Africa Wild

Phew - that was close.

Well done iLama on keeping your cool in that situation and capturing some great photos.

Nice pics iLlama! Wish we'd stayed!!

Those of you that have read our previous Pilanesberg travel tales will know that for the past 6 years we have always seen something "exceptional" on our last afternoon/evening. Was Pilanesberg going to stay true and make it seven years in a row??????

However, lets not rush things and start at the beginning and see what develops.


FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2013.

Arrived at Bakubung Gate at 11:30. A very friendly check in and off with the seat belts and radio. As is usual the drive started off very slowly in order to savour the fresh air of Pilanesberg and to try and spot game. At Lengau Dam we were shocked to see how low the dam was. We have never seen it this low. A few impala and other usual suspects along the road. Our first stop was at Mankwe Dam, again the lowest we have ever seen it.

There was an abundance of baby crocs around - someone has been very busy - and here are two of them.


White-faced duck.


Three-banded plover.


And her chick.


Pied kingfisher.


Little egret.


Grey heron.


Giraffe and some springbuck.


Ground-scraper thrush.


After a quick bite to eat we trundled on up Tshwene Drive. Just before the Mankwe Link junction a very kind "oomie" stopped us and told us that there were two cheetah a little further on. We must speak to the couple in the white combi as they know where they are and have been there for about three hours. The white combi was still there so after scanning the bush and not seeing anything we pulled up next to them and asked. As much as they tried to point them out to us we could not see them. After waiting about 30 minutes with nothing happening we moved on, very disappointed at our non-sighting of someone elses sighting. I think the problem was that my little Corolla was too low to see over the small bushes.

At Manyane Gate we saw these warthog who decided that the emergency assembly point was an emergency eating point.


By 15:00 we were well ensconced in our chalet and waiting for our friends Pete and Margie to arrive. They arrived a short while later and unpacked. We decided not to go out as we wanted to prepare Pete and Margie pshycologically before we were to meet a group of about 12 mites from Africa Wild for an evening braai.

What an amazing evening with laughter being the order of the evening and a lovely meal to boot. Oh yes, and a few dops on the side.

excellent picture of the emergency point
cute little chick

That little chick is too cute!! Such a pity you didn't get to see the cheetah, but thanks for telling us about them as we had planned a different route and wouldn't have seen them either.

Wow, you all had amazing sightings and took fantastic pics

SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2013 - PART 1 OF 2

A few photos from Mankwe Hide in the morning.

This little fellow posed very nicely us.

White-throated swallow.
Left profile.


Forward profile.


Right profile.


A first for us.
Common waxbill.


Went to Pilanesberg Centre for a slap up breakfast - French toast, bacon and syrup. Joan had the full house. Very friendly service and excellent food.

Breakfast time for this baby as well.


On Thutlwa Loop we saw these two lilac-breasted rollers. Was it a male trying to charm a female or a juvenile and mother?


Nothing much else seen in the morning so in the afternoon it was back to Mankwe Hide.

White-faced ducks - "eyes left!"


A very well camouflaged african snipe.


NEXT: The rest of the afternoon at Mankwe Hide.

Hi STF,

I see you got your ducks in a row -O

I think your Quelea is a Common Waxbill.

Nice pics

BluTuna wrote:Hi STF,

I see you got your ducks in a row -O

I think your Quelea is a Common Waxbill.

Nice pics

Thanks very much for the correction B.T. - looking at the pic again you are right.

After we left the lions we carried along Tlou Drive and found some kudu...



...and near Tlou Dams a nice-size herd of Red Hartebeest and Tsessebe together.





Next up were some ellies in the road which got Flasher rather excited!



I also got quite excited when another ellie appeared behind us!! And then a couple of minutes later Big Dave managed to drive between them and created absolute panic in the car!!

View Video

We were not amused! We eventually managed to get in front of them and I breathed a big sigh of relief, but Flasher would not forgive Big Dave so easily!!



We stopped at Makorwane Dam where the Hartebeest and Tsessebe were now drinking.







All my ducks in a row!



As we left the hide the ellies arrived at the dam, but we'd had more than enough excitement for one morning so we didn't hang around long!