Africa Wild

Saturday 22nd March continued

About 20 minutes later more cars started to arrive behind us, so Sasquatch moved in directly behind my car so that he wasn’t blocking the road, however the 1st arriving car pulled straight into his original spot and blocked the road, which got me excited initially as it gave me flash backs of southern Kruger, but at least they didn’t move in closer and chase the cheetahs which is what would have happened in southern Kruger.

A further 15 minutes later the cheetah team yawning started and this was followed up by some rolling around, so they were going to move shortly.

Then an OSV arrived and as per normal started to push his way into the sighting with his loud guests jabbering away at the top of their heads.

A couple of minutes later the OSV guests had gotten bored of the sighting and started chirping about the fact that they were hungry and another aunty needed the toilet, so the OSV driver started his vehicle, pushed his way through and then shockingly drove straight towards the cheetah, chased them off the road and just continued on.

We couldn’t believe what had just happened and I developed an instant thunderous pelican, but we still hung around to take a few last pics as the cheetahs stopped to gather themselves in the grass before moving off into the bush.


We decided to continue on down to the dead-end viewpoint 27, but stopped for another large ellie on the way and the viewpoint produced some locals hanging around.

You are permitted to exit your vehicle at the viewpoint, so we bailed out the cars and had a brief snack of leftover braai meat from the previous evening, before continuing on back up towards Mpafa hide.

About 1km from marker 25 towards Mpafa hide we found the same 3 cheetah again, but they were parking off in the long grass about 40m in and there were a few other cars present, so we took a few pics and continued on 5 minutes later.


There was nobody else at Mpafa hide, so we decided to go in and check it out, but there was no action, so we moved on fairly quickly.


A short section between Mpafa and Mpila camp produced the odd rhino and the usual suspects, but we didn’t take pics.

We arrived back in camp at around 10am and I immediately got the fire going again as pork rashers were on the menu for brunch. What we hadn’t factored in was the heat, it was pushing 35 degrees already, and the braai was directly in the sun, so it wasn’t as pleasant as a winter morning brunch braai.

After chow everybody did their own thing, but there were plenty camp locals around our unit to entertain, so the Cow and Albert went on a mission with the camera and this included chasing after a tortoise that appeared down the road, however the tortoise put the afterburners on and “escaped” into the bush before they could get a decent pic.

What superb relaxing cheetah pics in the morning sun, Bushy!

A stunning one of two yawning together!

I like that legless skink, never seen one!

Lovely view from the Mpafa hide or not

What are those black thingies:-? I think that You have posted something similar before, but I don't remember what they are

Nicely coloured grasshopper

Super relaxed cats in the sunshine

The OSV drivers should be the last to behave so badly. They ought to be an example to others

Once again brilliant cheetah shots, Bushcraft,

and again luck with the sighting - It is always great that the OSV's dod not stay that long at such sightings but never experienced that they chased the animals from the road - Indeed not fair

Once again love the warthogs shot They do look totally relaxed and also love the birdies

Richprins wrote: ↑Thu May 01, 2025 6:29 pm What superb relaxing cheetah pics in the morning sun, Bushy!

A stunning one of two yawning together!

I like that legless skink, never seen one!

Ja, it was a very good cheetah sighting RP

We have seen those giant legless skinks in KNP a few times during March /April trips

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Thu May 01, 2025 6:34 pm Lovely view from the Mpafa hide or not

What are those black thingies:-? I think that You have posted something similar before, but I don't remember what they are

Nicely coloured grasshopper

Super relaxed cats in the sunshine

The OSV drivers should be the last to behave so badly. They ought to be an example to others

The view from Mpafa is excellent, but in my opinion it's better during the early winter months as there's more action at the water, but it can dry up before Spring.

Those black thingies It's assassin bug nymphs around the eggs. Nasty little ninja predators in the insect world I believe. I think they also in the Africa Wild insect "book"