Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015*

[RogerFraser]

Day 5 Jan 7th

The plan for today was to pack the villa and move it to Maroela a long drive:
We slept a bit later and woke to some slight drizzle just to make the tent nice and wet .The team soon had the site cleared and packed .At this point we found that we had lost a dust cover off one of the caravan wheels .Having a look at it there was little else we could do but move on and make a plan later .
On the trip up we were pretty focused on the trip .We did get a pic of some of the damaged bridge near Skukuza.

Just before Tshokwane we found a slight traffic jam .And the reason for it was

The ellie skull

We enjoyed the scenery at the water holes

Somehow these were the first dung beetles we found

Even found time for some more birding


We checked in at Orpen wow very organised reception and were warned about the Honey badgers which got us all excited about seeing another first ...
Driving into Maroela we found theses buffs on the side of the road


We setup camp at the back of Maroela as the riverside was all taken and went out for an afternoon drive around the area our first time in this area .We had previously been at Satara for 3 nights but never got to Orpen side.

We found a smaller chap on the S106

Stopped at Bobejaan Kraans for to see the view





And some landscape



The sunset for the first time at Maroela for us .



and the fire was lit




Would be nice to be in a small camp again fewer cars and traffic around ......

[Toko]

Bobbejaankrans is one of my favourite stops in the area and you captured even a part of the beautiful White Seringa tree (some family got in the way though )

I hope you had some nice Honey Badger encounters

Large Copper Dung Beetles on the move and a very colourful bee-eater

[RogerFraser]

Toko was really hoping to see a honey badger but no luck .

Richprins was still allot of water about in the rivers and dams .We use the big outside tent for my two sons so the option to setup lightly then move is not too easy to do .

[RogerFraser]

Day 6 Jan 8th

The plan for today was to leave early drive the S106 loop then the Timbavati loop :
We did not quite make gate opening leaving 15 minutes later .
Drove out the camp gate down the road past Tamboti turnoff and there it was a huge road block on possibly the quietest road in the
park .....

What was it causing this was the Buffalo herd we saw here yesterday in the road ? Had an Ellie knocked down a tree ?
After about 15 minutes some of the cars in front got the message they better move and gradually car by car managed to move past...
Cell pics :


Camera Pics :







All this just 500 meters from camp .

We got through the jam and discussed if we wanted to stay or move on .General feeling was not the re-enter the scrum.

We carried on our planned route

Our first sighting on the S106 Tawny Eagle ?


We then saw a breeding herd crossing ahead and stopped well away to let them cross


And sure as ever this trip the Matriarch decided we were not as far as she liked and came to tell us that fact


We then found this Secretary Bird searching for breakfast



We found this little one alert as ever


And boneapart waiting for his chance to clean up ...


We then carried onto the S39 ... to start the Timbavati loop

[RogerFraser]

Hi all

Was a great sighting probably the youngest cubs I have seen in the wild , was surprised at how calm the lionesses were with all the cars and activity so close . I was genuinely surprised the number of cars stuck but worth the wait .

So now onto Part 2 of a busy day ...

[RogerFraser]

Day 6 Jan 8th Part 2

We then carried onto the S39 ... to start the Timbavati loop
We found some Water Buck



This Brown Snake Eagle was keeping an eye on proceedings



This Giraffe was happy to pose for a moment



This fellow was sprinting to the other side of the road


This army of ants was amazing they crossed the road as a solid black mass and as they got to the other nest side they split and began attacking all the ants exiting from the holes .Amazing what one can notice sometimes.



Of course we met another breeding herd that gave us the required dirty look and head shake .


Exiting the loop on the S12 we met an older bull who watched us pass.


And these two entertained some visitors closely



We returned to Camp for lunch and had a visitor browsing by the fence

Even my daughter managed to stand still for a quick snap.


After lunch we left to drive to Satara to get some supplies of Ice Lollies as Orpen did not have any and then drive the S126 on the way out we met the same ellie crossing by the gate and wondered how many times one might have walked into camp.

