Africa Wild

24th Lower Sabie to Skukuza continued

It wasn’t great sitting in the howling cold wind trying to photograph birds in the dark conditions and eventually we had more blurred pics than good ones so moved on towards Skukuza.

Our next stop was around 500m from Nkuhlu where we hit a luck with a leopard trying to warm up on a rock in the riverbed. He was initially checking around and cleaning himself, so we weren’t sure if he was going to suddenly duck, but after 20 minutes he settled down and went to sleep so we continued on.


Next we decided to cross the H12 Bridge and visit a little dirt loop 4km down the S30 which is one of Albert’s favourite spots because it’s amongst the trees and the water is fairly close to the loop, so there’s always something happening. Today it produced a hyena, some birds and hippo, so we parked off for 10 minutes just watching as it was peaceful.

Eventually we decided to move on so I slowly pulled off while still checking the riverbed out and seconds later there was a big bang and the car stopped suddenly as if I had hit a brick wall.

“WTF, we have hit something!”

“There’s nothing there!”

I put the car in reverse and slowly moved backwards which produced some scrapping noises and then we were free.

There was a massive rock in the loop’s turning circle and the impact had pushed my bull bar back into my bumper, but fortunately there was no serious damage, however I have just got the repair quotes and the cheapest is just over R13 000. Others must have also hit this rock as it’s in the turning circle, so Sanparks should remove it or close that section of road off.

I carried on towards Skukuza with a major pelican, however my mood improved slightly around 5km from Skukuza as some familiar spots appeared in a tree on the opposite bank. I had a mission trying to explain the leopard’s position to the clan and eventually used a camera to show everybody, but while we were stuffing around the leopard turned to show us its butt and we missed pics of him standing up.


The leopard seemed to settle in and some needed the loo, so we continued on to the Skukuza day visitor’s area, but we pulled into the parking lot and pulled out again because the Heritage Day chaos had already arrived and the place was packed.

I continued on with reservations to Skukuza to see if maybe those ablutions were more peaceful, however Skukuza was also pumping with people, so we had no choice other than to wait in the ablution queue.

I had been warned about Skukuza on Heritage Day and I had been trying for months to get alternate accommodation for the night, but there had been no cancellations elsewhere.


To be continued

Catching up again .
Ja would also have a bit of a Pelican hitting a rock like that wasn't too chuffed on our recent trip for not getting a puncture fixed at Skuks .

Lovely sighting of the big Male lions and nice to see some birds

So glad you keeping count cause I am just seeing spots .

Bushcraft wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 7:09 pm
22 different leopard, 27 sightings. 5 twice, the Cow's leopard just south of Lower Sabie x 2 (1st and 2nd day in), Sausage x 2, once already on Lubyelubye and 1 more coming later, Thicky Ricky x 2 (the drinking leopard and in the road when we named him), Nkuhlu male x 2 still coming and the little female just south of the S79 x 2 (the curled up one in the tree just posted and 1 more still coming)

Terrorists I never thought of that, maybe somebody is watching me now

There's a bigger pelican the next day due to a rock

Bushcraft wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 7:09 pm 22 different leopard, 27 sightings. 5 twice, the Cow's leopard just south of Lower Sabie x 2 (1st and 2nd day in), Sausage x 2, once already on Lubyelubye and 1 more coming later, Thicky Ricky x 2 (the drinking leopard and in the road when we named him), Nkuhlu male x 2 still coming and the little female just south of the S79 x 2 (the curled up one in the tree just posted and 1 more still coming)

Now I am SERIOUSLY impressed

A busy morning and some false starts in getting away from Lower Sabie!

I like the hyena sightings at favourite spots...

And very pretty leopard on the rocks there!

Ja, BC, everybody has hit that rock...

Have you ever tried changing a booking on the actual day? It often works.

Wow i go play golf for a day and i miss 3 installments

I will quickly tell the other people to keep the noise down and if they don't listen I will phone the camp manager

Wow some birds too

Stunning sighting of the male lions!

And another two leopards!!

I know that loop on the S30 well...and that rock!! We also hit it during our January trip but thankfully there was no damage. I saw a post on FB where someone's car actually got stuck and had to be towed off, so they should definitely remove it!!

Lovely bird pics! Especially the bee-eater and the giant kingfisher

Too bad about the car You are right, that rock should not be there

I like the birds at Sunset dam

I think there are far more leopards in Southern Kruger than white-headed vultures, so well done