While very few people will ever witness this kind of wildlife spectacle in real life, it should be noted that it was filmed in a national park, The Kruger, rather than a private game reserve. While the latter will normally provide a much better wildlife experience, at a price, visitors who can't afford the private reserve option is not excluded from excellent wildlife sightings - as the video proves (at time other private vehicles can be seen at the bottom edge of the screen).
To view the other video clip winners click on the heading above, for Inside South Africa's selection from the winning video's go here.
Some accounts from visitors to the Kruger Park
- Attie Heunis (Feb 2008)
"...As expected it was a great trip. And yes; we did see the big 5. My personal highlight was a leopard which we saw on our last drive of the trip! Before this I had never seen a leopard in the wild in South Africa. He was very close to us - in fact he was so close that my 500mm lens wouldn’t focus! Despite this temporary setback we took some great photos..."
More impressions from Attie here, Attie's photographs here. - South African National Parks website - unidentified user (March 2007)
"...Within five kilometres, we had seen four of the “Big Five”! Three prides of lions, three leopards, hundreds of elephants, a few buffalo and a rhino. What a day! What an amazing way to end our fantastic, never to be forgotten, trip to the Kruger National Park.I love this place and hope we can plan another trip in the not too distant future..."
More here. - David Fischer, a birder from Australia (way back in March 1997!)
"Pafuri was full of birds. Around the borders of the picnic grounds, we heard and then saw Hueglin's Robins, Terrestrial Bulbuls, and a Wattleyed Flycatcher. An immature Crowned Eagle perched in a treetop on the opposite side of the river for nearly 30 minutes before vanishing into the forest. As the temperature climbed, vultures were seen rising in the thermals. While watching a Whiteheaded Vulture, we noticed several swifts which then dropped down to the river. These proved to be Bohm's Spinetails, a species which appears to be almost tailless. We heard alot of splashing in the river below us but initially could not see the source of the commotion. Eventually, a crocodile drifted into view and it was in the process of crushing what appeared to be a large catfish."
For a detailed trip report on the amazing number of species they spotted during their trip, go here. - Amcan Travel staffers (Dec 2003)
"...The wildlife experience in the park was so fascinating that we devoted almost all our waking hours to viewing animals.
On our last full day in the park, we started out early, driving slowly on the dirt roads generally southward. We saw many more impalas, zebras, and buffalo. As experienced viewers, we didn't stop so often to observe the herds of impala.
Barbara was not able to get over the beauty of the giraffes. To her, they are the epitome of elegance and grace, all long necks and legs moving in a slow and deliberate manner. She believed all the top models must have had giraffe training. For Richard, every time we saw wildbeeste (also known as gnu, apparently after a sound they make), he would belt out a silly song, changing Billy Holiday’s "What’s New" to "What’s Gnu?" The highlight of the day was spotting a lion couple relaxing after enjoying a meal of fresh gnu meat (photo, lion). We drove very slowly past them, lying in the shade less than 10 feet from us...."
For more go here.
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