Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Back in Kruger
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:41 am
16 August: Tamboti - Pretoriuskop cont.
So, as the Brat already told you, we decided to take the Maroela loop and were rewarded with our second leopard!! Not great pics, but still a worthwhile sighting.
My dad was starting to feel better but I wasn't feeling too great...the normal flu symptons...sore body, hot and cold, blocked nose...all that lovely stuff!! We popped into Skukuza and I managed to find some MedLemon Cold & Flu medicine, and then we continued on our way to Pretoriuskop on the H1-1. It was a very quiet drive, with just a couple of impala, kudu and some waterbuck at Shitlhave Dam.
I love my mom!! (Darn grass! )
We checked in at Pretoriuskop and were allocated Unit 66 which is an EB3 unit, the old dormitory type bungalow, which was very basic...just 3 beds, a fridge and a basin. The Brat wasn't too impressed...he likes a bit of luxury. -O The only problem I had was that there were no outside lights so at night we had to hang a head lamp from the door! Surely it can't be too hard to put some lights around these units!
Anyway, my dad and I took our medicine then I went to have shower to warm up. I then put a chair in the sun and relaxed a bit, but I soon noticed a tree nearby that was abuzz with sunbirds. It would be nice if they could sit still for 2 seconds!!
Scarletchested Sunbird
Marico Sunbird (I think )
Whitebellied Sunbird
The Marico & Whitebellied were both firsts!! I then heard an unmistakable call and soon found it...a Purple Crested Turaco!! Another first! Unfortunately I couldn't get a great pic before it flew off.
For our afternoon drive we decided to stick around camp doing the loops roads. We wanted to do the Fayi loop, but we kept taking short roads that all seemed to come out at the same intersection ...and it seemed that a lot of others were just as confused as us!! We saw quite a few people looking at their maps and then the signboards and scratching their heads!! -O We eventually decided to do the S8, but as we came around the first bend my dad jammed on brakes, the Brat shrieked and we were reversing at speed! I was sitting in the back so hadn't seen the ellie we nearly drove into!! -O He flapped his ears and trumpeted and then proceeded to teach us a lesson by refusing to get out of the road. We watched him for about 20 minutes until we eventually gave in, turned around and went back to camp!! -O So much for doing the loop roads! -O
Here's the video of the ellie...although not too exciting as all the excitement happened before I started videoing!
View Video
The tally so far - 2 cheetahs, 2 leopards, 0 lions!!! This was our third day and a first for us....we have never gone for more than 2 days without lions!!
So, as the Brat already told you, we decided to take the Maroela loop and were rewarded with our second leopard!! Not great pics, but still a worthwhile sighting.
My dad was starting to feel better but I wasn't feeling too great...the normal flu symptons...sore body, hot and cold, blocked nose...all that lovely stuff!! We popped into Skukuza and I managed to find some MedLemon Cold & Flu medicine, and then we continued on our way to Pretoriuskop on the H1-1. It was a very quiet drive, with just a couple of impala, kudu and some waterbuck at Shitlhave Dam.
I love my mom!! (Darn grass! )
We checked in at Pretoriuskop and were allocated Unit 66 which is an EB3 unit, the old dormitory type bungalow, which was very basic...just 3 beds, a fridge and a basin. The Brat wasn't too impressed...he likes a bit of luxury. -O The only problem I had was that there were no outside lights so at night we had to hang a head lamp from the door! Surely it can't be too hard to put some lights around these units!
Anyway, my dad and I took our medicine then I went to have shower to warm up. I then put a chair in the sun and relaxed a bit, but I soon noticed a tree nearby that was abuzz with sunbirds. It would be nice if they could sit still for 2 seconds!!
Scarletchested Sunbird
Marico Sunbird (I think )
Whitebellied Sunbird
The Marico & Whitebellied were both firsts!! I then heard an unmistakable call and soon found it...a Purple Crested Turaco!! Another first! Unfortunately I couldn't get a great pic before it flew off.
For our afternoon drive we decided to stick around camp doing the loops roads. We wanted to do the Fayi loop, but we kept taking short roads that all seemed to come out at the same intersection ...and it seemed that a lot of others were just as confused as us!! We saw quite a few people looking at their maps and then the signboards and scratching their heads!! -O We eventually decided to do the S8, but as we came around the first bend my dad jammed on brakes, the Brat shrieked and we were reversing at speed! I was sitting in the back so hadn't seen the ellie we nearly drove into!! -O He flapped his ears and trumpeted and then proceeded to teach us a lesson by refusing to get out of the road. We watched him for about 20 minutes until we eventually gave in, turned around and went back to camp!! -O So much for doing the loop roads! -O
Here's the video of the ellie...although not too exciting as all the excitement happened before I started videoing!
View Video
The tally so far - 2 cheetahs, 2 leopards, 0 lions!!! This was our third day and a first for us....we have never gone for more than 2 days without lions!!