Clare, Rowan & Callum arrived in Nelspriut Airport on the evening of 10th September. Unfortunately, Ahmed hadn't received his visa in time & couldn't travel. We drove in the dark to Sabie Park & they settled in. it was great to see the girls back in Africa again.
Rowan & Clare
Clare, with her four power banks for the trip!
Rowan & Clare were up early!
Clare birding!
Orange breasted Bush Shrike
Golden tailed Woodpecker
African Paradise Flycatcher
Four Elephants were feeding along the fence.
I got very close!
This one is scenting me!
Told you I was close!
The next day we stayed home & after a lazy long breakfast had a trip to the national park main gate to get Wildcards & then a walk to the picnic site & we started packing for our little trip.
Ready for the off!
Up at dawn on the 12th, we entered Kruger National Park & drove via the dirt roads to Orpen camp where we had booked a lovely cottage. The closest one to the waterhole which proved very popular with game & birds alike.
Lesser striped Swallow singing.
Manzimahle Dam.
Burchell's Zebra trying to find water.
Photo courtesy of Clare James
There were at least ten Lions in the shade
of this water tank.
But all were difficult to see.
Lugmag Waterhole.
Burchell's Starlings are common
in the picnic sites here.
During breakfast there was a steady procession
of animals coming down to drink.
Mondzweni Dam usually has a steady procession
of animals coming to drink mid-morning.
Just playing.
One thing Elephants like more than water: mud!
This baby needed a helping hand,
as it had got stuck!
Large number of Giraffe
were also drinking.
I arose around 5pm to find the waterhole full of Cape Buffalo & a short while later several herds of Elephant came to drink. As we were eating in the late evening a Small spotted Genet came to investigate but I was too slow to get a photograph. Much later on, when Rowan & Callum were in bed, Clare & I had great views of a pair of Honey Badgers raiding the garbage bins. It was a fitting end to an eventful first day in the park.
It is the end of the dry season,
so everything was very brown.
One of the many dry river crossings along the way.
of this water tank.
Nhlanquleni Picnic Site.
Breakfast in the bush.
in the picnic sites here.
of animals coming down to drink.
of animals coming to drink mid-morning.
as it had got stuck!
were also drinking.
Our cottage at Orpen Camp.
Photo courtesy of Clare James
Photo courtesy of Clare James
Photo courtesy of Clare James
Photo courtesy of Clare James
Snooze you loose!
It as an eventful game drive punctuated by a late breakfast in the bush. We arrived at 2pm & I decided to go for a little sleep, while the rest went on a late afternoon game drive & saw 2 Lionesses eating a recently killed Zebra!
Snooze you loose!
Cape Buffalo
I arose around 5pm to find the waterhole full of Cape Buffalo & a short while later several herds of Elephant came to drink. As we were eating in the late evening a Small spotted Genet came to investigate but I was too slow to get a photograph. Much later on, when Rowan & Callum were in bed, Clare & I had great views of a pair of Honey Badgers raiding the garbage bins. It was a fitting end to an eventful first day in the park.
Cape Buffalo
This was a large herd with a few
Yellow billed Oxpeckers feeding on them.
This is a scarce species in Kruger, being found mainly
in the central & northern regions.
on the main road.
Once north of Satara, there were large herds of
plains game on the grasslands.
Secretarybird
Found in good numbers here.
Southern Ground Hornbill
Declining species even inside national parks.
Lilac breasted Roller
We were again up at dawn on 13th & we drove to Letaba via Satara Camp. We stuck to the tarred main road but enjoyed some great sightings along the way.
We broke up the journey by having breakfast at Timbavati Picnic Site. This is always a nice place to visit & many birds were drinking in the bird bath while we were there.
Water Monitor
Black necked Stork
Malachite Kingfisher
Photo courtesy of Callum Gillon.
The wonderful Olifants River
Rowan looking over the Olifants River.
Olifants Camp.
A Hobbit like second breakfast at Olifants Camp was of course a must!
Greater Blue eared Glossy Starling
Blue Waxbill
Red billed Firefinch
Male
Pin tailed Whydah
The dry Timbavati River.
Driving on the S39, looking towards
the Timbavati River.
The Olifants River, as seen from the high
water bridge on the main road.
The kids on the bridge.
Yellow billed Kite
This species first arrived in mid August,
now common.
