Kruger Safaris October 2021 Highlights
Springtime was on full display in Kruger in October this year. The days were hot, the nights were warm and the bush was still dry which made spotting cheetah and leopard cubs so much easier. October also brought us an abundance of other newborn sightings like baby warthogs, elephant calves, hyena cubs and rhino calves.
But it was perhaps the more unusual sightings, one of which we've only experienced a handful of times over many years, that took our October game drives to the next level. The extremely rare black rhino, the elusive caracal, the beautiful bateleur eagle and two African fish eagle mates sounding their unmistakable calls from atop of withered tree were just a few of the highlights we got to share with our guests. Scroll down for more October 2021 Kruger safari highlights.
Cheetah with her four cubs.
Beautiful leopard.
Kudu bull enjoying the flowers of the woolly caper bush.
Proud mama warthog.
The unmistakable bateleur eagle.
Elephant calf.
The rarest cat in Kruger; a caracal. In Afrikaans, it's known as a rooikat which means "red cat".
African fish eagles call together to strengthen their social bond and reaffirm their territory.
The tail end of two rare black rhinos at the tail end of our first game drive of the safari.
Two leopard cubs emerge from the bush.
Hamerkops sometimes hunt by hovering over the surface of the water.
A male lion scents the breeze.
Something you don't see every day; cuddling rock monitors.
Rhino calf.
Painted wolves playing energentically.
Tawny eagle.
A lion stares up at a leopard's kill stashed in a tree.
Dwarf mongoose on the lookout for danger.
The best chance of spotting a Verreaux's eagle-owl is on a night drive.
This black-backed jackal hung around a lion kill in the hopes of stealing some scraps.
A very brave yellow-billed stork.
We spotted this lion cub in the recently burned thickets. Without the adults around, it appeared quite nervous and quickly disappeared to a safer area.
Inquisitive hyena cub.
Giraffes on the move.
Elephants gather at the water.
South Africa's Kruger National Park is a fantastic year-round destination and no matter what time of year you choose to go on a Kruger safari, the game viewing is excellent. If, however, you want to combine Kruger with other destinations like Cape Town or Victoria Falls, contact us for advice on the ideal time to travel so you get the best out of all experiences.
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About the author
Dianne Kokkonidis was born in Johannesburg, grew up in the Transkei and spent years exploring Europe. She returned to South Africa to live on a farm in the Outeniqua Mountains when the call of Africa got too loud to ignore. She comes from a family of storytellers, so it's no surprise she's now found her way into writing about one of the oldest stories known to mankind - the lure of Africa.
