Sabie River in summer.
Delana & myself arrived on 28th January to find a green & pleasant land! Recent rains had transformed the place & the reserve looked great. The only negative was the vegetation had grown so much we can no longer see into Kruger National Park! As usual we spent the next day cleaning the house & generally getting things ready for our stay. We made a visit to the picnic site late afternoon but things were quite quiet there. Later I glimpsed a Bat Hawk & we heard a White backed Night Heron as it flew down river. It was nice to fall asleep listening to Lions, Hippos & Hyenas again!
Giraffe are breeding well in Sabie Park.
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Immature Tawny Eagle
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Delana taking it easy!
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
After spending all day in Kruger yesterday it was nice to have a little lay in. The weather was superb & we spent he morning on the veranda. A highlight was an adult Little Sparrowhawk which perched superbly in the garden for us both to enjoy.
Another beautiful evening.
The afternoon was spent around the house erecting bird feeders & my remote camera.
To celebrate the start of a new month we did some gardening! Well really it was scrub clearance & it was hot & very hard work.
On 4th February we had a visit from a Canadian family who live in Chile & used to work with Rob & Cath. They were staying in their house in Sabie Park. Daryl & Mary Beth proved to be interesting & very pleasant people & we all enjoyed a lovely evening on the veranda eating & drinking & swapping stories.
The very next day Andrew & Jacky turned up for a one night stay. We spent the afternoon at the picnic site & had a lovely time. All too soon they had to leave early the next morning.
It was an overcast & grey dawn on 9th February. We had heard Lions calling in the night & knew they were quite close. Then I spotted two male Lions, with a third individual close by from the veranda.
Elephant coming to drink late afternoon.
Three old male Cape Buffalo
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
The next day it started to rain & rain & rain! The Sabie River ran at a mini flood level.
On the 12th February we decided to check out my Bushnell Trophy camera. I had situated it in a clearing about 50 m from the house. It is always exciting checking out the card because you just never know what will be on the card! And we did brilliantly! 3 Sable being the highlights but also Nyala & a whole host of the more common game species.
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
A Hippo looks cautiously on!
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
On the 13th February, Lourens & Annelle arrived for a visit. After a quick dip in the pool to cool off we had a quick visit to the picnic site & we spent the rest of the evening talking/drinking on the veranda. It was a lovely evening enjoyed by all.
Early on Valentine's Day we all went for a champagne breakfast at the picnic site. Kevin, Renelle & Barbara joined us & we yet again spent the afternoon in the pool.
Lovely meal on the veranda, with yet again lots of drinking!
No one was up early on 15th so we eventually made it into the park late morning. A quick look at Lake Panic, then a drink at the golf course, followed by a nice lunch on the terrace overlooking the river at Skukuza.
Late afternoon spent at the picnic site.
Bird list:
(139 species)
It was time for us all to leave on 16th February. Delana & I had had a wonderful time, but we could have done with more time in Sabie Park. Thanks to all our guests who made our time there very enjoyable. We arrived back in Pretoria early evening.
A Grey foam nest Treefrog.
The jungle which is my land!
Brown Snake Eagle
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
My little helper in the garden!
Meanwhile, he was looking on!
Giraffe
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
To celebrate the start of a new month we did some gardening! Well really it was scrub clearance & it was hot & very hard work.
The Canadians!
The view from the garden at dusk.
I am sure you get the idea!
On 4th February we had a visit from a Canadian family who live in Chile & used to work with Rob & Cath. They were staying in their house in Sabie Park. Daryl & Mary Beth proved to be interesting & very pleasant people & we all enjoyed a lovely evening on the veranda eating & drinking & swapping stories.
Young Elephant coming to drink at the river.
Plains Zebra
Saddle billed Stork
An uncommon & low density species.
Greenshank
Jacky & Andrew.
The very next day Andrew & Jacky turned up for a one night stay. We spent the afternoon at the picnic site & had a lovely time. All too soon they had to leave early the next morning.
Lions
The third individual.
Opposite my house.
It was an overcast & grey dawn on 9th February. We had heard Lions calling in the night & knew they were quite close. Then I spotted two male Lions, with a third individual close by from the veranda.
The river in spate.
The next day it started to rain & rain & rain! The Sabie River ran at a mini flood level.
Sable
Giraffe
On the 12th February we decided to check out my Bushnell Trophy camera. I had situated it in a clearing about 50 m from the house. It is always exciting checking out the card because you just never know what will be on the card! And we did brilliantly! 3 Sable being the highlights but also Nyala & a whole host of the more common game species.
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Egyptian Goose taking a bath.
