The view of the Sabie River,
with Sabie Park on your right.
We arrived home in Sabie Park mid afternoon on 7th April. It had been a long drive, but punctuated by a lovely stay over at Andrew's & Jacky's riverside home on the banks of the Crocodile River. The next day was all about cleaning & getting the house up & running again. Always a chore.
Setting out for a day in Kruger.
Red billed Oxpeckers on them.
Female Waterbuck
Young male Impala
But on 9th April we ventured into Kruger & found a pair of Leopards that had just been mating just on the S3 dirt track. We enjoyed great views for several minutes, as they sauntered past us & eventually disappearing into the bush. That proved to be the highlight of the morning before leaving the park around mid-day & shopping in Hazyview.
A poor shot of Trumpeter Hornbill in my garden.
Crowned Hornbill
In my garden.
African Pied Wagtail
The 10th April dawned dull & very overcast. We stayed around the house doing odd jobs, with a short visit to the picnic site, where we missed a Wild Dog sighting! The following day was all about getting a new battery for the Landcruiser. Lots of running around & a quick trip to Hazyview to get a replacement battery.
My birthday picnic!
The 12th April was my birthday! 64 years old! I can't believe it! The Wahl's arrived on time, just after noon & we spent the afternoon at the picnic site & Delana cooked a lovely birthday dinner at the house & we ate on the veranda.
Delana & the Wahl family.
Cape Buffalo, part of the 259 strong herd!
Black Stork
White fronted Bee-eater
Photo courtesy of Ryan van Vuuren
Photo courtesy of Ryan van Vuuren
Little Bee-eater
Photo courtesy of Ryan van Vuuren
Cape Buffalo with attendant Red billed Oxpeckers.
This herd was about 400 strong.
Surprisingly, there were a handful of
Yellow billed Oxpeckers as well.
This is very far south for this species,
right on the edge of its range.
Often found on Cape Buffalo, Giraffe & Hippo.
Southern Ground Hornbill
Wattled Starling
The Sabie Park Bird Hide.
Looking into Kruger from the picnic site.
White faced Whistling Duck at dusk.
At the picnic spot.
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl.
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl.
The lovely birthday dinner at home.
View from The Ant Hill!
Ryan, Angie, Anne & Rosemary
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl
The view from the Sabie Park Bird Hide.
Photo courtesy of Ryan van Vuuren
Photo courtesy of Ryan van Vuuren
On 13th April we all enjoyed a morning in Kruger. Later in the afternoon we spent some time at the picnic site.
Adult.
The view from the Bird Hide.
Immature Striated Heron.
White breasted Cormorant
Immature African Darter
White faced Whistling Duck
African Jacana
Male Jacana sheltering three chicks.
Photo courtesy of Rosemary Wahl.
Photo courtesy of Rosemary Wahl.
Pied Kingfisher
Lunch at The Golf Club
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl
Vervet Monkey
This individual had just stolen a
sandwich from a nearby table!
On the boardwalk close to The Garden Center.
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl.
Photo courtesy of Anne Wahl.
On 14th we all went to Lake Panic Bird Hide & had lunch at the Golf Club. Later in the afternoon Robin & Anne arrived & we enjoyed an afternoon at Sabie Park Picnic Site. They regaled us with all their adventures over the last few weeks.
White Helmetshrike
Yellow breasted Apalis
Elephant from the picnic site.
Two young animals sparring.
Hippo in the river.
The young Giraffes are doing well.
A young Vervet Monkey
African Green Pigeon
Feeding on figs along the river.
Golden tailed Woodpecker
Green Wood-hoopoe
Kurrichane Thrush
Retz's Helmetshrike
On 15th all the Wahl clan left for the far north of Kruger. Delana & myself did a spot of birding inside Sabie Park & Robin & Anne visited Hazyview.
The Munschie Loop Road
It is savanna country here.
Yellow billed Oxpeckers as well.
right on the edge of its range.
Robin, Anne & Delana.
The river close to Lower Sabie Camp.
Marabou Stork.
White fronted Plover
Little Stint
Changing into summer plumage.
Wire tailed Swallow, on the low water bridge.
On 16th Delana & I + Robin & Anne ventured into Kruger. We did the run down the Salitje Road & on to Nkumbe lookout point & back to Lower Sabie Camp for lunch. It was an overcast day without a great deal happening.
Shitlave Dam
A small herd of Elephants came to drink.
It was a small herd of females & babies.
Green Chameleon
Delana giving it a helping hand
to cross the road, amid spitting
& blowing itself up!
to cross the road, amid spitting
& blowing itself up!
Transport Dam
Vervet Monkey trouble!
Dwarf Mongoose
On 18th we were all up early to drive to the Kruger Mpumalanga Airport & say goodbye to Robin & Anne. We then took my car into Palm Motors & had a chat with Casper. We enjoyed a slow drive back through the park but without seeing much.
Water Dikkop, unfortunate road casualty.
Leopard
Fast asleep!
Biyamiti River
Klipsringer.
Black Stork
Immature pale phase Wahlberg's Eagle.
Sunset over KNP.
The end of yet another great trip.
On 20th April we left the house early & drove down the S114 along the Biyimiti River & out at Malane gate. The park was very busy with Easter visitors & we enjoyed a relatively easy drive to Pretoria arriving late afternoon.
The next day we enjoyed a lazy morning (nice to stay in one spot for once)! Then Delana took me to a nice French/Belgium restaurant for lunch. I left the next day after an incredible series of journeys packed into three months travelling.
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