Flavour of the Month: October / November 2017 - S50 Kanniedood Dam Road - Shingwedzi-Mopani Dirt Road

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
Sep 13

09:30
5 Cheetahs on an Impala kill
S50, at S143 turn-off
Near Mopani
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Christa

[Richprins]

VIDEO


https://twitter.com/i/status/1048853653283659776


Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
Oct 7

06:30
Pride of 20 Lions were lying in the riverbe
S50, 19km S of Shingwedzi
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Deon

[Richprins]

From a 2013 flying cheetah story:

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... &start=150

In camp everybody was extremely friendly and it was obvious that they all wanted to go back to normal as soon as possible. In the afternoon I was driving 15 km's into the S50 and herethe changes in the landscape were even more obvious. It was amazing and also shocking to see how many of the big old trees have been washed away But the first animal I saw after leaving camp was this Yellow-billed Kite:









As you an see some stretches looked really bad but that's nature.
Before my drive ended I still had twoi very nice sightings First I saw this Osprey (only saw very few in KNP):



And nearly with the last sun rays of the day I saw a light coloured animal on the other side of the riverbed and I needed my binoculars to identify it. It was my very first Albino Impala Isn't it amazing that this full grown boy survived all the years with this handicap





tbc

[Richprins]

The following morning I left Shingwedzi and headed southwards towards Olifants. Before I turned into the S50 I had a last look on the destroyed low level bridge behind the camp which used to be one of my favourite spots in the whole park. I hope the day will come soon when I can stand on this bridge again!



The firsat km's along the river were very quiet but suddenly I heard a loud ROAR behind me. It took a while but then I found the individual that was rsponsible for this amazing sound. It was a nice male lion who made clear that only he was the king of this area







He was much farer away than many other lions I saw during this trip but this was a very impressive animal and his roaring was immense! When I finally left him it was time again to look at the smaller animals like these Bee-eaters and enjoy the beautiful landscape.





Not far behind the Hide there used to stand a beautiful Fevertree where I always had a short stop but this day I had to realize that this lovely tree has fallen I wonder what has caused te death of this tree



I was curious to see what awaited me at Grootvlei. There was lots of water but not many animals around. So I took a pic of some Storks that were flying high above me.



Of course I also made a last visit to Tihanganyani to see if the lionswere around again. But today the waterhole had no visitors at all...So I arrived sooner than I thought in the Mopani area and before I had lunch in the camp (fantastic as always!!) I checked the Shipandani bridge again. No Elephants this time but this beautiful dragonfly also was very entertaining. Especially if you want to take a pic of her...

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
22h22 hours ago

11:17
14 Roan Antelopes on the move
S50, Nshawu No. 3 waterhole
Near Mopani
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Beeglou

[Richprins]

VIDEO


https://twitter.com/i/status/1058714033593991173


Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
Nov 3

09:20
2 male lions lying 30m from the road
S50, 500m N of S143
Near Mopani
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Alberto - Matimba Lodge

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
Nov 9

10:20
Tsessebe herd, 10 strong with a very small calf
S50, 1km S of Mopani S50 turn-off/split
Vis 5/5, although now in the bush to the E of the road, vis 3/5
Tinged by Dan - Kruger Explorer






Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
Nov 9

09:20
Cheetah with 2 small cubs
S50, 50m N of S143 junction
Near Mopani
Vis 5/5, but then moved off east into Nshawu marsh grasses.
Tinged by Dan - Kruger Explorer

[Richprins]

Cheetah again by aat in 2014:




viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5183

A beautiful hot day in Mopani and late afternoon I was ready for a drive to find Tuskers in this great area. Driving to Mooiplaas , no tusker at all… so moving on towards the Nshawu area to see if my friends were waiting for me. Some far away elephants and buffalo but no tusker. So turning left towards Capricorn Loop. I was a bit doubting, it was dry , hot and some cars in front of me producing lots of dust.
Decision made… turning around and following the S50 along Nshawu , who knows…

Looking at the Nshawu area , no signs of tuskers so moving on and suddenly, out of nothing at the lefthand side of the road….

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
18h18 hours ago

06:20
33 Elands were running all over the place and then relaxed on the other side of the dam.
S50, Grootvlei dam
Near Shingwedzi
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Deon and Jacques

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
18h18 hours ago

05:05
Serval next to the road.
S50, 11km south of Shingwedzi
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Deon and Jacques