And then the Fish Eagle started to call.....*

[Pumbaa]

Finally Timon could be satisfied and in one of the many loops you can drive we met this little friend



who just had found a very ripe marula and started to feed on same – Same must have tasted extreme yummy as the squirrel did not annoy our presence and for us it was then also time to get something to bite and so we three were finally munching on something.



A swaison francolin also arrived obviously checking out whether same could get hold of some crumbs and we even watched a pair of saddle billed storks in the river bed but unfortunately both stayed the whole sighting too far away for some decent shots. We also met another steenbok



and a kudu bull who was a bit shy and only dared a view whilst he was still hiding behind a tree,



also lots of resting wildebeests came across and we even spotted a beautiful bushbuck in the thick vegetation near Skukuza.



As it was still pretty early and far too early to check already in we only stopped for a short body break in Skukuza and also filled up the car only to leave again into the direction of the S65 via the H1-1 as we normally do the drive the other way round we decided today to discover the S65 from this direction and we only drove a couple of meters on that road a car with three young guys raved from a lion sightings of three lionesses in a riverbed. I knew that spot they explained to us but this was in fact closer and nearly at the end of this road.

Another car also from this direction stopped and told us about the lions but the driver topped this with a cheetah sighting who was strolling on that road with some crisscross here and there. Well the cheetah we did not met but the lionesses could not be overlooked and they were sleeping right in the shade in the riverbed of the N’waswitshaka which still carried a bit of water and on the causeway there was plenty of space and gladly this was one of the wider ones so you did not had to clear same when another car wanted to pass and so we positioned our car, switched the engine off and let the cameras do their work.



When we arrived the lionesses were still in sleeping modus and so not much happened and as close to where we parked a larger puddle have attracted some birds and we of course had also fun in watching them quenching their thirst.



All in all it were in total 5 lionesses and this we also could identify when staying a bit longer as when they were in their sleeping position bodies close to bodies you mistakenly noticed only three of them



From time to time one of them lifted her head to check out what was going on, yawned and went back into sleeping modus



and one of the lionesses decided that the place where her sisters were lying was a bit more comfortable or more shady and so she joined them

[Pumbaa]

only to plunk done as only lions can do.



As it was not that hot that day also for us it was quite bearable in the car and as it was still quite early we were not in a hurry and simple carried on in observing the lionesses



and luckily also a hamerkop arrived at the puddle which must have been a bit deeper and started to fish



so whilst Timon was capturing the hamerkop I checked out the lions or we did it the other way round.





Whilst the mean infantry in form of the hamerkop was catching one fish after the other (the small puddle must have been full with fishes) her majesties were simply sleeping.



We finally lost count on the number of fishes the hamerkop caught but it were quite a few and as also nothing happened any more with the lions and as also on top we already stayed for more than an hour



we left them but were quite happy that we could once more enjoyed their presence. Next stop was then for us at Lake Panic but when we arrived it was extreme full and we hardly could find a seating place but after all squeezed a bit together it worked and we could admire the hide.

As always the African jacana was around



and after looking a bit around we also found the very well camouflaged green-backed heron under some roots of a bush on hunting modus.



The last years we always could spot a brown hooded kingfisher there and also today this guy was hanging around the hide



to be continued...

[Pumbaa]

and so was as well the malachite but same was so busy in flying from branch to branch and bush to bush and always so far away that we could not get a decent shot but today a couple of giant kingfishers could be admired and were busy in fishing.



After we heard the woodland kingfisher a couple of times same also presented itself on the dead tree on the right side of the hide.



As already said the giant kingfishers were extreme busy today and we even captured them in flight



and after same landed on the famous dead branch on the left side of the hide Timon clicked once again happily away and made it again difficult for me to choose my favourites.







Also the jacana was checking again under each leave whether same could find something to eat





and also a group of white faced ducks could also be seen.



Lots of hippos were also daydreaming in the water and even an elephant bull paid a visit and made a lot of noise when taking a bath it looked as if he enjoyed it tremendously.

[Pumbaa]

After more than an hour whilst also the hide got a bit emptier as well we returned to Skukuza to check in and much to our delight we got again the same bungalow we already had last year (I had requested for same!), No. 87 with a breathtaking view into the Sabie river and to the Selati train bridge with some noisy hadedah ibises around.



After a more than lovely break we still had enough time and energy for the “large round” over the high water bridge and back via the Marula loop and Sand and Sabie river causeways and we came across a lot of white fronted bee eaters



and also the carmine bee eaters could be seen as well.



The views into the Sabie river were as always amazing and we had to pay attention as we also met some extreme exhausted baboons who took a short afternoon nap right on the road.



