newsletter Archives - Kruger Park Safaris with Viva Safaris

February 2026

28 Feb 2026

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With the residual pools found in the veld after the January floods, we were advised that there may have been an increase in cases of malaria. To date, there have been no reports of any malaria outbreaks in our region. Most of the pools have dried up. Great stuff ! We received an...

December 2025 January 2026

01 Feb 2026

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All past and future safari-goers to Kruger Park will have learned about the devastating floods we experienced in January. The damage done is, in my opinion, the worst ever. Tremisana Lodge, being the highest lodge in Olifants West Reserve, did not suffer much when compared to...

November 2025

01 Dec 2025

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The African Spoonbill, Platalea Alba, is a long-legged wading bird often seen at Tremisana Dam. It gets its name from the spatulate shape of its bill that it uses to catch fish, molluscs, insects and other water inhabitants by swinging it side-to-side. When it senses some aquatic...

October 2025

01 Nov 2025

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In last month’s newsletter I indicated how speeding leads to terrible wildlife roadkill. I regret to advise that on or around 19 October a beautiful male leopard was run over on the tar road close to the Olifants West gate. This happened despite the Ingwe Research program having...

September 2025

30 Sep 2025

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The responsibilities of tour operators and lodge owners like Viva Safaris are not limited to ensuring that our guests have a safe, well-guided and enjoyable wildlife experience. All lodge owners must commit to a realistic conservation ethic. Apart from alerting our guests to the...

August 2025

31 Aug 2025

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Kruger Park is set apart from all other game reserves in terms of its diversity of wildlife. The massive herds of wildebeest in the Serengeti, the huge concentrations of animals around the Etosha waterholes and the great herds of elephants along the Chobe River are certainly...

July 2025

31 Jul 2025

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It seems to me that strife in our world is ever-increasing. Nowadays I am reluctant to watch TV news bulletins as I am invariably depressed. Strife has even entered my personal world via the beloved game reserve that has brought me much happiness and such a warm sense of...

June 2025

30 Jun 2025

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For me, the expression “A picture is worth a thousand words” evokes many emotions and memories. On the walls of our home, my wife Sandra and I have various items. These include photos of family, paintings of places we have visited, religious items such as a crucifix and a...

May 2025

31 May 2025

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From time to time, Viva Safaris encounter guests that show little or no interest in seeing the Big Five. This is refreshing and the guests invariably turn out to be birders. All birders are advised to book the 7 day Kruger/KwaZulu Natal safari package. They will see many birds in...

April 2025

30 Apr 2025

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From time to time, our Viva tourists who are interested in plants, ask about the huge Rubber Tree near the swimming pool at Tremisana. The tree is, in fact, a fig, FICUS ELASTICA It is an introduced species, native to subtropical South East Asia. My research indicates that it,...