Blacksmith Plover
Woodland Kingfisher
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
On the 13th February, Lourens & Annelle arrived for a visit. After a quick dip in the pool to cool off we had a quick visit to the picnic site & we spent the rest of the evening talking/drinking on the veranda. It was a lovely evening enjoyed by all.
Is the the worst Valentine's Day
vodka martini ever?
A beautiful morning overlooking the river.
Lourens, Delana, Barbara & Anelle.
Cooling off!
We found this terrapin in the pool.
I caught him & released him at the nearby waterhole.
Hippo
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
Photo courtesy of Delana Louw
They are breeding well along this stretch of river.
Barbara did a fantastic job of setting the table.
Lovely meal on the veranda, with yet again lots of drinking!
At Skukuza.
No one was up early on 15th so we eventually made it into the park late morning. A quick look at Lake Panic, then a drink at the golf course, followed by a nice lunch on the terrace overlooking the river at Skukuza.
Late afternoon spent at the picnic site.
Bird list:
| Crested Francolin; Natal Spurfowl; Helmeted Guineafowl; White-faced Whistling Duck; Egyptian Goose; Golden-tailed Woodpecker; Cardinal Woodpecker; Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird; Acacia Pied Barbet; Black-collared Barbet; Crested Barbet; Southern Red-billed Hornbill; Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill; Crowned Hornbill; African Grey Hornbill; Trumpeter Hornbill; African Hoopoe; Green Wood-hoopoe; Lilac-breasted Roller; Malachite Kingfisher; Woodland Kingfisher; Brown-hooded Kingfisher; Giant Kingfisher; Pied Kingfisher; Little Bee-eater; European Bee-eater; Speckled Mousebird; Red-faced Mousebird; Jacobin Cuckoo; Red-chested Cuckoo; Black Cuckoo; Klaas's Cuckoo; Diederik Cuckoo; Burchell's Coucal; Brown-headed Parrot; African Palm Swift; African Black Swift; Little Swift; White-rumped Swift; Purple-crested Turaco; Grey Go-away-bird; Western Barn Owl; African Scops Owl; Southern White-faced Owl; Pearl-spotted Owlet; Fiery-necked Nightjar; Laughing Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Red-eyed Dove; Emerald-spotted Wood Dove; African Green Pigeon; Black Crake; Common Greenshank; Common Sandpiper; Water Thick-knee; Spotted Thick-knee; Three-banded Plover; Blacksmith Lapwing; African Wattled Lapwing; Crowned Lapwing; Yellow-billed Kite; African Fish Eagle; White-backed Vulture; Brown Snake Eagle; Bateleur; African Harrier-Hawk; African Goshawk; Little Sparrowhawk; Common Buzzard; Tawny Eagle; Wahlberg's Eagle; African Hawk Eagle; Reed Cormorant; Little Egret; Great Egret; Western Cattle Egret; Green-backed Heron; Hamerkop; Hadeda Ibis; African Openbill; Saddle-billed Stork; Red-backed Shrike; Eurasian Golden Oriole; Black-headed Oriole; Fork-tailed Drongo; African Paradise Flycatcher; Brubru; Black-backed Puffback; Black-crowned Tchagra; Brown-crowned Tchagra; Southern Boubou; Orange-breasted Bushshrike; White-crested Helmet-Shrike; Retz's Helmet-Shrike; Chinspot Batis; Kurrichane Thrush; Southern Black Flycatcher; Spotted Flycatcher; White-browed Robin-Chat; Bearded Scrub Robin; White-browed Scrub Robin; Greater Blue-eared Starling; Burchell's Starling; Violet-backed Starling; Red-billed Oxpecker; Southern Black Tit; Brown-throated Martin; Barn Swallow; Wire-tailed Swallow; Lesser Striped Swallow; Mosque Swallow; Common House Martin; Dark-capped Bulbul; Terrestrial Brownbul; Red-faced Cisticola; Tawny-flanked Prinia; Yellow-breasted Apalis; Green-backed Camaroptera; Cape White-eye; Long-billed Crombec; Arrow-marked Babbler; Collared Sunbird; Scarlet-chested Sunbird; White-bellied Sunbird; Southern Grey-headed Sparrow; African Pied Wagtail; Spectacled Weaver; Southern Masked Weaver; Red-billed Quelea; Southern Red Bishop; White-winged Widowbird; Red-collared Widowbird; Thick-billed Weaver; Red-billed Firefinch; African Firefinch; Blue Waxbill; Pin-tailed Whydah; Cinnamon-breasted Bunting; Golden-breasted Bunting |
(139 species)
It was time for us all to leave on 16th February. Delana & I had had a wonderful time, but we could have done with more time in Sabie Park. Thanks to all our guests who made our time there very enjoyable. We arrived back in Pretoria early evening.
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