Page 1 of 54

Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:40 am
by BluTuna
Day 0, Saturday 8 November : Home -> Pretoriuskop and
Day 1, Sunday 9 November : Pretoriuskop -> Maroela.

It was our second two week trip to the Kruger this year and we were hoping for a few more cats than in May when we didn't see a single Lion.

It was also our first Kruger trip with the Off-Road Trailer which proved to be a big change from our usual camping routine.

We had a variety of good days and bad days, including a five day stint at Balule which had us both champing at the bit to see anything other than the usual herbivores.

We also had a very special sighting, which involved the "Crunchy Meat Pie", that we'll talk about for years to come but I'll get to that at the appropriate time :-)

Our first night was at Pretoriuskop on the 8th of November after a journey without any drama apart from a detour in Mahusu, the town near Numbi Gate, which had us traveling around in circles for a while.

After checking in, finding a camping spot and setting up we still had plenty of time for a drive around the Pretoriuskop loops. Unfortunately, the light wasn't much good and there was, as usual for the area, a dearth of subject matter. The only thing worth getting the camera out for was a gorgeous Pygmy Kingfisher - a lifer for the SO and only the second time I've seen one.
Image
Image
Image

Back at camp I found a beautiful moth. EDIT : Toko has identified this as a Cream Cake Moth, which fits perfectly with this TT's theme! O/\ O\/ : EDIT
Image

We didn't get up at zero-dark-thirty the next morning. Instead, we woke up when it was light, did a unhurried pack-up and went to the Wimpy for breakfast before setting off on the long journey to Maroela.

While we were packing up, we spied a gang of Dwarf Mongooses in the open area between us and the laundry so I crept up on them and took some pictures.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

I also spotted a Laughing Dove taking a sand bath.
Image

Then we were off for what turned out to be a leisurely drive along the S36 instead of the H1 with only a few things worth getting the camera out for.

Mocking Chat
Image

Vultures in the river bed.
Image

And assorted other animals.
Image
Image
Image
Image

We stopped at Nhlanguleni for a coffee break and I found what I think is a Chafer Beetle.
Image

Back on the road, some more regulars including an enormous Giraffe.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

We got to Maroela, set up and decided we'd had enough driving for the day so we stayed in camp for the rest of the afternoon.

All I found that night was a Cicada.
Image

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:51 am
by Richprins
How can you have a "Day 0"? :O^ 0*\

Ja, interesting that detour through the Township! :twisted:

A Gorgeous Kingfisher indeed! ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

The rhino looks to have been in quite a fight! :shock:


0()

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:59 am
by BluTuna
Richprins wrote:How can you have a "Day 0"? :O^ 0*\

Ja, interesting that detour through the Township! :twisted:

A Gorgeous Kingfisher indeed! ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

The rhino looks to have been in quite a fight! :shock:


0()
I always start my TTs with Day 0 - that's the day we spend traveling to the park, day 1 is the first full day in the park. Not paying attention again RP :X:

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 10:35 am
by harrys
Great to have another BT TT O/\

That Pygmy Kingfisher is beautiful ^Q^ ^Q^ , I have never seen one :no:

Great all round sightings and photos ^Q^ ^Q^

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 10:44 am
by Bushcraft
Pygmy Kingfisher ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ I have only ever seen that model once before ..0..

Wonderful variety of animals O:V

Brilliant pics O/\

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 1:40 pm
by steamtrainfan
The PKF is also a first for me. What a beautiful bird.

Great photos of the animals and the HUGE giraffe dwarfed the poor Toyota.

Waiting to find out the Crunchie Meat Pies is all about. 0()

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:18 pm
by BluTuna
harrys wrote:Great to have another BT TT O/\

That Pygmy Kingfisher is beautiful ^Q^ ^Q^ , I have never seen one :no:

Great all round sightings and photos ^Q^ ^Q^
Great to have you aboard Harry!

My only other sighting of Pygmy Kingfisher was in 2000 at Maroela - the SO was in the shower :-0

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:18 pm
by BluTuna
Bushcraft wrote:Pygmy Kingfisher ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ I have only ever seen that model once before ..0..

Wonderful variety of animals O:V

Brilliant pics O/\
Thanks BC \O

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:23 pm
by BluTuna
steamtrainfan wrote:The PKF is also a first for me. What a beautiful bird.

Great photos of the animals and the HUGE giraffe dwarfed the poor Toyota.

Waiting to find out the Crunchie Meat Pies is all about. 0()
A jewel of a bird!

A seventeen footer at least!

There was only one CMP and you don't have long to wait as it happened on day 3 of the trip!

Re: Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 4:51 pm
by Toko
Aptly named TT starting with a Cream Cake (such a beautiful one!) ^Q^ ^Q^

And I love the Pygmy KF and the mongoose series O/\ O/\ O/\ O/\