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Hi,

anyone been to Punda Maria lately and seen anything good?

Ive done the road from to Pafuri/Punda a few times, and while the birds are always outstanding and nyala/elephant are almost a guarantee, ive not seen much else.

I have not seen much else either. Could hear the cats, but no sightings.

I think the scenery and quietness is what makes it special.

I suppose it depends on what you see as good. For me rare birds, scenery, etc. is good.

To answer your question, lately I've seen leopard & hyena, but no lion and wild dog though.

Buffalo & elephant gave me 3 out of big 5, with special bird sightings (e.g. a Pel's at Pafuri) and the unique atmosphere.

Close to heaven!

In June last year we saw a huge herd of buffalo at the waterhole next to the campsite fence. We saw a cheetah on the Punda camp road. We also saw a leopard on a koppie in the distance. For me the attraction of that area is the biodiversity, landscapes and the relative quietness compared to the south.

Punda is home to scarce species more than obvious numbers. The Mahonie loop is the best place in the Park to find Sharpe's Grysbok. Pafuri is the best to see Nyala and also plays host to the wildest and most aggressive crocs, ele's and hippo's.

Then there is the added bonus of finding Kruger's most northern based rhinos.

Big herds of buff as explained before can be found north. And lion and wild dog are often seen.

Don't go north expecting to find Southern Kruger's attractions. Go north to experience the real Kruger as only the north can provide.

Agreed.

p.s
Pel's is my elusive spot that keeps my searching all the giant fig trees along the Shingwezi and up at Pafuri. I hope my day will come soon...

Saw a Narina Trogon at Pafuri a few years ago (1 of only 2 that ive ever seen - second one was at the old ponds inside Satara!!)

OH Wow@NT!

Just a word of advice. You can stop searching for Pel's @ Shigwedzi. According to a well known book its actually one of the mysteries @ why Pel's have never been recorded on the Shingwedzi river.

On a recent day trip to Punda, we decided to take chance on the Mahonie loop. This was around noon, so we didn't expect to see much....

I promise that the following is truth, and not just a piece of dry toast, buttered up for your enjoyment :

In a stretch of 2km we saw:(in order of appearance)

Giraffe
Elephant
Sharps Grysbok (3 of them )
Buffalo
Leopard with cub (so close I could reach out and touch)
Lioness crossing the road.

I had never before experienced something like that before, I mean honestly I read about everybody going on about the Mahonie Loop, but hell, 4 of the big 5 in less that 2km???

And I promise this is the truth!

My humble apoligies

The leopard sighting was about a week later

Alawys a good chance to see large herds of Buffalo.
Rare antelope sightings - Roan & Tsessebe.
Can't beat Shingwedzi North - TRUE KNP for sure!!!!

Believe there are also eland north of Punda. We didn't see them in Sep, but our neighbours at the camp did.

There is a sizeable Eland population between the Luvuvhu and Limpopo, as well as sprinkling of Sable and the odd Roan which visits from Zimbabwe.

Johan

It is very possible to see 4 out of 5 on the Mahonie Loop. Great for early morning & late afternoon. Have seen all but Rhino up north but as above stated, North is different & a more rounded experience in many ways esp. birdlife.

Something which to me more than compensates for the relative scarcity of game is the peace & quiet , few OSV 's and less tourists .

Hi all

Just came back from a 12 day stint in Kruger. Stayed 3 nights at punda and saw a lot. Excellent birding (openbill,broad billed roller, crowned hornbill,brown headed parrots and grey headed parrots etc),animals also good (elephant,buff,grysbok etc). My best sighting was that of two adult lionesses with six cubs (on the tar road towards punda gate ,about 5 km aay from punda itself). Can anyone give me some info on grey headed parrots, have anyone ever seen them near punda. Dont they breed (at least roost) in baobab trees?

Kind regards