Pooky back in Satara *

pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Pooky back in Satara *

Post by pooky »

Sunday 14th Sept. 2014

Left Centurion very early. This was after the long drive from Cape Town. This trip was a bit
different for us. We weren't with the family as we normally are. We were with friends, 4 couples in
2 cars. The other car had already arrived in KNP a few days earlier.The couple we were with had never
been to Kruger before so excitement was at fever pitch \O \O

Just a comment on rhino sightings. We saw about 25 in the 7 days in the Park which was fantastic.
We even had a black rhino run with us for a while. No photos.

We miss read the detour sign to White River and ended up doing that horrendous road. 0*\ 0*\

Booking in was quick and easy

On the way in we saw this very dark giraffe

Image

Just before Nsemani dam these lion were resting up in the shade.

Image

Image

A very dry Nsemani dam

Image

The usual suspects watched us setting up camp.
burchells starling and

Image

a red billed buffalo weaver.

Image

yellowbilled hornbill

Image

redbilled hornbill

Image

More to follow for the afternoon


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

Continued----

After we setup camp we set off to check out the sighting board and heard that there were cheetah
on the H6 towards Nwanetsi. What luck O\/ O\/
This is what we found. Our friends were delighted at the great start we had ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^


Image

We also came across this giraffe giving us the beady eye and then he pulled a tongue at us lol lol

Image

Image

A big tusker was quietly grazing along the banks of the river.

Image

and a close up :o0ps:
Image

and a pretty little steenbok blending in with grass.
Image

There was so much smoke in the air from all the fires in and around Kruger. The evening light had a beautiful orange
glow to it with stunning sunsets. Nsemani dam reflected some of that light.

Image

Image

Back to camp for a welcome braai and so nice to have hot weather after the long cold Cape winter :O^


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

Flutterby wrote:Lions AND cheetahs!! ^Q^ ^Q^ How many cheetahs were there? We saw 5 on the H6 in April. ;-)

Only those 2 this time Flutts \O \O


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

Monday 15th Sept.2014

We were in the queue at the gate for opening time. The sunrise was stunning and again gave everything
an orange glow.


Image

Image

First up were these coucals catching the early morning sun

Image

Image

We made our way down to Nsemani dam to see if the lions were there. Two males walked up the road towards us
and then made their way into the grass. They were on a mission so I only managed 1 photo before they were gone.

Image

Closer to the dam were 3 cubs, but no sign of their mums anywhere.

Image

Image

This little guy had a bare patch under his neck. Not sure watch the cause of it was

Image

It was an early breakfast for a big croc with a decent sized barbel.

Image

Image

Image

We made our way to the S100. Not much was going on there,just a few wildebeest and some birds.
Image

First up was a brown-hooded kingfisher
Image

followed by this verreaux eagle owl peering at us through the twigs
Image

and another brown-hooded kingfisher

Image

finally before getting to Nwanetsi for breakfast we came across this picture of horns - a lovely group of kudu bulls

Image


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

continued------

A black crake with her chicks at one of the river crossings.

Image

At Nwanetsi a water monitor came sneaking over the rocks.

Image

After a hearty breakfast we made our way down to Sweni hide. It had warmed up nicely so the cool hide was welcome,
although it was quite busy.

Right in front of the hide was a group of white faced ducks.

Image

On the way back to Satara this hyena was surveying the scene.

Image

We had some lunch and a swim before going out for a short drive past Nsemani dam again then to Girivana dam. There
was no water in the dam just a mud puddle. We had just missed a family of ellies having a mud bath. Mum was
having a nice scratch against a tree.

Image

Image

Meanwhile one youngster was still enjoying the mud.

Image

Image

Image

Oh gee,I have been left behind, quick, catch up to mum

Image

Floppy eat was having a drink of clean water but also had to hurry to catch up with the family

Image


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

Tuesday 16th Sept

While waiting for the gate to open this was how the day started


Image

Just outside the gate mum hyena was giving her cubs breakast

Image

A kudu cow posed beautifully for us. She still had her winter coat

Image

We went to Ngotso dam and while watching to see what might be there these two young male lions came past.The early morning light gave them a lovely glow.

Image

Image

Image

Image

We were on our way to Timbavati picnic site and this kori bustard was very close to the road.

Image

Image

This juvenile ground hornbill was moaning for his parents to feed him but they weren't obliging.

Image

I am glad we don't have to bite our skin to stop an itch lol lol

Image

There was a bit of greenery for a kudu bull to munch on.

Image

A little steenbok male was checking us out.


Image

A slender mongoose was also catching the early morning sun.

Image

Finally at Timbavati the ever present bushbuck.

