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Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:29 pm
by Pumbaa
Flutterby wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 8:31 am
Fantastic wild dog and lion sightings!
Must say that the S25 paid of this year - Same can also be extreme quiet
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:30 pm
by Pumbaa
Richprins wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 6:08 pm
Nice, Pumbaa!
Ja, the males are not big hunters, as a rule, they occupy the pride kills, hence them looking up for vultures?
That Vurhami bridge is a lovely spot, Dwarf and I sat there for hours this year!
At that bridge there is always something to be seen - Always a good evening drive when staying in Croc bridge
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:32 pm
by Pumbaa
Lots of wildebeestas, impalas as well as zebras could seen at that first stretch of the S28
and as always we turned into one smaller loop leading closer to the Gesamftombi river but that loop was extreme washed out and could only be driven extreme carefully. At least we soon spotted a wooly necked stork there
and as here also still a bit water was left a couple of hippos were inside same but suddenly one of them decided to climb out of the water
only to quench its thirst from a small puddle.
We stayed at this spot quite a while as the view was simply beautiful.
As already experienced often during summer months our beloved S28 was extreme quiet at least we stopped for a lilac breasted roller,
a longclaw
as well as for an impressive elephant bull with a floppy ear nevertheless we loved to be back on that road and as always we drove the small detour to the formerly Nhlanganzwani dam
before we already stood in front of Duke’s waterhole, well if one can still speak from a waterhole as only a small puddle with water was left it was more or less a mud puddle. Nevertheless hamerkops were around as well as a saddle-billed stork
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:33 pm
by Pumbaa
and after a while even a couple of impalas came to drink.
As the birds were successful in even catching some extreme small fish it looks as if still a bit life was inside that puddle.
For sure we stayed at the so called “waterhole” a bit longer and whilst we stood there a couple of cars arrived only to carry on without stopping therefore we again had Duke’s all to ourselves
and after another while a family of warthogs also arrived.
First they quenched their thirst as well but then the mud puddle was the best place to stay for them
the piglets enjoyed to wallow in the mud
and so did Mom
and we enjoyed to watch all the warthogs
as well as the yellow billed stork and a black smith plover who were still around
and finally also a woodland kingfisher arrived and once again we thought that the lack of rain in that area also had some advantage especially compared to last year where there was water everywhere so we can simply wait at a waterhole and let the animals come and that strategy paid off more than ones during that trip.
to be continued.......................
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 5:12 pm
by Bushcraft
Fantastic pics once again Pumbaa
I also battle to sleep the night before entering KNP
An awesome midday leopard sighting before even booking in
Lions on route to Biyamiti
Sjoe, great wild dog sighting
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 9:23 am
by Flutterby
Lots of activity at Dukes!
Love the warthogs in the mud!
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 1:31 pm
by Lisbeth
Lovely hippo pics
The warthogs look blissfully happy in the mud: “ploup, ploup!”
The S28 is one of my favourite roads. Unfortunately, the Nhlanganzwani hide is no more if I don't error
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 5:45 pm
by Richprins
Ah, sitting at a waterhole is my favourite pastime, Pumbaa!
Normally they are a waste in summer...shows you how dry it was!
Great warthog shots and the hippo spot is a nightmare to drive into, as you say!
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2024 1:03 pm
by Pumbaa
Bushcraft wrote: ↑Sat Nov 02, 2024 5:12 pm
Fantastic pics once again Pumbaa
I also battle to sleep the night before entering KNP
An awesome midday leopard sighting before even booking in
Lions on route to Biyamiti
Sjoe, great wild dog sighting
The South was good to us this year and somehow we obviously always drove the right roads
Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2024 1:04 pm
by Pumbaa
Flutterby wrote: ↑Sun Nov 03, 2024 9:23 am
Lots of activity at Dukes!
Love the warthogs in the mud!
We were so happy about the wallowing warties