The red-billed queleas had been unleashed

[Pumbaa]

We are back since yesterday

Another wonderful Kruger trip came to an end and compared to the two last years where it was extreme dry in the park it was again wonderfully lush and green. The grass was extreme high and the bushes thick and never seen the rivers so full and the dams filled up to the brim. It was simply wonderful to see the park that green again and although it was dense and thick we saw a lot

We never saw that many red billed queleas in the entire park as this time - Some were still building nests, others had to feed their offspring and always that wooooosh when the flock was flying around. It was amazing and on top we could tick 3 new lifers of birds I always wanted to see and besides that some cats came across as well.....

Never had that much rain as during that trip. The first week was normal with temperatures up to 38 degrees during the day but then the rain set in and nearly could not be stopped anymore. We even experienced torrential rain whilst staying in Skukuza which leaded into the closure of all gravel roads in the entire park and consequently we could not drove some of our favourite roads or even could drive them only once. The Satarian area was this year extreme quiet to us but gladly there are still other areas or we simply consumed already our luck here last year

Still had to finish my old travel tale first and have to edit many of thousand pictures we took but then the story can get started.

[okie]

[Flutterby]

Welcome back Pumbaa.

[harrys]

[Lisbeth]

Welcome back, Pumbaa

[Richprins]

Well-travelled, Pumbaa!

[Mel]

Geez... how quickly time can fly... Welcome back, Pumbaa. You sound quite enthusiastic about your trip - despite the road closures.
So it still must have been good. But then again - birder always have fun

[aat]

Hi Pumbaa,

Welcome back from the "wetlands" and curious what you found along the roads.

[Pumbaa]

Friday, 10. February 2017 – Malelane – Berg end Dal

Explored roads: S110 – S120 – H3 – S113 – S23 – S114 – S118 – H3 – S110

This year at least the start was a bit different compared to other years as we already started one day earlier with a spare night which we spent in a B+B close to Malelane and also the drive from the airport to Malelane took not that long as on Fridays at least this was our impression because we arrived at nearly the same time as our B+B as we do normally at the gate also in view that the flight started later and we even had the shopping marathon at the Malelane spar done. Nevertheless it was quite refreshing to awake at gate opening time in a B+B only 2 km in front of the park and after we packed everything together which is during the first days not that easy and fast as during the last days we again was facing our beloved park and we still had a whole day more than only two hours during the evening.

The check in took place in nearly no minute and we both guessed the first animal we might see right = impala but for sure we were definitely not prepared to already spot our first lion during that trip already now at such an early stage.



Now we hexed the high green grass as we only could see her face and



her body kept hidden due to the dense vegetation but her face was extreme beautiful.



We stayed quite a while with her as also the traffic was nearly not existent and after we got our shots we left her in an extreme good mood about the fact that we already saw our first lion as it normally always take a few days until a worthwhile lion sighting is coming across.



Actually we came not far as a breeding herd of elephants was about to cross the road and after we found a safe spot we stop and observed their behaviour



and as it was a large herd lots of willing models could be found





with large ones and smaller calves in between



and where the sweetest fruits always hang the highest!

[Pumbaa]

Gladly all of them were quite relaxed and we had a great time in photographing them whereas



nearly all of them were in a good mood.



Although we only just entered the park we were already more than happy with what we saw as normally this stretch of the road is always quiet when driving it late in the afternoon.



At the turn off to the Malelane camp a group of zebras arrived and only a bit further a large number of giraffes were functioning as roadblock. The tar road looked as if it only rained recently but we definitely did not notice any rain during the night or even before during our drive.



The difference in the vegetation between last year and this year was just incredible – the grass was high and the bushes and trees lush and green although must say that we had years were the grass was even higher but we never saw the dams and rivers so full of water as this year and also in the veld itself lots of puddles were left and most of them were covered by water lilies – Water was in fact everywhere it was such a delight to see the difference between the drought prevailing last year and a wetland as the park was this year and obviously the giraffes enjoyed it to find each bush full of yummy leaves





and even were in good mood to pose nicely for our cameras.



Finally also the first bird sightings could be noticed and we could tick grey hornbill



and woodpecker already.



to be continued.....