The Big Five

May 2015 -- While attending a meeting in South Africa, I got to go on a safari. Finally. It had been on my bucket list for a long time. When I was a kid, one of my favorite television shows was Daktari. It was about a veterinarian (and his daughter) who worked with bush animals n Kenya. A lot of the show was about poaching. Sadly, not much has changed. Just the technology and probably the greed.

Lions

They weren't going to move.

Not a care in the world

My group stayed several days at Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa. Our van drove around the park several times to see animals. Unfortunately, I was always in the back seat, so my picture taking abilities were hampered. And, nobody ever offered to change seats. The park offered morning (dawn) and night (dusk) drives with experience guides. I went on both. I saw the Big Five:  lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo. I saw a leopard in the dark, so wasn't able to get a good picture.

African Bush Elephant

World's largest land mammal

Elephants poop a lot!

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 7,576 square acres. It became Africa's first national park in 1926. Kruger National Park has more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve. The park faces may challenges including overpopulation, urban development, global warming, and poaching.

Black Rhinoceros

Getting a drink of water

Sadly, Rhinos are poached for the horns.

Up close

Kruger National Park is home to a lot of buffalo, over 35,000, according to Wikipedia. 

They are considered one of the most dangerous creatures in the park. Sometimes, they charge with no provocation. 

African Buffalo

Muddy

She Buffalo

The Big Five are featured on South Africa's currency. I was glad to see them when I visited Kruger National Park.