After crossing back into South Africa we headed for
Phalaborwa, a town on the edge of
Kruger, but much further north than I usually venture. We had to do this as all available accommodation inside Kruger was taken, as it was the school holidays! We managed to book three nights at the last camping site inside Kruger at
Tsendze Rustic Camp. I had stayed there before in February this year & it is a wonderful location for those who are suitably equipped.
Tsendze Rustic Camp.
African Scops Owl.
Young Giraffes in the dry river bed.
Tsebee
Eland
Steenbok
We arrived just after noon on 17th July & ventured onto the Tropic of Capricorn Loop Road. The waterhole here was full of activity & we saw a nice herd of Eland, which is a rarity here inside Kruger.
On the
18th July we set off at dawn down the
Tsendze Loop Road, seeing a very watchful male Lion, but little else of interest. We then turned onto the
Olifants River Drive (S93), which proved to be superb both for scenery & wildlife.
The superb Olifants River.
Hippos doing what they do, in the middle of the day!
Quite a large Croc!
A late breakfast/lunch at the rest camp was memorable for the views in tremendous light.
We returned to camp via the main tarred road after having a brief stop at Letaba Restcamp.
Stoffel, on the S50 road.
Sharpe's Grysbok.
An old male Cape Buffalo
Pearl Spotted Owlet.
Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling
Arrow-marked Babbler
The
19th July was another very early start. This time we drove the eastern
S 50 road which skirts the
Lebombo Mountains on the Mozambique border. We started out in thick fog, but this slowly cleared & drove as far a
Dipeni Waterhole. Sightings of game were sparse, but the scenery was yet again quite good.
Notice the blood!
Mum with food!
Interested?
The
20th July was a day for leaving Kruger & we headed down the
H14 road, making some little detours en route. A Spotted Hyena with remains of prey was quite fun.
Klipspringer.
Pied Kingfisher
The light was wonderful for photography & we spent some time photographing both Klipspringer & Pied Kingfisher.
The road to Swedini is a very scenic one.
We then drove to the
Northern Drakensburg at Swedini & booked for three nights camping at the wonderful
Moholoholo Ya Mati. I had stayed there once before & was impressed. The campsite is very private with stunning scenery all around.
The happy couple in my rooftop tent!
Me & my little home.
That is where we are going!
I mean the distant bit!
The start of it all!
The walk is not technically difficult,
but requires a reasonable level of fitness.
At the half way point of the hike.
The
21st July was the day chosen for the
Hippo Valley walk. This is a 12 kilometer round trip through wonderful scenery around the edge of the dam. The day was simply superb!
Sharing a moment.
The afternoon boat trip.
It was dark & broody when we set off.
But, slowly the weather got brighter.
Half-collared Kingfisher
African Finfoot
Giant Kingfisher
The next day we stayed in & around the camp & in the afternoon went on the boat trip across the dam. The scenery was staggeringly beautiful in the late afternoon light. I managed to get shots of the very uncommon
Half-collared Kingfisher & African Finfoot.
It was fantastic to see the canyon
from another angle.
Blydepoort Resort.
The increasingly threatened Cape Vulture
Some of the roads here were not great!
23rd July drove to
Blydepoort & viewed the canyon from the rim. It was amazing to see the route of our hike all laid out beneath us!
Bourke's Luck Potholes
White-necked Raven
Mocking Chat
Moved south to Bourke's Luck Pot Holes & had a nice stroll around. The light was superb, a beautiful winter's day.
That is us!
The wonderful Berlin Falls, near Graskop.
Southern Bald Ibis
The wonderful Cape Robin
African Stonechat
Ended the day at
Graskop, where we stayed at the local resort. Robin & I did a little birding in the resort grounds, before heading into town for breakfast & for Anne to do some shopping!!!
Spent the afternoon at the nearby old mining town of Pilgrim's Rest. I was quite keen to show Robin & Anne the place as Robin likes old mechanical things & Anne likes old quaint shops & houses. The whole town is a heritage site & we had several interesting hours there looking around.
The olde worldy Vine Restaurant.
Inside.
Amazing!
They are still doing some mining here.
Robin, in his element!
Got home to
Sabie Park in late afternoon & it was great to be home & staying in a familiar place!
25th July was a day for us all to go shopping in
Nelspruit. I needed some stuff for my truck, but the day was cut short by the dreaded South African load shedding! So we didn't accomplish everything we would have wanted.
White-backed Vulture
African Fish Eagle
26th July, up before dawn for a day trip into
Kruger. Drove to
Lower Sabie Camp & back all along the tar road. Two different sightings of Lions, but missed three different Leopards & a Cheetah along the way! Some sightings missed by minutes!
It was a very enjoyable day with lovely weather.
White-bellied Sunbird
27th July was spent mainly around the house, although I had a run to
Hazyview & back, leaving Robin & Anne at home.
Lion & Hyena heard from the garden & a large breeding herd of Cape Buffalo came by late afternoon.
28th July was a last morning in
Kruger for the guys.
The big gun on The Long Tom Pass.
Wonderful highveld grassland surrounds Dullstroom.
Our comfortable accommodation for the next two nights.
The view from the chalet.
Mocking Chats were common around the chalet.
Purple Heron
Cape Wagtail
Levaillant's Cisticola
Blesbok
A sign of in-breeding?
One of the waterfalls on this property.
Robin & Anne
Buff-streaked Chat
Cape Rock Thrush
29th July was the day for driving towards
Dullstroom, where we had decided to spend a couple of nights before Anne & Robin jump on the plane. We took the scenic route over the Long Tom Pass.
