Stop the World I Wanna Get Off: My Escape to KTP

[RogerFraser]

Amazing stories that Hyena would have to tell .

What luck on your last day .Wonderful series with the Leopards .

[Pumbaa]

WoW ExFmem,

what to say Incredible leopard shots, wonderful cheetah sightings as well as meerkats

Allo your bird shots are fantastic and you captured that many snakes

What a fantastic trip you had

[Mel]

Ahhh, thanks for all the handy info, Ex! Does O.R. Tambo have a test station for travellers? But with this hasty travel ban imposed on SA once again, who knows if we'll be able to go at Easter at all. Already booked a back up for October 2022.

Incredible how the animals manage to pull through even when one thinks it was impossible. The injury certainly doesn't help the hyena's looks but I pull my hat for surviving whatever cause that missing mouth and on top of it doing so well. Look at that tummy

Cheetahs always make my day in the park

And I wouldn't say no to a mum-offspring combination in leopards. Awesome sighting and awesome photos!

[ExFmem]

Sis - this year there was a black-headed heron at Rooiputs (or was it Leeudril??), and also one at Vertiende most days I was there. They are quite pretty in their simple attire.

harrys - I love snakes, so was happy to find them. Snakes and insects - as my SO says "I bet you're the ONLY female in the entire world..."

RP - yes, the couple who thought them to be cheetahs were quite hesitant to believe me (they must have done a background check on me …), but two leopards together isn’t very common in my experience.

Roger - Thank you, yes the rugged life of hyenas hold many amazing tales, to be sure.

Pumbaa - yes, even tho’ there are days without many sightings, upon looking back after the trip, one realizes how fortunate they were and how very many memories will remain forever.

Mel - as far as O.R.Tambo testing stations, there supposedly is a pharmacy kiosk in the corridor where one can make appts. Since I had to overnight upon arrival due to flight schedules, I stayed at the Intercontinental on the airport property (can walk to it). They had set up a testing room which is what I used upon return (2000 Zar). (More cheetah encounters to come…. )

[ExFmem]

The meerkats at MataMata continued to visit from time to time, and gave me one last chuckle with its antics before I left MM for TweeRivieren.

“Could sumbody fetch me anudder beer, hic…"






Some of my sightings out of TweeR -

Cape fox near Samevloeing (they had youngsters, but the pile of cars each morning was practically impenetrable, so no pics of them)











I was lucky to come across another Cape fox mom that had 3 pups closer towards KijKij











In the same area was a jackal mom with 3 pups, but very well hidden amongst the foliage, so had to grab a shot whenever one ventured out a bit further.















One morning I was headed north from TweeR. Along the way I saw a couple of cheetahs too far away to see plainly, as well as some lions sleeping in the road. I had no real interest in either sighting , so I drove on. Not long after I found a pair of Bee-eaters on the passenger side of the car, so I did a U-turn to be able to take pics out my side, headed back south.

While I was parked, an on-coming car stopped and informed me there were 2 cheetahs and 5 lions up the road. They obviously didn’t know I had come past them already, but I thanked them for sharing with me. Being eager to share my good fortune with them in return, I proudly announced, “I have a bee-eater RIGHT HERE!”






Maybe “bee-eater” is Afrikaans for “hand grenade”, I don’t know, but they quickly exchanged glances amongst themselves and promptly left.

[ExFmem]

Driving down the slope that leads to the Urikaruus entryway, Hanri and her youngsters appeared marching down the riverbed.





They soon disappeared over the dune, much to my dismay, but I did spend a lovely morning with them a week later.

One morning just past Samevloeing a young male lion was interested in something in the distance.













I don’t know the relationship between these lions, but he didn’t seem eager to join them, and sauntered away.

A couple birds:

Hoopoe




Starling




This Tawny was being attacked by a PCG, but it was certainly willing to put up a fight for its treasure.







It looks POSSESSED….

[Lisbeth]

The meerkat is hilarious

Beautiful Cape foxes and the Jackal cubs are adorable

Lovely light on the young lion

I love all the birds! The "hand grenades" are very pretty

The tawny looks

[Pumbaa]

Amazing meerkat shot indeed, ExFmem,

also love all the birdies especially the bee eater and then cheetahs and those lion shots are also very special and on top cute foxes

[Richprins]

A doggie overload!

And beautiful lion silhouettes, Ex!

Great pics all round, the eagle takes the cake!

Hand grenade!

[Mel]

Thanks for the additional info, Ex

Otherwise I had some good giggles about your charming account of your trip

Hanri and her entourage are very pretty I'm gutted that I won't get to see them together anymore. In fact, who knows if I'm getting to see Hanri or Corinne at all anymore

Hand grenade... hilarious!

Also, love the meerkat with the beer gut And the possessed tawny