Eric Landsberg Wildlife Photography: April 2014

Crocodile Bridge - Kruger National Park
S130 Depression

Situated in the south-eastern corner of the Kruger National Park, on the bank of the Crocodile River is the small Crocodile Bridge rest camp, also serving as an entrance gate to the south-eastern part of the Kruger National Park. This section of the park is known as the Crocodile Bridge area, and from here we will explore the south-eastern section of the park in a series of articles.

One of my favourite routes, "Crocodile Bridge - S28 - S137 - S130 (north) - S28 - Crocodile Bridge" route wander through this section of the Kruger National Park. Just a few kilometres north of the Crocodile Bridge rest camp, the S28 road meander through Knob thorn / Marula tree savannah and provides some of the most productive wildlife photography area in the Southern parts of the Kruger National Park.

Scattered along the S130 road are small depressions filled with water during the rainy season, attracting a wide variety of wildlife looking to quenching their thirst in the African heat.

In this article we will however focus on one depression in particular in the small northern section of the S130 road, among Knob Thorn thickets.

Below is a pictorial representation of photographic opportunities during a 10 day visit to this area in 2013.

S130 Depression

Situated on the western side of the S130 road this small depression provides great opportunities during the early mornings. Open on the eastern side it allows the rich golden morning light to fill the entire area.

Early mornings also provide opportunities for the last glimpse of nocturnal species quenching their thirst before the lazy daylight hours begin.

The Crocodile Bridge area is a predator rich environment and this small section is no exception with big predators frequently visiting the depression, and with predators you always have the opportunity to find scavengers. On two occasions I could see lions in the thicket but the opportunity to immortalise these magnificent African creatures eluded me this time.

African civet

(Civettictis civetta)

I was fortunate to be able to share a moment in time with one of these nocturnal visitors, an African Civet a solitary animal with a secretive life style visited the depression. Probably a frequent visitor to this depression during its early morning strolls back from scavenging.

During one of my early morning visits to the depression, a Spotted-hyaena visited the waterhole. Clearly evident from the colour of this individual’s fur, it was feasting before thirst drove the Spotted hyaena to the depression.