I picked up Gilly & Oscar on Friday evening at the airport. We enjoyed a nice meal at Sunrock Guesthouse & then it was early to bed.
Dullstroom, with storm clouds gathering!
The 25th saw us driving along the road to Dullstroom. The weather was beautiful, but this changed rapidly & birding in the hills in the afternoon was difficult & became impossible around 4 pm Torrential rain stopped play! We all enjoyed a great meal at at a local restaurant in the village, an almost barn like setting & great ambiance.
He had driven off the track in the same rain storm
in which we had retreated to the village
the previous night!
First I had to pull him sideways to get him away
from the rocks who was up against.
Oscar looking on!
Oscar & I returned to the De Berg Road just as dawn was breaking. The weather was again poor & we found a local guy who had driven off the track in the heavy rain last night & get well & truly stuck! I pulled him out & he was very grateful.
Oscar & Gilly, at the highest part of the road.
Long Tom Pass.
The guys at Nut Grove Manor.
Oscar & Gilly.
Slowly the weather improved & we scored on most of Oscar's most wanted species. We then picked up Gilly & hit the road for White River, spending the night at the upmarket Nut Grove Manor.
The Sabie River, from the picnic site.
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell.
This is probably the large pack of 21 dogs
but difficult to see at night!
Not to see me of course!
On 27th I took my truck in for servicing, which took up all the morning. Then we all drove to Sabie Park, spending a lovely evening on the veranda. With an interesting night drive.
Female Bushbuck
Black Storks
Golden tailed Woodpecker
Tawny flanked Prinia
28th was spent at home inside Sabie Park. Oscar & I went birding & in the afternoon we all enjoyed a spell at the picnic site.
Sabie River just down stream from the camp.
Close to Mlondozi Dam
Mlondozi Dam, nice to see it full for a change!
The chef was flown in at great expense!
but very hard to observe in the long grass.
Nkumbe lookout.
The almost obligatory photo stop at Orpen Rocks!
The scenic Sabie River, close to the
high water bridge.
29th we went for game viewing in Kruger. We did the run down to Lower Sabie & back via Tshokwane. It was an excellent day.
Wild Dog complete with satellite transmitter.
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell.
Hooded Vulture looking for scraps.
Tawny Eagle
Leopard!
This was taken just opposite my house.
It is a mature male, which I haven't seen before.
New kid on the block!
30th we were once again up early & into the national park. We scored big time with a pack of Wild Dogs on a kill, shortly after finding a superb Leopard which kept us entertained for fifteen minutes. The rest of the day was spent in Hazyview.
On the last day of the month we left Sabie Park & drove along the main road to Satara, where we spent the next two nights.
European Rollers were common on the drive.
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
Large groups of Wattled Starlings were seen
in the grasslands.
Chestnut backed Finch-larks were
also quite common.
Buffy Pipit
Nice to get good views of this species,
which often you see just flying away!
Emerald Spotted wood-Dove
Burchell's Starling
Grey-headed Sparrow
I saw this sign in the back of a vehicle
parked in Satara Camp.
It is just for you Gilly!
Red billed Queleas drinking.
White headed Vultures
A fast declining species.
A distant Leopard was close by.
Male Double banded Sandgrouse.
This species comes on to the roads & tracks
in late afternoon.
Female.
My favourite camping spot next to the fence was vacant, so we set up camp & watched thousands of Red-billed Queleas going to roost over the grasslands. later on a Spotted Hyena patrolled the fence line.
White backed Vultures.
Southern Ground Hornbill
Kurrichane Buttonquail
This is a species which is not readily photographed.
African Fish Eagle
Croc at the Sweni Bird Hide.
Blacksmith Plover
Wood Sandpiper
Malachite Kingfisher
Up before dawn on 1st April, we did a drive along the S100, down to Nwanetsi & Sweni Bird Hide & back along the H6 to camp.
An early/late Marsh Owl
It is not often that you see this species
in the day time.
Swainson's Franklin
There were plenty of Harlequin Quails about.
Lappet faced Vultures.
Amur Falcon
These big lone male Elephants seem to prefer
the grassland to the woodlands.
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
A very young Giraffe.
Just before Olifants Camp as we drove through
Mopane woodland we came across this pair
in a clearing.
Temminck's Coursers.
Another nomadic species.
Yet more Dusky Larks!
Lappet faced Vulture
This bird was washing & preening by a waterhole.
Giant Kingfisher on the Olifants River.
Breakfast at Olifants
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell.
On 2nd April we drove the S90 up to Olifants Camp for a late breakfast. it proved to be an inspired choice!
We then did a night drive from Satara.
Early morning just outside Satara.
Spotted Hyena
Gilly, on the high water bridge.
Barred Owlet
Roger, the manager of this camp does a fantastic job
on keeping tabs on the Owls found here.
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
African Scops Owl
On 3rd we drove north up the main road to Tzendze Rustic Camp. We stayed here for two nights & it really is an excellent choice. As we set up camp it was a bit of a rush to see the owls on offer!
Black backed Jackal
Blue Wildebeast
Zebras coming for a drink.
Tsessebe
Waterbuck
Ostrich
A flock of young birds
Barbary Falcon
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
Purple Roller
Mopani Dam
Cape Buffalo on the edge of the dam.
With attendant Yellow billed Oxpecker!
3rd was all about the Tropic of Capricorn Loop. As always it was good for birds plus a few new mammals as well.
Secretarybird
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
Red crested Korhan
Double banded Sandgrouse.
Male
Female
Spotted Hyena
Notice the pillow!
They really didn't want to move!
Southern Ground Hornbill
The Three Rondavaals
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
Hippos, in the Swedeni Dam, this is probably close
to their elevational limit.
Same goes for Crocs.
White-breasted Cormorants nest here.
On the 4th we left early & drove to Phalaborwa Gate. Then on to Swedeni at the bottom of the Blyde River Canyon. We made the afternoon boat trip on to the dam which was as usual was pretty good.
We camped at a private campsite along the river which was idyllic.
Looking down into the canyon from the rim.
The next day we birded around the campsite seeing 2 African Finfoot & then drove the long way around to the top of the canyon, stopping at all the tourist places & spent the night in Graskop.
Oscar & I were up early on the 6th. I drove him to God's Window & he scored with Barratt's Warbler! His final tick for the trip. We then packed & set off for the long haul to OR Tambo & I dropped them off late afternoon. It was great to see them again & we had a short, but action packed trip together.
Impala with Red billed Oxpeckers.
Cocqui Franklin
A most wanted tick for Oscar!
Tawny Eagle
Dusky Lark
This is an eruptive & nomadic species.
Very hard to pin down.
I don't see this species too often.
A cracker!
Red backed Shrike
in the grasslands.
also quite common.
which often you see just flying away!
parked in Satara Camp.
It is just for you Gilly!
This species comes on to the roads & tracks
in late afternoon.
Spotted Hyena.
The view from the lookout,
looking towards Mozambique.
in the day time.
the grassland to the woodlands.
Mopane woodland we came across this pair
in a clearing.
The fantastic Olifants River.
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell.
Lion
He looked quite old & past his prime.
The furthest south Baobab tree.
Olifants River Gorge.
on keeping tabs on the Owls found here.
Tropic of Capricorn line
Read the mug!
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
Stoffel & the guys.
Later we took a side route to the Shibavatsengele Lookout.
Late afternoon we went on a drive down the Shongolo Loop. It was rather quite for game but we saw a couple of good birds.
Notice the pillow!
Photo courtesy of Oscar Campbell
to their elevational limit.
The view from the campsite!
The natural grasslands which surround Graskop.
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