Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve

Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve

 We arrived at this local Limpopo Nature Reserve on 16th April. It was a frustratingly slow drive from Punda Maria Gate, much of the route was through the old homelands. Delana had visited this reserve before & was keen to visit again, so here we are for a three night stay!

Our cabin.

We spent quite a bit of our time 

on this wooden decking!

Woodland on either side of the stream.

We had booked a wooden cabin on the banks of a stream at Makutse. After checking in at the entrance gate it was a bit of a surprise to discover that our accommodation was 12kms away! The track was not in good condition & as we drove along it deteriorated into a bone jarring ride. The cabin itself was very basic, a bit like indoor camping. However, it had a nice wooden deck overlooking the stream, was set in woodland & tantalizingly one could see majestic mountains peeking through the canopy. It was in a superb setting. 

On the 17th April we did some birding around camp & down the road we had drove yesterday. The birding was ordinary but the number & variety of species of butterflies was truly staggering! We had to go back to the entrance & register properly as when we arrived the office was closed despite it being 2.30 pm. They obviously knock off early for the weekend in these parts!

Just before the top of the pass.

There is some good upland grassland birding here.

The next day was the 18th April & we started early for the fairly long drive to Orrie Baragwanath Pass. As we gained height the scenery became more & more spectacular. We did a bit of birding here, seeing plenty of Zebra roaming the hills & some decent upland birds like Orange throated Longclaw, Wind-snapping Cisticola & Long billed Pipit.

Typical grassland habitat here.

Beautiful surroundings

We had the place to ourselves yet again!

We enjoyed a hike up to the memorial 

& then to a high point.

This is the area known as "The Downs"

Unfortunately we only had a day up here.

But the entire area is begging for

 further investigation.

We hiked to the top of the brown hill

 (not the peaks in the distance)!

Church Forest, which is a piece of high altitude

 Afro-montane forest.

African Harrier-Hawk: Photo Essay

 

African Harrier-Hawk

The African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus), formerly known as Gymnogene. It is a widespread species in Sub-Saharan Africa. In southern Africa its main distribution is in the east, avoiding the drier climates of the Kalahari, most of Namibia & the Karoo.

It is found in a variety of woodland types, including savanna woodland. Often along forests along rivers & where there are koppies or cliffs. It has also colonized plantations & in some areas, large gardens with mature trees.

This bird came down to the river to drink.

It is a slow flying, slow moving species with peculiar habits. Usually solitary it can often be found clambering around rocks, cliffs or trees searching for prey. It puts it long legs & talons into rock crevices or holes in trees. It will often use its wings to keep its balance & may often be seen flapping in some precarious situations.

Drinking

It will eat lizards, small birds & it particularly adept at finding nestlings & dragging them out of a hole or nest to be devoured. It will also scavenge along roadsides for road kill. 

However, the water must have been too warm

 to be refreshing.

It is resident & sedentary in most of its range, however there is some local movement observed along the drier, more westerly part of its range. 

After several attempts at drinking the warm water,

it started to dig with its feet to obtain

 the cooler water below.

Scraping the sand.

In the Kruger National Park it is widespread along the big rivers, especially in the north (where these photos were taken). It is also frequently found along the edges of the national park, where plantations occur or farming activity is common. However, it is reliant on large mature trees both fore feeding, resting & breeding.

The Policemen, the Zebra & the Hyenas!

Made a bit of a mess!

On the early morning of 15th April we came across this scene on the main road to Pafuri Gate. Police had been travelling through the park at night, as is their right. But it certainly looks like they were speeding & they hit a Zebra full on. The Zebra died on the spot & when we arrived was being devoured by a pack of Spotted Hyena.

The adults were very watchful against other Hyenas

coming too close & try to get a share of the kill.

Often stopping eating to pause & look around

 for potential threats.

This adult jumped over a young cub

 in order to get at the meat.

There was a lot of movement, dragging of the carcass

 to gain a better purchase on the bones or meat.

Spotted Hyenas are the dominant predator in this part of the national park. Lions are very infrequent visitors here & our guide informed us that they were last recorded in 2018! In this case the Hyenas scavenged the road kill, but they are major predators in their own right & regularly take prey as large as this Zebra or Blue Wildebeest. 

Pafuri

 We left Pretoria early on 10th April for the long haul to the far north of the country. Because of the distance, we decided to have a two night stay just outside the Kruger Park at the small village of Ben Matale. Delana had found this place on Air B&B. It proved to be a lovely little hideaway right on the banks of the Matale River.

Our little shack!

It turned out to be a lovely place to stay.

We arrived late afternoon & didn't do much apart from settle in & cook a great evening meal. Our hostess was at hand & turned out to be charming, knowledgeable & a very interesting lady. 

The view of the Matale River from the shack.

It was a peaceful & relaxing spot on the map.

Delana taking it easy after the long drive.

