The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Lisbeth]

Beautiful Bateleur and kudu

The little vervet scoundrels are very cute

[Mel]

I lost track Is that Biyamiti? The reason I'm asking is that we'll stay there for two nights next year with some friends of ours.
Their first time in SA ever and our first booking for Biyamiti ever

Sooo, after the Leopard you also got some more lions, hey? Great luck there

Love the Kudu peaking at you from behind the bush - and of course, the bateleur.

[Richprins]

Good to see lion there again, Pumbaa!

Yoh, but that camp is dry! Didn't there used to be lawns there?

So you and Timon sit opposite each other?

What a great day!

[Lisbeth]

Maybe you think about Letaba, RP

[Pumbaa]

very nice Bateleur, cute little Vervet

and love Biyamiti... so nice souvenirs

Lion with a kill and still the Leopard

That day was a magical one and then to end in Biyamiti camp was simply brilliant

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.

In fact we could not complain about our sightings this year

The luck continues

Yes, that day we were blessed

Beautiful Bateleur and kudu

The little vervet scoundrels are very cute

At least the vervet only kept interested in the marulas and did not raid the bungalows

[Pumbaa]

I lost track Is that Biyamiti? The reason I'm asking is that we'll stay there for two nights next year with some friends of ours.
Their first time in SA ever and our first booking for Biyamiti ever

Sooo, after the Leopard you also got some more lions, hey? Great luck there

Love the Kudu peaking at you from behind the bush - and of course, the bateleur.

It is Biyamiti, Mel, and you simply have to look forward to it - BTW Mel in Kruger

Good to see lion there again, Pumbaa!

Yoh, but that camp is dry! Didn't there used to be lawns there?

So you and Timon sit opposite each other?

What a great day!

Yes normally there are lawns but not that green as in other camps Definitely not I sit in one chair and the other one is for my legs

Maybe you think about Letaba, RP

In nearly all camps that year there was hard to find any grass

[Pumbaa]

Thursday, 18. February, 2016 – Biyamiti – Skukuza


Roads we paid a visit today: S139 – S23 – S114 – H1-1 – S65 – H11 – S42 – H11

After we have been packed everything together and the first morning coffee had been drunk we left as first car the camp and turned today right to travel along the S139 for a very last time we even checked all the look out points shortly but as there nothing could be seen we carried on and stopped for this breathtaking sunrise in the bush



and on a hill to take a shot of the famous S139 and surroundings before the hilly, winding and normally extreme overgrown road is going downhill again which maybe demonstrate why this 18 kilometers from camp to Biyamiti weir can sometimes can take hours but is it a more than lovely road.



Today same was once again extreme quiet and only close to Blinkwater we spotted more animals such as this white backed vulture,



a couple of colourful and fluffed up looking European bee eaters



and a very curious banana bird



and even more European bee eaters.



A larger herd of buffaloes which was since then a rarity popped up between the bushes along that road



and eyed us curiously



and allowed us some shots before they again disappeared on the other side of the road to get something to drink from the river.



Unfortunately this is one road in Kruger when you feel extreme sorry that same is already over – okay actually nearly each road in Kruger is far too soon over but we stopped shortly at the look out point on the S114 before the Biyamiti weir and from that look out we spotted a group of male kudus.



Finally we stood at the weir again and only in that moment we realized that this was already the final visit there for this year so we wanted to stay as long as possible and make the best out of same and we had luck at that early morning hour we were the only car there and simply enjoyed everything there.

We admired the many water dikkops which can be seen plentiful there in the morning during other times of the day they can be very well camouflaged.



A grey heron came across



as well as the fish eagle which often can been seen sitting in this tree top at the weir

[Pumbaa]

and even a pied kingfisher was already up and active in fishing.



Birdwise there was already a lot to look out for but also the hippos were not missing



and also one of the crocodiles went up from the depth of the weir and took a closer look out of those hypnotic reptile eyes.



Now two pied kingfishers were active and also



the group of kudu males which we already saw from the close by lookout arrived also to quench their thirst accompanied by a group of impalas.



To our delight also a purple heron landed extreme close by to where we stood and Timon snapped happily away as also this is a bird we so far had not seen often.





The fish eagle also reduplicated itself as now two could be seen in the tree top



and also another open billed stork took over the place of the purple heron after same took off so also this bird could now be admired extreme close.



The pied kingfishers were meanwhile busy in looking out for some fish



and we spotted a black smith plover



and another three banded plover as well



to be continued.....

[Richprins]

Pumbaa!

Ai, wish I were there!

Those buff are skinny!

[nan]

love the Bee-Eater
Fish Eagle and Heron

did you swim with the croc and the hippo