Day 1, Sunday 9 November : Pretoriuskop -> Maroela.
It was our second two week trip to the Kruger this year and we were hoping for a few more cats than in May when we didn't see a single Lion.
It was also our first Kruger trip with the Off-Road Trailer which proved to be a big change from our usual camping routine.
We had a variety of good days and bad days, including a five day stint at Balule which had us both champing at the bit to see anything other than the usual herbivores.
We also had a very special sighting, which involved the "Crunchy Meat Pie", that we'll talk about for years to come but I'll get to that at the appropriate time
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Our first night was at Pretoriuskop on the 8th of November after a journey without any drama apart from a detour in Mahusu, the town near Numbi Gate, which had us traveling around in circles for a while.
After checking in, finding a camping spot and setting up we still had plenty of time for a drive around the Pretoriuskop loops. Unfortunately, the light wasn't much good and there was, as usual for the area, a dearth of subject matter. The only thing worth getting the camera out for was a gorgeous Pygmy Kingfisher - a lifer for the SO and only the second time I've seen one.
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Back at camp I found a beautiful moth. EDIT : Toko has identified this as a Cream Cake Moth, which fits perfectly with this TT's theme!
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We didn't get up at zero-dark-thirty the next morning. Instead, we woke up when it was light, did a unhurried pack-up and went to the Wimpy for breakfast before setting off on the long journey to Maroela.
While we were packing up, we spied a gang of Dwarf Mongooses in the open area between us and the laundry so I crept up on them and took some pictures.
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I also spotted a Laughing Dove taking a sand bath.
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Then we were off for what turned out to be a leisurely drive along the S36 instead of the H1 with only a few things worth getting the camera out for.
Mocking Chat
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Vultures in the river bed.
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And assorted other animals.
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We stopped at Nhlanguleni for a coffee break and I found what I think is a Chafer Beetle.
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Back on the road, some more regulars including an enormous Giraffe.
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We got to Maroela, set up and decided we'd had enough driving for the day so we stayed in camp for the rest of the afternoon.
All I found that night was a Cicada.
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