Ngala Means Lion

Ngala Means Lion

Ngala means Lion in Shangaan, which is the native language around Ngala Game Reserve in South Africa.  Earlier this year I stayed at Ngala while on safari and Ngala (Lion) just happened to be the very first animal we saw!

These Lions were lounging on full stomachs.  The remains of a kill from the day before were somewhere beyond them in the thickets below some perched Vultures.  It was comical how they rolled around in the grass without a care in the world.  I would probably compare it to how we feel after a Thanksgiving meal.

For more Lion images and info (including my close encounter with a Lioness) see my previous post about the South African Lions.    

The Impala

The Impala

By far the most abundant animal, while on safari in South Africa, was the impala.  The Impala is a type of Antelope.  The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle".  


Our guide pointed out that they call the Impala "McDonalds" for two reasons.  One, the black markings on its rear resemble an M (examples can be seen in the 3rd and last image) and two, they are the fast food of the African wildlife.  Impalas are quite often prey to the other animals they share the savanna with.  


I actually got to witness a Leopard kill an impala (a very rare thing).  You can see that here.

Impalas usually spend their time in large herds of up to 200.  We always encountered them in herds.  Here are a few at a water hole.

One of the remarkable things about Impalas was their jumping display when we got too close to them.  Quite often as we drove by them on the side of the road they would get spooked and leap away from us.  These leaps were very dramatic though.  They would buck and jump at great height as we passed - reminded me of  the bulls in the PBR as the cowboys attempted their 8 seconds on their backs.  They can leap distances of 33 feet and as high as 9 feet.  The bucking is done in an attempt to confuse predators.

We also came across a couple of males mid-fight; a ferocious fight.  Charging and locking horns in violent collisions.  Unfortunately we scared them into peace before I could get a shot.

Birds of South Africa

Hartlaub Gull

South Africa is a birders paradise so I was in a little bit of heaven while there in April of this year.  Now most of these birds were new to me so I don't have ID's on all of them.  I would love some help on IDing them if you know what they are!  Here's some of the birds I saw while in Cape Town and Kruger National Park.

Hadada Ibis

White-backed Vulture

Blacksmith Lapwing

Probably a Swift Tern

Sacred Ibis

Natal Francolin

Southern Ground Hornbill

Lilac-breasted Roller

Red-billed Hornbill

Brown Snake Eagle

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Eurasian Roller

Black Oystercatcher

Crowned Cormorant

I believe this is a Ruddy Turnstone

I think this is a Kelp Gull

I think this is a Kittlitz's Plover

African Penguin

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

Little Bee-eater

Bateleur

Kyle and Carra - sneak peek

Congratulations to Kyle and Carra!  I shot there wedding last week in Newport Beach on an Electra Cruises boat.  It was pretty cool and a fun wedding.  This is a sneak peek of one of my favorite shots so far.

Vervet Monkey

Vervet Monkey

These were the Monkeys that we shared the savanna with in South Africa.  The first animal we saw when we arrived at Ngala Game Reserve was this Vervet Monkey in the trees above the camp.  Very nimble animals, they jumped around in the trees high above while dodging rocks that the staff was sling-shooting at them to chase them off.  I don't think they were trying to injure them, just scare them off.

The Monkeys and Baboons are problematic in the sense that they are brave and determined enough to do anything it takes to get food.  While we didn't have any incidents while we were there they are known to break into cars and rooms to rummage for food.  The doors on our rooms had three different kinds of latches on them.

Golden Orb-weaver

Golden Orb-weaver

These are the ginormous spiders we had to dodge while on safari.  They are abundant in South Africa and they are huge - at least about the size of your fist.  While they are completely docile their sheer size is a little frightening.

When we encountered wildlife on our daily game drives we would frequently drive off road and through the "bush" - and I mean that quite literally.  Sometimes we would drive over bushes and trees to get that close encounter with an animal and quite frequently between bushes were these mammoth spider webs.  If you caught one of the anchor lines it was like fishing line it was so strong.