[Lisbeth]

The brown snake eagle is a juvenile bateleur

A snake sprinting I would like to see that

Ellie and daughter close ups

[RogerFraser]

Day 6 Jan 8th Part 3

We left camp to drive to Satara to get some supplies of Ice Lollies on the way :
We found a Wahlberg's Eagle

These Ellies were enjoying a cool mud bath


We were flagged down a bit further on the H7 and the excited spotter pointed out a Lazy Lion that had awoken from his slumber in the distance .


At Nsemani water hole a Fish Eagle sat vigilantly watching.


We stopped in at Satara and got the required Ice lollies and supplies .The plan was to Drive the S126 stop in at Muzandzeni picnic Spot then back up the S36 to the H7 and back to camp. I have to say at this point although there appeared to have already been some grading of corners and sections on the S126 it is without a doubt the bumpiest road I have ever experienced .I was literally expecting something to fall off at any time .
Along the way we met some Wild Beasties .

And some were still in their Pyjamas

This fellow was enjoying the day in the Jacuzzi


And then we went to Muzandzeni Picnic Spot.
On the way in we noticed to Ellies on the side of the entrance road.

We realised one ellie had very large tusks at the time and this was later confirmed by Aat on the tusker thread as MSHATU .
He and his Lieutenant were play fighting and eating all around the picnic area .











A truly Kruger experience again.

We Drove back and had no other sightings until we got closer to Maroela\Orpen.
These fellows were ahead of the game already having their PJ's on .

Then there was a flash of Orange in the bushes and a black backed Jackal came out and went trotting around looking for some dinner






This guy was getting a full service and clean-up


We found another beautiful Candy-striped Crinum (Thnx Toko)


Sun set on the day and the Braai was lit

[RogerFraser]

Hi all the Tusker experience was special .
Nan Glad you managed to see the pics .
Bushcraft thats why my fillings fell out
Pumba tanks and we only half way

Day 7 Jan 9th

We had decided to have a lazy day and so slept in late got up and did breakfast .
We had an early visitor looking for some scraps .


We went out for a drive up the H7 but it was already very hot so most had headed for the shade ,we did find these Wild beasties sparing




We found some Ellies on the way :




And this Ellie was trying to get some shade off a very small bush .


And then on the way back to camp we spotted some flightless feathered animals in the river bed some distance off



Some Ground Hornbills were clearing up behind the bushes



This little piggy did not get to market ...


We returned back to camp for Lunch and then decided to go through to Satara again and back for the afternoon drive ....

[RogerFraser]

Day 7 Jan 9th Part 2

We left Maroela to go through to Satara again and back for our afternoon drive ....

We had travelled quite some distance without seeing much of anything when we came upon a car stopped in the shade...

Scanning the immediate area we could not find anything .We slowly moved forward and they pointed to the bushes .....

Still nothing ....then something flicked in the grass .

Brown ...Black ... An ear a tail .Wild Dogs


We had nothing better to do and this was our kind of sighting only one other car .We moved back and sat and waited .


A dog moved from one bush to another


A dog got up and moved over the ridge


Cars came waited and left ....we had been here about an hour and a half.
A dog got up and lay down



We had been here 2 and half hours .The original car who pointed out the sighting had now left and returned ,obviously nothing better to see so we stayed ,other cars had arrived.We had counted 7 possibly 8 dogs over this time ....



The original sightings car left the sighting ,deciding that nothing would happen and it was getting closer to gate closing , we were approx. half way between Satara and Orpen ....

Then it happened the signal or call and the next moment the hill came alive.... Dogs ran down over the ridge , dogs appeared from behind trees . Dogs ran from the side .















By our reckoning there were 30 -35 Dogs in the pack

We had found our dogs .By this time cars were splitting left and right .Our GPS said we would make camp closing by 5 Minutes ... Time to leave for camp . We turned tail and left the dogs to their devices .

On the way we had time to admire a Chameleon



We made camp with 5 minutes to spare .The sun was setting , we had found the Doggies we were seeking a brilliant experience .