Kruger National Park - 2 (birds)

Kruger National Park - 1 (mammals)

In the end I went to south Saharan Africa. It is probably a crucial moment in a naturalist's life to visit that continent. Several zoologists, including me, started to study wildlife because of the documentaries transmitted on tv. And going on reading books of expeditions and research in Africa. The chance for me to go there was the last Conference of the Raptor Research Foundation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. I was prepared that is a touristic place but still amazing. So what are my impressions? 

The park is beautiful, lot of animals, almost all the African species that you would like to see on your first trip. However hanging round in South Africa I had the feeling that wild Africa doesn't exist anymore. Fences, farms, a widespread urban fabric shape the territory and the wildlife is relegated in a closed area full of tourists who know almost nothing about biodiversity. Moreover black people are relegated to the hardest jobs while white people still retain the upper positions. However the Kruger area is large, animals are beatiful and watching a bateleur hunting over the bush is a priceless moment as well as a group of ienas walking down from a rocky hill at sunrise.