Kruger National Park in July.

This Giraffe had a huge growth on its head.

I have never seen this before!

One of the many Crocodiles seen along the river.

White-crowned Lapwing.

Of course no visit to our home would be complete without a few days in Kruger. Due to the ongoing work, we didn't manage a visit until 13th July, We were all up early & drove down the S3 & S4 roads to the Waterhole Road & across to the little travelled S21 which eventually run down to the Lower Sabie Camp where we enjoyed lunch overlooking the river.

Kudu

Southern Ground Hornbill

Kruger NP is a stronghold for this

 declining species.

White-crowned Shrike

Green-winged Pytilia

It wasn't a great day for animal or even bird sightings, (94 species) but everyone enjoyed the day.

Orpen Dam

Ryno & Tess.

The next day myself, Ryno & Tess were back in Kruger. This time we went north to Tshokwane & beyond. We looped back via Orpen Dam & Nkumbe lookout point. This was mainly a birding trip to try & see Ryno's & Tess's new species. It was successfully getting them eight new birds & totaling 104 species for the day.

African Stonechat

On the 16th July I had to drive Delana to Malelane to Andrew & Jacky's house. We didn't enter the park until 10.30 am & drove quite quickly on the main tarred roads to the southern exit gate. We spent the night there & had a very enjoyable evening. 

The next morning I had a few hours overlooking the Crocodile River watching several groups of Elephants coming to drink & a surprising number of birds. Delana & her colleagues headed off for their work in Natal & I took a leisurely drive back home, through the park.

Crocodile River

I left Malelane at 11am, so didn't have high hopes of seeing very much, as it was hot & in the middle of the day. However Kruger can be full of surprises & so it came to be! 

Cheetah

A herd of Impala appeared & 

it was definitely interested!

Getting ready!

Surprisingly, it slunk away in the opposite direction 

from the approaching herd.

It circled around in a large arch.

He suddenly broke cover!

He was heading straight towards me!

In full flight!

On this occasion he was unsuccessful, 

mainly because of the Spotted Hyena interfering.

The culprit!

I spotted a male Cheetah laid down on the banks of the Miambane River (S119). This short dirt road closely follows the banks of the river, (which at this time of year is dry with just a few pools of water left). However, it is one of my favorite short drives, having had success here with all three cat species before. Then I waited for something to happen & after a while, the Cheetah spotted a large herd of Impala slowing coming his way. He slunk off very low & circled the herd from right opposite where I was viewing. I waited & waited & for quite sometime I lost sight of him but then he charged out at great speed at the Impalas, who snorted in alarm & scattered in all directions. Just to add to the chaos, a Hyena appeared out of nowhere & I am sure his presence meant that the attempt at a kill failed. But what a sighting! I did however feel very sorry for Delana who was not with me. Cheetah is her favorite cat & see would have loved every minute of this sighting.

Cape Buffalo

There were around 300 animals in this herd.

There were plenty of Red-billed Oxpeckers

 with this herd.

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Three birds were present. 

This species is expanding its range

 southwards in Kruger.

The rest of the drive was uneventful until I came across a large herd of Cape Buffalo drinking at De Laporte Waterhole. Later afternoon is a good time for Buffalo coming to drink & I spent some time photographing them. I then noticed 3 Yellow billed Oxpeckers on the Buffalo. This is a rare species so far south in the park & I was lucky enough to obtain some photos.

Just before Paul Kruger Gate there was a massive car jam on the road, as people watched a very distant Cheetah laid under a bush. However, I didn't linger, as I had a few things to do at home before dark.

I decided on a full day inside the park on 19th July. I drove north along the S36 dirt road up as far as Nhlanguleni Picnic Site. I was very pleased to see that it is up & running again & in good working order. The last time I was there was during covid when it was closed & looking in a sorry state. 

Squacco Heron

Female Leopard

The cub appeared out of nowhere!

I then drove east along the Vitumi Road, across to Orpen Dam & Nkumbe lookout.  It was on this latter road that I had a stroke of luck, finding a female Leopard with a cub sat in a tree. Unfortunately they were quite distant & the light was very poor for photography. I spent some time with them before they both climbed down & disappeared into the bush.

Spotted Hyena

Mum was very relaxed!

There were three, very young cubs.

It was nice to spend some time with them.

Just a little further along the road were a Spotted Hyena family sunning themselves by the roadside. The tiny cubs being especially cute!

I returned home via Tshokwane after a long day.

Male Klipsringer

My next venture into the park was on 22nd July to pick Delana up from Maelane. It was so dark that I couldn't see much, never mind do any photography! It was a very strange day in the Kruger & I saw very little. 

Lion

On our way back home the next day we came across a large pride of Lions either side of the road. Unfortunately many people were there before us & the sighting wasn't great. 

It looks likely that this will be our last foray into Kruger for quite a while, as we now head for Pearly Beach & then go on our epic three & half month trip through Indonesia & into the south-west Pacific.