Kruger National Park Archives - Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

Young Balule elephant shot 13 times before horrified guests

Dec 9, 2018 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: elephant, Nikela Blog, trophy hunting, wildlife conservation Tagged: APNR, Conservation Action Trust, Kruger National Park, trophy hunting

Just as the furor about the trophy hunting of the pride male named Skye began abating, another incident, the shooting of a young Balule elephant, has highlighted the ethics of hunting in the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) alongside the Kruger National Park. This time the victim, a young Bulele elephant, was shot 13 times within sight of traumatized guests. Balule is a reserve within the APNR. After the first shot, the elephant began screaming and its cries were only silenced 12 shots later. Guests staying at Parsons Nature Reserve near the boundary of Maseke Nature Reserve were relaxing on…

Four out of the Big Five: The story in the Kruger is always the same

Nov 7, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, elephant, kudo, leopard, lioness, Nikela Blog, rhino Tagged: Big Five, buffalo, elephants, Kruger National Park, kudu, lioness, rhino

For years now it’s four out of the Big Five we see when visiting the Kruger National Park. Why is this? What are we doing wrong? The alarm goes off at 5am. If it wasn’t for the glaring security lights in the camp it would still be pitch black. By 5:30 the rooftop tent is closed up. The breakfast snacks are ready. Layered clothing is on. Entrance money is counted. Binoculars pulled out and camera batteries charged. We’re at the Malalane Gate, along with several others, before it opens at 6am. By first light we’ve mapped out our path and…

How we’ve helped and what we’ve seen so far – Africa Safari 2018-2019

Aug 23, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Nikela Blog, Poaching, wildlife conseration Tagged: Africa Safari, Ann Reilly, Byron Sclanders, Kruger National Park, Natalie Rogers, Overlanding Africa, Shannon Hoffman, Silke von Eynern

A little over a month ago we arrived back on African soil. It’s been a wild ride of preparations, meeting some of our wildlife heroes and viewing some amazing animals and birds. Our Africa safari north, from South Africa to Ethiopia and back, has definitely begun. Prefer to listen… Before leaving the Johannesburg area we stopped by Bambelela. This wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center is nestled in the mountains outside of Bela Bela. We arrived at a time of grieving. Gert, Silke’s companion and wildlife rehab partner had passed away suddenly about 10 days before. However, as always we were…

Huge effort relocating elephants to save a mango crop

Sep 14, 2017 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: elephant, Human Wildlife Conflict, Nikela Blog, wild animals, wildlife conservation Tagged: Conservation Action Trust, elephants, Elephants Alive, human wildlife conflicts, Kruger National Park, Relocating elephants

To save mango crops adjoining the famous Kruger National Park required relocating elephants who’d broken through a fence. Three bull elephants were saved from being shot and further damage to mango orchards averted after the bulls broke through the fences of a game reserve bordering the Kruger Park, raiding local farms and affecting human infrastructure. An elaborate rescue operation was launched by Elephants Alive, an organisation specialising in elephant research and promoting harmonious co-existence between people and elephants, after a call came in from the Hoedspruit Farm Watch that three young bulls had escaped from the Associated Private Nature Reserves…

The Kruger Park Affair – Why I Want to Save Wildlife

Apr 15, 2015 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: conservation, elephant, leopard, Poaching, rhino, Why I Want to Save Wildlife, wild animals, wildlife conservation, wildlife lovers Tagged: elephant, Kruger National Park, Leopard, rhino, Tamarin McCartin, Why I Want to Save Wildlife

Tamarin visits the Kruger Park in Africa, falls in love, has her heart broken, but is not defeated. “The bush is your mistress. She’ll pull you away, make you long for her. But she’ll never be your wife.” This was how our guide, Frank, tried to describe Kruger National Park. By the afternoon of our second day I understood. The connection was profound, and the heartbreak like nothing I’ve ever felt. Within minutes of entering the park Frank stopped the vehicle so we could visit a bull elephant only a few meters from the road. My heart was pounding, and…