Krugertripping this Summer...

[Lisbeth]

I am without breath running after you

The joys of camping You are describing it so well that I almost felt wet

Great to see a newly born buff And a nice sighting of the leopard

[Heksie]

That was a great day!! We've seen a leopard in that same tree before! Lucky sighting of the badger.

Great ending to the day! I swear, you have incredible luck with honey badgers!
Seen a leopard in that same tree before, wonder if it's the same one?

I don't have a lot of luck with them as they never pose for kiekies but it always an adrenaline sighting for me

KEv said the same that he has seen a leopard in that tree as well in a previous trip, I had a theory that leppies use some trees numerously but could never prove it and now I know

[Heksie]

The frog is a"gomlastiekpadda"! They cannot jump!

Am sending your defective impala pic on, if that's ok?

THanks, strange how I see all these weird sightings... or maybe I'm just lucky spotting them where other people would pass without looking twice?
THanks for the ID, is it really the name though?

Slow it down, Heksie - you don't have to make up for not having posted for a longer time
now by posting several episodes within just 24 hours.

Very wet day - agree that it might have been more comfy somewhere else...
But the next day already made up for it once again. Cool badger sighting!
And another leppie.

Mel sorry man, I had one superbiously special day and really want to share the sightings, so now I'm trying to get a move on so that can happen!!!! It was by far my best day ever with the sighting of the whole trip, I think only BC has seen the kiekies...

[Heksie]

A new born buff Pity that you just missed the birth

Moving camp for the view is a must \

The leopard came back Great sighting

Chasing HB’s through Satara for a pic is something that I have done before That’s until some aunty gave me a greasing

AH well, now it something to put on my wishlist for my next December trip
Hahahaha I know that you chased a HB with a recent trip, but why would you get a greasing? It is not like you are trying to catching the thing, I had one tannie looking at me very strangely when I was running through the bungalows at Satara, she maybe thought I was mad running after it?

wow Honey Badger, very new Buffalo
lot of colours in birds Parrot, Carmine
and the view... wow the view
what did a Monitor in hole... eating birds/animals... or sleep into
and not to forget to mention the Leopard

Thanks nan
I don't know why he was there, thought he was just posing nicely for a kiekie? SOmeone mentioned that he might have searched for eggs?

[Heksie]

I am without breath running after you

The joys of camping You are describing it so well that I almost felt wet

Great to see a newly born buff And a nice sighting of the leopard

Sorry, not to worry after this week the TR will commence in a slow and steady pace
Hahahahaha, camping is actually a lot of fun, but not to be enjoyed by sensitive people

Great TR Heksie Loads of wonderful unusual sightings!

The frog is a"gomlastiekpadda"! They cannot jump!

Am sending your defective impala pic on, if that's ok?

The frog is a Banded Rubber Frog - nice one!

What's a defective Boon called, RP?

Thanks BT, for your ID

[Heksie]

Day 21… the best New Years Party ever!!!!
31 December

I woke bright and early this morning after a wonderful restful night in my tent, it was way better than sleeping in my car and decide that because the S100 is still closed I would be driving North today. I took on the H1-4 and was sad to see that the S90 was also closed. At least there was much more sightings this morning.







And to my surprise the S127 to Timbavati picnic spot is open so I turn unto it. It is very strange as I remember that when I started coming to Kruger I hated dirt roads but now I prefer them over tar roads anyday, the bumpiness has grown on me. Here I found my first ellies in two day and spent a bit of time with them, enjoying their presence but I don’t take any kiekies. And I also find wattled-starlings.



Then the entertainment for the morning is giraffes frolicking around…





After driving for 3 hours a pitstop had to be done at the picnic spot, it was deserted and I enjoyed the peace and quiet. Sitting on a bench and checking out the riverbed, but every now and then just looking over my shoulder for if there is an uninvited guest walking through picnic spot. Phew, I’m not that lucky this morning and after about half an hour I take on the road again. Just as I decide to take on the S40 back towards camp I see huge birds flying over me and settling just a few meters further on the S39 so a quick u-turn has to be made. On further inspection I’m very excited to see two Bateleurs and a Tawny in the same tree.









