Creatures of South Africa’s Kruger Park.

In 2013 we got to spend four glorious days in the Kruger National Park. From the break of dawn, we set off on game drives with our ranger along the dirt roads and through a tiny part of the 2 million hectares of bushveld. Each day in the park brought ripe discoveries with it and different creatures to behold. Here are some of the beautiful birds and animals we got to see and watch…

A female cheetah with her prey. Too tired to eat, she waits and watches for others who may want her impala.

Crocodiles wade in the waters of the aptly named Crocodile River waiting to catch passing fish.

The speedy Pied Kingfisher soars low over the waters ready to dive and catch his meal.

The Heron waits nearby on a rock surveying the land and the fish swimming by.

A Male impala feeds and moves around with a group of females. Often he will be the only male and mate with all of them.

A group of female impala seek shade in the midday heat.

A male Kudu with horns which only begin twisting once at around 2 years and twisting twice when they’re 6 years old.

Two Kudu bulls eating on the banks of the riverbed.

A hyena, wounded by a pack of wild dogs the night before, leaves his hiding place and walks to his home beneath the road.

A healthlier, spotted hyena walking towards the vehicle.

A little beauty- the Lilac Breasted Roller.

On the road, we spot a family of warthog crossing unaware that two lions are about to ambush them.

One of the lionesses stalking the warthog.

Patiently she waits for her female family member to join in the ambush.

Further down the pathway, this family of elephants cross the road always staying close to their young.

If I could, I’d take this little guy home with me.

This graceful giraffe elegantly sauntered across the road.

Whilst this little one stayed close to his elders.

This wounded leopard waited near the water and watched a monitor lizard,

whilst these buffaloes waded in the shallow water.

Thirsty elephants moved towards the water to cool down and drink.

And so did the wildebeest.

These striped fellows feed on the roadside. The Baby sticks close to his mother.

These zebra run on the banks of the dry riverbed as we drive closer.

This rhino has a nap on the dry ground.

This young white rhino surveyed us very curiously but never moved too far from his mom.

I can never get enough of this lovely creature- the giraffe.

Their skin in itself is like a intricately-painted fabric.

Surprisingly its neck has the same amount of vertebrae as humans do.

This male hippo was the first of three to peek his head out of the water as we had sun-downers beside the lake.

Our first sighting of a klipspringer which literally means ‘Rock Jumper’ in Afrikaans.

It was great to see this klipspringer up close as they are not as commonly sighted as the other antelope.

An impala on the run. They are said to reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.

An owl almost completely hidden in the tree. We heard him before we spotted him.

A group of waterbuck with a distinctive white ring on its rear end.

A black eagle gliding in the sky.

I’m yet to discover the name of this bird. Anyone know?

A female kudu in the dry riverbed.

Which of these creatures did you spot in the Kruger National Park or on safari in South Africa?