When small Streams turn into Rivers

[RogerFraser]

love the Bee Eaters again

We also think the young teenage males have hormone issue so also give them a wide berth .

[Pumbaa]

Newly born tinyphant and as an extra also a cute little zebbie

Nice bird shots, especially the giant kingfisher

There were quite a lot tinyphants around during that trip

[Pumbaa]

Lots of birdies again, Pumbaa!

Love the hairyphant, not that common to see!

Interesting they left the one road open by mistake, I'm sure it's not easy!

Always love such hairyphants and as you said not that common to see We already often experienced road closures when they forgot to close one end of the road maybe after heavy rains they could not close each road at the same time but here the heavy flood took already place a couple of days ago and they forgot to cloase this road completely maybe they were certain that no one was using a submarine as otherwise that road was not crossable

[Pumbaa]

love the Bee Eaters again

We also think the young teenage males have hormone issue so also give them a wide berth .

Nevertheless they are always entertaining to watch

[Pumbaa]

Nearly at the end of the H4-1 close to the highwater bridge we noticed a fish eagle in a tree



we crossed the highwater bridge and it was incredible how high the water level was – pictures will follow at a later stage as same even rose higher – at the end of the bridge we luckily spotted a handsome nyala bull and as same was so willing to pose and fed peacefully we took a lot of shots.





Today we drove not further so we turned around and the nearer we came the H4-1 the sound effects got louder due to the echo of the bridge as a family of baboons was playing in the trees and we thought we were close to an open-air bath – at least it was – but instead of children the baboons made the noise.

After wet summers there is a nice pond along the tar road and today we were lucky in even detecting a malachite kingfisher there indeed a more than nice compensation





with all the bird hides closed even Lake Panic.



Same flew from here to there and sometimes same disappeared but always appeared again on another branch





and from time to time same



even caught something for late beakfast.



Here we stayed a while and took lots of pictures at least as long as the malachite was visible – love that puffed up shot.

[Pumbaa]

In one of the other loops along the road as long as same were drivable we enjoyed the strongly flowing Sabie river in the background and a hadedah on a branch in the foreground.



Besides a lilac breasted roller we captured extreme close nothing else could be seen and after another short stop at Skukuza camp we now drove into the direction of Pretoriuskop as this was still a long way to drive.



Here a view into both sides of the view from the bridge close to De La Porte



today it looked extreme peaceful with a low water level and now with sunshine but believe me same turned only one day later nearly into our fate.



At the crossing with the H3 we again were caught in a traffic jam and we only noticed a spotted cat with a white tail jumped into the bush and was eying a group of impalas only meters away.



For sure the impalas were aware of the leopard although same lay into ambush. Unfortunately we only saw same from behind but for sure were more than happy about the second leopard sighting during that day.



Finally same, however, disappeared in the bush and we carried on, met another elephant bull and even noticed another lion fast asleep in the thicket and as same did not move we only took this proof picture.



We were than more than happy about that group of ground hornbills not far from were we stood and even in the open



so you can believe that Timon fired away



as it is always so fantastic when this bird specie is so easily to be seen



and further down the road another lone elephant bull could also be captured.



to be continued………………………

[Lisbeth]

I adore malachite kingfishers

A leopard from behind is better than no leopard

[RogerFraser]

The Kingfishers

Definitely a Leopard even from behind

We have so many Hadedas here (and noisy ) one tends to forget they are a treat for others

[Lisbeth]

Quite a few years ago, we stayed in Franschhoek and every day at 17:00 arrived a flock of hahdedas to the small dam that we had in front of the bungalow.... and the cacophony started

[Richprins]

Nice morning, Pumbaa!

Exquisite malachite shots!

Ja, hadedas are a curse all over the country!

And cats on the way to PK!