Green MZNP

[PJL]

We hadn't seen my parents for over 2 years what with the pandemic travel restrictions, but they finally managed a trip out here at the beginning of January and we all headed off to Mountain Zebra for a few nights of bush time.

The park was the greenest we had ever seen it after some regular thunderstorms in December.



Still there was some dust to enjoy







On our way to check in we found a steenbok seeking shade from the heat



After lunch we explored Rooiplaat and the Link Road, but it was only a brief drive as we had a night drive booked.













A family of bat-eared foxes had been seen regularly along the Link Road in December, but the kits must have recently left the den as there was no longer any sign of them. On Ubejane we found the main buffalo herd

[Lisbeth]

Do your parents live in UK?

The park sceneries are absolutely beautiful and it is so nice to see animals of a different kind

[Richprins]

Exquisite pics as always, Peej!

Didn't know there were night drives there?

[harrys]

Wonderful park with great photos

[PJL]

Do your parents live in UK?

The park sceneries are absolutely beautiful and it is so nice to see animals of a different kind

Yep they do live there Lis. We're hoping to get over there sometime this year assuming restrictions continue fading away as they are at the moment

Exquisite pics as always, Peej!

Didn't know there were night drives there?

Thanks RP... yes they offer all the usual drives

Wonderful park with great photos

Thanks Harry

[PJL]

The night drive was a good option - they had a special offer running so it was 25% cheaper than normal and being in the middle of summer it was more like a sunset drive with a bit of the fading daylight before complete darkness took over.

We spent most of the drive meandering along the no-entry roads in the Wilgerboom valley and had some great sightings of bat-eared fox families and a number of aardwolf









Heading back to camp near the end of the drive we had an excellent sighting of an aardvark
It ran away too quickly for a pic, but it was great to see... only the second time I've ever seen one in the wild

The next morning was a bit overcast but we went for an early drive along the usual areas. I caught sight of some movement in the distance that looked rather like another aardwolf so we stopped and scanned for a bit. But then the animal popped out into the open for a split second and it was clearly a brown hyena

There are quite a few of them in the park, but they're not often seen at all. The long grass hid it very well as it walked away



Not long later another highlight as always



The rest of the drive was a mix of smaller creatures

[Lisbeth]

Definitely a place to visit!

Batties, aardwolves and even an aardvark

Bunnies and squirrels

[Richprins]

What luck, Peej!

Virtually all the rare small things, plus a brownie!

I love the rhino and rabbit pics too!

[Mel]

Oh my... Your photos bring back wonderful memories of visits in the Mountain Zebra

Happy for yuo that your parents finally managed to come back over again!

And you all were rewarded for the strenuous time in between. Such great sightings!
Super photos in general and especially of the batties and the aardwolf in the dark.

[Pumbaa]

WoW PJL,

what to say simply incredible sightings Right place, right time

Your shots are magnificent