Madagascar here we come!

 It is 28th September & Delana & I have been packing for our forthcoming short trip to Madagascar! This a a twelve day recee for a more comprehensive trip to this fabulous island next autumn. Delana has been twice before & we are trying out one of her contacts who arranged her last trip, which went very well. We organised accommodation for ourselves, but used the agency for a driver & hopefully a decent four by four vehicle. We expect total ecological devastation outside of the protected areas & terrible roads which take time to navigate. On the plus side, the reserves look amazing & we can't wait to visit. I think that this is the most excited I have been for a trip in a long time. We hope you enjoy this post of our travels to this magical (sometimes forgotten) island.

The next day we are at the airport early, but no water! No toilets working, no coffee to be had! The whole of Jo'burg is out! Plane was delayed on the runway for nearly two hours, so screwed up my birding time around the hotel. 

Looking over the city at dusk from the restaurant.

Our hotel was pleasant & quite close to the airport & we enjoyed a lovely evening at the restaurant.

Olive Bee-eater

Malagasy Bulbul

Madagascar (African) Stonechat

Malagasy Brush Warbler

Madagascan (Red) Fody

On 30th September I spent an hour birding around the hotel gardens & then we were off with our driver & car. Getting out of the city was very time consuming & frustrating, but eventually we hit the open road. The road is narrow & full of potholes & people!

Mandraka Park

Delana with our driver & guide.

Male Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher

Female

A sleeping Oustalet's Chameleon

 So going was slow but we stopped for a walk around Mandraka Park which was very pleasant. We managed to get close up & personal with a pair of Malagasy Paradise Flycatchers. 

Souimanga Sunbird

My 8,000 species!

It has only taken me 64 years!

Then we were on the road again for our next stop at the Mangoro River. We looked for Madagascar Pratincole on the rocks without success, but we did score with Souimanga Sunbird, which was my 8,000 species of bird in the world!

Safika Lodge

Our home for the next five nights.

Madagascar Wagtail

Goodman's Mouse Lemur

Leaf-tailed Gecko

Delana getting close to a tiny

Chameleon

We arrived at our lodge late afternoon. The place is pleasant without being great. We then went on a night walk in the nearby forest where we saw Goodman's Mouse Lemur, which was the highlight. 

We have a Visitor!

We picked up Jaquis Le Roux from Skukuza Airport on 16th September. He had flown in on the newly established direct flight from Cape Town. He is the owner of The Whale Brewery which we frequent when we are in Pearly Beach. It was 40 degrees celsius, so we went home via the pub for a cool down! After settling in we all went to the picnic site for a leisurely afternoon. And what an afternoon is was! It proved to be The Elephant Show!

The next day we were all up early for a full day in Kruger National Park. We went over the low water bridge heading north via the Marula Loop Road. On to Tsokane & then Orpen Dam & Nkumbe Viewpoint. We returned via the dirt roads along the salitje section. This is a very scenic route & we all enjoyed a great day out.

The first sighting of note were this family of Hyena enjoying the first rays of warmth from the sun. it is strange that young Hyenas are so engaging & cute & then they grow up!

Lions mating by the roadside.

Mourning Dove at the picnic site.

Orpen Dam

Male Klipspringer

White Rhino

A rare sight these days.

Brown Snake Eagle

Southern Ground Hornbill

Temminck's Courser

Black-capped Tchagra

Cape Glossy Starling

On 18th September we had a walk around Sabie Park & tried to photograph the White-faced Scops Owl on its nest. 

White-faced Scops Owl

This proved difficult, because as soon as it saw us, it flattened itself down on its nest trying its best to be invisible!

Andrew & Jacky's house.

The gang on the deck.

The view from the deck.

Reed Cormorant

A pair of African Skimmers are breeding on the 

Crocodile River.

White-browed Robin Chat.

Spotted backed (Village) Weaver

Thick-billed Weaver

On the 19th September we drove through the park to Malelane to visit Andrew & Jacky. It was a very nice day out & we enjoyed a lovely late breakfast on their verandah overlooking the river.

Me messing up the video while trying to drive!

You can't keep a good man down for long!

Magpie Shrike

A pair of Tawny Eagles.

They were feeding on a young Impala!

A Bateleur looks on hopefully!

A fitting end to a great day out!

The 20th September saw us drive to Pretoriuskop Camp. We briefly called in at the dam where both Hippos & Elephants were prominent. 

Hippos in a stand-off.

Young Elephant.

Cape Buffalo

Partially eaten Cape Buffalo

Two happy Lions!

We came across two male Lions which had recently killed a Cape Buffalo. However, by the time we found them they had finished eating & were resting.

We then did a circuit of Shabeni Hill which was quite productive for birds.

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Cardinal Woodpecker

Black-collared Barbet

Fork-tailed Drongo

Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling

Lazy Cisticola

A rock-loving specialist.

Neddicky

Pel's Fishing Owl.

We heard from a lady that told us a Pel's Fishing Owl had just been discovered on the S3 road. Now this was on the way home, so we just had to go. Delana arrived at the location well before us & gave us exact directions for the bird. She also waited for us to show us exactly where it was, & we needed her help, as it was really tucked away.

Greater Painted Snipe

I found this bird in the Sabie River just as we were heading home. my second record for Sabie Park. A tremendous end to a fantastic day in the field.

From the office window!

Meanwhile Delana was home ahead of us & was confronted by an invasion of Zebras!

In the garden!

Adult African Hawk Eagle

On the 21st September we had a stroll around Sabie Park in the morning. Best sighting was an African Hawk Eagle & a Lesser Honeyguide. 

Just another Sunday in Africa!

We then drove to the Selati Restaurant for a drink before continuing to Lake Panic.

Young Elephant

Having a good time!

Female Waterbuck

Common (Grey) Duiker

Water Dikkop.

Brown-headed Kingfisher

Lesser Striped Swallow

 In the afternoon we visited Lake Panic ,which was very dry. 

Female Leopard

What a great sighting!

The light was fading, so difficult

 to get a crisp photo.

We decided to return home via the S3 road & it paid off in spades! We found a female Leopard with two cubs & spent quite a bit of time with them. What a great day!

Four young male Lions

The next day Jaquis & I drove into Kruger for a full day out. Unfortunately I became ill & couldn't continue the trip, so headed back home & straight into bed. I have had better days!

Magpie Shrike

Southern White-crowned Shrike

Female Mocking Cliff Chat

On 23rd September we had a quick run around to Stevenson Hamilton Memorial & back. It was a pleasant morning & I was feeling a lot better, so I could enjoy the day.

We spent the afternoon at the Sabie Park Picnic Site. The weather was great & we had a nice time relaxing.

The 24th September was the day that Jaquis flew back to Cape Town. However, we got a bit of a shock when e tried to enter the national park. it was a combination of free entry for SA nationals Parks for South African citizens & a public holiday. The place was rammed! We felt sorry for the hundreds of people who had been queing since early morning, as the park quota was full & they had no chance of entry. We had right of entry as we were going to the airport. We said our goodbyes & hope to see him back in the not too distant future.