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So. Africa: Spring '06May saw the first of Chris's photo safaris to Kruger National Park in South Africa. This is the fifth consecutive year Chris has run Africa Wild. Follow how events unfolded in this web diary.
Sitting in Johannesburg airport waiting for yet another flight transfer I was getting bored. To pass the time I started doing some calculations. It turns out that I have spent one whole week in the last eight either on or in a plane, train or automobile, travelling from this place to the next. My next book should be "101 things to pass time at an airport".
The gang have arrived and we're heading for Kruger Park for the beginning of Africa Wild 2006, part 1. We'll be out of radio (web) contact for the next week, but keep in touch, we'll be back with more news and anecdotes on 6th June.
It's our first day in Kruger National Park and we've seen three of the so-called big five already. Although originally a hunting term, big 5 has been absorbed into safari terminology and refers to sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Of the five, today we sighted the latter three - just the two big cats to go.
I've seen more wart hogs in a single day than I have in the past four years travelling in Kruger Park. They�re everywhere! But the day came to life when we turned a corner and into the primeval stare of two hungry lionesses. Fortunately for us their attention was more on the passing kudu.
The park is greener than usual at this time of year, due to the late rains. Close to our camp at Lower Sabie is one of Kruger�s best waterholes � Sunset Dam. We sit a long while and watch as hippo burp, honk and snort their territorial warnings. Close by crocodile bask in the sunshine, warming themselves for the day ahead. And all around, animals head to the edge of the dam and a drink. It�s a risk they have to take. The remaining member of the big five � the leopard � however, remains elusive.