Eland
Re: Eland
Our very first Kruger elands so far - I simply posted part of our trip report 
Now you can imagine our faces when we drove over the bridge and looked behind the thick bushes into the curious looking faces of our very first Kruger elands!
and even not only one but an extreme large herd - WoW - What a farewell gift that was
and for sure our ever best eland sighting we had so far!
That for sure was definitely not that difficult to decide as we so far only spotted twice elands - On our first trip to South Africa we spotted them in Addo - Totally three together and really far too far away
and then we had a couple of sporadic sightings in Augrabies but none so far in Kruger and now we were facing a whole herd of around 30 animals - What a highlight!
Same was located close to Nkulumbeni South and although we normally drove a detour when riding on the Mphongololo loop to Boyela to finally be lucky in finding some roan we now found elands so finally all our efforts paid somehow off.
The only disadvantage was - as if this sighting is not yet enough I know - that we had only blocked visibility onto these beautiful animals as we had first to find a gap between the thick bushes but I guess we hit the jackpot.
The zebras, wildebeests and impalas which also were plentiful around the elands were a bit disappointed that we only had eyes for the elands but I guess they forgave us as we normally always do stop for them although we saw already hundreds of them during the day.
Finally we found a suitable place between the bushes and now we had only to wait for the elands to walk from left to right or right to left.
Now you can imagine our faces when we drove over the bridge and looked behind the thick bushes into the curious looking faces of our very first Kruger elands!
and even not only one but an extreme large herd - WoW - What a farewell gift that was
and for sure our ever best eland sighting we had so far!
That for sure was definitely not that difficult to decide as we so far only spotted twice elands - On our first trip to South Africa we spotted them in Addo - Totally three together and really far too far away
and then we had a couple of sporadic sightings in Augrabies but none so far in Kruger and now we were facing a whole herd of around 30 animals - What a highlight!
Same was located close to Nkulumbeni South and although we normally drove a detour when riding on the Mphongololo loop to Boyela to finally be lucky in finding some roan we now found elands so finally all our efforts paid somehow off.
The only disadvantage was - as if this sighting is not yet enough I know - that we had only blocked visibility onto these beautiful animals as we had first to find a gap between the thick bushes but I guess we hit the jackpot.
The zebras, wildebeests and impalas which also were plentiful around the elands were a bit disappointed that we only had eyes for the elands but I guess they forgave us as we normally always do stop for them although we saw already hundreds of them during the day.
Finally we found a suitable place between the bushes and now we had only to wait for the elands to walk from left to right or right to left.
Last edited by Pumbaa on Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Re: Eland
They really came by and were extreme curious and we were simply far too happy that we finally messed up with the idea of an early afternoon at our accommodation outside the park
it was the now and here which counted in these minutes and so we decided to stay as long as possible with them as nobody knows when you might see them again.
A funny incident happened when an impala decided to do some urgent things right in front of the elands -
Can you see how some of the elands wrinkled their noses in the background - Needless to say that they were obviously not amused about such a rude behaviour!
It was simply an awesome sighting and can you imagine how we wished that we might stay in Shingwedzi that night so that we might could return back to them a bit later that day.
We also tried a bit further North to get a better view onto them but as so many roads that far North the S53 was closed as well as we could imagine that from that short loop we would have had the best view onto them.
Gladly now some smaller calves showed up as well so we got to see them all, impressive males, beautiful females and cute calves and between them all a large number of yellow billed oxpeckers flew around playing changing eland.
We already stayed with them for around one hour and with only a couple of very few other cars stopping for a short time we nearly had the elands all to ourselves. Their migration in that area come to a standstill and more and more elands made themselves comfortable and lay down on the ground under or even in bushes
and made a little nap.
Therefore the zebras got more and more active and one of them was running around all the animals like made and raised a lot of dust.
Carmine bee eaters were also all around and we once again had a great time in simply watch and let the animals come by themselves.
Meanwhile all elands settled for the day and with more than heavy hearts we left them but you can be rest assured shortly when staying in Shingwezi will be once again on the look out for them.
it was the now and here which counted in these minutes and so we decided to stay as long as possible with them as nobody knows when you might see them again.
A funny incident happened when an impala decided to do some urgent things right in front of the elands -
Can you see how some of the elands wrinkled their noses in the background - Needless to say that they were obviously not amused about such a rude behaviour!
It was simply an awesome sighting and can you imagine how we wished that we might stay in Shingwedzi that night so that we might could return back to them a bit later that day.
We also tried a bit further North to get a better view onto them but as so many roads that far North the S53 was closed as well as we could imagine that from that short loop we would have had the best view onto them.
Gladly now some smaller calves showed up as well so we got to see them all, impressive males, beautiful females and cute calves and between them all a large number of yellow billed oxpeckers flew around playing changing eland.
We already stayed with them for around one hour and with only a couple of very few other cars stopping for a short time we nearly had the elands all to ourselves. Their migration in that area come to a standstill and more and more elands made themselves comfortable and lay down on the ground under or even in bushes
and made a little nap.
Therefore the zebras got more and more active and one of them was running around all the animals like made and raised a lot of dust.
Carmine bee eaters were also all around and we once again had a great time in simply watch and let the animals come by themselves.
Meanwhile all elands settled for the day and with more than heavy hearts we left them but you can be rest assured shortly when staying in Shingwezi will be once again on the look out for them.
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
-
General Gump
- Posts: 834
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:25 am
- Location: Sabie
- Contact:
Re: Eland
2nd May 2015, driving from Pafuri gate at sparrow fart, got a herd of about 30 eland.
A pale skin was briefly photographed before they moved off.
A pale skin was briefly photographed before they moved off.
Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
