Flavour of the Month - Nov 2012: Lake Panic

[Amoli]

I have only spent about an hour at a time at the hide - it's as if the open road is calling me. -O -O
don't think I can sit there all day.... -

[Dewi]

This hide must be one of the best places to watch Jacanas going about their daily buisness.

[Amoli]

Some information snippets taken from a few internet postings....

Lake Panic is an earthen dam on the Mafunyana Creek - named after one of the nicknames of L B Steyn a Park warden.

Literally the word means he who eats greedily.
Lake Panic is the name that was given shortly after construction was completed about 1975 when, during a major cloudburst, it was feared that the dam wall would give way.
I stand to be corrected, but this did happen with the last floods ?

Lake Panic hide is situated approximately 6.6 kilometres from Skukuza and overlooks a very scenic and productive bird watching spot of the lake.
The hide is perfectly situated for close viewing of so many things with the Southern bank being about 100 metres from the hide itself.
The hide is "L" shaped allowing a view east towards the bend in the dam and a view south across the short width of the dam close to the creek inlet. This section is heavily grown over with various aquatic plants including water lilies, reeds, and grasses of various sorts as well as trees.

Remember to bring binoculars, a bird book and some drinks and snacks, because you might sit longer than expected!

Hippos and monitor lizards are often seen, together with crocodiles, terrapins and a great variety of insects.
Dragonflies often come and sit right in front of the hide on the water lilies.
Larger birds include the massive goliath heron, grey heron, African darter, reed and white-breasted cormorants and Egyptian goose.
White-faced ducks also often fly right past the hide.
Also search for green-backed and squacco herons, along with black-crowned night-heron.
These are often seen on the fringes or in the reeds.

On the lillie pads, look for African jacana, lesser gallinule and black crake.
Pied kingfishers are generally present, together with pigmy and malachite kingfishers.
Also search for wire-tailed swallows, thick-billed weavers and black-winged stilts.

The best time to visit is in the late afternoon when the sun is behind you and lights up the colourful scene.

Make sure you give yourself at least 30 minutes to get back to Skukuza! You can do it in less time, but the H11 tar road has speed traps and is known for wild dogs sightings in the late afternoon! The gravel road from the hide is also good for leopards in the late afternoon, so might want to stop for a while to enjoy the sightings...

[Amoli]

[Lisbeth]

Is the hide the only place where you can get out of the car? From Dewi's posts I presume that there is a nice place for observations also on the other side of the lake, but only from the car? (I have only been to the hide )

[Dewi]

Lis, the hide is the only place visitors are allowed out. I was a guest of someone working in Skukuza, so was taken to the dam to watch the sunset.

[harrys]

Some photos from 2011:

[harrys]

[Flutterby]

I've only been to Lake Panic once, so unfortunately I only have these pics.

[Sprocky]

Great shots eveyone!!