Kruger National Park.

Kruger is one of the largest game preserves in Africa, a huge home to a lot of threatened species, and an overwhelming experience to drive around and see these beautiful creatures in their natural environment. But, compared to the vastness of the continent, Kruger is a postage stamp of protection for its inhabitants. At around 8,000 square miles, the park is the same size as Oregon’s Lake County which is about 8% of Oregon. That’s tiny. It’s large zoo with only one shared cage.

This week the weather has been truly awful with torrential rain for days leading to flooded rivers and overwhelmed bridges. All the unpaved backroads are closed for fear of visitors getting bogged down, stranded, and eaten; not good for business.

The grass is also feet higher than normal so not ideal for spotting critters. Despite having to stick to the main roads we still managed to see a pride of lions around a recently eaten buffalo – then a bloat of hippos, a troop of baboons, a tower of giraffes, a zeal of zebras, a bask of crocodiles, and dozens of other animals in the ark that is Kruger. 

Maybe I’ll come back when it’s dry.