Tuskers and Thunderstorms – Kruger Park Safari

The one thing about the Kruger National Park iswe are both fond of nature.
that it’s almost always hot. Going on a KrugerAs we drove to Satara, we moved into the
Park Safari you are met with high humidity and adirection of the N’Wanetsi River, known as
lot of insects. But don’t let this put you off.one of the best spots for game-viewing and
The Kruger National Park is by far the bestwhere we were met by a lot of wildebeest. Not
National Park in South Africa, just come wellreally being one for bird-watching, the other
prepared with insect repellent.tourists seem very excited when they spotted
The first nightsome weird-looking blue bird. They did tell me the
During our first night at the Kruger Park, Marcelname, but as per usual, I forget the name as
and I slept in one of the park’s huts. Usuallysoon as the 4x4 moved along, hoping to spot
we camp, but Marcel sustained a back injury justsomething a little more exciting, and perhaps on
before we came on our safari and rather thanfour legs.
cancelling, he was determined to come. It wasThe Tuskers
extremely hot during the day, but by fiveAs we continued the journey, we were fortunate
o’clock that afternoon the clouds came rollingenough to see one of the Tuskers that can still
in. You could just smell the rain in the air. I lovebe found wandering the Kruger National Park.
thunderstorms. So powerful and overwhelming,Tuskers are large elephants known by this name
there was a certain electricity in the air, a tastebecause of their extra big tusks. There are not
of what’s to come. Marcel is a photographer,many left, and only a few in the Kruger. This is
so when the lightning started in the far distance,due to poaching.
he took out his camera.Tuskers were the first to suffer a big blow in
The contrasts in colours were something else, lushnumbers due to elephant poaching, which was
green nature meeting a dark grey thundering sky.why this encounter was worth so much more.
After about half an hour we took sanctuary inThe bull seemed quite relaxed about our
our hut. With the bottom half of the door openapproach, so the driver stopped that we could
we sat on the bed, simply enjoying the fresh coolenjoy this site for a bit longer. Both Marcel and I
air blowing in.are elephant fanatics. Everybody has their
Even though thunder is scary, the voice of Godfavourite animal, and the elephant was ours. I
as some would call it, I find it soothing. Obviouslyalways think of elephants as animals with soul,
not when the lightning strikes right at your side,intelligence and endurance.
but when you hear the rumbling thunder in theAfter about twenty minutes and a lot of photos,
distance, muffled rain falling on the roof as in thewe continued on our way, driving along the
hut’s case it was thatch. It is then that youN’Wanetsi River. We saw hippos lazing away
experience certain calmness. A fresh beginning.in the river. Amazing to think that such a large
The following daylazy animal is one of Africa’s biggest killers.
We awoke the next morning, fresh and ready forThey just don’t seem terrifying when you
a day filled with adventure. After breakfast at thesee them like that in the river.
restaurant, we were scheduled for a 4x4 safariAt the end of the day, we were able to spot
drive. I’m happiest on the back of an openthree of Africa’s big five, excluding the
4x4 driving through the bushveld.rhinoceros and leopard. The lions were also
I grew up in a small town, but every holiday weenjoying a lazy day hiding in the shade of a big
visited the family farm. I could be found runningBaobab tree. It seemed like the thunderstorm of
barefoot through the open fields and on the backthe previous night had the same effect on the
of the ‘pick-up’ on the dirt roads.wildlife than on Marcel and I. Everybody was
Marcel’s from Namibia and has been driving aenjoying a relaxing day under the African sun.
4x4 since he was a teenager, so needless to say