We go back to the Kruger at the end of the South African summer. In this episode we pay our first ever visit to Orpen rest camp and it rains, rains, rains but we find our first pack of wild dogs.
The dedication and editing to produce quality videos. The clear love for the bush and for Kruger. All of the above but best of all, the CONSISTENCY. Thank you👏🏾👏🏾🙏.
What a fantastic episode Les. I feel that sometimes that we get more out of these videos than yourself with all the editing etc and it is much appreciated. Great to see Timbavati picnic spot again. I've great memories of it as a child. What incredible luck with those wild dogs right on the road!!!
Thanks again, Gareth. I was wondering what an Aussie was doing watching Kruger videos, did you grow up in South Africa? What I get out of the videos is this ... each time I get back I am thinking 'That will probably be the last time' then I start working on the videos and realise how wonderful the Kruger is and start thinking 'Nah, we've got to go back'! Current thinking is August next year but we've just been on a cruise and have another booked next month so there will be some different videos later this year but Kruger will be back next year!!
@@oldcodgerwithacamera Yes Les, I grew up there but left 20 years ago. We used to go to the Park twice a year and watching your videos is incredible nostalgia. Its not just the game but the little details of you and your wife driving in and out of camp, looking at the accommodation and showing your audience around the picnic spots. All part of the great experience of watching your videos!
Another wonderful episode Les! That is why we love the Kruger so much…..it is like a giant box of chocolates and they are all wonderful in their own way. Of all the places we have been in Southern Africa Kruger is the one place that always,always delivers! Looking forward to Satara, we have had so many amazing sightings around Satara and hope you did as well 👍
No matter how many tiomes you go something different always pops up, that's why we love it so much and will keep going back for as long as we can. Satara was a little quieter this year due to the weather but it the following video as we were leaving we found Casper and his brothers!
Love your series, always a serene watch and I can imagine myself being in the park whenever I watch. A suggestion, if ever you are at Orpen again; the road network as you rightly noticed is rather lacking but one of the best kept open secrets of the Greater Kruger is right on the doorstep of Orpen and the Orpen entry gate itself is not actuality at the game. Allow me to explain. If you go out of the boom gate at the camp as if you're leaving the park, you still have about a 2-3km road to the actual gate and when on that road you are still in the Park with the Timbavati Private Reserve on your right and Manyaleti on your left (no fences). Sightings of game and predators are relatively common, especially early in the morning. Then after you've driven that little stretch in the morning, leave the Park for the day but not to go far. At the end of that road, you will find the actual gate, go out and immediately left you will find the entry to the Manyaleti. Cheap to enter, a wide network of roads although I'd recommend a high rise vehicle, very little traffic and as there are no fences between the Manyaleti and Kruger, you are still in the Greater Kruger. So next time, add a few more days to an Orpen booking and try that route, you will be absolutely amazed at the game viewing in that area, one of the best in the Greater Kruger. All the best and keep well.
What a fantastic tip! We weren't going to go back to Orpen, even though it's a lovely camp, but now we will definitely go back and follow your suggetions. Thanks very much!
Orpen may be technically at the edge of Kruger, but to its West are vast territories of private game reserves, such as the Manyeleti and Timbavati game reserves. There are no fences anymore between Kruger and these, and in fact all around Orpen is prime lion country. A famous lion pride with white members is also in the area.
@@oldcodgerwithacamera yes Manyeleti is good, excellent game viewing, but not as many tourists as Kruger...which means often you have a sighting all to yourself.
If you check the other videos you'll see that we spent four days at other camps and only did two days at Orpen as a 'taster' as we had never stayed ther before.
We camp at nearby Maroela for 3 weeks at a time same cost as 2 nights at Orpen which is a great camp but as a pensioner now .. Orpen is actually in the Best Game area in the Central Kruger. If you camp at Tsendze >> staff come and ask you all the time if everything was OK >> its the Best area for White Lion, in Kruger 2 in the Birmingham Pride, Biggest Wild Dog Pack , Muzandzene Picnic Spot Road is Best for Sable nearby. 2 days at Orpen yes you wont see anything >> you need to Work an area to get to know it and Orpen is Best area south of Letaba River in Kruger.. Summer is bad as the Dirt Roads S 36 is closed Fantastic Cheetah there
Camping would be nice but it is not practicable if you are from overseas unless you hire a vehicle with a rooftop tent and they end up being more expensive than regular accomodation.
