Browns in Kruger September 2024

[Bushcraft]

There were a couple of cars stopped at the leopard kill site so we expected to find the leopard still chowing on our slow approach, however only the kill was in the tree and nobody had seen the leopard.

We knew that the leopard would still be around though, so we slowly moved forward and backwards while checking everywhere with binoculars. The other people at the sighting must have thought that we were mad or confused with our vehicle movements, but about 100m down the road Albert squawked.

“There, I think I see it!”

“It has another kill!”

The leopard was hiding out in thick bush and we could only see spots, but it had another kill stashed halfway up a tree in bush about 100m from the half-eaten 1st kill.

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I parked on the side of the road and switched off so that we could keep an eye on the spots in the bush, but as per normal, we got distracted 10 minutes later and lost focus.

“WTF, the spots are gone! Where’s the leopard?”

After some frantic binocular searching Albert once again found the leopard.

“THERE! It’s walking through the bush.”

“WHAT, WHERE! I don’t see it $#%&”

“It’s heading up towards that rock! Move forward a little.”

“WHAT ROCK?”

“The big rock!”

The leopard jumped onto the large rock in the distance and then found a puddle of water in a hole on the rock.

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The leopard abruptly stopped drinking, bailed back off the rock and disappeared in seconds, so we went back to the kill and parked off again with the hope it would reappear, but it was a mission to get a view of just the kill let alone a mobile leopard, so I wasn’t confident, but minutes later Albert with her young eyes found the leopard again in the grass at the base of the tree below it’s kill.

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[Bushcraft]

About 15 minutes later it started drizzling again, the leopard had collapsed in the grass and our view of the leopard was obscured by plenty branches, twigs and bush, so we decided to head towards a little view point around 5km down the S30 that we like, but stopped for a tortoise and a drenched freezing junior zebra on the way.

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About 4km down the S30 we came across a dead half eaten buffalo in a bush, so instantly stopped.

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We couldn’t see any predators, so slowly moved forward past the kill and seconds later a head popped up from behind a fallen tree just on the other side of the bush.

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[Bushcraft]

The lion peeked at us for a few seconds and then collapsed out of sight behind the tree again, so we positioned the car and switched off to wait.

Around 10 minutes later Albert, who was on form this day, spotted a jackal and hyena charging around in the background.

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I’m not certain if the lion smelt them or heard them, but their company wasn’t appreciated and he showed a little more interest in his surroundings.

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[Bushcraft]

The rain started to intensify and a few other cars had pulled in, so we decided to rather head back to Lower Sabie for a Mugg & Bean pot pie takeaway for brunch.

A few of the usual clan made an appearance on the route back, but we never took pics due to the drizzle.

Mugg & Bean takeaway was fairly quiet compared to the school holiday’s that we have gotten used to, but I still nearly hit a big speech with an old aunty who just pushed in, however the Cow shut me up, so I took a walk around while the Cow and Albert waited for the chow and then we went to relax at our unit with the hope that the weather would improve.

During the early afternoon there was a break in the rain and I was bored, so we all decided to explore the safari tents, especially the cheaper bush view tents to record some numbers for a potential future option, but as I approached the 2nd or 3rd bush view tent, I heard a strange sound and it took my brain a few seconds to process the animal model. I then realised it was a snoring tent occupant, not an animal, so I called Albert over, however I didn’t say anything as I wanted to see her reaction to the noise, but as the penny dropped with Albert, I started laughing, and the occupant gave 1 last loud snore and woke up, so we took off down the road with the Cow following along behind us while mumbling about our bad behaviour. For me this was the most entertaining part of the afternoon.

At around 4pm there was another break in the drizzle, so we decided to take a short cruise up to the N’watimhiri Dam just after the H4-1/S21 turnoff.

It was still very quiet sighting wise, but the hippos at N’watimhiri Dam were having a jol, so we decided to just park off and watch for half an hour. (Check the legs of the 1 hippo sticking out the water in the pic below).

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There was also a SBS hunting in the shallows, a semi drowned tawny that gave us a laugh, some more parrots for the Cow, and a giant kingfisher parking off on a rock.

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[Bushcraft]

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On the return drive to Lower Sabie a few breaks in the clouds started to appear and the wind strength was decreasing, so I hoped that conditions would start to improve as even some boons started to come out and lay around in the few semi patches of sun. The 2 below cracked us up and I couldn’t help thinking about the historical boon model that was doing it’s rounds for Richprins many years ago.

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[Bushcraft]

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It was another freezing cold night, so the braai served a dual purpose and we all ducked off to bed directly after supper to hide under blankets.

To be continued

[Lisbeth]

Hello Bushy

I wish that you could slow down a tiny bit, please!

I have never heard about such temperatures in Kruger and with the rain everything gets more complicated and less pleasant without the sun It cannot have been very enjoyable, but you make it sound not too bad. Luckily you got the car fixed. I hope that it will last until you get home again

Not all the birds suffered from A.D.D It took me a moment to translate A.D.D

Re the leopard...I don't get surprised anymore only

Shoes have their advantages

Is Albert going to start university too? What is Bushpig studying and Hawk-eyes?

[Richprins]

Bushy!

Wow what a start, thanks for all the detail, makes for intriguing reading!

Caqr drama, and weather!

Momprins and I had just left Kruger the day before the front, be happy you did not have the 40 plus temperatures then!

And leopards already etc, but you know how!

I love the hippo legs, and accommodation at Jozini looks good!

Plus civet!

[Flutterby]

Great start as always BC!!

We have definitely learned from you to hang around at leopard kills/possible leopard sightings and it paid off!

[Pumbaa]

Thanks Bushcraft,

just caught up

As always such a great start already with the leopard and lion and all the other animals you saw so far

However, must say that you had extreme bad luck with the weather Never thought that it could that cold in Kruger

Ready for more