The last years it was extreme quiet on this round as compared to previous years elephants and even lions were regular sightings there at least the elephants could be spotted again as a large herd was crossing the road right in front of us.



We for sure stayed as always a bit longer on our beloved causeway and could identify a beautiful bird which we do not spot that often and which is always active and busy and not that easy to capture – a pin tailed whydah.



We stayed outside as long as the closing time at the gates allowed it and visited for the first time the Cattle Baron restaurant at Skukuza normally we always do visit Selati but same was unfortunately still closed, however, the service and the dinner itself were great and with full tummies we fell in bed that evening.

Friday, 20th February, 2015 – Skukuza

Roads we paid a visit that day: H11 – S65 – H1-1 – S20 – S14 – S8 – H1-1 – S3 – S1

As always when staying in Skukuza we decided also to do the H11 and S65 first and decide then which roads to take and after it got bright enough we spotted a group of giraffes in the distance and then a leopard in a tree at nearly the same spot where we spotted last year the leopardess with the two collars



and after checking via binoculars I again discovered a collared one and so I was more than confident that we saw again the same leopardess we already spotted last year although now she was only wearing one collar.



Moreover as another car told us also something about two cubs which just crossed the street which we must to our regret have missed.



What a cute beauty she was and she was eying all the cars which meanwhile had piled up suspiciously. For sure a lot of cars only stayed for a couple of minutes but we as always as long the spotted beauty is visible stayed where we were. In between when she returned back into sleeping modus we scanned also the area for some bird activity or something else and as the impalas only stayed in the distance for a spotted reason but the magpies jumped in and we witnessed a younger one begging for food from one parent which just had caught a huge grasshoppers.



I simply love those moments where animals came into sight when you stand already on a sighting – These are sometimes the best – Maybe one day I will decide to stay at only one waterhole or in front of one tree or bush for a whole day only to check who is walking by although running into danger the people adjudge me that I now have gone totally mad!

to be continued.....

[Pumbaa]

Our leopard lady meanwhile decided to change the branch and from where we stood with the car we only saw the tail and one leg



and so we also decided to change the position with our car a bit as meanwhile also the safari vehicles which suddenly came out of nowhere disappeared again and enough space at that sighting could be found.





In between also a couple of yellow billed hornbills could be spotted as well and meanwhile our lovely lady went back into sleeping modus.



Gladly we spent nearly one hour with her as suddenly she decided to jump down the tree and maybe she looked for her cubs which we never got to see that day – With a little bit of luck we will maybe have the honour in spotting her again next year!



The S65 was deserted and nothing worthwhile came across. At least we took a quick “Good Morning Bush” shot in order to at least take one picture on that road.



Somewhere else we again had the honour in spotted again two extreme curious rhinos who looked at the cars as if they have never seen any before – I simply love the facial expression of the right rhino.



Finally both got bored and started to feed on the road side.

[Pumbaa]

Next stop for us for at Transport dam which was also a worth one



and even in the distance we could spot a colourful malachite kingfisher.



Lots of waterbucks also could be seen at the dam and even lots of such handsome ones



and we even were allowed to take some close ups



and even the goliath heron could be abused as model.



After an enjoyable extensive stay at the dam we simply decided to stay on that road and pay Pretoriuskop a visit as we so far only paid a short visit there once a couple of years ago.

Also on the main tar road we realized a lot of road maintenance was going on and it looked as if most of the road damages caused by the floods two years ago will now be repaired soon. On our way to Shitlave dam we spotted another kudu



and we even saw a black-bellied bustard crossing the street right in front of us and if same would have walked a bit faster we also could have named him “Roadrunner”.



to be continued....

[Pumbaa]

A tree full of still a bit sleepy baboons came across next



until we finally stood on the parking area of Shitlhave dam, also one of those magic places in Kruger where you can simply spend hours in standing and watching and we had luck that there were so many animals around when we arrived – Lots of impalas, waterbucks and Egyptian goose



and even a juvenile saddle billed stork were either quenching its thirst or foraging in the water for something to eat



and some others were only day dreaming.



Two impala rams started a fight and we had a great time in looking from left to right and right to left not to miss something.



Lots of “Mr. Rights” could be seen looking around for some ladies whereas





others must got already the brush off.



A rhino who we did not realize earlier and which must have laid in the water got attracted by the arrival of a new group consisting of three rhinos and started to investigate the new arrivals excessively.



A waterbuck lady with her young one came also to take a drink – I love to spend time on a hot summer’s day at a waterhole as normally there is always something to be seen.

[Pumbaa]

An intrusive waterbuck male was still around a lovely lady – Just in case -



and after he had enough from her he started to take a drink. As always we could have stayed for the rest of that day here moreover as this was one of the few waterhole or dams we so far did not visit that often but this for sure will be changed from now on.

