The Three Amigos in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Bakana Mountain Hut.
In a superb mountain setting.

Stormy!

Four Lions are present in this N.P.
We didn't see them though.

Me cooking in the mountain hut.
Photo courtesy of Maarten

The old fashioned way!
Photo courtesy of Maarten

Bokmakerie

Fiscal Flycatcher.

We arrived at Mountain Zebra National Park in torrential rain & we lucky enough to get accommodation at the Bakana Mountain Hut, which was in a superb setting & was pretty comfortable.

Empty roads & lots of sky!

Cape Buffalo.

Cape Mountain Zebra

Once severely endangered.

Red Hartebeest.

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Ant-eater Chat.

A common species in this national park.

We went on an afternoon game drive & the weather at first was freezing & very windy but we saw quite a lot of game.

Rob & Maarten taking it easy.

Black backed Jackal

Eiland

Red Hartebeest

This herd of Cape mountain Zebra gave us
 lots of photographic opportunities.

A little frisky!

Blesbok

Yellow Mongoose

Ground Squirrel

Fiscal Shrike

African Rock Martin

Southern Rock Agama

Spike-heeled Lark

Familiar Chat nest building.

Sickle-winged Chat

Scaly-feathered Finch

Cape Bunting

The next morning the 22^nd, was quite a contrast: bright cold weather & we saw the national park in a totally different light. Pun intended! We did an extended game drive which was quite productive.

The wonderful Black Wildebeast

Suricate

Always having fun!

I have been spotted!

Jackal Buzzard

Double-banded Courser

Blue Khoran

After moving in to our chalet at the HQ, Maarten & I went on another game drive which turned out to be excellent. Rob stayed at the chalet because his back was playing up. He missed out!

Black Rhino!

The highlight of this visit!
Wonderful!

Jackal Buzzard

Grey-winged Francolin

Pearl breasted Swallow

Orange-throated Longclaw

The 23^rd dawned wonderfully! The weather was superb. We all went on a game drive around Kranskop & Umegeni Loops. The latter was a 4 x 4 trail & it paid off in the form of a pair of Black Rhinos! For me the highlight of this park. Fantastic!

Gemsbok

Red Hartebeest

Eiland

Springbok

Secretarybird

Booted Eagle

Black winged Kite.

In the afternoon we went around the Sonnenrust 4 x 4 Loop which was very varied habitat & we spotted a good range of game.

Striped Mouse

Hadeda Ibis

A nice sequence of this bird landing.

Speckled Rock Pigeon

Karoo Robin

Great to see this bird out in the open.

Red eyed Bubul

Pied Starling

Cape White-eye

The next day we birded around the chalets in the camp. It was a beautiful morning & birding was quite good seeing a few Karoo specials. We left the national park reluctantly mid morning. We had had a great little stay & I for one will be back for more!