And then the rain set in or at dusk the bush comes alive

[Lisbeth]

Lots of lovely birds already

[Flutterby]

Some fell over and were sleeping on the ground

[Mel]

The buffs played lions

What a pretty starling

[Richprins]

Catching up now, Pumbaa!

Those are some of the most unusual elephant pics I've ever seen!



It must have been nice seeing a slight improvement after the drought? B&Dal area was hit really hard!


The buffalo are also very special, Timon is doing well!

[Pumbaa]

wow this Starling

Sometimes the golden light in the morning and afternoon helps a lot

Lots of lovely birds already

Although from the number we saw not that many birds this year in the park due to the drought but the variety was brilliant

[Pumbaa]

Some fell over and were sleeping on the ground

Obviously it was a hard night

The buffs played lions

What a pretty starling

Indeed never saw that ever before

Catching up now, Pumbaa!

Those are some of the most unusual elephant pics I've ever seen!



It must have been nice seeing a slight improvement after the drought? B&Dal area was hit really hard!


The buffalo are also very special, Timon is doing well!

Thanks for catching up and for your incredible compliments

[Pumbaa]

The one who arrived laid down close to his buddy and

[

they soon started to cuddle.



We could have stayed at that sighting far longer but after we took a lot of pictures we continued our way but it was a bit quiet until we reached the bridge across the Mlambane where a family of giraffes were about to come closer to search in the river for some remaining puddles.



Finally Dad dared to quench his thirst after originally looking into each direction for several times from a small puddle which obviously had been made by elephants



after quite a while also the female and the little one finally took their drink as well.



Spontaneously we then decided to drive today the Mlambane loop first instead of driving up the whole tar road until the S23 which we normally do on our first full day so today we simply did the drive the other way round.

Soon we met our very first woodland kingfisher during that trip



and also many impalas could be seen



plus a rhino mom with her youngster



and for sure more impalas already awaited us around the next corner.

[Pumbaa]

We came across a group of vervets out of which one member obviously bit in an extreme sour marula according to its facial expression



the next bite looked a bit more yummy then,



one of the most gorgeous vervet babies could be discovered as well



whilst another member inspected most carefully the bottom of a pile of poop



and others started to day dream. At least we once again had a most entertaining time in watching and photographing them.



The birdlife is also always amazing on that road and we were extreme happy to come across a crested barbet quite close



and what is better than a crested barbet – two of them!



A southern black tit was hanging in a branch



impalas had a great time in running around in the dry Mlambane



and we then ticked off our lifer No. 4 in form of a black crowned tchagra.



to be continued...

[Mel]

Great variety of birdies again. My favourite would be the southern black tit. Looks kinda cute the way it is hanging in there

Wonderful shot of the giraffe drinking!

And those vervet antics are hilarious. Lifting a pile of poop... really?!

[Lisbeth]

The southern Black Tit looks as if it has been caught in a kind of spider web

Already four lifers

Wonderful variety of birdies

The vervet probably lifts the poop to look for insects Great pics of those little bandits