Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015*

[RogerFraser]

Was one very rewarding sighting, the whole trip was planned for finding dogs and we finally found them . .Richprins yes its was definately some

nan sorry I will try post with less pictures per post .There is still many more images to come

A video of the sighting is up here http://youtu.be/QB4Jq5xB5J0 Not the best quality (our first time doing video captures )

[Flutterby]

Just catching up here. Some great sightings you had, and you were well-rewarded with the doggies! It's great to see their waking-up ritual! I saw a pic on FB where someone managed to get the whole Orpen pack in one picture...I think there were about 37!

[RogerFraser]

Day 8 Jan 10th Part 1 H7->S100

We got up early with the idea to drive the S100 .It was wet and cloudy as we left Maroela

These baby Wildbeest were still waking up.


These Impis were enjoying the cooler weather sparing with each other .


Further along towards Satara we found a few cars sitting on the side of the road . Up on the ridge a Lazy Lion slept oblivious to the goings on.We did not

linger long intending on covering some distance today .



And as fate often has its say ,a few Kilometers further on the oposite side of the road we found these two LL's


We stopped and watched these Monkeys enjoying a berry breakfast .



We had to stop and wait while a breeding herd crossed in front of us .


We reached the S100 and started on the loop.

[RogerFraser]

Lisbeth often wonder what the attraction is of Lions in the daytime they often seem dead
nan glad your computer is keeping up I am trying to keep the posts shorter
Toko we actually sat for a while watching them on Day 7 or 6 running around looked like they were being taught by the adults on how to run and gallop was quite entertaining .

Day 8 Jan 10th Part 2

We reached the S100 and started on the loop.

This fellow was on lookout.


The bee eater was waiting to see if any bees would come out in the rain .



This Impi had lost a sparring session at some stage .


Then up ahead a small animal scurried across the road , we managed to get closer and found this black backed Jackal who darted into the side as soon as we approached.


A little further as we came around a bend we found a herbivore taking advantage of the cooler rain



We found this log floating in a small dam .


We came across a fair sized Python crossing the road .It was quite slow in the rain and we managed to get a video of it as well as pics



We found a croc trying to find some sunshine.



Further down the S41 two Side stripped Jackals shot across the road nearly too quick for us to get any pics....


We stopped in at Nwanetsi picnic spot for a quick stop.

[Lisbeth]

The hippo has a ferocious expression while the European bee-eaters are very sweet and the tawny eagle very majestic

[RogerFraser]

Day 8 Jan 10th Part 3

Leaving Nwanetsi picnic spot we went down the H6 towards H1-4

We found this Giraffe was having a rest in the cooler weather .


These Zebras were getting rather frisky.



The Bustard was poking around the grass close to the end of the H6.


We stopped in to Satara ,hired a skottle and had breakfast (bacon and egg rolls) in the Day visitors area .

Leaving Satara we headed up the H1-4 towards the S90.
We came across another LL sighting ....and carried on our way .



There were some spectators waiting for the LL as well.


Turning into the S90 we came across two ellies walking along and across the road .A vehicle in front of us turned around and left rather than wait .


We waited for about 15 minutes and they meandered off to the side .Carrying on we came upon this Yellow Billed Stork


This little one was rather shy and only stayed for one photo .


Turning onto the S41 we came across this turtle on a outing


And then a bit of a private joke moment we came across this

now my SO has always wanted to see a living Porcupine in KNP we have a joke running because on a trip to Gauteng some years ago we actually hit one in the car on the N3 freeway near Harrismith at night .A scary experience to say the least the funny part was my wife did not see it then either ...

Carrying on we found this baby Wildebees

with Mom of course


This heron was trying to hide behind the bushes


This Francolin was keeping a look out.


A hippo swam by Gudzani Dam .


Turning onto the S100 we came across a vehicle stopped and they motioned us to their sighting on the side .A not too lazy lioness crunched on something (never could see it ) in the grass and her Pride mate watched . After a while they got up and walk back through the tree line onto the S41 and then carried on to the tree line we could not follow .





We carried on the S100 only seeing one other sighting the whole road this time


We travelled back on the H7 and did the timbavati loop again in reverse .

We found this little one


And this little one was having a drink


An ever vigilant one


And found the flightless variety as well




Reaching Maroela we found the BBJ skulking about again.


We returned to camp and prepared for the traveling day to Lower Sabie .Had a visitor at the fence.


PS side note we had made a special Boer maak a plan fix to our missing wheel bearing dust cap on the caravan .We took a tuna can (empty) and duck taped it to cover the wheel bearing . We planned to make a trip from lower sabie to get a replacement in Komati Port ....

[Lisbeth]

Lots of nice pics of giraffes in different sizes, Wildbeests idem, elephants etc. The "yellow-billed stork" is a white stork on vacation in SA

Lovely zebbies and bokkies

[RogerFraser]

Day 9 Jan 11th Part 1

Waking up early and starting to pack up the villa for the trip to Lower Sabie we found a few visitors

We found two of these one under my Son's beds in the tents and one under the caravan skirt.


My son took the first one we found one out and put it away from the van near a hole in the ground thinking it might go down the hole to safety when a large spider appeared and dragged the scorpion down the hole .Amazing to see the wildlife that has been wondering around you and you don’t even notice it .We took the second one and put it by the fence ..

Packing up the van completed we left on an uneventful trip to Lower Sabie .We enjoyed some of the scenery on the way .


Some birds were out .


We reached the H10 bridge by Lower Sabie and found the resident Giant Kingfisher



A crock was lying in the shallows waiting for something to come past in the current.


We found a vacant Spot at Site 1 and setup the villa .We then went to the shop and bought supplies and ice and got ready for our first loop from LS.

[RogerFraser]

Thanx for the White Stork ID

Day 9 Jan 11th Part 2

Leaving LS in the afternoon we decided to go round the S28 onto the S137.

We found the traffic around the H4-2 to be rather heavy and coming up to the S28 there was a queue right at the
turnoff. There are lions one person told us .As soon as there was a gap we drove off much to the surprise of those jostling for a shot of the Cats .

Traveling up the S28 we found an unusual ellie with upward growing tusks



we carried on the S28 and went down to the bird hide .Taking note of another herd of elephants approaching the hide. We got into the hide just as the herd reached the edge of the water .There followed much splashing but due to the thick vegetation we could not see much .Then finally part of the herd carried on around so we could see them enjoying the cool water .







We even had one that came around about 10 meters from the hide but the clicking of the camera spooked it and it moved back as it was unsure .

After cooling off this fellow was blocked on the one side bank by another of the same size so it went around .


There after they had a game of you move no you first ...

They pushed and shoved each other all around



Until the herd had moved well off then they decided to follow.

We found more birds away from the hide .Turning onto the S137.




This little Zebra was obviously quite new and was not used to the cleaning services .He kept hoping and skipping trying to get the bird of his back.



This fellow was scurrying down the road.


Turning back onto the H4-2 towards Lower Sabie we found the resident Fish Eagles




We traveled to Sunset dam found the roller

and the fisherman



We enjoyed the sunset before going back to camp.

[Lisbeth]

A lady ellie with funny tusks. I wonder if she is a known one Maybe not as the tusks are strange but rather thin even considered that she is a lady.

The storks seem to be following you White storks and yellow- billed storks

I love your ellies showering...or whatever

Lovely European roller

Nice pics of the fish eagle