From Floods and Surprises in River beds

[Richprins]

That area can be very quiet, but a great patient cheetah sighting eventually, Pumbaa!

I also like the giraffe sets!

[Lisbeth]

Patience paid off That's something I need to learn methinks

[Pumbaa]

Wow not easy to capture the cheetahs in that tall grass

Indeed but from time to time we had luck and we could capture them in their full glory

[Pumbaa]

Difficult to spot anything in that long grass!!

When they do lay flat on the ground you indeed do not see anything

[Pumbaa]

That area can be very quiet, but a great patient cheetah sighting eventually, Pumbaa!

I also like the giraffe sets!

But from time to time you also do have luck so we never give up in trying

[Pumbaa]

Patience paid off That's something I need to learn methinks

We are definitely not in a hurry so why not take a break from driving, search for a shady spot and wait at least a couple of minutes

[Pumbaa]

We were so absorbed by the sighting that we only noticed now whilst looking around that quite a number of cars had piled up meanwhile enjoying that sighting and despite the high grass finally we were able to spot the cheetahs



in full glory although still a bit far away and they even walked one after the other farer away until they were no longer to be seen and we carried on as well.



We drove slowly into the direction of Girivana and noticed a lighter eagle close to the road on a tree stump



followed by another fish eagle



who did not stay long and finally took off.



Girivana was completely quiet but a Nsemani we photographed another dabchick



and whilst driving slowly the H7 we were joined by masses of wattled starlings who we finally could also photograph





as they do normally have the bad habit to always fly away when you stop the car.





As it was meanwhile quite late and we had such a wonderful and on top sunny day we skipped our afternoon drive and stayed in camp enjoying our last hours at Satara as this area is always brilliant and has normally so much to offer. After another walk to the shop we started an early braai and were extreme happy when finally also a dinner guests



joined all the braaing people



and finally we only fell extreme quiet into the bed.

Tuesday, 19. February 2019 – Satara – Olifants

Explored roads: H1-4 – H7 – S40 – S12 – H7 - S39 – H1-5 – S89 – S90 – S91 – H1-5 – H8 – S92 - S91 – H1-5 – H8

Once again it was moving day and we were a bit sad to leave Satara especially after the last incredible day but also the other camps and areas in the North do have their own attractions and so we were happy to travel also in these areas as this means also less traffic and after the obligatory coffee we packed everything together and carried on but it turned out to be an extreme quiet day but anyway we had already during that trip so many incredible sightings that everything which will come up means a bonus for us and there were indeed a couple of them during the following days………The day started with a group of marabou stork in trees,



another black-shouldered kite,



another paradise whydah

[Pumbaa]

and a flock of buffalo weavers out of which we only got this shot.



A black backed jackal came running but in the high grass we only saw a glimpse of same and



as already said we wondered whether the water level in the Timbavati was so low despite the rainy days earlier but we then found a group of kudu ladies luckily the antelopes are large enough to be seen in the high grass.





Another lovely sighting was then a group of ground hornbills collecting something on the ground



and then most of them flew up into a tree with their treasures.



We spotted a lot of Carmine bee eaters



as well as a couple of juveniles



and close to Leeubron waterhole the obligatory gathering of antelopes could be noticed as we came across quite a lot of zebras





as well as wildebeest who all were willing to pose.





to be continued……

[Lisbeth]

I have no problems stopping for minutes, it over the 15 minutes that it gets hard if there is nothing to see

Lovely birds....again I have never seen a wattled starling as far as I know and wonder why

The tallons of the fish-eagle are impressive

[Richprins]

Millions of birdies, Pumbaa!

(I'm not such a big bird fan but these pics are so gooood! )


My favourite is the hornbill in the tree!

Lovely green scenes again.