Shingwedzi

Karen, Arthur & Delana

We left early morning on 17th June for the relatively short drive further north to Shingwedzi Camp. This was to be our base for the next five nights. We didn't see much on the drive, as it was thick fog!

View of the river from the camp.

Our camp!

Mourning Collared Dove: a common bird in 

the camp.

  Shingwedzi is quite an old camp, but it set close to the river & has a complete range of facilities. It makes for an excellent base to explore this area.

It was quite dark & overcast early on.

A bit of push & shove!

Play time over!

Cape Buffalo

Yellow-billed Oxpeckers are quite common in

the north of the park.

Waterbuck

This is unusual! An Impala being suckled at this

 time of year. This species has synchronized breeding

in early December.

Dwarf Mongoose

Always entertaining & great to see!

Immature Martial Eagle

Brown-headed Parrots in the gloom!

Burchell's Coucal

Lilac-breasted Roller

Mosque Swallow

Resident in this part of the park.

The next day we headed north from camp on the Mphongolo Loop Road which parallels the river for large stretches. It is one of our favourite routes, as it is scenic, good for a variety of game & birds & usually doesn't have many vehicles along it. So we were off! 

The Red Rocks route.

On the 19th June we drove the Red Rocks circular drive. This is another scenic drive, but today was not our day, as we saw very little! 

Tshanga Lookout

Arthur & Karen

Double-banded Sandgrouse

We drove as far as Tshanga Lookout & then back to camp. it was a very pleasant drive though.

Wet & miserable!

Feeding on a dead Cape Buffalo.

Marabou Stork.

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

On the 20th June we drove south along the river a far as the dam at Grootvlei. It was a thoroughly miserable morning with dark skies & the occasional bout of rain.

Verreaux's Eagle Owl

African Hawk Eagle

Bennett's Woodpecker

Our last day here was on 21st & we once again drove the Mphalongo Loop Road. It was yet again quiet but we did score with a couple of good bird sightings!

Mopani: Kruger National Park

Karen & Arthur with us!

Arthur & Karen who are two old friends of Delana's arrived on 12th June. We spent the next day getting ready for our trip & we left for the long drive to Mopani Rest Camp on 14th June. We were due to spend the next three nights there.

Kruger is looking very green, after all the late rains.

We have lent Arthur & Karen our little car!

Cheetah

It is 228 kms from door to door, but an easy drive on a tarred road. We managed to see a Cheetah just north of Satara. However the distance combined with heat haze, made the photos not sharp. Shortly after, we saw two more Cheetahs but they went to ground quickly! We also saw a pack of Wild Dogs who were asleep & all one could see was the top of their heads & the occasional flicking tail! We settled into our chalet (there is no camping at Mopani, so we couldn't use the caravan) for the rest of the evening.

Pioneer Dam: unfortunately there was no access!

It's a big tree!

Crested Fracolin, common inside the camp.

Tawny Eagle

We were all tired after the previous days drive, so enjoyed a bit of a lay in & then a walk around the camp. We were dismayed to find the restaurant under renovation & because of a construction site, no access to views over the dam. This meant birding was extremely limited. 

Goliath Heron

Burchell's Coucal

Rattling Cisticola

In the afternoon we had a drive along a section of the Shangolaho Loop, without seeing anything memorable.

Tihongonyeni Waterhole

Elephants

Blue Wildebeest

Waterbuck

Female

Crowned Lapwing

Kittlitz's Plover

African Pipit

Chestnut-backed Sparrow Lark

Female

Red Headed Finch

A rarity here!

The Tropic of Capricorn!

We were all up before dawn on 16th June & drove to Mooiplaas Waterhole & the Tropic of Capricorn Loop Road. It was an interesting drive with lots of plains game & an interesting selection of birds seen. We returned to camp late morning & spent the rest of the day in camp.

We drove north the next day in thick fog, so we didn't see much!