Kruger National Park: the far south!

 Delana & I left home early morning on 30th October for the start of our month long trip to Kruger. This is a great time to visit Kruger, as the summer migrants are arriving & this really bumps up your bird list. 

We drove south to Berg-en-dal Rest Camp, which was to be home for the next five nights. This is a spacious camp, with good facilities & it is quite close to Nelspruit where I have to go for my chemotherapy on Tuesday. 

We met up with Andrew & Jacky, who were to be with us for the next few days. We set up camp & spent the evening catching up on all our news.

It was a beautiful morning.

My first RAW Image!

White Rhino

Giraffe

Waterbuck

Plains Zebra

Warthog

Martial Eagle

Adult & young African Harrier Hawk

Blacksmith Lapwing

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

African Green Pigeon

Southern White-crowned Shrike

Sabota Lark

The next morning we were up early & set out on our game drive. We decided to do a few of the loop roads east of the main road. It was a lovely morning, the highlight being a sitting White Rhino. 

Delana in the Gardenia Hide.

Crocodile River at Malelane

One of the many Crocodiles here.

Giant Kingfisher

We were back in camp at 11 am for a late breakfast, & the rest of the day was spent on the computers, sorting out photos & watching English football.

Again up early on 1st November. Lions were making a lot of noise close by throughout the night, & we found two females close to camp, one with a satellite collar on. However they were deep in the bush, so I didn't take any photos. We continued along the Matjulu Loop & on to the Stellberg Pass. We then turned north along the main road & then down the Mlambane River Loop & back to camp along the S114. 

Green Sandpiper

It was a quiet morning for game & birds until we came across a Green Sandpiper, which is a bit of a rarity in South Africa, (although I see one or two a year in Kruger). 

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Then we came across two Great Spotted Cuckoos, which were calling. We spent quite a bit of time here trying to obtain photos. Which we eventually got! The rest of the day was spent in camp. Jacques arrived in the late afternoon.

The 2nd November is quite a special day, as it is both Delana's & Peaches birthdays! Delana is 65 & Peach is a magical 21 today! 

Delana is 65 today!

Bennett's Woodpecker

After a slow start, we walked to the restaurant for a late breakfast & then did a bit of birding around the camp.

Delana & I left camp early for our trip into Nelspruit on 3rd November. Me for my sixth cycle of my present chemo regime & Delana to pick up a  few things & get the draw fixed on the Amarok.

 It was also the day to pick up my new 200-800 mm Canon lens. Can't wait to try it out!!