The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Pumbaa]

Now even a pied kingfisher still a bit farer away could be detected and same even had just caught a fish.



Timon decided to pay another visit to the pond whilst I preferred to sat on our veranda and enjoy the view, however, after a while Timon again returned and mentioned that now a generator was running close to the pond so due to the noise most of the birds were not present but he even found a couple of bats



who made themselves comfortable for the day under a roof



in fact there was nearly everywhere something to be seen and now I was even more glad that we decided against a day visit to Kruger as we will stay the next 16 nights there anyway so why not starting a bit more relaxed in our holidays even without driving a single kilometre.



Meanwhile also a bushbuck lady came closer who we most likely saw already yesterday in the river bed together with the fish eagles but for sure it could also be another one.



Now even the hippo mom decided to came out of the water and to have breakfast and where mom is the little one is not far in the beginning still a bit hidden whilst mom had a couple of hitchhikers on her back



but both walked steadily closer and finally we could even admire the cute hippo baby outside the water where always only the head was visible.



Compared to mom the little rascal was indeed so tiny and we soon fell in love with same



and after mom had grazed quite extensively they returned back into the river where we still could see them sometimes floating from here to there.



After the elephants had gone their way now the impalas took over the place where the elephants drank earlier



and must say that I was delighted to see already impalas from the lodge as this was in fact the first time we ever saw impalas there and on top already that many.

[Pumbaa]

For sure we always had an eye on baby hippo and mom



and after the impalas had quenched their thirst another smaller group of elephants arrived and did the same.





We still waited for the right time to leave the lodge and to start our shopping at Malelane, however, there was still so many to be seen so we always delayed same not to miss anything as on top compared to yesterday today the whole day it was overcast and consequently we had only “30 degrees”, in fact one of the “coldest days” we had this year but for us much more bearable. We spotted a tawny-flanked prinia



and in another bush once again masses of weavers appeared





only to be followed by a brown hooded kingfisher and must say when it comes to birds our stay here at the lodge was incredibly successful as later in the park we had not that luck





finally also the speckled mousebirds shared the branch with the brown hooded kingfisher



and one even presented to another a snippet of a leave



needless to say that we had such a great time in watching all the different feathered friends.



to be continued……………………………

[Lisbeth]

A lovely day with great sightings from big elephants, hippo and mini hippo, impalas and lots of birds Almost a pity to leave

[Richprins]

What a staggering number of sightings from your house, Pumbaa!

Love the ellies and the cute baby hippo!

I didn't know there were two types of mousebird there?

And even bats!

Great pics!

[Michele Nel]

That baby hippo is the cutest thing out - thx for sharing all these lovely sightings. :)

[Pumbaa]

A lovely day with great sightings from big elephants, hippo and mini hippo, impalas and lots of birds Almost a pity to leave

Totally right - We did not know where to look first

[Pumbaa]

What a staggering number of sightings from your house, Pumbaa!

Love the ellies and the cute baby hippo!

I didn't know there were two types of mousebird there?

And even bats!

Great pics!

We do always have luck at least with one mousebird specie from the lodge. This year we even saw both species

[Pumbaa]

That baby hippo is the cutest thing out - thx for sharing all these lovely sightings. :)

We were so lucky that the hippos did not move far

[Pumbaa]

As we could not postpone our short trip to Malelane any further and as it was meanwhile close to noon we decided that now would be a good time to drive to Malelane which we in fact did and today even a bit more extensively as we not only fell into Spar but also checked out the smaller shops there in the shopping centre. After we returned to the lodge and packed everything away already handy for our Kruger trip we leaned again back on our veranda and enjoyed the view and for sure put our tripod together with the camera in position and we spotted on one side a family of waterbucks eying together suspiciously in one direction



whilst on the other side a couple maybe the two who walked close to our veranda earlier that morning had a nice and relaxing afternoon.



Then it got be a bit quiet after that thrilling morning and I thought it would be a good time for a dip into the pool but when I got into same I first got a shock as the water was nearly as hot as in bathtub and definitely far too warm for me as from North European summers I am used to far colder temperatures in the Baltic Sea. Nevertheless after all it was not that bad as It nearly stayed one hour there joined by Timon as well. It was simply splendid and exactly that what I needed.

After we took a shower we again walked back to the pond for a final visit and as receiption was close I ordered the obligatory breakfast packs for the next morning and I booked a table for the restaurant for an early dinner as the restaurant at the lodge is always highly frequented. Timon meanwhile discovered again the thick bill weaver female



and after another shot from the ever present weavers



also the thick billed weaver male appeared on the scene



and posed a while exclusively for us.



Now also the giant kingfisher arrived and this time extremely close



and as same turned from right to left



Timon had the possibility of taking quite a number of pictures.



Quite hidden we even detected a black backed puffback before we left the pond and went to the restaurant for an early dinner and although I booked the table not at a specific time a reserved table overlooking the river was already waiting for us.



As always dinner was great and extreme delicious and after we had finished same we made ourselves comfortable on our veranda with a cold one for the final time already. Once again hippo mom and her youngster were floating by



and a smaller crocodile as well as a grey heron were also not that far



and where one is another one is close to water not far.

[Pumbaa]

Compared to the morning most of the animals kept hidden that afternoon but after all we definitely could not complain about what we already saw that “bonus” day. Another tawny flanked prinia



and once again our beloved hippo couple were the last animals we saw before we retired for an early sleep into our bungalow.



Friday, 9. February 2024 – Malelane – Berg an Dal

Explored roads: S110 – H3 – S113 – S23 – S114 – S118 – H3 – S110

At least I dreamt about an early sleep, however, that evening I had difficulties in finding sleep and only found sleep extreme late – maybe the excitement – at least I was not that tired as originally thought when the alarm clock rang. After we packed everything together and for sure after we enjoyed the first coffee with a final view into the river from our veranda we started to the gate not to forget to stop shortly on the bridge across the Crocodile river, however, this year although we looked a while around stayed not that long. The formalities at the gate were done in no minute and the best moment came when the guard opened the barrier and we had so many nights ahead of us.

First we were a bit shocked to see the bush compared to last year, okay that was for sure an exception, so dry already. The trees still had leaves and so had the bushes but the ground was bone dry and nearly no water source left so we did not see that much at least larger animals, however, birding was not that bad that early morning. A southern white crowned shrike was the first animal we saw



followed by a pin tailed whydah who was obviously on the look out for a female



and same soon put on an appearance and the male started his display.



Same is always incredible to watch and we stayed with the whydahs quite a while



not a bad way to start a stay in Kruger with.



We also stopped for a Wahlberg eagle,



a red backed shrike,



a red-billed hornbill



and even found already our beloved white fronted bee eaters.





to be continued…………………………….