A Fantarantulatastic Trip To Kruger - April 2017

[Bushcraft]

A cheetah sighting , but it sounds like your patience was getting stretched.

Was that fish eagle on the Sabie low water bridge just before the Skukuza day visitors. There’s a local who always hangs out there.

Cool camp setup

Puncture repair

Wrong Fortuner

[PJL]

Thanks everyone for the comments

April 9th

The route between Lower Sabie towards Skukuza had been amazing for sightings on our last visit, but that had been in the dry season and for some reason we were expecting it to still be the same. So we set off with a plan to have breakfast at Lower Sabie after what we were expecting to be many hold-ups due to incredible sightings. But alas it was dead quiet

Other than a brown snake eagle and some ellies coming down to drink in the Sabie there really wasn't anything more than a few impala herds around





We arrived at Lower Sabie much earlier than we had anticipated, so continued on to check out the S28 and Duke area. There had been lions in the road that morning but by the time we eventually figured out where they had disappeared into thick bush... not to worry, we went back to Lower Sabie and enjoyed breakfast on the deck

The kids were keen to pop down to the low level bridge before heading back to Skuks, and D was pleased to see a croc hanging out as usual



As we turned around at the end of the bridge, a monitor crossed the road and headed down the embankment





As the sightings had been so quiet we really enjoyed watching the monitor moving around in close proximity just off the side of the road













Whilst sitting watching the monitor, H had good eyes to spot this young green-backed heron



Heading up the H4-1 we got stuck in a bit of a traffic jam due to some lions that were moving through the very thick bush... we stopped for a proof shot and then waited near Lubyelubye bridge to see if they would come through but they must have found shade and flopped down



Our last sighting on the way back was a young elephant taking a nap

[Flutterby]

Sometimes that road pumps and other times it can be dead...the luck of the draw.

Nice pics of the monitor.

[Richprins]

Very interesting pics of the leguan, Peej...looks like it may be moulting? (Changing skin) never seen that!

That road is a curse!

Don't know if you've ever seen this Grand Prix?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwLbLt-PGus

[Lisbeth]

Too bad S28 with nothing at all is not happening every day

D must have been happy also with the monitor Nice pics

RP, that video is crazy

[nan]

like too the moulting Monitor
and baby Ellie sleeping

love the Heron

[PJL]

Brilliant video RP... but our morning was very different

[PJL]

April 9th Continued

After a fairly dry morning on the H4-1 we planned our afternoon drive around the H3 and S114. Along the H3 we struck luck with a young hyena suckling on its mom right next to the road





D loves hyenas and I think he would have quite happily sat there all afternoon





The little one ventured back into the bush after a while so we continued on our way and were rewarded with some decent sightings

Whilst sitting watching one of the unmentionables, a Swainsons spurfowl family ran across the road... they were still very little



The rest of our drive produced plenty of general game, but I had planned to check out the Renosterkoppies area late on as there had been lion in the vicinity in the morning. Our timing couldn't have been better. As soon as we arrived in the area where they had been seen, a female came out the bushes leading her mate on a bit of a run around



It was really getting dark so photos weren't easy, but another male came out the bushes a few minutes later and posed nicely for us before trying to work out via the scent which direction the others had gone





It had been a great end to the day, and we couldn't help but chuckle a bit when driving back as many OSVs came roaring past in the opposite direction... they were too late for the lions already

[All-Nature]

Caught up and so enjoyed all your lovely sightings
Wonderful landscape photos too - Gorgeous Bataleur

Lions, Wilddogs and Cheetah who could ask for more
The Mongooses are just so cute!
Hyena's are super exciting to watch when they are young

[Mel]

Those monitors are kinda weird beasts, but I do like them for some reason unknown to myself

Great sighting and photo of the green backed heron

And some hyenas for D Why didn't you stay there all day or until the hyenas were gone

That was one of the prettier male lions of the Kruger Probably imported from the KTP