Across the Frontier into Eden*

Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

nan wrote:me too I like the running Black Wildbeests ^Q^
I still have to see at least one

for the Lark, I think you are right,
for the Pipit... I don't know, sorry

before a night drive.... is \O ^Q^ ^Q^
Thanks for the confirmation of the lark ID nan \O
It was a beautiful warm evening for the night drive nan, so get ready... O\/


Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

okie wrote:
Sharifa wrote:
General Gump wrote:Rinkhals maybe, there are a lot in the eastern cape. :-?
Wow thanks General G \O O:V
Pity it wasn't closer, would have loved to see it close up.
This is a cape cobra - they come in various various colours from bright copper to brown .
A rinkhals is black , white underneath , with black bands across its throat , from which the name which means " ring- neck/throat ".

Guys , your pics are great . Keep it up . ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^
Thanks for clearing that up for us okie \O
Now to look for a rinkhals... next time :-)


Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

We set off at 6.30 PM for our sunset drive. There is another couple with two children with us. The children tell us excitedly about their drive from a few months ago when they saw an interaction between a lion and porcupine. Porcupine won :-0

Richard Okkers is our guide, we had him last time too and for the cheetah tracking walk we did lat time. He is excellent, knows MZNP well and will try find what you wish to see. We asked for Aardvark and Aardwolf, the children for lions :-)

Richard very confidently said we will see aardwolf but will have to search for aardvark. It is a beautiful evening and we see haarties and gemsbok and get a wonderful sunset. We had 5 great sightings on this drive, all mammals ;-) , here are the first two :-)

At a waterhole we get a male black rhino O/\ O/\ O/\ Richard mentioned his name but I forget

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he is not hanging around and moves off. We continue and not 5 minutes later we get a mating pair of black rhinos O/\ O/\ O/\ Forget his name but she is called Petra

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He is shy, but she poses for us before they move away

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We continue and Richard tells us that on this road are denning ............... and we will see the cubs playing :evil: ..................


Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

We come round this bend and there are gremlins :-0 :-0 :-0 all over the place O/\ O/\ O/\

We moving, they moving and it is dark

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Better when we stop

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Mom moves to the left

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But keeps an eye on the little gremlins who are near the den

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Some runnning away

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Curiousity gets the better of them and we get some nice poses O/\ O\/

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This was Magic but next we see something I never expected to see in the wild, not even in my wildest dreams :-0 ;-)


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Richprins
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Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Richprins »

Found out the MZNP rhino are from Namibia! \O


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

Thank you Super Mongoose, Nan, Lisbeth, Amoli, Toko, RP, Pumbaa, Tina, Mel and okie for your comments O0 0/0

We just got back from a night at Highover , my birthday present to Duke because he is determined to find the blue swallow :-)


Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

On our night drive, we on the Ubejane loop and are about to get on to the main road from the gate to the rest camp when Richard stops and says Black Footed Cat. Duke is the first to react saying what :shock: :shock: :shock: , where :shock: :shock: :shock: 0: 0: 0:

She/he is in the grass and we can clearly see her but it is very difficult to get a photo, the camera focussing on the grass. We get one half decent shot, but this is just the most incredible sighting and we saw her for about 7 minutes O/\ O/\ O/\ O\/ O\/ O\/

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We on the main road now and Richard enters the Jurie Dam Road and tells us if we in luck we may see Aaardvark and show us where the den is......no luck. We turn around and hit the main road again and see a - - - - -- wait a minute there is another one- ............. :-) ;-)


Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

Lisbeth wrote:Black-footed cat :shock: WOW!!!! I must go there one of these days. You must come along though, I will need your incredible luck ;-)
We were very lucky to see the BFC Lis. So when do we go to the MZNP :-0
Toko wrote:Image Image Image indeed an incredible sighting!
O/\ O/\ O/\ Toko \O
nan wrote:wow super, what a chance O/\
not often saw... these tiny cat ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^
Very rarely seen in the wild nan, what a chance \O
Richprins wrote:Good gracious! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
Very Special RP \O


Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

Thanks Bushcraft \O

We see an Aardwolf O/\ O/\ O/\

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and then close by another one

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Richard tells us they are a couple. For no apparent reason I would have thought they are solitary. I google and find out that they do live in pairs and are monogamous.

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My Verdict on MZNP
A very well managed Park with friendly staff and beautiful scenery. Great opportunity to see rare nocturnal animals. Excellent accommodation and the cheetah tracking trail and night drive are a must.

We now move on to Addo and here is a VIDEO to get you in the mood :-) ;-) . This is a large file - 1GB


Sharifa

Re: Across the Frontier into Eden

Post by Sharifa »

Our arrival at Addo was similar to the one at MZNP - rain.

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The cycads at the main gate

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We are early, but we check in which is good as the queue at 2.00pm was looooong. They are strict about the 2.00pm rule. We go for a little drive

young PCG

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Mom and calf :-)

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Zebra

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Mother goose and her brood :-0

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We pick up our key at 2.00PM and head for our chalet, number 11. It is not ready yet O/

Our chalet

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