Post Number 7 - Game Drives at Tinga (Legions) Private Game Lodge

Place: Tinga Legions Private Game Lodge - Kruger National Park

Country: South Africa

Location: Mpumpalanga

Climate: Lowveld - Subtropical

PLEASE - do yourself a BIG favour, when you visit Kruger National Park, and any other Game Park for that matter, for your first couple of times, go out game viewing with the experts. All the ones I came across were very good, however, it's not their ability to find game for you to view that's most important, it's their knowledge of those animals and the stories they can tell you about them that is. Also you will pick up where to go, how to drive and what ettiquite you should follow when parking and viewing the animals (and waiting your turn).

Our guides were a treasure. Isaac had the most precious eyes, as they missed nothing - even spying a male Bloomslang snake in a tree on the side of the road, at night with a spotlight whilst we were traveling at 35 kilometers an hour! Paulie had a story about every animal we saw, and many times his story was as interesting as it was to see each animal for the first time in the wild.

Isaac, "on duty - up front" (within the Tinga concession).

The viewing vehicles are purpose built, and believe me, it's much easier to move around and take your photo in these, than it is in a car - especially if you're out by yourself! We visited in early October and whilst it did get cool on the drives, if you are going to Kruger in the six months prior to October you will need to "rug up" to keep warm. The wind chill factor from the wind created by your speed (you'll be in an open vehicle) is quite significant.


Paulie with four of his guests.

Our first game drive was so exciting, like anything new, even though we didn't see very much. I was boggle eyed the whole time. Even though Impala are every where and the other guests with us had seen thousands of them, Paulie took the time to stop and tell us about them - and the other guests sat quietly and patiently through the explanation. It was very windy, that first drive, and according to Paulie the animals were more concerned with self preservation (easier for the predators to sneak up on the "McDonald" animals) and were "hiding".

The subsequent drives were much more successful and we found our "BIG 5". We struggled to find a Leopard and Rhino but with much effort (and a little luck), we managed to bag them -oops, photograph them.

Isaac and Paulie tracking Lion (on the Tinga concession).

The foot prints they were following.

My major goal, at Kruger, was to see as many of the animals as I could. The longer I stayed, and the more I saw, the more interested I became in the birds and the plants - and having Paulie tell us about them all made everyone of them an exciting and unique discovery. I wish I had taken a recorder as I've almost forgotten all he told us - I am getting very blonde these days!

All too soon our time at Tinga had come to an end and we had to say goodbye to Isaac and Paulie, thankfully they will stay in my memory for ever, as will Tinga, which to me, was that magical place we strive to find among the clouds and fantasy.