Image

There are always birds looking for scraps and this laughing dove was no exception

Image

Our gang having coffee and rusks or sandwiches.

Image

We were going on a sunset drive later on so slowly made our way back to camp for a swim and lunch. The temperature had risen to 38 degrees again as with the previous days.

more to follow later.
Last edited by pooky on Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
User avatar
Mel
Global Moderator
Posts: 28224
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:31 pm
Country: Germany
Location: Föhr
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by Mel »

pooky, I think you had some really fabulous sightings! A great variety in any case,
with lots of the "smaller" stuff posing nicely for you. O:V And the colours, wow,
so beautiful!

And so far, there wasn't a shortage of cat sightings yet. lol The cubs look well
fed - even if mum seemed to have disappeared for the time being. Probably
trying to find replenishment to make sure the cubs' bellies stay round. lol
Strange wound on one of them though. -O-


God put me on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die.
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

Continued ------

Before going back to camp we stopped at Ratel Pan hide. The spring on the door is broken, so security to the hide wasn't great 0*\

A couple of crocs were lying in the shallow water.

Image

This egyptian goose had a very wonky leg but she managed to get around quite well and even had some big goslings.

Image

Yellow-billed storks.

Image

We went back via Nsemani dam where a big ellie was enjoying a bath.


Image

Image

Image

Image

Back at Satara all the red-bills, buffalo weaver and hornbill were scratching in the dry leaves.

We had lunch and a swim then made our way to the pick up point for the sunset drive.

Image

In the trees around the reception area we found this bat watching everyone walk by.

Image

Back to Nsemani on the drive where, once again, the sunset was beautiful. The light over the dam was lovely.

Image

Image

and the sun setting behind the big tree at Giravana dam.

Image

We went down towards Timbavati. Just before the junction we saw 2 jackal.The truck stopped for us to look at them
and right next to the road a movement caught our attention.There were 3 very tiny pups trying to hide.The parents
had been digging a hole next to the road but it wasn't deep enough for them to hide in. Unfortunately no photos.
I was battling to get the camera to focus with the flash lights shining and I couldn't see to change the settings 0*\ :evil:

Just when we thought this was going to be one of those quiet rides, someone shouted leopard.We were back on the
tar road. A warthog had obviously smelt the leopard and came out of a drain under the road. They faced each other
for a while before the warthog took off. The leopard lay down not far from the road then got up and came closer before laying down again. But he was determined to check out the drain and came right up to the edge of the road,
gave us a glare then moved off. We spent about 20 minutes with this leopard. What a sight and so close. The highlight of the drive and the trip ^Q^ ^Q^

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

Wednesday 17th Sept2014

We made our way down the H7 to the S36 and on to Muzandzeni picnic site.On the east side of the S36 a huge area
had been burnt.
Along the way was a red-crested korhaan with his beautiful feather markings.

Image

Further on was a pair of double banded sandgrouse with one tiny chick.

Image

Image

Image

Image

and two warthog watched us pass by.

Image

We stopped at the picnic site and the ranger there told us of a big herd of buffalo at the Shimangwaneni dam. It was early so off we went to check them out. It was a big herd. They were just moving off from the dam,so we kept our
eyes open for lion. They were there, our friends in the other car saw them but we missed them.

Image

Image

The oxpecker were also having some chow.

Image

Image

At the water were a couple of very alert kudu bulls. This fellow posed beautifully for us.

Image

Eventually they relaxed and along with the impala settled down and quenched their thirst.

Image

Back at the picnic site we hired a scottle and had a big cooked breakfast. First time we have ever done this. It was
very nice.

Purple roller

Image

We continued down the S36 and turned onto the S125, coming out at Kumana dam where a fired was burning. This
fire had come from Mozambique and burnt a big area of Kruger. It wasn't too fierce here and there were patches of
grass still. Plenty of smoke around though.

Image

Image

Finally we visited the southern most baobab before making our way back towards Satara.

Image
Last edited by pooky on Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
Location: Elgin
Contact:

Re: Pooky back in Satara

Post by pooky »

Continued -----

On our way back at the Sweni bridge this lioness was lying in the shade panting her heart out and with her face
covered in blood. It was 40 degrees and she had just caught and killed a wildebeest. No wonder she was puffing 0*\

Image

Image

Image

After a late lunch and a swim it was back to Nsemani where a big ellie was slowly making his way to the dam

Image

Below the wall a couple of bushbuck were having a drink. It was still very hot 0*\

Image

and Mr Monkey looking full of mischief.

Image

Another great day in KNP


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
Post Reply

Return to “Travel Tales of Kruger National Park”