A Time to Relax and Enjoy All Things *

[JustN@ture]

24th MayPart 1
We have now been in the park for 6 days and no cat sightings and the people we have spoken to have been here for the week too with no sightings, whats up with that . The few that have seen cats were down at Croc Bridge so we concluded that there are no cats in the park in May -O -O -O . We had the usual sightings today which was
Animals: Impala, Elephant, hippo, kudu, bush buck, slender mongoose, nyala, Rhino, greys bok, dwarf mongoose, hippo, water buck, wildebeest, Buffalo, warthog, monitor lizard and the
BIRDS: Dark chanting goshawk, Bateleur, Green backed heron, Woolly Necked stork and Fish eagle.
Travelling down the S1 we could hear lions roaring but in the distance . First up were zebra and giraffe and then down the S65 a greys bok.






We took the S114 and H5 as we decided to have breakfast at Mpondo dam, on route we saw a young lone female kudu and a Dark chanting goshawk








The dam was quiet other than the Woolly Necked stork and crocs on the bank, we also had this Yellow horn bill who came and sat in the tree next to us, swear people feed these animals otherwise they would not pitch up at the cars when they stop.










Behind the dam wall we spotted a Green Backed heron


Burchell’s Coucal


Red and Blue Dragonfly


From here we took the S130 and stopped at one of the water holes where there was plenty of activity, Impala, zebra, some other lager herbivores and wildebeests. I think there were about 20 plus warthogs that came down in the time we were sitting there, wadding in the mud or just rolling in the shallows…not the “deep” -O -O -O and then having a good scratch.












To be continued…

[Richprins]

Lovely pics! My favourite time of year!

That "greys bok" is a grey duiker.

Wonder if those pans on the S-130 still have water? Must go and check!

[JustN@ture]

24th MayPart 2
So the afternoon drive back...we took the S79 and on the causeway this Mom and calf had done drinking so it was the teens turn to have the water all to itself …
or to make out that it was all hers -O -O -O








At the bridge we spotted this Little Bee-eater and sat and watched a large troop of baboons babies playing




What you can do I can do too…








Gets distracted easily…but not for long










Quick brake, hand shake…then they start again










All this under the watchful eye of a sibling...


Watching the young ones playing I nearly missed this male nyala in the river bed and this hippo on the bank.

[JustN@ture]

25th May
This morning we got a later start than usual as we were booking out and travelling up to Letaba . This is great as we are now staying in the park but the down side is the trip is coming to an end . The drive started much the same as the other days with the general game sightings and by now we had given up on those elusive cats . So the sightings were Animal: Impala, Elephant, warthog, steenbok, bush buck, crocodile, klip springer, kudu, Rhino, water buck, giraffe,
chacma baboons, vervet monkeys, zebra, Buff, hippo, wildebeest, hyena and a rat -O -O ! 2 Others to mention…
BIRDS: Fish eagle, Bateleur, Pink eyed dove, Lapped Face vulture, Cori Bustard, Goshawk, African open billed stork and Ostrich.
This Dark chanting goshawk met us at the gate


We decided to drive the H4-1up to the H12 and then straight to Letaba following the tar. Just as well as the next sighting was a welcoming sight…this lady lying in the river bed


While just absorbing this cat albeit far, a car pulled up and asked what we saw and then with great glee said they too now have seen cats after a week in the park, and informed us of 2 males on the gravel road up ahead.






After our fill of these guys we headed off satisfied, cats at last.






Stopped off at Tshokwane for coffee and then just after Tshokwane we saw a car stopped so started scanning the area, in the distance we spotted it, Cheetah…a lone cheetah on a mound


And then as we found a better spot, a lone cheetah on a mound with a cub






Cropped so not so clear , we had found our cats after a week


At Kumana dam we watched a couple of ellies drinking and other animals lazing in the area,






And then plenty of ellies on the way in different areas








Stopped on the Olifants, strange to see how the scenery has changed after the floods . Some big crocs on the banks and these Open billed storks as well as some vultures in a dead tree at the start of the bridge.
















We got to Letaba with 10 min to spare, while having a braai that night we had a usual visitor to the fence.

[Dewi]

Great series of pics and sightings JN.

Stunning scenery and the croc underwater pic.

Check out Lizard Buzzard for your Goshawk - tail pattern, short legs and you can just make out the black mark on the throat.

[JustN@ture]

26th & 27th May
I will post the last 2 days as one as the trip out we did not take that many photo’s, however we did see a good bit so not sure why there were so few photo’s …so the final installment is here. We did the routes around Letaba the 26th. Sightings for the day where the usual, Animals: Impala, vervet monkey, hippo, zebra, warthog, chacma baboon, water buck, giraffe, tree squirrel, kudu, Elephant, Buffalo, bushbuck and klip springer
BIRDS: Bateleur, Brown hooded kingfisher, Marshal eagle, burchell’s coucul, Blue wax bill, Grey headed bush shrike and Martial eagle.
The drives around Letaba are stunning…loved them , so first up was this Martial eagle




We then stopped in at a water hole on the S47, don’t see it on the map but it is a great spot , had breakfast and coffee there while watching the bird life around the water.










We then headed back to Letaba and did the S46 where we encountered a large skittish herd of buff
with a good number of then showing of their “buck teeth” -O -O










Further down the road at one of the viewpoints of the river we saw 2 Burchell coucals having a scuff and this kudu bull grazing nearby.










Ellies having a drink and grazing further along the road, always love the view of the Olifants along the S44 as well as the view from Olifants camp itself.












Heading back to Letaba we spotted a Juv. Martial, a klip springer and a Yellow-breasted Apalis








The next day’s sightings were
Animals: Hyena, impala, zebra, Buffalo, giraffe, Side striped jackal, hippo, crocodile, Elephant and dassie.
Birds: Malabou stork, Kori bustard, Bateleur, Vulture.
We woke just before 4 to hear Lions roaring in the direction of the buff sighting from yesterday then when we started packing at about 5, 6 hyenas came past heading in the direction that we saw the Buff the day before as well so you guessed it we were done packing and headed to the gate, with a bunch of other we cars headed in that direction …but with no luck . We did find the herd of buff on the main road heading back to Letaba however wonder to this day if they a member short -O -O -O .
Just before Letaba this chap came out of the bush and stayed a while.










And a first for us in the park


That concluded the trip, thanks all for the support , taking the time to read and comment ; it is really appreciated .