Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:12 pm
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Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Page 4 of 31
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:27 am
I'm aboard too
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:00 am
OK guys, I think it's time to get this show on the road!
We were up at about 11:15pm on Monday night, ready to finish the packing etc. We had planned to leave at about 12:30am, but as usual Mommo arrived at about 12:00am as he was too excited to wait another half hour, and we hit the road at about 12:10am! Now many people who hear that we leave this early think we are mad, but this has been a tradition since the time my mom and her brother used to go with Mommo and Gan (what I called my granny - inventive names right!
) They would sometimes leave even earlier and then when at the gate, sleep for a couple hours before it opened! 
So, we arrived at Phalaborwa at about 05:35am with an easy drive there. After setting up the cameras and putting the green ribbon on, we were finally in the park again!
And to start our trip off...a beautiful Masorini sunrise.
I also snapped a shot of the colourful Mopani leaves surrounding us.
Of course our first animal on the H9, was an impala, followed by 2 vultures. After that we arrived at Sable Dam. We could not believe how full it was...but that did make for an awesome photo opportunity!
While sitting at the dam, the overnight guests told us that there were lions there that night, so we should keep ours eyes open. So off we went looking for the lions, but sadly we didn't find them.
Now before I continue I must just add something in...obviously the top of the wishlist was to find a cararcal, but Mommo and mom also wanted to find some other things. Mommo wanted to find Roan antelope and mom wanted to find big tuskers. And what do we find on the H9, after Sable Dam. A big tusker!
We don't know who he is yet as we have to wait for aat to get back from Kruger to identify him. All we know is that he has some potentially huge tusks on him!
A ground hornbill.
Just after him, we found a Dark-Chanting Goshawk in a tree. While we were watching him, he swooped down from the tree into the road, and caught a small snake. Unfortunately there was no time for pics, but still a great sight!
We then had 2 hyenas cross the road, but again too quick for pics!
On the H1-6, we had plenty game, including a chameleon in the road.
We also had plenty ellies along most of the road. Now as you know that was not particularly fun for me, but surprisingly, I heard mom telling Mommo to stop going closer to them more than I did!
I think that video of the elephant charge freaked her out a bit.
This one ellie made us laugh as he had decided that he was king of Kruger, and walked around with a crown on his head.
A LBR with its breakfast.
Some buffs in the road.
After a great morning we got to Shingwedzi, and went to sit at the deck until we could check in, where I sipped on a chocolate milkshake to cool me down, as it was already almost 30°C!
We were up at about 11:15pm on Monday night, ready to finish the packing etc. We had planned to leave at about 12:30am, but as usual Mommo arrived at about 12:00am as he was too excited to wait another half hour, and we hit the road at about 12:10am! Now many people who hear that we leave this early think we are mad, but this has been a tradition since the time my mom and her brother used to go with Mommo and Gan (what I called my granny - inventive names right!
) They would sometimes leave even earlier and then when at the gate, sleep for a couple hours before it opened! So, we arrived at Phalaborwa at about 05:35am with an easy drive there. After setting up the cameras and putting the green ribbon on, we were finally in the park again!
And to start our trip off...a beautiful Masorini sunrise.
I also snapped a shot of the colourful Mopani leaves surrounding us.
Of course our first animal on the H9, was an impala, followed by 2 vultures. After that we arrived at Sable Dam. We could not believe how full it was...but that did make for an awesome photo opportunity!
While sitting at the dam, the overnight guests told us that there were lions there that night, so we should keep ours eyes open. So off we went looking for the lions, but sadly we didn't find them.
Now before I continue I must just add something in...obviously the top of the wishlist was to find a cararcal, but Mommo and mom also wanted to find some other things. Mommo wanted to find Roan antelope and mom wanted to find big tuskers. And what do we find on the H9, after Sable Dam. A big tusker!
We don't know who he is yet as we have to wait for aat to get back from Kruger to identify him. All we know is that he has some potentially huge tusks on him!
A ground hornbill.
Just after him, we found a Dark-Chanting Goshawk in a tree. While we were watching him, he swooped down from the tree into the road, and caught a small snake. Unfortunately there was no time for pics, but still a great sight!
We then had 2 hyenas cross the road, but again too quick for pics!
On the H1-6, we had plenty game, including a chameleon in the road.
We also had plenty ellies along most of the road. Now as you know that was not particularly fun for me, but surprisingly, I heard mom telling Mommo to stop going closer to them more than I did!
I think that video of the elephant charge freaked her out a bit. This one ellie made us laugh as he had decided that he was king of Kruger, and walked around with a crown on his head.
A LBR with its breakfast.
Some buffs in the road.
After a great morning we got to Shingwedzi, and went to sit at the deck until we could check in, where I sipped on a chocolate milkshake to cool me down, as it was already almost 30°C!
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:38 am
Nice tusker and the baby buff is real small 
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:06 pm
nice Tusker 
and really nice to see the dam is full of water
I love too Mopane leaves
and really nice to see the dam is full of water
I love too Mopane leaves
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:32 pm
Big Tusker BB 
Nice sunrise and mopani leave shots
We have left for KNP at midnight many a time
Nice sunrise and mopani leave shots
We have left for KNP at midnight many a time
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:44 pm
That's not a "potential" tusker! 
Roan antelope is a good call by Mommo!
Roan antelope is a good call by Mommo!
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 6:15 pm
Nice tusker but my favourites are the hornbill and the chameleon
Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:29 pm
nice photo of mopani butterflies.Re: Flutts, The Brat and Mommo Looking for Caracal
Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 1:34 pm
Thanks for all the comments!
Some of my impressions of the morning...
Too lazy to change to a smaller lens, so I had a slightly restricted view of the sunrise at Sable Dam.
Our first Korhaan of the trip (in horrible light)...we saw quite a few of them.
These little critters on the H9 kept us entertained for a while.
Then, something I'd been hoping to find...a Big Tusker!!
He was in musth but still relatively calm.
We thought it might be Kaleka, but when we saw Aat a couple of days later he wasn't sure.
These Golden Orbs were all over the park...I've never seen so many before!
The Brat steering while Mommo checks the map.
This roller was obviously never taught not to play with his food!
We made it to Shingwedzi at about 1pm and were told we could get the key at 1.30 so we went to the deck for a quick drink and to check out the riverbed.
Some of my impressions of the morning...
Too lazy to change to a smaller lens, so I had a slightly restricted view of the sunrise at Sable Dam.
Our first Korhaan of the trip (in horrible light)...we saw quite a few of them.
These little critters on the H9 kept us entertained for a while.
Then, something I'd been hoping to find...a Big Tusker!!
He was in musth but still relatively calm.
We thought it might be Kaleka, but when we saw Aat a couple of days later he wasn't sure.
These Golden Orbs were all over the park...I've never seen so many before!
The Brat steering while Mommo checks the map.
This roller was obviously never taught not to play with his food!
We made it to Shingwedzi at about 1pm and were told we could get the key at 1.30 so we went to the deck for a quick drink and to check out the riverbed.