South Africa – Kruger National Park – Lower Sabie

Last Updated on December 20, 2021 by Kevin Agar

We drove from Oliphants Camp to Lower Sabie which as it’s all within Kruger is actually a game drive. One of our dilemmas for this trip was whether to rent a 4 wheel drive or just an ordinary 2 wheel drive. Having researched it we decide that a normal 2 wheel drive would be ok. Most of the roads we travelled on were ok and we don’t think we missed out on anything by not having 4 wheel drive. We were very lucky with the weather and had very little rain during the month. Things might have been very different if it had rained a lot so if we return we’d probably consider renting a 4 wheel drive car.

Here are some of the shots taken during the drive and the following 2 days.

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Jacobin Cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/125 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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Burchell's Coucal, Centropus burchellii

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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Lion

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

Not sure how we spotted this Leopard as we were driving along, as it was in the shade and well camouflaged.

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Leopard

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/200 s. f/5.6 iso400 4.5-90.0 mm

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Tortoise

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/250 s. f/5 iso160 4.5-90.0 mm

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Giraffe

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/800 s. f/5 iso125 4.5-90.0 mm

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Warthog

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/250 s. f/5.6 iso160 4.5-90.0 mm

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Elephant

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/125 s. f/4.5 iso320 4.5-90.0 mm

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Waterbuck

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/800 s. f/4.5 iso160 4.5-90.0 mm

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Zebra

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/400 s. f/4.5 iso160 4.5-90.0 mm

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Elephant

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/320 s. f/5 iso100 4.5-90.0 mm

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Impala

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/250 s. f/5 iso125 4.5-90.0 mm

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Rhinoceros

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS 1/500 s. f/5 iso125 4.5-90.0 mm

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Marico Sunbird, Cinnyris mariquensis

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1000 s. f/5 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/4 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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Black-collared Barbet, Lybius torquatus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/320 s. f/4 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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White-winged Widowbird, Euplectes albonotatus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/8 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2000 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2500 s. f/4 iso1250 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

It’s always nice to see Rhinoceros and we came across this White Rhinoceros mother and calf trying to keep out of the heat of the day.

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Southern White Rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum simum

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2500 s. f/5.6 iso1250 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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Southern White Rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum simum

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/500 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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Swainson's Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/5.6 iso1250 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

We drove out of Kruger Nation Park via Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp and whilst we were here having coffee I managed to get a couple of reasonable shots of a Blue Waxbill and a White Crested Helmetshrike which was a new lifer for me.

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Blue Waxbill, Uraeginthus angolensis

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1600 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

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White-crested Helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/640 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM

After an excellent 4 days in Kruger it was time to move on. We were going to St. Lucia on the coast but due to the distance we decided to stop off for a night near to Piet Retief, at Röhrs Farm Guesthouse ( I say we, but in reality Sandra did all the planning and I did as I was told 😉 )

© 2003-2024 Kevin B Agar

2 comments on “South Africa – Kruger National Park – Lower Sabie
  1. phil roberts phil roberts says:

    Kevin,
    been working my way through your South African adventure, fantastic. I had not thought of visiting this country but now i will have to persuade my wife how great it is.
    Phil

    • Kevin Agar Kevin Agar says:

      Thank you Phil, glad you’ve enjoyed following our adventure. I can’t recommend South Africa highly enough. You’d not be disappointed if you went.

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