My trip started with the familiar when I entered the Park at the Malalane gate.
As always I stopped on the bridge first to see what was around. There were a lot of birds around, and I just breathed deeply, ecstatic to be there.
There were a couple of people in the queue ahead of me, and it took a little while to get the paper work done. But soon I was in the Park and the proverbial doors closed behind me.
I love that feeling of the expectation as you enter the Park, not knowing what you will see first.. Today it was the raptors that put in an appearance before the mammals. A Bateleur, Tawny Eagle and Common Buzzard were soaring overhead as I entered the Park. A little while later I saw a small heard of zebras. Throughout the day I saw many herds of zebras, more than I have ever seen in that part of the Park than ever before.
My first “new experience” happened a few kilometers after the gate – Never had I seen so many babies during one trip.
This would be something I would experience throughout my visit. My first babies of the trip were a couple of piglets. They were a little shy, and disappeared quite quickly, but they were absolutely adorable. A few kilometers further there were more piglets.
I had to wonder when I would see my first baby impalas. It took a while before I found a small herd and saw my first babies. 
The day just got better when I saw my first elephant of the trip.
It was an extremely hot day, and this Dark Chanting Goshawk was trying to keep cool on its nest.
A few kilometers before Kwaggapan there were a few more animals trying o keep cool. I was delighted to find a few dogs next to the road. Despite the closeness to the road, they were still hidden in the tall grass, but I thought it was a great start to the trip!
The familiar continued along the H3 north towards Skukuza.
At Kwaggapan I hit the jackpot again – a small herd of elephants were feeding and there was a tiny tinyfant! 
It is thirsty business being cute and tiny in the heat!
The elephant magic continued with another relaxed elephant next to the road. It was absolutely amazing to be so close to my favorite mammal. I had only been in the Park for 2 hours, and already I was thrilled with my sightings.
A little further along the road I saw a young Saddle-billed Stork next to a little pan. While watching him movement in the water caught my eye – a water monitor.
The rest of the drive to Skukuza was fairly quiet except for a small herd of buffalo.
Check in at Skukuza was a breeze. I was almost a little upset it went so quickly because the aircon in the reception area was a welcome relief after the heat of the day.
After a little drive around, I settled on a spot for
my next new experience – camping.
I had to admit, pitching my tent in the extreme heat was not something I looked forward to. Fortunately, a kind Skukuza worker by the name of Kenneth arrived to help me, and in a short time my tent was up.
I’m not a 100% set up for camping yet, and this trip was very much a trial run to see how it would go. I’ll make a couple of improvements for my next trip, but all in all this trip went pretty smoothly. I thought it looked quite cozy that night, and I thoroughly enjoyed relaxing later that night with something cold to drink.
It had been a long day, and my plans for the afternoon were to go no further than Lake Panic. Before I left for my short drive, I had to do one thing.
I had to check in on a very familiar (and my favourite) view –
On the way back to the car I spotted a couple of Tree Agamas foraging beneath the trees.
Just outside camp I saw a bird next to the road. It was a bird that I hadn’t seen in a very long time – a Crowned Hornbill! A passing car flushed it into a nearby tree.
I hadn’t seen one of these birds in almost 3 years, and it was definitely a highlight of my day!
I arrived at another very familiar place – Lake Panic.
At the entrance to the parking area a few Nyalas were feeding under the trees.
The hide was quiet – just what I needed. The resident Fish Eagle was keeping a watchful eye.
A Little Egret was across from the hide.
A few Squacco Herons were flying from hunting spot to hunting spot.
The Black Crakes were incredibly entertaining. They were skulking about, and when they wanted to move from one end of the water to the other, they would go tree-hopping until they were close enough for the short flight to the spot they wanted to go. They were a lot of fun to watch.
A Terrapin was having a very relaxing afternoon.
That was until a huge hippo with an itchy back showed up. The terrapin was very surprised when this massive hippo appeared right next to him and rocket the log so to speak.
After a few minutes of back scratching, the hippo showed us his ivories.
Nearby a smaller hippo showed off his.
But it really was no contest. I could not help but remember the TV ad from way back when – “Old big mouth!”
When the hippos moved off and the log was stable once again, a little Pied Wagtail visited.
On the way back to Skukuza I found this little White-crested Helmetshrike.
After my evening braai, I had to do one of my favourite and mandatory activities – go on a bug walk.
I found this beautiful Decorated Burrowing Spider near the bathrooms.
I love when I find the shiny eyes of little creatures – twinkling eyes alerted me to the fact that there was a little wolf spider underneath this leaf. You can just se the legs sticking out.
I made my way to the little pond at reception to see if there were any small creatures around. I wondered if the lights in the ladies bathroom had attracted anything interesting. I didn’t find any bugs, but I did find this stunning Brown House Snake in the Ladies’ bathrooms.
With the help of a little stick and my shoe I quickly guided him back into the garden. A stunning little Hairy Field Spider had made a web in the garden.
The noise from the Reed Frogs in the little pond was deafening.
Some of the River Frogs were out hunting on the lawn.
The kitchen area in the camp area was like a treasure trove. This gorgeous Baboon Spider (Brachionopus sp) was on the floor under the counter.
One of the coolest little creatures of the evening was a small little Stick Insect. It was incredibly cute.
Horned Ground Katydids are still some of the freakiest looking creatures you can find.
I ended my evening with a brightly coloured Longhorn Beetle.
As I fell asleep in my cozy tent that night, I was pretty satisfied with a rather perfect first day.