The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[nan]

what a beauty
lazy... but even a magnificent "inter" LIT

[Flutterby]

What beautiful model!

[Mel]

What a cute leopard sighting

Is it only me, or did you have quite a few overcast days on that trip?

[Pumbaa]

Such a relaxed, sleeping beauty

She did not care and simply enjoyed life in a tree

So nice, Pumbaa!

I always love the eye colour!

In fact a very special one

Oh what a beautiful cat and she really posed for the camera

Settled for the day in that tree although would have loved to watch her leaving same

[Pumbaa]

what a beauty
lazy... but even a magnificent "inter" LIT

That tree was simply beautiful and with her in it it was a magic one

What beautiful model!

It was easy to simply press the button

What a cute leopard sighting

Is it only me, or did you have quite a few overcast days on that trip?

Yes, Mel, we had that day was overcast, one day in Skukuza and all the days at Satara. It always looked as if it will start to rain every now and then but then only a couple of rain drops fell or even very quick showers but I will not complain the minute the sun came out the temperature raise over 30 degrees...

[Pumbaa]

Meanwhile it was already afternoon and as we meanwhile had the honour in standing at that sighting more than an hour we left her with extreme heavy hearts as this was such a wonderful sighting for us to which we will think back very often.



We were so happy that we even waved another car down we met on the tar road only 50 meters from that loop and explained to the passengers where to find a leopard that day. Needless to say that during future visits of that loop that fig tree and the surroundings will be checked more carefully for that spotted beauty......

Originally and as already said we wanted to visit Mpondo dam today as well but as it meanwhile was already 3.00 o’clock and we still had a long way to go we turned back into the direction of Biyamiti and wanted to have a bit spare time left as you never know what might come across – the first thing was a stunning bateleur in a tree for which we simply had to stop



and also this raptor had to be captured extensively.



The rest of the way was quiet besides an impressive kudu male peeping from behind a bush. He was busy in feeding



and as often in life the best things are the ones hanging the highest.





He was also extreme relaxed so that we could enjoy that sighting without any disturbing other cars and it took not long and we found ourselves again on the Biyamiti causeway again after an extreme existing and thrilling day on the road but what was that?

Two cars were already blocking the causeway and were pointing with binoculars into one direction we checked at what they were looking and got surprised again as although a bit in the distance a couple of lions could be seen



on a kill in the dry riverbed of the Biyamiti close to where same is flowing into the Crocodile river.



WoW – Our luck continued that day – I counted 6 lions out of which some were feeding on the kill which looked like a buffalo and others were lying a bit farer away.

[Pumbaa]

As they all looked very well fed most of them got already their share but



for sure they also changed their position and the ones at the kill joined the others and the others walked closed to the kill to guard same.



Normally the S25 was always good to us when it comes to lions but during the last 4 years we did not see any of them on the whole S25 which might have caused in the heavy floods and recent road constructions on a couple of causeways along that road during the last years



at least that sighting made us confident that they might could be seen again more often on that road in future.



After quite a while we also left that sighting as same was simply too far away to stay longer and on top it was already 16.30 o’clock and as we wanted to stay the rest of the afternoon in camp we carried on to simply enjoy the last hours in camp as tomorrow will already be moving day.

Whilst I made myself comfortable on our verandah with that great view whilst the braai was already going





Timon paid a visit to the hide where already a group of vervets were busy in feeding on the fallen maruals



and this proved also that vervets can be multitasking as whilst feeding on one marula the next one had already been chosen and held by the foot



and even the extreme ripe fruits found consumers as this one was feeding with pleasure on such a marula.



After one of the most successful days ever in the park with that many cat sightings we fell in bed and slept like babies as also today it was far cooler and cloudy than the previous days maybe that might also have favoured our cat luck that day.

to be continued......

[nan]

very nice Bateleur, cute little Vervet

and love Biyamiti... so nice souvenirs

Lion with a kill and still the Leopard

[Dewi]

Finally caught up with you here Pumbaa.

Excellent bird sightings throughout.

I especially love your Wild Dogs, Leopards & Cheetah's and also the little ellie in the water enjoying itself.

[Alf]

The luck continues