Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015*

[RogerFraser]

The tale of our KNP January 2015 trip .Specially planned to seek those elusive doggies in the Kruger National Park.

Itinerary :

Malelane Camp 3-7 January
Maroela Camp 7-11 January
Lower Sabie Camp 11-15 January

Special equipment : Airconditoner , fans and costumes

[RogerFraser]

the plan was to swim whenever we got to hot to drive ,but as usual we just got too carried away buy the magic of the park so we only ever got them out once at Lower Sabie

Starting out on the 3rd from Durban at 4:30 with the Landy loaded and van hitched we set off onto the N2 and the 10 Hour round trip.Round trip as we have decided to go around Swaziland this time rather than through .In April we went through and the potholes at Siteki were crazy but the trip was much shorter .Planning of routes and forum discussions pointed out that the roads had apparently not improved much so the decision was made to go around .

Stopped in Pongola port to fill up and grab some brekkie then back onto Piet Retief where we filled up again . The idea was to stop in Badplass and refuel and refresh but we could feel the call of the KNP already so just carried on the way. Next possible stop Malelane for some fast food then onto camp .In Malelane at 2PM the queues were out the door so we decided not to bother and carried onto the Entrance gate Arriving at 2:30 .

[RogerFraser]

Hi Lisbeth , Bushcraft ,Flutterby and PJL welcome to my first trip report hope you enjoy.

So arriving January 3rd at Malelane the temperature was probably close to 40 .We found a spot not in the shade but as the camp was fully booked it was at least against the fence and started to setup the van .Our first trip with this van we bough a few months ago and modified to suit us with a full size fridge and real beds .We had barely started and a voice called out is that Roger from Pinetown ? Yes hello ? Hi its EcoJunkie from the forums (the other ones) welcome to the camp .Wow formites really are a social lot .

The team worked well and by 3:30 we had all setup and the aircon on .



After the drive and setup the team were not too keen to drive much more so decided to go down to Berg En Dale and get some essential supplies (Fire wood and ice)

After stocking up and getting settled we started the fire and sat by the fence to enjoy being inside KNP .

At 6:30 the gate get closed and just as it squeaks the first Grey beasties arrive to patrol the fence .My eldest son was sitting with his back to the fence and this particular one was the biggest one we have ever seen ,so he quickly decided best to turn his chair around .Alas our gear was not yet setup to get any photos of him and we only saw glimpses of him on other nights .




We discussed the planned routes for the next day and got to bed ready to go out early the next day . Submitting this before we go into darkness .... thanx eishkom

[RogerFraser]

Day 2 Jan 4th

Rising early we left camp and headed arround the S110.

our first sighting of the day


We found this fellow browsing on some early morning greens




This little fellow was surprised to see us so early in the morning


Then we found an early morning sunbird



and the cutest little squirrel family that was on and in a dead tree







And this little fellow was enjoying some early morning dew drops


And then our first roller



We stopped back at camp for breakfast after doing the loop and enjoyed some of the birdlife in camp as well.









On the way out again we noticed the skid marks by the H3 intersection definately not 50km .Looks like the responsible vehicle only just

managed to stop...

[RogerFraser]

Day 2 Jan 4th continued

After our break we carried on our way and found more little ones :
Some little piggies

a little ellie

Nice to see some little of these




Leaving the tar we found our first little Tortoise


and then our first ellie encounter . Now I was raised with ellies my father having an absolute love for them .From a very young age

we spent weeks in Bots before there were all the facilites that exsist now looking for the biggest herds and tuskers .Some how word

got arround that we were in the park and they decided to remind us who has right of way .Or mabye its just my old landy is very

noisy or I smell funny ....

this fellow grazing peacefully



as soon as we get close he dicides its time for game ...
His alert face


See could be the funny smell ...





Or maybe I just got somethingg in my eye



Oh ok see your reverse gear is in good working order I will go back to eating .


