Some Kruger Park Pics

[mtcham]

I was fortunate to make 2 trips to the Kruger last year. The first trip was with family members showing them the Park for their first time. The second trip was a minimalist camping only trip, moving very slowly at my own pace. Camping is always fun but yields some sleepless nights due to lions roaring and hyenas carrying on. I like to camp right on the fence and the night sounds really carry through the air.

Here are some pics...

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Kruger 2017 1-7066 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-6446 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-7761 by john morris, on Flickr

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KNP 2017 1-7063 by john morris, on Flickr

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KNP 2017 1-8044 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-7203 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-6887 by john morris, on Flickr

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KNP 2017 1-8542 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-7979 by john morris, on Flickr

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KNP 2017 1-6936 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-7278 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-4396 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-3829 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-4649 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-3130 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-3624 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-3142-2 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-4504 by john morris, on Flickr

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Kruger 2017 1-7307 by john morris, on Flickr

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KNP 2017 1-4648 by john morris, on Flickr

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20171109_104355 by john morris, on Flickr

[smmokan]

Wow, some great shots right there. I really like the cheetah shot with her (his?) kill in the tree above.

[Supermoon]

Great shots. That place looks amazing.

I’m not sure I could camp in a soft sided tent with lions and hyenas around. I have a hard time sleeping in bear country even when I don’t see them.

[mtcham]

Thanks Steve! That's actually a Leopard in the tree and was my first one spotted off the ground. I had literally looked in thousands of trees hoping to spot one. I have now seen two.

Supermoon- most of the camps have electric fences which tend to keep out the large game animals however the leopards and hyenas can get through easily. I tend to worry more about the snakes and scorpions and I make sure my tent zips up tight.

[mock1]

Outstanding sharpness and composition. Did you camp solo? If you did you are a lot braver than I am. I would be paranoid anything can get through the wire. Camera equipment?

[mtcham]

Outstanding sharpness and composition. Did you camp solo? If you did you are a lot braver than I am. I would be paranoid anything can get through the wire. Camera equipment?

Thanks! Usually I go with family but I have no volunteers when I mention I want to camp. Camping keeps the cost way down and this last trip I took a small car that cost around $14 a day. So add that to $15/day camping and about $10-15 for food and a bit of gas. I can't do it any cheaper.
Camera gear is a couple of Nikon D610's, Sigma 150-600, Nikon 70-200 and a short zoom or a wide angle. And a Panasonic x900m for some video.

[BaNosser]

awesome shots.. thanks for sharing!

[fool]

Amazing shots, and very cool to hear you can do the park on the cheap! Thanks for sharing.

[smartyiak]

Those pics really show why I hate cats! They look so beautiful...and one step from murdering your face! I'm terrified of that cheetah!

[leftfield]

Great pics, i'm way overdue to get back there. Really miss the sounds of the hornbill

[crashtestdummy]

Great shots John.

[mtcham]

Thanks guys! Feel free to holler at me for more info on the Kruger or the Kgalagadi Parks. I would highly recommend a trip to see these magnificent animals. If I had discovered Africa earlier in my life I would either be living there now or would be one broke SOB.
No trip for me this May, instead I'm heading to Kansas to hopefully find some tornadoes.

A couple more:
One of the emerging 12 tuskers named Hahlwa.
Kruger 2017-5497 by john morris, on Flickr

Kruger 2017-2872 by john morris, on Flickr

[plugboots]

Thanks for that. Great reading about the 12 tuskers as well.

[::: :::]

great photos


ques: i know getting eyeballs in a "portrait" type shot makes the image more compelling...do you ever try to get animals attention? or are you just trying to be invisible/quiet as possible & shoot when they swing their heads your way?

[grskier]

Most excellent!

[mtcham]

great photos


ques: i know getting eyeballs in a "portrait" type shot makes the image more compelling...do you ever try to get animals attention? or are you just trying to be invisible/quiet as possible & shoot when they swing their heads your way?

I sit as quietly as possible and stay with a good sighting. The big tusker came into a waterhole on one side of the road while I had 2 big male lions 20 feet off the road to the other side. I sat for 5 hours in 100 degree plus waiting for the lions to get up at dusk to start hunting. Meanwhile I saw cheetahs, many more elephants, and lots of other game at the waterhole.
I have seen local OSV guides do some shit with lions, watched one crumple a paper bag to startle them and get them up. I just work on the animals time.