Addo Outings 2014

[PJL]

By lunchtime we had covered most of the park and seen an amazing array of species: Red Hartebeest, Zebra, Ostrich, Warthog, Black-Backed Jackal, Bushpig, Vervet Monkey, Kudu, Elephant, Buffalo, Yellow Mongoose, Meerkat, Black-Headed Heron, Blue Crane, Giant African Land Snail, Cape Girdled Lizard, Flightless Dung Beetles, Denhams Bustard, Secretary Bird, Mice and Eland!


Here are the photos from some of those sightings

[nan]

wow and even a Denham's Bustard
superb photos

[Mel]

How did you manage to find that lizard?

Superb ostrich photo.

[vinkie]

great sightings

[PJL]

How did you manage to find that lizard?

I'll thank the kids and their sharp eyes for that

There were a couple of lion markers on the sightings board at the main camp, but given that they were on roads we had already travelled they must have been either very early in the morning or from the prior day. Anyway, we had been very fortunate with lion sightings recently - 3 in the previous 2 visits! So as we headed south through the park mid-afternoon we were not expecting to stumble across Gina & Josie!!








This is Josie. Her distinguishing features are a slightly darker coat than Gina, and she is also a bit taller. Both Gina & Josie have dark tips to their tails, whereas Aardlam (the other female in the park) has a white tip to her tail. Josie's ears also have fewer and less noticeable notches when compared to Gina.


This is Gina. Like Josie she has a black tip to her tail, and a very distinctive notch pattern on her right ear. She also has a very noticeable scar above her left eye.

[nan]

they are beautiful

[Mel]

Beautiful ladies! And I was extremely privileged to see them both AND Aardlam within a five-day stay.
How lucky am I.

Thanks for the useful distinction markers.

[Lisbeth]

The elephants are wonderful and the lions not bad either; Lovely ladies! I am not fond of collars, but understand that they are useful.
The dung beetles never cease to astound me

Beautiful colors

[PJL]

Thanks everyone

@Mel - you were very lucky with your lion sightings when you visited. I'm not sure I have ever seen Aardlam, though if I have it must have been years ago.

@Lisbeth - yes the collars do perhaps detract from the photos, but I've kind of got used to it. When we (hopefully) see lionesses in Kruger later this year, they're going to look a bit strange


After lazing around for a bit, the girls got up and wandered south along the road. We were privileged to be the first car following them - it felt like we were just taking them for a walk. After a while Gina spotted a warthog coming down a hill next to them and she quickly moved into hunting mode. It was great to see them stalking, but in the end Josie made a bit of a mess of things and the warthog got away very easily. Below are some more photos of the lovely girls, and here is the video from the sighting: http://youtu.be/GnaUmqeLuec

[Amoli]

Excellent pics PJL

They a two lovely ladies.