Skukuza for the second night. On day 3, we drive north to Satara camp where we spent the third night. On the last day we drove west, leaving the park at Orpen Gate to return to Johannesburg.

We were soon seeing more animals. A favorite food for giraffes is the leaves of the fig tree. However, the fig trees have a defense mechanism that comes into play. Tannin is sent to the leaves, making them bitter, and the giraffe moves on to find another tree. By some unknown method, fig trees in the immediate vicinity learn of the tannin process in the original tree and they also prepare their defense, so the giraffe needs to move some distance to find another edible tree.

 

Elephants eat hundreds of pounds of grass daily. With approximately 12,000 elephants in Kruger, that works out to a lot of grass. Evidence of this throughput can be seen around the park.

If you have a high speed Internet connection, you might want to download and watch the video Marsha East took of an elephant walking toward their van. The file size is 9.45 MB. Click here to download. Be sure the have the audio on when playing.

The rhinoceros dumps waste in a specific area and then spreads it around to designate its territory.

Arrival at Satara camp was early enough that we could catch a light lunch before checking into our huts.

The afternoon time allowed a rugby game and some other fun.

Later, we went on a night ride operated by Kruger Park staff.

While the light level was low, spotlights and camera flashes did allow for some photographic record.

Back at Satara camp dinner was waiting. We then settled into our last night sleeping in Kruger National Park.

Continue on to Safari Day 4

Return to South Africa