It really was a bit of a change for us at Ben Matale. Staying on the edge of a rural African village,  hearing cow bells, peoples voices & chickens. It was interesting & relaxing, the locals were accepting of us & we had a nice stay. The next day we enjoyed a walk around the village & then checked out the nearby Makuya Game Reserve, which looks very interesting for a future trip. We also discovered a nice campsite

Delana walking around on the edge of the village.

12th April was my birthday! We were up early for our trip into Kruger, but one look at the car so we had a double puncture! Luckily the nails were both still in their respective tyres, so we struggled on to a nearby village to get them fixed.

The birthday boy!

The culprit!

On the bridge on the Luvuvhu River

It really is a beautiful spot.

Wire tailed Swallow

Once fixed, we drove on into Kruger entering at the Pafuri Gate. We enjoyed a slow drive to the picnic spot on the river & we had my birthday breakfast complete with champagne! Delana had organized everything very nicely!

Luvuvhu River

Stunning river!

Our luxurious safari tent.

The view from inside the tent!

Tiny baby Hippo with Mummy!

This baby had been born very recently, 

maybe only a day old?

This boy mock charged me just after I took this shot!

He got a little too close!

Always lots of action along the river.

All the action viewed from the tent!

Some big Crocs here!

Cape Buffalo

Nyala were common around the camp.

We then continued to the Pafuri Camp our home for the next four nights. I had been wanting to stay here for quite sometime but normally the expense prohibits it. However we enjoyed a covid special rate of 70% off but even then it was not cheap!

Birthday champers!

Immature Martial Eagle

Saddle billed Stork nesting along the river.

White crowned Lapwing

Water Thicknee

Meeve's Starling

Crocodile

Sunset on the first day.

The camp baked me a cake!

I got them all!

We settled into our safari tent right on the banks of the Luvuvhu River & what a spot it was! Magnificent! We stayed rooted to our perch in front of the tent sipping champagne & watching the local wildlife.

Wonderful morning light.

Plenty of general plains game here.

Plains Zebra

Nyala

Emerald spotted Wood-dove

Woodland Kingfisher

Tropical Boubou, here at its most southern part 

of its range.

Male Red backed Shrike

Stunning bird!

Rattling Cisticola

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Pan & associated Fever Tree Forest.

Fantastic place.

Yellow billed Stork

Feeding young

Young Grey Herons

African Spoonbill

It really was a super spot on the map.

Delana photographing breeding storks, & herons.

The next day we were up before dawn & loaded into our safari vehicle for an exploration of this 26,000 hectare private concession. There are so many habitats here that you don't see from the normal tourist roads & of course you have this wonderful area all to yourself!

The whole area is dotted with huge Baobab Trees.

Cape Buffalo enjoying the mud!

Slender Mongoose

Buurchell's Coucal

Bronze winged Courser

In the afternoon we enjoyed another game drive & came back in the dark, spotting this Bronze winged Courser along the way. A great ending to a wonderful day.

Dawn!

We were up very early on 14th April. It was semi-dark when we set off, but quickly got light. 

Harlequin Quail

Female

Looking north towards the Zimbabwean border.

Today, we explored the northern section of this concession area towards the Limpopo River. Scenery was magnificent & it was great to have the entire place to oneself! 

Makwadzi Pan

Delana at Makwadzi Pan.

Malachite Kingfisher

Young Diderik Cuckoo

All the adults have migrated north already.

Red backed Scrub Robin

Namqua Dove

Pearl Spotted Owlet

Red headed Weaver

It was a long morning to Makwadzi & The Big Pans, but very worthwhile, going through some amazing scenery & visiting habitats which are not readily available to the normal tourists in Kruger.

Camp Reception

The very nice swimming pool

The camp from the swimming pool.

The bar!

This baby crocodile lived just opposite our tent!

It wisely kept away from the main channel!

Looking towards the rear of our safari tent.

The view looking away from the river from our tent.

White-fronted Bee-eater

Late afternoon we sent out again

 for a drive a long the river. 

This was a pan close to the river.

This male was a huge tusker, 

which is rare these days.

But it had lost its tusk on the other side!

Plains Zebra

A youngster.

Crook's Corner

The light was amazing, a magical time of the day.

Sundowner time!

We then had some downtime in camp in the middle of the day before setting out again along the river to Crook's Corner. It was an amazing drive along the river & drinks at Crook's Corner at sundown was magical. Of course we had been to Crook's Corner many times before but never from this side away from the tourist picnic spot.

Lanner Gorge

Klipspringer

Rock Hyrax

Up at dawn again on 15th April for the long & very bumpy drive to Lanner Gorge. This had long been on my most wantd spots to see inside Kruger. It is off limits to normal tourists, only people staying in the Pafuri Concession Area can visit.

Soaking up the view!

African Black Swift

There is a breeding colony in the gorge.

We saw about 60 birds here.

A very difficult species to photograph.

Black-breasted Snake Eagle

Rufous crowned Roller

Violet backed Starling

Breeding herd of Elephants in the river.

African Harrier Hawk

Village Indigobird

Striped Kingfisher

In the afternoon we visited the Luvuvhu River again & then to a different area of pans  associated fever trees. It was a very scenic location.