Battle At Kruger - Thompsons Kruger Wildlife Full

'Battle At Kruger' - Also experience this thrill on a 3 Day Thompsons Kruger Wildlife Escorted Tour

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The Thompsons Kruger Wildlife Safari was inadvertently catapulted to fame recently when a client on one of our tours captured incredible footage of the harsh realities of life within the Kruger National Park that unfolded before their very eyes. Our client posted his footage on YouTube and this rare sighting dubbed the 'Battle at Kruger' has captured the imagination of an astonishing 7.5 million viewers worldwide!

Time Magazine describes this footage as ".... the hottest upload in web history that doesn't include a naked famous person or a politician... the 8 min, 23 sec clip is a three-act play of attack, counter attack and rescue shot three summers ago i nthe Kruger National Park, South africa and posted only this May - it has been viewed more than 3.8 million times - 200 000 times in a singe day this week, more than 6000 comments and has been bookmarked as a fan favorite more than 20 000 times."

Wikipedia describes the 'Battle at Kruger' as "a viral video posted on YouTube which was widely praised for its dramatic depiction of life on the African savannah. It is YouTube's most popular video, with more than 7, 5000 000 views and 8300 comments as of July 2007... and will soon be made into a National Geographic documentary."

As you can imagine, this chance sighting, which was undoubtedly spectacular, has our office abuzz with excitement as it was on our very own Kruger Wildlife Tour that videographer David Budzinski and photographer Jason Schlosberg were on, when the lions burst into action, and the crocodiles tried to get in on the action, only to be chased and even hurled into the air, as one lioness experienced, by the buffalo herd rescuing their own. It makes for fantastic viewing, which is exactly what the Kruger National Park is - an awesome wildlife haven to treasure.

Read Frank Watts' account of the 'Battle at Kruger''.

Frank was the Tour Guide on duty on the 'day of the battle'.

Our 3-day Thompsons Kruger Wildlife Tour is one of our most popular escorted tours - one spends the minimum amount of time recommended in the Park (2 nights), in the southern section of the Kruger Park, where game viewing is 'easier' (see information on the Kruger National Park which explains this). As David Budzinski and Jason Schlosberg discovered - as far game viewing is concerned - you need to be in the right place at the right time. Many of our clients have experienced spectacular game sightings, equally as thrilling as the 'Battle at Kruger' and they too have video or photographic footage that they will treasure.

On our Kruger Wildlife Tour, you are picked up in Johannesburg, whisked away in an air-conditioned micro or mini-bus directly to the Kruger National Park to spend two nights on safari. All game viewing in the park is in open safari vehicles with professional and experienced Rangers. We can easily tack on a few extra nights for you in the Park should you wish, or assist you with your onward itinerary around the rest of South Africa and even if you wish to travel into the region - the Victoria Falls is always a popular option - we are on hand to assist you here as well. With an office based in Victoria Falls, we are well placed to arrange all your activities in 'The Falls'.

Thompsons Africa has since assisted a team from National Geographic who have spent much time in the Kruger National Park, producing a wildlife documentary on Kruger, and more specifically, the 'Battle at Kruger'. The documentary premiered in the USA in May of this year and further screenings will follow - this is a wildlife documentary not to be missed!

In the Kruger National Park we also operate our 4-day Wolhuter Tented Safari which repeatedly receives rave reviews from our clients, for the very reason that one is very much in tune with the essence of the Kruger National Park - based at an intimate private camp site within Kruger, rubbing shoulders with nature - the sounds and 'smell' of the bush amplified
- fire side cuisine - a whole 'other world' envelopes the traveller. Make no mistake though, this is 'comfy' camping as our clients are not expected to pitch their own tents - all camp duties and meals are taken care of by our staff and our bush showers and ablutions are of the very best.

Our Wolhuter Tented Safari is such a unique product, that we have a dedicated website to our camping adventure within the Kruger National Park - www.wolhuter.co.za The contact details on the site are for the Thompsons office based in Hazyview, a small town that borders the southern Kruger National Park.

Our Wolhuter Safari is named after one of the first pioneering game wardens of the Kruger National Park, whose incredible wildlife tales are the stuff that legends are made of - one such story is when Mr. Wolhuter was taken from his horse by a large male lion, dragged to a nearby bush by his shoulder and Harry Wolhuter calmly used his pocket dagger, after feeling the beast with his free hand to locate his heart and downed the lion with a single thrust to heart and lived to tell the tale - a chilling story of survival almost a century ago!

The 'Battle at Kruger' is one of many battles that are played out within Kruger daily. To experience the exhilaration of Africa's wildlife up-close, please do join us on one of our many escorted tours - you will not be dissappointed!

READ ABOUT our Guide Frank Watts who personally accompanied Dave Budzinski when the now famous 'Battle at Kruger' was filmed. Frank's life in the park is a fascinating one, which he shares daily with Thompsons clients.

The Thompsons Wolhuter Tented Safari and the Thompsons Kruger Wildlife Tour provide a glimpse into wild Africa within the Kruger National Park, an immense wildlife haven. CLICK HERE to find out more about the Kruger National Park and her inhabitants.

Apart from an escorted safari, there are innumerable ways to explore the Kruger National Park (and numerous 'other' wildlife destinations/reserves in Africa) and a Thompsons consultant will be able to give you a more detailed quotation and expert advice.

Thompsons Africa operate a varied range of adventure tours in and around the Kruger National Park, which can be added to 'spice-up' any itinerary. Both Hazyview and Malelane are located on the borders of southern Kruger and are busy hubs from which Thompsons Africa operate a plethora of day tours into Kruger and her surrounds.