Africa Wild

13 June, Croc Bridge & Lower Sabie

We left the sleeping lions, popped in at Lower Sabie for a coffee and then decided to start heading back to camp via the S21, which we hadn't done in years. As it turned out, it was a bad decision!!

The road was in a terrible condition, which had us bouncing and rattling all over the place, and apart from an ellie doing a spot of mountain climbing, there was no game around!!


Coming around a corner the Brat shrieked at me to stop for a snake in the road!! I just saw a flash of bright green before skidding to a halt and jamming the car into reverse! By the time we had reversed there was no snake to be seen, and the Brat had been watching the road the whole time!! Of course, our immediate thought was that it had got into the engine! We were still ages away from camp, and there was absolutely nothing we could do but carry on!! I tried to play it down for the Brat's sake, but I was feeling very nervous....both of us kept checking the footwells for anything green. After what felt like an extremely long drive we got back to camp and went straight to the petrol station. The same staff members who had helped us with the tyre were still there, and listened to our story of a possible snake in the engine with large eyes. The lady said they had a resident snake catcher but that he was currently at Berg-en-Dal and would only be back later. None of them offered to check the engine for us, and I can't say I blame them! We went back to our hut and tried to forget about the snake. This had turned out be quite an eventful day!!

There were a few mongooses scurrying around on the grass, but as we watched, more and more came pouring through a gap under the gate. Eventually there must have been about 30 of them...I've never seen so many together before!!


https://youtu.be/6XXKHP84E8Y

PJL wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:03 am Great spot of the leopard
They can be very frustrating at times

Yes, it was a very good spot, but frustrating at the same time!

The mongooses look as if they are on a mission, apart from the one, which has found his prize

Always amazes how such big animals can climb into the hills

We have definitely seen allot more snakes than we ever manged to get pictures of

Seems allot of Mongoose around lately and always fun to watch

Interesting afternoon, Flutts!

The garage staff must have done this when they saw your car approaching after that!

Those mongoose are certainly not into sitting still!

The boy must take some tea in the car and relax a bit...

WoW Indeed very eventful times you had, Flutterby

Gladly the guys are indeed very fast and helpful when it comes to flat tyres

Love your bird shots especially the little bee eaters, the gound hornbills and the bush shrike

Plus even leopard and lions

The S21 can be extreme bording when no animals are around - In the past years we also do not had that much luck there

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:39 am The mongooses look as if they are on a mission, apart from the one, which has found his prize

Definitely...and they don't sit still long enough for a good pic!

RogerFraser wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2019 3:19 pm Always amazes how such big animals can climb into the hills

We have definitely seen allot more snakes than we ever manged to get pictures of

Seems allot of Mongoose around lately and always fun to watch

It's always strange to see ellies climbing hills. Such a pity we couldn't get a pic of this snake. It was bright green - would love to know what it was!

Richprins wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2019 5:24 pm Interesting afternoon, Flutts!

The garage staff must have done this when they saw your car approaching after that!

Those mongoose are certainly not into sitting still!

The boy must take some tea in the car and relax a bit...

We went back to the garage again....I'm sure I saw their eyes rolling!

Pumbaa wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:53 pm WoW Indeed very eventful times you had, Flutterby

Gladly the guys are indeed very fast and helpful when it comes to flat tyres

Love your bird shots especially the little bee eaters, the gound hornbills and the bush shrike

Plus even leopard and lions

The S21 can be extreme bording when no animals are around - In the past years we also do not had that much luck there

It was an exciting day! I don' think we'll be doing the S21 again in a hurry!

Nice to see that the barn owl is still hanging out at Lower Sabie

Giraffe fighting so close is a cool sighting and the “lion couple” were plotting something

Flat tyre Get a “do it yourself” tyre repair kit, it’s simple and easy. From what I have seen the “tyre repair guys” in KNP use the same kit.

Nice leopard spot by Brat

The S21 is very hit and miss, but I laughed at the snake story.

It took the tyre guy quite a bit of effort to plug the hole...don't think I would have been able to do it.

We weren't laughing at the snake story!

Mongeese invasion! Lovely footage

As for the snake: I'm only ever allowed to watch one as long as it is far enough from the car's engine...
So, I reckon the SO can totally relate to your caution (I do as well, btw )