Our first venture into the park was on 30th January. We had planned just to do a morning drive but one thing lead to another & we were there all day! We entered just after dawn & drove down the S3 river road.
Not the best of sightings!
It was quiet until we came across two male Lions in the large grassy vlei. However they were not doing much & we left them in peace.
Leopard
This female had two very tiny cubs.
As soon as we hit he Diospone Road we came across a female Leopard with two tiny cubs sitting on a kopjie. This was a real highlight & we enjoyed good views for the next fifteen minutes.
The view from the lookout on a grey morning.
Klipspringer
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
We then drove down the Waterhole
Road & briefly visited Transport Dam. A breakfast
stop at Stevenson Hamilton Lookout was welcome & then we
went shopping in Skukuza.
Dwarf Mongoose
Knob billed Duck
Red backed Shrike
Village Indigobird
It was an overcast day, so we decided to
change our plans. I was keen to see if any woodland had been flooded after the
rains, so we headed north on the dirt road passing Manalope Dam & on to the
Vitumi Loop Road. It turned out there was no flooded forest & the drive was
a quiet one.
We returned via the main tar road, stopping to view a pair
of Lions, which were just off the road. We enjoyed a quiet
evening at home after a tiring day.
Immature White headed Vulture
This pair of Lion had separated from the pride
for mating.
Here they come!
These Wild Dog had been feeding.
We were up early & entered the park on 2nd February. It was a beautiful morning, but we din't see much of note, until we saw a pack of 14 Wild Dogs running towards us down the road! Always special seeing these up nice & close. However they didn't linger & they continued apace.
A minute later Delana spotted a lone Wild Dog trying to catch up with the pack. It had a broken right front leg but otherwise it looked healthy. Later we contacted the ranger in Skukuza & gave them full details, hoping they could dart the animal & save it.
Barn Swallow
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
The unfortunate individual.
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw.
A minute later Delana spotted a lone Wild Dog trying to catch up with the pack. It had a broken right front leg but otherwise it looked healthy. Later we contacted the ranger in Skukuza & gave them full details, hoping they could dart the animal & save it.
Wahlberg's Eagle
Striated Heron
This individual was fishing along the Sand River.
Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Pied Kingfisher
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Burchell's Coucal
This bird was feeding young.
Hippo.
Immature Darter
Striated Heron
Part of the Village Weaver colony.
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Village Weaver
An unusual view!
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
We continued the circuit around the Sabie River & then visited Lake Panic. We were the only ones there! Amazing!
Tawny Eagle
Red billed Queleas were common
along the Sabie River.
Woodland Kingfisher
Buffy Pipit
Blue Wildebeest in the mud!
On the S28 road.
The river at the Ntandanyathi Hide
A large tree branch had crashed
through the roof of the hide.
On 6th February we entered Kruger early, driving down the S3 river road & on to the S4. it was quiet game wise, but we did see 3 Buffy Pipits in an open, grassy area. This is an uncommon species in this part of the park.
Impala & Red billed Oxpeckers.
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Mocking Cliff Chat
On the Waterhole Road we came across a pair of Mocking Cliff Chats on a small kopjie. It was a dull, grey morning, not good for photography.
Purple Indigobird.
A breakfast stop at Stevenson Hamilton Lookout saw us looking at a couple of Purple Indigobird (Widowbird), which is always good to see.
Biyamiti River
Mpondo dam
Lilac breasted Roller
European Bee-eater
Found in good numbers along this route.
Lesser Grey Shrike
Swainson's Spurfowl
White winged Widowbird was displaying
in the wet grasslands.
Steel Blue Indigobird
through the roof of the hide.
We carried onto Mpondo Dam, which was quiet, but it is a peaceful place to sit awhile. We then continued towards Crocodile Bridge Camp & then along the savanna like S28, to Lower Sabie Camp.
White backed & Hooded Vultures
Goliath Heron
We drove along the Sabie River to Skukuza & left through Paul Kruger Gate.
The 9th February dawned cool & grey. It looked like rain was coming. The dreaded load shedding meant there was no internet connection in Sabie Park & Delana had some work to do, so we entered Kruger around 10.15 am.
We quickly drove down the S3 to try & find the Lions that we had seen from the veranda. They were there, but giving poor views so we quickly moved on.
Plains Zebra
We quickly drove down the S3 to try & find the Lions that we had seen from the veranda. They were there, but giving poor views so we quickly moved on.
Part of a herd of 140 Cape Buffalo
at Shitlhave Dam.
Spotted Hyena pup.
We headed for Pretoriuskop Camp via the Waterhole Road & the main H1-1 road. It was a largely uneventful drive, although we did have great views of Spotted Hyena pups close to the road. The reason for going was to see if Pretoriuskop had internet, as Delana had work to do. Luckily it had & the signal was strong, so all was well.
Cheetah.
We returned home in the rain via thee S3 road & stumbled across two Cheetahs. However they were well hidden & views were not great. However Delana was delighted with this sighting as she had only seen a handful of Cheetahs before. The Lions were still present sleeping under the riverine trees but we didn't linger & headed for home quickly.
On the 11th February there was an overcast start to the day, as it had been raining for most of the night. After breakfast we set out for the park but without cameras as we were going to register my vehicle in White River & do shopping in Hazyview. Best not to have valuables in the car!
We drove to the Diospane Road towards Phabeni Gate (all the dirt roads had been closed because of heavy rain). But what an hour it turned out to be! First we saw 4 Wild Dogs taking it easy on a banking on the roadside. I took a couple of photos with my phone. Then a few minutes later a pair of Lions sleeping on a track by the roadside & finally a Leopard in the bush just before the exit gate at Phabeni. Not a bad haul in just over an hour.
The rest of the day was spent re-registering my vehicle & doing the weekly shop before arriving back home late afternoon.
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Delana, me, Ranelle, Barbara,
Lourens, Anelle & Kevin.
On the 11th February there was an overcast start to the day, as it had been raining for most of the night. After breakfast we set out for the park but without cameras as we were going to register my vehicle in White River & do shopping in Hazyview. Best not to have valuables in the car!
Here they are!
Taking it easy!
We drove to the Diospane Road towards Phabeni Gate (all the dirt roads had been closed because of heavy rain). But what an hour it turned out to be! First we saw 4 Wild Dogs taking it easy on a banking on the roadside. I took a couple of photos with my phone. Then a few minutes later a pair of Lions sleeping on a track by the roadside & finally a Leopard in the bush just before the exit gate at Phabeni. Not a bad haul in just over an hour.
After the hassle, a nice lunch in White River.
The rest of the day was spent re-registering my vehicle & doing the weekly shop before arriving back home late afternoon.
A baby Water Monitor
Striated Heron
Quite an adventurous position!
African Darter
Cooling itself.
White breasted Cormorant
Pied Kingfisher taking a bath.
Lourens, Anelle & Kevin.
On 15th February we all went into Kruger & had a quick look at Lake Panic before going for lunch at Skukuza. A good time was had by all. it was our last visit to the park on this trip as we left for Pretoria the next day.
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