This keeps me busy for another half an hour until they all fly off again deeper into the bush. And then just a few kilometres further more birdies, this time it was a type of falcon. They would hover above the grass and then swoop down catching bugs of all sorts. Also with them were rollers. I struggled so much to get a decent pic of them as they were just too fast but the experience was fun nevertheless. This exercise took another 30 minutes of my morning. It was great seeing so much and not actually getting anywhere.



Whilst I was sitting with the birdies there were 7 Mr Majestics that crossed the road in front of me. It was absolutely amazing.



After a few more minutes I moved on, and what do I find? A squirrel posing next to the road, I crept as close as I could and switched off my car.



Then came a my first ‘poepol-moment’ for Satara, people came from the front and when they saw me parked next to the road they accelerated, you could only see dust everywhere, they were about 10 meters from me and still not slowing down and POOF the squirrel was gone! I stripped my nuts just there and then and they could see the utter disgust in my face so their smiles turned into frown in mere seconds. I started my car and just pulled off leaving them with …
It didn’t take long for my mood to change as I got to see more steenbokkies,



And I just loved the clouds, I know that this not the normal landscape you would see but I just loved the clouds and I preferred this pic over my normal landscape pics…



I also got to see a white-headed vulture



Then back on the tar road , I hadn’t seen primates in a few days so I enjoyed their company for a few minutes… they were laid back and enjoying the morning sun, grooming and lazying around.







I also got see some dagha boys



And then a close up of the warted giraffe of yesterday, seemed he stayed in this area as it was almost at the exact spot where I saw him yesterday.



I also had some marabou storks this morning



Then it was time to get back to camp…
I finished my book this afternoon and was glad that at least I have dusted 2 books this trip. Then it was time for an afternoon nap.
When it was time to wake up and pack the car I was left speechless by this buffalo weaver. He was adamant that he would lift this branch that was definitely too heavy for him, he would fail flying and then walk around the branch and assess how to carry it the next time around. Then someone came and actually broke the branch for him and he took a piece he could actually lift and went on his merry way.



I had a minor problem that I had to sort out myself this afternoon, on my way back to camp the yellow petrol light came on which meant that I was pretty much screwed until my mum and sis arrived tomorrow afternoon. I decided that screw that and went through everything, I lucky enough to find R16 between all my crap and jumped up and down, I went to the petrol station and filled up my car with 1.2 litre of petrol and knew that I could drive about 50km between what I had left and what I added now… So my afternoon drive would only be to Nsemani and back. (a super downer as the S100 opened and Riverrat told me that lions were with a kill at Gudzani dam, oi-vey!!! I had to wonder would I like to see lions today or do I want to do a drive tomorrow morning as well, uhm decisions-decisions and I knew that I would not stay in camp a morning so the shorter route was chosen)

I didn’t see much on my drive to Nsemani and back but I did enjoy sitting in my car at the dam and reading my new Tony Park book. I sat at the dam for about an hour and then drove back to camp. When I got to camp I immediately started a fire and got my meat out the fridge. I popped open a KPA and even though I was sitting here at Satara on New Years eve on my lonesome I was totally at peace… now this is the way to end a perfect day… the sun also set in a proper way the last day of 2013…



To be continued…

[nan]

nice the picture with the 2 Bateleurs and the Tawny
and Wattled Starling, beautiful Giraffe's design
and hilarious Boon

[Lisbeth]

Happy New-Year

[Richprins]

Ja...New years is overrated!

Great bateleurs and Baboons!

Herbivores like the giraffe can hang around the same place for days in the wet times...no need to do anything except find the nearest water puddle!

Ai, us teachers who are strapped for cash...but the wheel will turn, Heksie!

[Bush Brat]

Wow, great pic of the Bateleur and the Tawny.
That last landscape pic is brilliant!