Photo courtesy of Callum Gillon.
The guys on the edge of Olifants Gorge.
Rangers on patrol along the Olifants river.
This Elephant was just outside Olifants Camp.
its tusks were enormous!
Male Waterbuck
Male Klipspringer
Female
Dwarf Mongoose.
Red crested Korhaan
Double banded Sandgrouse
The very scenic Letaba River.
The river as viewed from the camp.
The impressive Elephant exhibition at Letaba.
very carefully!
Rowan & Clare late afternoon with the dry
Letaba River in the background.
Brown hooded Kingfisher
Male Jameson's Firefinch
Clare & myself at dinner.
in my bedroom!
That evening we went spotlighting in the camp & saw 3 Spotted Hyena, Thick tailed Bush baby & a Honey Badger.
Super Mom!
Raising four cubs is an incredible feat!
These cubs are thriving!
The 14th September proved to be a bit of a red letter day! We decided to drive a little north of Letaba Camp along the main road. And it wasn't long before Clare spotted Cheetahs! In fact it was the same family of Cheetahs (female with four cubs) that I had photographed two weeks previously in virtually the same spot! What are the chances of that happening?
Mopani Dam
Overlooking Mopani Dam.
The girls at Mopani.
Elephants drinking at the dam.
Kids at The Tropic of Capricorn.
We were heading for Mopani Camp where we would stay the night. We checked in & then did game drive along the Tropic of Capricorn Loop & the Nashuas. It turned out to be an excellent afternoon, with some great sightings & lovely afternoon light.
We were up at dawn & drove out of the camp towards the Phalabora Gate. Early on in the drive we came across these Spotted Hyenas at the side of the road.
A little further down the road we came across another mum with five young cubs!
Immature Bateleur
Wahlberg's Eagle
Male Impala at the dam.
Look at how well camouflaged this animal is!
Male Leopard
Just before Phalaborwa Gate, on the main road.
The view from behind the cottage.
The river in front of the cottage.
Breakfast by the river.
Rowan.
We came across this large herd of Cape Buffalo
with once more a few Yellow billed Oxpeckers
in attendance.
Great to get close up views of this scarce species.
Great White Egret on Mopani Dam.
Only one tusk!
Female Steenbok
Kittlitz's Plover
Mating.
Cape Buffalo
Sunset at Mooiplaas.
Mum having a snooze!
One of the two pups with Mum.
Spotted Hyena
A quiet moment on the drive!
Sable Dam Hide
The view from the hide.
Just when all is quiet, Kruger does this to you! We were leaving the park & what a present we got as a leaving present!
Our home for the next two nights.
The stunning gardens.
We then drove to Mohololo Al Yati, our base for exploring the Blyde River Canyon for the next two nights. The setting is beautiful & we all enjoyed our lovely accommodation.
Male Kudu
African Pied Wagtail was feeding young
under the boat jetty.
White breasted Cormorant
Long tailed Wagtail
This is about the highest elevation
Crocodiles can live.
Hippos thrive in the lake.
The beautiful Blyde River.
The dam wall.
The view from the viewing platform.
The girls waiting for the boat trip to commence.
The boat is small only holding 14 people.
Callum & Rowan.
under the boat jetty.
The view as you set out on the lake.
Crocodiles can live.
The Three Rondevals.
After two nights here we drove back to Sabie Park, where we met up with Delana who had been giving a paper in nearby Skukuza.
Me, birding at the picnic site.
Delana, drinking champagne & birding!
On the 19th Delana & I got up early & went to the nearby picnic site. It was a cold grey morning &we didn't expect to see much but an African Finfoot surprised us!
The 20th September was the kids last day, so we had a run through the park before dropping them off at Nelspruit Airport. It had been a fantastic trip but all too short. Till the next time!
African Finfoot
Probably an immature male.
My first record in Sabie Park in over a year.
One of the largest Crocodiles I have seen here
for quite a while.
Elephants were regular visitors in the afternoon.
African Fish Eagle
Hammerkop.
Water Dikkop
Brown headed Parrot.
Male Steenbok
We found this Terrapin searching for water
in the road.
Barn Owl
This bird was at Lower Sabie Camp.
Barred Owlet
This bird was at Lake Panic
Red breasted Swallow
Croaking Cisticola
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