On our final weekend in the Eastern Cape we decided to take a drive up the coast from Jeffreys Bay towards Port Elizabeth (now called Gqeberha). About 20 minutes outside of the city on Kragga Kamma Road is the secluded Kragga Kamma Game Park.
A friend had highly recommended it and it was absolutely worth it! We arrived at the entrance gate around 10am and the lovely’s gentleman signed us in and gave us a map which included a list of animals that can be found in the park. The cost was R120 per adult and R60 per scholar between 3-18 years old. Not bad at all considering what we were about to see.
Impala
The route is circular and is a one way dirt road system that takes you through the entire park in about 2.5 hours. We started at the gate and headed for the first turn. We were surprised to immediately come across Impala foraging in the grasses. You can see the black tips on their ears and the stripes on either side of the tail that identify them.
Buffalo
Zebra
Next up on the bend of the road were Burchell’s Zebra walking down the road ahead of us and Buffalo lounging in the sunshine in the field beyond them. The buffalo lounged away in a large herd.
Pregnant maybe???
The zebra seem relatively used to the cars and people watching them. But the park is adamant regarding staying in your vehicle at all times. They will give you a hefty fine if you are caught flouting the rules.
One Zebra was walking quite slowly and looking particularly round. I suspect she is pregnant and probably quite near her time to give birth. We spotted her again later in the day standing with her back knees propped together for support.
Bontebok
As we followed the curve of the dirt road we came across some Bontebok enjoying the open green pastures in the mid morning sunshine. They too seemed to eye us from a distance but didn’t pay too much attention.
Waterbuck
My daughter kept taking photos and calling out orders as we drive - go! stop!!! Until she had the right angle of the various animals. The next turn took us past a pretty dry watering hole. I’m sure the animals had all been nearby earlier in the morning. All we could observe was 1 male Waterbuck resting in the sand.
The next part of the drive took us on a forest loop up some steep hills with beautiful dense flora. It was interesting to watch quietly and look out for the tracks of the various animals that had most probably spent the night in the shelter of the bush.
Ostriches
Unfortunately we didn’t see any wild life in this area but as we came around the last bend we came across a couple Ostriches. They seemed to lead the way along the road towards a more open meadow. And then disappeared into the bush.
By now we were ready for a a drink and leg stretch. The log cabin restaurant is quite central and a real attraction as it is also the viewing point for the cheetahs enclosure. The predators are kept in enclosures to protect the other wildlife and us humans.
There is a wobbly suspension bridge leading from the restaurant into a dense forest which used to be home to many marmoset monkeys but we didn’t see any at all! I’m not sure if it’s because they got out of hand and became a nuisance as is their MO. Either way it was good to stretch our legs.
Boa Constrictor
Lion merchandise
While paying for ice lollies we spotted 2 huge Boa Constrictors in a glass enclosure in the reception office!!! I got the instant heebee jeebies and shivers. I’m not a fan of snakes and even get the shivers looking at the photos and talking about it. I’ll leave the photos of their info here for you to read as I’m not going to be elaborating.
Warthog family
It was too early for the cheetah feeding time so we headed out to the lion enclosure. As we headed out of the restaurant carpark we were greeted by a little family of Warthogs foraging in the grasses. The best was when one of the babies ran off towards its parents with its tail typically straight up in the air! So funny!!! My kids are now old enough that they remember Pumba and Temone and had a good laugh.
Rescued Lions
We found the lions resting in the shade. It was now around midday and getting hot! A group were huddled near the lions and we were very privileged to meet Lionel who is the Director of the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organisation. He spends his time rescuing wild animals from terrible conditions and returning them to reserves where they can live out their lives in freedom and safety. It turns out it was Lionel who actually rescued these three lions from a space the size of a concrete garage with steel bars and no access, in the freezing cold of the Ukraine.
Their story
He said that these people somehow got hold of the lions and used them in a circus but eventually could no longer care for them and left them in the garage. One lion unfortunately died the week before Lionel found them, but he managed to bring the other three to Kragga Kamma Game Park in South Africa.
Here they are cared for in a relatively wild setting but safe from poachers and those looking to trade in lions.
Cheetah feeding
We headed back to the cheetah enclosed for feeding time and found all 3 cheetah enjoying their raw lunch. My kids were pretty grossed out by the chunks of meat that the cheetah eagerly licked at and chewed through.
In no time it lunch was all done and the one cheetah wandered toward the fence making a little whiny sound as he walked. Then he realised he wasn’t getting any more food and they all meandered off to their afternoon sun bathing.
Various buck horns
Just outside the restaurant is a rack holding the horns of the various buck.
White Rhino
Next up was the last loop through another forest and sandy hills where we were rewarded for a our patience when we spotted 3 White Rhino up on a grassy hillside. We couldn’t get any closer but it was just a treat to actually see them. They seemed to be enjoying the sunshine in the north-facing slope surrounded by another herd of Bontebok. And lower down the hill a few more Impala.
What makes this park unique is that it is also a residential estate. You can see how close the rhino are to the house in the background. There are also chalets available to book overnights stays. We were close enough to visit for the day.
Giraffe
Headed into the last open field we finally got to see the majestic Girraffe. In fact as we drove more came into view with two youngsters walking alongside their parents.
We were very spoilt with our day trip and are always in awe of the animals that we get to see and be a part of protecting. I can’t imagine keeping any of these animals in a tiny concrete space the size a garage.
These wildlife are made for these wide open spaces and the warm African sun.
We enjoyed a lazy lunch not far away and a slow drive into the setting sun as we headed back to Jeffreys Bay.
All photos by my daughter and I.
