Kruger Mornings Poem by Bob Blackwell

A warm Kruger morning
the sun just rising in the sky,
Orange globe so round so fiery,
makes shadows on the ground.

Our eyes are open, we’re wide awake,
our faces full of joy,
once more exhilarated, keyed up,
and eager, for our safari up ahead.
Excitement builds
we leave our hutted camp,
to seek out Gods creatures
great and small.

As we begin our drive,
the first light of day breaks,
softly at first,
Then slowly it brightens
and illuminates
hidden places of the bush.

Exciting this time before the noon of day
with sun so hot it burns, it
forces all to seek the shade
that’s cool,
to avoid the heat of afternoon.

Mornings are best to view the game.
Rested from the cool of night,
Impala with eyes so big
so brown so bright,
prance, cavort and play,
tiny tails a wag, as
they frolic, skip and jump,
they seem to play follow me.

Looking up at sky now blue,
vultures soar on air that’s warm,
wisps of clouds come into view
and other birds appear.


Full of grace the Bataleur
so French,
so striking this bird of prey,
short tail,
feathers black and tawny,
face and feet blood red.

It floats quietly by
then turns,
swooping quickly and with guile,
it captures prey upon the ground,
claws outstretched,
a splash of red, of
black, of blue,
it seizes Roller in the grass.

Coming by and flying high,
another kite this one has yellow bill,
feathers brown, and tail with fork.
Head down it preys like hawk,
eyes searching out his prey
of chicks, of mice, or even ants.

A cloud, a million Queleas
with red bill,
swarming, as one they move,
flying like a coaster ride.
Up above them falcons soar
and hunt.
Wings folded tight,
ensure great speed
as they swoop down on swarm
to catch and feed.

Wildebeest and Zebra graze,
while Warthog with tails erect
scurry by with young in tow,
and a lone Snake Eagle
perches on a branch.

In grass that encroaches on the road,
Francolins hide,
a Snake slithers out on to the road,
its head raised
it menaces with forked tongue.

Brown patches of veld
now appear,
ants are busy moving house,
Hyena saunters slowly by,
while monkeys play amongst the trees.
A Mongoose family play,
curious,
as we approach
they hurry scared to grass that’s long.

We cross a bridge,
below Water buck
graze and drink,
a Saddle billed stork,
tall, red bill,
feathers black and white.
Another stork has Yellow bill,
a Goliath Heron standing still,
Crocodiles asleep upon the bank.

Later Giraffe
beanpole neck, head perched high,
huge brown eyes, lashes long,
a mouth, with curling tongue,
a face, a human one,
that smiles.
Four long legs,
a tiny tail,
it moves along with tiny steps,
to browse on leaves
in trees with thorns.

Eagerly we search for game,
hoping we will spot a cat
before they decide to hide
and take a nap.
A lion, cheetah, or leopard,
so we can claim we saw,
and mark position on the map,
with coloured pin.
Others then can view our finds,
that is if they haven’t
moved away.


Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, Lion, Leopard,
other tourists come to view these five.
Eagerly they hunt and seek,
so they can say they’ve seen
big five.
Fervently
they seek them out,
missing other beauty all about.
Shame it is they cannot see
the rest of Kruger’s many charms.

So quiet,
so peaceful to be here,
we feel like
we’re in another world,
and so we are,
for it is a special place
this wonderland,
this paradise,
called Kruger Park.

Every year we have returned,
to haunt, explore, enjoy,
wonder, and be thrilled,
by magic early morning drives,
that have revealed
the hidden riches of the bush.

Thank you Kruger Park
our nations pride,
for all the countless pleasures
you provide;
it has been our luck and joy
to have explored
your treasure trove
of natures many gifts.

Yes we will be back next year.