Thereafter we reached Pretoriuskop relatively soon with nothing to be seen and after a short pit stop with the obligatory daily ice cream dose we carried on to the loops around that very cosy and comfortable looking camp and soon were forced to stop as a group of vervet monkeys were hiding in a thick bush and most of them kept hidden besides this cute little youngster



who besides the other ones checked us out curiously. Same could not take its eyes from us and so we could not take ours from same.





Those long fingernails always do fascinate me and then the resemblance to us humans cannot be hidden any longer.



Finally also the elder ones now thought we were no threat came out of their hiding places and dared to take a look as well.



I soon fell in love with this loop around the camp as same reminds me a bit of the overgrown area on the S25 at least in the beginning and later the landscape got more open with extreme high grass compared to the rest of the park and obviously the area had got more rain that summer than the other areas. Also a couple of little streams were meandering around and had to be crossed and were full of water so it took not long until we spotted a group of buffaloes



and also the general view was also not that bad and on top only a few cars came across.



Then we spotted a new lifer for us a red-collared widowbird – what a beautiful feathered friend and needless to say that this sighting already made is worth to pay a visit in that area.



We found a lovely spot just on top of a low water bridge where still water was flowing and the reeds were high and we simply switched the engine off and waited and it did not take long until another feathered cutie flew by – a common waxbill.



to be continued.....

[Pumbaa]

For sure there were more but it was very tricky to capture them as they were permanently hiding behind the reeds.



On one side of that bridge we only could look into the high reeds but the view to the other side in which the water was flowing was lovely



with lots of water lilies. We spend quite a time there but after a while we heard a car coming and carried on and found another red-collared widowbird



or maybe it was the same. Nevertheless we were again fascinated



not only from this bird but also from the brilliant loop around camp – A more than good drive for early mornings or late afternoons when staying at Pretoriuskop and you can be rest assured that one day I will stay there, as this is still the only main restcamp in which we so far did not stay overnight. Simply love the long tail feathers of that nearly black beauty.



From where we stood to observe the red-collared widowbird we already saw from far another bird – a golden-breasted bunting.



For sure birdingwise this little loop was one of the best we had driven this year and for sure always worth to pay a visit.



Also the lots of koopies either small or huge which could be seen were amazing



After the very wet loop we were already on our way back to Skukuza but still had a long way to go and due to the sunlight and heat the air started to glimmer again and the sightings got less but we could stop for some resting waterbucks



and impalas and for some feeding elephants.



We visited Mestel and a group of warthogs just arrived as well but a bit far away and besides a small herd of buffaloes, a chameleon and a group or rhinos the drive was quiet.

At Nyamunda a lot of cars had piled up but obviously only taking a break from driving as nothing interesting could be spotted. Also here some smaller streams we had to cross still carried a bit water

[Pumbaa]

and in one we realized a movement and discovered a water monitor swimming



and another one was occupied by a lone buffalo and also a large group of zebras which obviously had just had a drink started to cross the road.



In a large tree on the S1 Timon stopped for a goshawk which is in fact also a not that regular sighting for us.





We carried on slowly back to Skukuza and as it was already later afternoon and we have been the whole day on the road we once again decided not to leave anymore for an afternoon drive and instead took it even slower back to camp as we already normally do. Lots of European bee eaters



and even a gymnogene in flight could be watched and photographed.



A kudu lady



and another elephant bull came across as well until we finally reached Skukuza after an exciting day on the road.



After we paid a visit to the shop in camp and bought a few things Timon lit the braai for an early one and whilst the braai was going and the light still bright enough we observed from one of the many benches close to our bungalow the riverbed and soon spotted a resting saddle-billed stork



surrounded or joined by two noisy hadedah ibises.

We had a delicious dinner on our verandah and whilst it got darker and darker we simply enjoyed a glass of white wine until it was time for the bed.

Saturday, 21. February 2015 – Skukuza - Satara

Roads we strolled around that day: H11 – S65 – H1-1 – H1-2 – S83 – H1-3 – S33 – S36 – S126 – H1-3 – H1-4

Today was again moving day and also half time as the first half of our this year’s trip was already over, however, before we intended to move over to Satara we again wanted to drive the S65 as short morning drive.

First animal we spotted today was a beautiful African hawk eagle



and unfortunately our Lady leopard was not around today although we scanned very carefully all the trees on the H11. We turned into the S65 and it took not long until we realized some familiar shapes in the distance – Wild dogs! – We hoped that they would stay as long enough on the road until we got close enough to take a couple of pictures and we even had luck



they stayed where they were – It were three of them obviously searching in the bush for the rest of the pack.



to be continued with the hottest day during that trip......