We found the lookout alert and waiting for movement



After finding the Tar again we turned back towards Afsaal at the watering hole we found this little ellie enjoying some cool mud


and turning to look across the road there was a individual Lion crunching away on a Tortoise





By this time te ellie herd had crossed the road behind us and were drinking some nice clean water from the resrvoir


Carrying on our way back to camp after a disapointing stop at Afsaal we found this fellow seeking some shade from the sun



and then we chanced upon a melee on a bridge .What could it be ? Cars jostled for position and it took us a good 10 minutes to even

get onto the start of the bridge .Way off in the distance a kitty slept in the tree .Now I enjoy a cat as much as the next person

but it amazes me how they cause such traffic problems and I must give credit to whoever spotted the cat as I certainly would not

have looked that far into the trees .. If anyone is in doubt I dont enjoy queueing for anything in KNP and have done many a U turn

at many such events and gone round the nearest loop...







That night at camp was full moon .I prayed for the rangers on patrol had success in their protection.

The Grey and brown spotted beasties patrolled the fence

[Lisbeth]

Hey there, what a pace

I love all your birds! Especially the long-tailed paradise whydah and the red-faced mousebird and even more so the squirrels, but those I've already seen elsewhere

The rhino pics are great and of course I love the elephant

The lioness has a very superior expression.....or is she only smelling the air, that the ellie also had his doubts about

Better a U turn than a mess of cars for a leopard that you cannot see anyway

[RogerFraser]

Thanx Lisbeth ,Pumba & Toko re the Birds shots-we not specifically birders but do enjoy finding different bird sightings .Guess that actually does make us birders hmm maybe we "closet birders”. I have the slaves trained well ... with all the 3 Kids (not really kids at 23 ,19 and 17) and SO we can get it up in just over an hour
Richprins - Hmm old ballie is something I used to call my dad ...recently allot of youngsters keep calling me oom think the wheel has turned a bit .....

We brought the fridge fully stocked with braai meat 4 nearly every night .Chicken sosaties ,wors ,chops ...

Bushcraft -have "spoken" with sparrow we swapped a few posts on the best route and the road conditions through Swaziland.
Welcome harrys it’s my first report often skulked around others reports and somehow got talked into doing one ….

[RogerFraser]

Hi nan welcome - Please feel free to throw the right names in of birds if I get them wrong or don't mention them .

Day 3 Jan 5th

Early start we left before sunrise with the plan to do a big loop there had been allot of reports of doggies on the S3 so we decided to head up the H3 onto the H2-2 stop in at Pretoriuskop to test the new wimpy and then do the S3 -S1 stop at lake Panic then slide back down the H3.
We caught the sunrise on a bridge

Some of the daytime critters were still catching some ZZZ's


We met the night time cleanup crew on their way home...
Some of my favorite animals .




We found this early rises enjoying greens like his cousing from the previous day


And on the H2 in the lee of the mountain a huge group of buff still busy waking up



There were no other notable sightings before the stop at Pretoriuskop apart from the stunning scenary .

I have never had great luck on the H2-2 I think the animals hear you coming with the rutted road and walk away long before you get close.

We stopped in at the Wimpy and ordered brekkie . We dont normally eat at many restaurants so when we do want good value and service .Can hapily say we had good service and food was all ok .

[RogerFraser]

Day 3 Jan 5th cont

Leaving Pkop we left the tar and went onto the S10 around the koppie.
We found some Kudu dining out

And enjoyed the view


But there always seems to be someone with a higher vantage point


On the small side we found a flying specimen ID?

and a crawling specimen


Turning onto the S3 and then we found a group of cars close to a tree was that a Leapord in the tree ...
deliberately posts most obscure cell picture he took


Nope its a Cheetah

He was totally fixated on something over the horizon and with the tall grass had decided to use the tree as his lookout point .He was literally salivating with anticipation .We watched for nearly 10 minutes .



Finally decided now was the time he left the tree and ran past an back up the road ...




Wow no matter what happens during the rest of the day our sighting quota was filled ...
We carried on the S3 and onto the S1 heading towards Lake Panic ,not seeing anything more notable than the regulars Zeebra ,Impies on the plains .We were shocked at the damage done to some of the bridges .Arriving at Lake Panic it was blistering hot by now and not much was stirring .


A water monitor tried to sneak across to the other side ...

Some construction was taking place

We left and decided to go to mega city stop to use the bathrooms ... after spending as quick a stop as possible at Skukuza we left and went back onto the H3.

[Lisbeth]

The bird is a white-winged widowbird....the first one. The second a thick- billed weaver and the leopard is a cheetah

Never seen a cheetah so high up in a tree! Great sighting