The south-west of Kruger

We left home on 3rd May to drive to Middleburg to get a few things on our Mobi Lodge caravan fixed. We dropped it off & then visited the nearby Wonderfontein Pans, which were disappointing, as the pans were on private land with no access & too far away to view from the nearby gravel roads. We did see a very distant Marsh Owl, but too far for any photos. 

We spent the night in Middleburg, before picking up the caravan & driving to White River. Here we had two major appointments: one to get the car serviced before our forthcoming trip & two have a large awning with side walls fitted to the caravan. Palm Motors lent us a car, so while all these activities were taking place we made a quick trip to the Bat Hawk location on the outskirts of White River. We found the spot, but no birds present. Eventually I spotted a bird flying fast in the distance before it disappeared among some trees. Yet again no photo! We then drove home. 

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terrestrial Brownbul

Grosbeak Weaver

The 5th May was spent in Sabie Park packing the caravan & the next day we drove south through Kruger to our home for the next three nights at Malelane Camp. 

Entering Kruger National Park at 

Malelane Gate.

Our campsite.

This is a small satellite camp without facilities, right on the national parks southern boundary. It is a very quiet camp, with some restricted river views, but one is looking out of the park to sugar cane fields beyond! However, we enjoyed our time here.

The reason for us staying here was because I had a PET scan appointment at the Mediclinic Hospital in Nelspruit on 7th May. All went well, but time at the hospital took up most of the day. 

Adult White-headed Vulture

Just as we re-entered the national park to return home we spotted 2 adult White-headed Vultures giving fantastic views.

Hippos feeding on the far bank of the

Crocodile River.

Who are you looking at?

Kurrichane Thrush

On the 8th May we spent the morning in camp, watching a group of Hippos on the other side of the river. We then moved to the nearby Berg-en-Dal Camp & set up camp for the next five nights. We were busy in camp for most of the day. However, we did see & hear a very late Pied Cuckoo. 

White-backed Vulture

Part of a group of 35 birds which

 flew over the campsite.

Our camp.

I was contacted by the hospital saying that during the PET scan the machine malfunctioned & I would have to undergo it all over again! So I made another appointment for the 11th May.

Matjula Loop Road

Tawny Eagle

Some very nice scenery in this part of the park.

Waterhole

Malachite Kingfisher

Flappet Lark

This species is very difficult to photograph,

as it rarely perches out in the open.

Sabota Lark

The 10th May saw us driving the Matjula Loop Road just outside Berg-en-dal Camp. It was a beautiful crisp winter's morning & we enjoyed some nice sightings. 

Wild Dog

With Steenbok prey

We then drove towards the main tar road & came across a small pack of 4 Wild Dogs right by the side of the road. They had just caught & killed a Steenbok & when we came across them, they were busy devouring it.

Just a little further down the road were a pride

of Lions hidden in the grass.

Lilac breasted Roller

Buffy Pipit

Rattling Cisticola

11th May was spent in Nelspruit again at the Mediclinic Hospital for yet another PET scan. 

Dwarf Mongoose

When we returned to camp, we found we had some little friends!

White-fronted Bee-eater

Cape Starling

Crested Barbet

Golden-breasted Bunting

The next day we were back at the hospital in Nelspruit again to get my results. It took all day & we didn't get back to camp until late afternoon. We left early the next day. It has been a strange eight night stay in Kruger, as we hardly ever got out & about. The driving to & from the hospital took a lot of our time away & we never seemed to have the time for any game drives. However, we enjoyed two nice campsites & had a good time. 

We spent most of 12th May in camp & in the late afternoon went for a short drive. 

Back home again!

 We drove through the pouring rain, off the escarpment & into the lowveld on 21st April. As we entered White River, it stopped raining & we picked up our Amarok from the panel beaters & they had done an excellent job. Goodness knows how the damage was done. We just noticed it one day, but don't remember hitting anything. It must have happened while we were parked somewhere & the culprit drove off!

Purple Roller

We decided to go home through Kruger National Park & we entered through Phabeni Gate. We drove slowly, without seeing much of interest, apart from two Dark Chanting Goshawks,  but the light was poor for photography & so no shots were obtained. We also saw Purple Roller which is mainly a winter visitor here. There is a small resident population which breed, but this population is greatly increased by an influx in the winter months.

Leopard

This individual was very relaxed in our prescence.

This animal was at the junction of the S4 &

Diospane Road about 9 kms from our house.

It was dark & overcast, so the photos

 are not top quality.

I spent quite some time with this individual.

Just at the junction of the S4 & Diospane Road I spotted a Leopard in a nearby tree. It performed wonderfully well & I watched it for over an hour. What a way to be welcomed home!

It rained for the next three days &

 the Sabie River was high.

We have a new arrival in

 Sabie Park!

African Finfoot

Female.

Giant Kingfisher

The next few days were spent around the house. We did some birding but nothing of note seen. On the afternoon of 24th April we visited the picnic site & scored with a female African Finfoot!

Finally the sun came out!

Martial Eagle

African Goshawk

Burchell's Coucal

Bearded Woodpecker

Ashy Flycatcher

Nothing of note seen until 28th April, when a female Narina Trogon was seen in our garden! I ran to get my camera, but it had gone! This species is a rare, but regular winter visitor, to the strip of riparian forest in front of the house.

Male & female Dusky Indigobird

Unusual to see so many.

Obviously winter is coming!

Purple Indigobird

I went into KNP on my own on 29th April. Delana stayed home, as she had work to do. I went to the Skukuza Nursery & Lake Panic & then a couple of the local roads. Nothing out of the ordinary was seen, but it was good to be out & about. The best sighting was a flock of 14 Dusky Indigobirds in Skukuza Camp, including two males. I also saw 4 Purple Indigobirds.

The park is looking very lush & green at the moment,

with all the recent rains.

The last day of the month saw us driving through the park to do a big shop in Hazyview. We are getting ready for our trip away in our caravan. We will be gone for around a month. 

African Dusky Flycatcher

Red-billed Firefinch

1st May! This year is flashing by! I did some local birding around the house finding African Dusky Flycatcher & Red-billed Firefinch. 

Uneasy neighbours!

Retz's Helmetshrike

Then I met Delana at the picnic site, but it was quiet. The only species of note were 6 Retz's Helmet shrikes. In the evening we had an African Wood Owl calling around the house, but we failed to obtain photographs.

Black & White (Red-backed) Manakin

Only my second record inside Sabie Park.

White Helmetshrike

On 2nd May I birded around the garden & along the riparian forest. It paid dividends in the form of two Black & White (Red-backed) Manakins feeding in the reeds. 

African Harrier Hawk

African Hawk Eagle

We then made a quick trip to Skukuza for lunch. The weather was superb & we had some nice photographic opportunities. 

The next day we left on our trip!