And then the rain set in or at dusk the bush comes alive

[Lisbeth]

Yes, the Cattle Egret Tree is something quite special

[Mel]

I'm also a fan of the egret photos. The one where they are sitting around the zebra is just as nice as the tree one

[Pumbaa]

Exquisite views and pics, Pumbaa!

Ja, both sides of Gezantombi are dry now already, but maybe they got some rain this week?

Gladly Duke's and Ntandanyathi hide were as full as we never saw them ever before

[Pumbaa]

I like the pic of all the cattle egrets.

It was such a wonderful sighting and we never saw such tree full of them ever before

[Pumbaa]

Yes, the Cattle Egret Tree is something quite special

Timon took so many shots of that tree

[Pumbaa]

I'm also a fan of the egret photos. The one where they are sitting around the zebra is just as nice as the tree one

The amount of cattle egrets in that area was tremendous

[Pumbaa]

As we wanted to drive a bit longer on one of our favourite roads in the park, the S28, our break was short and we were consequently on the road again soon. Meanwhile the sun came also out completely and the golden hour was about to start too. The lions were still there but we only stopped shortly and decided that they might be still there later when we returned from our excursion on the S28.We stopped for wildebeests,



giraffes



and magpies and it got obvious that the vegetation in that area got more rain as especially the S28 was lush and green and the grass was high – We saw it already higher but compared to the dry Berg en Dal area it looked totally different.



We even could capture a falcon in flight,



noticed elephants, kudus and baboons



and at the turn off to Ntandanyathi hide we noticed a black shouldered hide on a tree



staring at us from above and we were happy that we already saw that stunning raptor at that early stage of our trip as same was so far always a rare bird for us but this year it was totally different and we gladly spotted this raptor quite often throughout the whole park.



We even paid a visit to the hide and were extreme astonished that the hide looked as full of water as we never ever saw it before and after we looked a bit around we noticed a grey heron on the ground



and another one in the tree opposite the hide.

[Pumbaa]

We even had a bit time to sit down before it was time to start our ride back to camp already including a bit spare time we might spent at the lions but beforehand we simply enjoy the sunny late afternoon and stopped for another black shouldered kite



for sure for lots of elephants



and to our delight we could observe a monitor taking a sun bath right on the road in front of us



and even saw more elephants.



Close to the Gesanftombi bridge the lions were still there and now we had luck in getting a prime spot as they only were visible from a few spots along that road



and also gladly the traffic receded more and more due to the ending Sunday and the approaching gate closing time.



As it was still hot and although the lions were lying in the shade they were sleeping when we arrived but sometimes they sat up as it was about time to interrupt their beauty sleep.



After we got an overview we noticed four lions in total including two younger males.



It could be that somewhere else more were sleeping but we only could trace these four



and although they were all a bit hidden we got some usable shots



especially when they sat up for a while.



to be continued.....

[Richprins]

Great light in the "golden hour"...we call it "prime time"!


Love the heron in the tree. What falcon is that, Pumbaa?

[Flutterby]

Lovely sightings on your afternoon drive.