The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Richprins]

Once again, waterhole-sitting is the best!

Agreed that is a difficult bunting shot, Pumbaa!

[Mel]

More of the little flap-ear ellie

De la Porte was busy indeed

Great shot of the bunting

[Dewi]

Love the ellie pics and the bunting is

[Flutterby]

Lots of morning activity.

[Pumbaa]

Lots of animals at the water holes

Due to the drought and heat that day it was the best spot to look for animals

have nice souvenirs at De Laporte... always (for me) lot of animals
and yours are

love the Bunting

At least one who was willing to pose

Once again, waterhole-sitting is the best!

Agreed that is a difficult bunting shot, Pumbaa!

For sure - Each car which passed was curious to know what we were looking at - Gladly the bunting did not felt disturbed

[Pumbaa]

More of the little flap-ear ellie

De la Porte was busy indeed

Great shot of the bunting

Those little flap-ear ellies are the cutest

Love the ellie pics and the bunting is

It was simply amazing to watch all the ellies

Lots of morning activity.

It was already an extreme hot morning

[Pumbaa]

A couple of impalas were already resting under some shady bushes and on the H12 we soon were caught once again in a traffic jam – Wild dogs!





They were on the run and about to leave where they just stayed.





Most of them had already left and headed forward through the bushes so we only could see a glimpse of them but we were lucky to have found them again around Skukuza.



It must have been a larger pack and it was a pity that we only arrived that late at that sighting but you cannot have everything at least a couple of shots could be taken until none of them was any longer visible



and so we carried on but the heat started already to become unbearable as it must have already been around 35 degrees.

We turned into the road to Mantimahle but that waterhole was also already bone dry in a nearby tree we spotted a juvenile bateleur



and same was eying from above a lapped-faced vulture on the ground on a kill



and in another tree a group of white backed vultures already reunited and also had an eye onto the colleague on the ground.

[Pumbaa]

We stayed quite a while here under the shady trees and watched the vulture feeding but finally also carried on. Normally we do always drive via the tar road to Satara including only parts of the S36 but with all the dams empty such as Leeupan, Mazithi and Kumana we decided to instead stay on the S36 and drive today the complete distance also a wish which could be fulfilled finally.

We spotted far away in a tree our first ground hornbills during that trip and a bit further a larger group of still sleepy rhinos.



A lone elephant bull with a remarkable set of tusks came across



as well as a larger group of still resting buffaloes who squeezed together under the thickest bushes to get a bit of shade at that hot morning. They were invaded by lots of oxpeckers who started to debate and discuss about the best spot.



This oxpecker obviously found its favourite buffalo meanwhile



and even more could be seen



and more debating took place.



That first part of the S36 was quite impressive especially the with the meanwhile also dry Jones'se dam and I am sure that this part will be driven again in a more wetter summer by us whereas the remaining part of that road until you will reach the H7 can be a bit monotonous at least during such a hot day.

An impala, a kudu and a warthog were sharing a tree



and a rhino with a floppy ear came across as well same looked as if same still had a bit of mud or water somewhere very well hidden left.



to be continued....

[nan]

and now Dogs
Tusker, Oxpecker and Buff

[Lisbeth]

Great pic of the vulture taken from the front

Also the oxpeckers are funny