Close Encounters in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Pattern of a Cape Giraffe
  It is spring time here in Kruger National Park in South Africa which means it's a busy time, for both animals and tourists. However with all the back roads and sheer size of the park you can stay and watch an animal for a while without seeing anyone else. However, when you do see a few cars stopped along the road up ahead of you there is a good chance that there may be something special lurking close by.

Sheer power of a young male lion
It is their road first and foremost
   Even though you have to stay in your car for obvious safety reasons, and you have to stay on the roads (it is more strict here than Kenya), there are so many animals here in Kruger that close encounters still happen naturally. Take a look at these close encounters that happened in one 24hr period spent in the park a few days ago.

Smallest baby ever
Rough skin of an African elephant
  We had a pride of lions pop out of the river valley a few feet outside of Heidi's window. We saw an entire herd of elephants feeding alongside the road and then the tiniest baby sneak out from under its mom to check us out. Small things like mongoose catch our eyes as we scan, hundreds of impala (or leopard food as I call them), and more birds than you could keep up with abound.

Burchell's Zebra pattern
  One of my goals this Africa trip is to put my 400mm Canon lens to the test during these close encounters to get up close shots of the skin, fur, eyes, and ears of these wild animals for a different, more intimate perspective than I've been able to capture before. It's going to be a fun trip.

Keep up with the adventures as they happen here www.daimarsadventures.blogspot.com, or find and buy high res pictures here www.daimarsphotos.com/Africa

You can also follow @daimartamarack on instagram  

Location: Kruger National Park, South Africa

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