Mkhuze Game Reserve

 We left our campsite on 6th May for the drive to Mkhuze Game Reserve. It proved to be a difficult drive with all the steep hills to climb & also because we had to fix an oil leak in Pongola, which took quite some time. However we arrived at our destination just as the gates were closing & got to our safari tent in the dark! 

Our very comfortable accommodation!

We had a separate kitchen next to the tent, 

which was excellent.

We had no problems during our stay here.

Western Stripe bellied Sand Snake.

Found by the swimming pool!

Pale Flycatcher

Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin

When we awoke the next morning we got a pleasant surprise! The safari tent was nicely situated in open woodland quite a distance away from other tents.

One of the great things about this

 reserve is its superb hides.

KuMasinga Hide

Impala, complete with Red billed Oxpeckers.

Terrapins

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

One of the great things about hides

 is that you can get really close.

Green Woodhoopoe

Catching & eating ants.

Fork tailed Drongo bathing.

Neergaard's Sunbird

This bird was feeding in the hide car park.

Great to see this range restricted species.

The slow drive south was a scenic one.

You go through a variety of habitats.

A fine example of an Umbrella Thorn Tree.

Our first glimpse of the pan was misleading

 as it is huge!

A magnificent spot.

Another fantastic hide.

The view from the hide.

Just down the road is one of the finest picnic sites 

you will ever see.

First rate facilities.

And a view to die for!

On the 8th May we set off on a slow drive to Nsuma Pan. We drove through some nice habitats, birding & taking our time. Birding was good but everything was distant. 

Argus Reed Frog.

Grey-rumped Swallows.

Crowned Eagle.

In the afternoon we drove to kuMahala Hide. It was a bit dead apart from a magnificent pair of Crowned Eagles close to the car park! Unfortunately thy were against the light!

The bridge to the Fig Forest.

The amazing Fig Forest

Trumpeter Hornbill

Common in the forest.

White eared Barbet

The 9th May was the escorted Fig Forest Walk. It was nice but a bit underwhelming as the forest guide/birder wasn't really interested & just wanted to get it over with!

Striped Kingfisher

In the afternoon we drove the Enxwala Road which was scenic but not full of birds or wildlife!

I was last here in 1987!

The Dino-Rhino Burger!

It is quite a way up!

View from the tower.

Melanistic & normal phase Gabar Goshawks

On 10th May we spent some time in camp & that went to the Lebombo Lookout Tower for sundowners. It was a pleasant way to end or time here exactly 34 years after my first visit! Incredible!