The red-billed queleas had been unleashed

[harrys]

Oh boy some wonderful sightings here

[Flutterby]

The hyenas sure had fun in the water!

And a sleepy kitty!

[Lisbeth]

Funny how hyenas love the water

Beautiful Woodie

The leopard looks very sleepy

[Bushcraft]

Great hyena waterhole pics

Luckily you picked up that the reason for the traffic jam was a leopard

[Pumbaa]

lot with a kill
lot in tree

and even a spa

love especialy the Woodland Kingfisher

There were so much insects in the park as I have never seen before so I guess more than enough for all the birdies

Oh boy some wonderful sightings here

Yes, the first days looked and started very promissing

The hyenas sure had fun in the water!

And a sleepy kitty!

That sleepy kitty was in fact very sleepy

[Pumbaa]

Funny how hyenas love the water

Beautiful Woodie

The leopard looks very sleepy

It was a brilliant start into the day watching the hyaenas taking a bath

Great hyena waterhole pics

Luckily you picked up that the reason for the traffic jam was a leopard

Yes, imagine we missed same because we did not ask

[Pumbaa]

That sleeping beauty was in fact very difficult to spot either the bushes were too high on the road side and you had to drive a bit forward and backward to finally find a point from where you at least can get some usable shots.



He was very sleepy and it took quite a while until same turned around and that made it easier for us to photograph same as on top blades of grass, leaves or branches were drifting in the wind and sometimes were hiding the leopard, the second you wanted to press the button.



Once again we were again happy to find a leopard already that early during our stay and that loop becomes more and more our favourite road in that area not only because of the leopards we met there this and last year but because normally there is always something interesting to see and the views into the Mlambane are always more than nice.



After we stayed around half an hour there the leopard finally jumped down the tree and was no longer to be seen. We quickly drove to the close by causeway in order to maybe spot something from the spotted beauty from there but the grass and vegetation was this year far too high and thick to at least see any movement so we continued our drive.

On our way to Gardenia hide we had to stop in front of a dead tree for a juvenile black chested snake eagle



which sat quite patiently on the tree and allowed us a couple of shots.



Nearly at Gardenia hide then we found another one or maybe it was the same one who only flew to the next dead tree.



At least the blue sky with no clouds in the background was in fact a seldom sighting this year as the longer the trip lasted the wetter it got.



Today was sunny, a bit windy and hot, simply a normal African summer day therefore we were happy when we finally arrived Gardenia hide to get out of the hot car into the bearable hide. Unfortunately today it was nearly quiet again but the bats revealed themselves by their squeaking – Same were hanging under the eaves and it was a bit difficult for Timon to photograph them.



At least we got to see an African hoope



as well as a grey lourie.



Then it followed a long and hot drive on the S25 where we did see anyhing but it was simply too hot already during the late morning that day. We always spend a nice break from driving in one of the loops leading down to the Crocodile river and there we had luck as the minute we arrived also a large buffalo herd was also about to arrive.



We parked under a huge tree in the shade, made ourselves as much as comfortable in the car and snapped happily away.

[Pumbaa]

Compared to last year we could not recognise the area again as this year the river was quite full and the grass high. It was simply amazing to see that thick and green vegetation all around again.



In the distance a waterbuck male was chasing one of his rivals away whilst the red-billed oxpeckers were starting to occupy the buffaloes.



“Me and my best mate!”



We spend quite a lot of time under the shady tree watching the buffaloes cooling down in the river and enjoying the slight breeze so we in fact had to drag ourselves away to carry on our drive. We came across a carmine bee eater,



and our very first lilac breasted roller during that trip.



We crossed the many causeways along that road which were overflowing by water this year but due to the extreme wetness not much came across birdwise. At least at one causeway a three banded plover was busy in running around



I got finally my daily giraffe fix



and we simply had to stop again for one of those more than colourful crickets



and those many beautiful flowers.



Same looked a bite like an alien



and also the butterflies could be found everywhere again – this time even with a bee.



to be continued....

[nan]

wow these Leopard
Carmine Bee-Eater and LBR and Plover
Like too the Snake-Eagle, the Bats and of course the colorful cricket has my favor

and well done

[All-Nature]

So many amazing sightings to catch up on too beautiful!!

Birdies such a pleasure to see great pix's

Bathing Hyena's must have been a real treat to see super

Also enjoyed all the smalls and Big greys and Buffs

Pumbaa