We got to be pretty good at dodging and ducking as we drove through these webs with the spiders in them. On the front of our safari truck was a large stick pointing up acting as a "web catcher".  Sometimes it would work well other times not so much and a spider would end up dangling over our heads or in our laps.  Not necessarily a good time if you're an Arachnophobic.

Aside of the scariness they are pretty cool creatures to admire with their size and their vivid coloring.

Ngala Private Game Reserve

Ngala Private Game Reserve

In the Northeast corner of South Africa you'll find a private game reserve called Ngala.  It is nestled right on the edge of Kruger National Park right in the middle of the African savanna - some of the most gorgeous country you'll find.  Ngala means "place of the Lion" in Shangaan which is the local language.  This all inclusive safari experience is off the charts.


My wife and I flew into the airport at Hoedspruit and were shuttled to the reserve.  Just a few minutes onto the road the wildlife began to appear.  Giraffe and Impala littered the savanna on both sides of the road.  We were very excited, although we had no idea what awaited us ahead - this was just a taste.

We arrived to cool wet towels and fresh fruit cocktails.  Then we were shown our thatch roofed room.  Very vintage 20-30's style safari decor - reminded me of an Indiana Jones set.

At Ngala we got a game drive every morning and afternoon.  At 515AM we would get a wake up call and then gather for a morning snack before hitting the road.  A security guard would of course escort us out.  Armed with seat warmers and blankets we took to the savanna in search of African wildlife.

Below you can see our safari vehicles.  Every seat is a good one.  Our guide drove while our tracker sat in a jump seat which you can see on the hood of the truck - from that vantage point he can easily identify tracks in front of us.  Notice that stick sticking up on the front of the truck?  That's a spider catcher - an invaluable tool out there!  You'll see the spiders further down in this post.

During each drive we stopped in the middle of the savanna for a bathroom and drink break.  Our guide would pick out a nice clearing and set up a table with refreshments.  Then he would point out a tree and call that the restroom.  In the mornings we would have tea and coffee.  In the evenings it's wine and cocktails.  

Below is a group picture when we stopped at sunset.  Wine, cocktails and the great wide open savanna.  Who knows what's lurking beyond that tree?  A heck of a way to end a great day though.

Some water holes provide for a spectacular backdrop.  This was shot minutes before we stopped for our wine and cocktail/bathroom break.  Not pictured, perched high in the tree above, were several White-backed Vultures.

Another sunset stop.

Dining at Ngala Game Reserve is a remarkable experience.  After our afternoon game drive we would come back to our room and freshen up then off to the dining area which you see below.  Completely lantern/candle lit with a bonfire to top it off.


It's open bar at Ngala - all the wine, beer and cocktails you can drink.  The food is also bottomless.  At each dinner the head chef does his rounds at each table explaining the dishes.  The food was mostly Western style dishes with some African flare to it.  I did try Ostrich, for the first time there (which is amazing by the way), and Kudu (a type of Antelope).

While we do dine with in a walled area, the camp itself is not fenced in at all and wildlife frequently share the space with us.  At night you are not allowed to be outside without a security escort.

Here we are enjoying dinner and some wine.

All in all the food and the service top the charts ( as well as the ambiance!) - by the second day all of the staff you came in contact with knew your names.  

During mid-day we would lounge on these recliners and watch Warthogs play on the lawn area or Kingfishers diving for fish in the river.

As for the wildlife - which is after all why we are here - they were abundant.  Every drive had something interesting to see.  On our first outing there was a small pride of Lions, that we quite literally got up close and personal to.

Here's a taste of what else you can expect...

We tracked this Leopard and got to witness it kill an Impala which I posted about here.

These are the Warthogs that would play and graze in the camp as we lounged and watched.

A Vervet Monkey visited our camp high in the trees above.

These are the giant spiders we found out there.  Golden Orb Weavers.  They are about the size of your fist.  Although they are completely  not aggressive I squirmed out of the way as we drove through their giant webs.