KRUGER IN SUMMER - a three week adventure - SATARA (Episode 6)

We go back to the Kruger at the end of the South African summer. On now to Satara and the lion capital of the Kruger National Park which doesn't disappoint as we get to see a couple of tiny lion cubs.

[@mikewebster929]

Great sightings despite the rain. Thank you.

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@smurgy99]

Difficult weather conditions, but I guess thats what you can expect at that time of the year. Lovely cubs, and other sightings. I really like the way you do your sighting names - thats one of the best effects I've seen for text. Only 4 weeks until we are there.

[@NdlovukaziFab]

I really love that the animals and birds are named too. Wishing you the best of time when you visit.

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Not necessarily that bad in February but this year was exceptional. Tshokwane rainfall - February 2021 141mm - February 2022 15.2mm - February 2023 604mm!

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

I think it's importnat to name everything even though it might be obvious to the seasoned visitor as many people watching may never have seen these animals or birds. We've actually been asked in the park by first time visitors to tell them what a particular animla or bird is.

[@judepalmbeach]

You do the most beautiful and professional photography and videos ..just fabulous!!

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Wow, thank you! Most appreciated.

[@christagrunwald8863]

Ich freue mich schon, wir kommen aus österreich und sind ab 1.2. Wieder im kruger unterwegs. Machen seit 20 jahren urlaub in südafrika. Einmal afrika, immer afrika

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Similar time of year to when these videos were made. Hope you have a great time. Ähnliche Jahreszeit wie die Zeit, in der diese Videos erstellt wurden. Ich hoffe, Sie haben eine tolle Zeit. (Google translate)

[@luistolossa3620]

The sounds are natural, they do not have as much music as most of all

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Not quite sure what you mean there!

[@soulstarreiki8889]

This is such a beautiful video thank you.. nice to see elephants in the rain too! That's never shown usually 😊

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Many thanks. There's always something to see in the Kruger even when it's raining!

[@soulstarreiki8889]

@oldcodgerwithacamera so nice and relaxing. I've had your videos on the TV all day today in the background while working on my laptop.. 😊 My husband came in to watch as well at lunch time. Are you from the UK?

[@nixferguson7323]

Oh my gosh so super special coming across those cheetahs 💓

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Yes indeed, we didn't see any on our last trip. We actually saw two more that same day but thy were too far awy to film.

[@lynne0410]

No matter the weather you just chill otherwise it's hectic. Raining here in Durham UK

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Yep, just keep calm and carry on. I'll tell you what, UK rain has nothing on SA rain!

[@doug729]

Great stuff. Going back ourselves in May

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Thanks. Hope you have a great time (how can you not!)

[@louisedickinson8883]

How unlucky with the rain but so lucky with the cheetah and mamma lion and cubs. We're on a 7 week countdown now to our trip, getting super excited. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

You never know what's going to pop up!

[@deepthijhanak]

Wow what an adventure... amazing to see you both travel to all these amazing places

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Many thanks we are hooked on the Kruger!

[@hermannbuenning3118]

Thanks a lot and all the best from Germany !

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Danke fürs zuschauen (as least that's what Google translate says!)

[@millertas]

All that rain. Sounds like a test match at lords

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

😅

[@nachimirkin1403]

Lovely video! Well put together with the music and audio as well as joining of the shots. Quick Q, what is the audio system you are using for the wildlife and what system do you use to video yourself? Thanks a lot

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Many thanks for your appreciation. Different cameras used, check out this video for full details kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWbVg4ZjpdlneNk

[@richardjohnson5529]

some great sightings but its a shame seeing that poor Lioness laying in the road.

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

They obviously get sick at some point, you just normally don't see it on the roads. Normally we'd stay for a long time with a lion but this time we just moved on and let her be.

[@Jonathan_and_Tammie]

Thanks again! Would you find Binoculars useful at Kruger?? It seems everything is close or not visible?

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

Definitely take binoculars. Sometimes the animals are too close to even film but you'll get plenty of times when you think you've seen something and binoculars will confirm. Bear in mind also that the video and photographs are shot with a telephoto lens so the animals are not quite as close as they seem.

[@caroleparker8063]

I love your videos and the sounds of the bird life ….would it be possible to stop the music? The bush is so tranquil but would be better as nature intended. Just a suggestion… (asking in a nice way )

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

No, because the sound recording in the bush is just not consistent. Sometimes you'll get other peoples' cars, sometimes the wind hitting the microphone, sometimes nothing at all so the audio on those clips is not usable. Without music to tie it together you'd end up with a clip of bird song followed by a clip of total silence, followed by a clip of birdsong etc. and it would be very distracting. Where there is good audio I lower the volume of the music so that the ambient sounds can be heard clearly and I think that works best.

[@smurgy99]

As a matter of interest, what vehicle did you use this time? One your previous set of videos it was a Fortuner, but this time it didn't look like one. And do the rear windows wind completely down?

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

It was a Toyota Corolla Cross and the rear windows did wind down. We were a little diappointed at first but it turned out fine and we'd get one again. Just under £1000 for five weeks against the Fortuner which was £3500!

[@smurgy99]

@@oldcodgerwithacameraYeah we have a Fortuner in a few weeks time, but we could change it. We had been thinking about a RAV which is cheaper and more than adequate for the roads we'll be on. I'lll check the Cross out. Thanks you for the reply.

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

If you are not bothered about the cost definitely keep the Fortuner, it's by far the best. If you want to save money a RAV4 is not a lot different. We were given a RAV4 in Namibia when we had booked a Fortuner (they swapped it a few days in) and it wasn't much different to drive except it didn't cope so well in sand but that won't be a problem in the Kruger. Any car will do in the Kruger, you just want soemthing with a little bit of height (if only to see over the traffic 😉).

[@smurgy99]

The RAV wasnt a lot cheaper, at least at the same hire company so we just decided to leave it as is, for this trip. We had a Landy in Namibia so sand wasn't a problem for us there. We were camping with a roof tent there, and sometimes staying in lodges for a change. The reason I - and probably many others - watch your videos ios because you have so much excellent information on all aspects of your trips. Thanks again. @@oldcodgerwithacamera

[@deborah85728]

As retirees are mosquitoes and the risk of malaria a worry for you visiting in summer ?

[@oldcodgerwithacamera]

We have never seen mosquitos in the Kruger no matter what time of year. On our first visit in 2017 we spent about £200 on malaria tablets and didn't see a single mosquito. On the four visits since we didn't bother with tablets. Locals in South Africa don't take malaria tablets year round and my personal opinion is that the risks are overstated. In any case if you were to be unlucky the disease is treatable.

[@deborah85728]

@@oldcodgerwithacamera Thank you for replying , have enjoyed watching your travels immensely .