We had an overnight stay in Lydenburg to add hours to our day driving up to Letaba.
As we entered at Orpen gate, a great welcome awaited me – an (
Eurasian Hobby-wrong) Amur Falcon. I now know that it’s message for me was that I might not see that many lions, but I will add a lot of ticks to my bird book.
Service at Orpen was good and quick and we were soon on our way. Isn’t it a sure thing that when you enter the park, the first 20km’s or so, you drive at a snails’ pace, scanning every tree and every shrub. -O -O
I will mention here we saw a Rhino and at no specific location.
We were greeted by a confused bird – instead of ‘hello’ – is says go-away.
These chickens were plentiful in the park, and they were full of fun and games. They would run quarter way into the road and as soon as you slow down, they move to the middle. While you think they are actually on the move, they suddenly come to a standstill and you have to brake with a jerk. We got their trick soon enough and out-chickened them.
Crested Francolin
I had a field day with the rollers – and stopped at about every one – my explanation being that I needed a good pic. European Roller
Staying with the European birds – European Bee-eater.
Wattled starling is a first for me – and although it makes a lot of noise in a group, it is such a pretty bird
…. And the red socks started it’s work. Between the S39 and S12 we came across the first male lion. It was sleeping a few yards from the road under a tree.
He looked up, said his welcomes, wished us well and turned on his back to continue his nap.
Just up the road we found a second male.
He was not impressed with attention. He got up and moved right under the bush. Had we not seen him get up, he would have been hidden to all eyes.
Nsemani dam was quiet, and knowing we would return, we pushed on. We found these buffs at Satara.
A few k’s from Satara we saw this cheetah under a faraway tree. The Kruger is quite overgrown with faraway trees.
And of course there is always a vulture nearby to clean the table of feasts.
At Ngotso two lazy ladies were taking a nap and couldn’t be bothered with traffic jams and bino’s.
There was excitement brooding the car.
So far we have seen 4 of the Big 5 in one day…. Wow. Now what if…..sigh.
The Olifants river is sooooo beautiful. I could build my house right here and have this view daily if some people of power would allow it.
While waiting for service at Olifants, I noticed this tree.
By the way, the service never happened and we grabbed a snack and a cooldrink and left.
Letaba camp was great.
The service was good – the campsite was hugh and all amenities nearby.
Our neighbors were all two sites away. The only time we heard one couple was when they got up at 3.30 (every morning) and started smashing freezer meat on the floor, chucking dishes and stuff in the picnic basket – and hubby scruffing : Is die koffie al klaar, maak die fles vol, onthou om die fan af te sit. (is coffee done, fill up the flask, and remember to put off the fan) I actually got up to watch this – and then this person would come out the caravan door, open his 6liter bakkie door and bark the last commands before starting up. Then he would rev it in order to hurry the missus up. Aai, aai.
At the restaurant we were watching an ellie go down a sand dune. He would literally fall on his one bum and slide down. He then got up and went on his way – so naturally.
The sun was setting on this our first day, and we were content – well, almost.
Day 2 to follow
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