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Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 5:56 pm
by Richprins
Lots of things to see, Pumbaa! \O

Love the kudu in the morning light! [O]

Glad the S100 delivered, what a good spotting by Timon! ^Q^

That first lioness is old and battered... :no:

Exquisite pics of the drinking lion with the light, once again! (Do you notice the dragonfly on the head of one?)

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Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 5:34 pm
by Pumbaa
Lisbeth wrote: Tue Apr 15, 2025 6:16 pm The Hyena was caught looking ridiculous lol ^Q^

Great pics of the two birds ^Q^

I am sure you know that lions are not my favourite animals O** lol

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I really know but we saw so many during that trip O** O** O** but for sure a lot of other things too O/\

Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 5:38 pm
by Pumbaa
Richprins wrote: Sun Apr 20, 2025 5:56 pm Lots of things to see, Pumbaa! \O

Love the kudu in the morning light! [O]

Glad the S100 delivered, what a good spotting by Timon! ^Q^

That first lioness is old and battered... :no:

Exquisite pics of the drinking lion with the light, once again! (Do you notice the dragonfly on the head of one?)

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Yes, we noticed and on top that lght was perfect \O

Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 5:41 pm
by Pumbaa
We did not stay long at the picnic spot and turned again into the S41 but luckily now a couple of animals were finally willing to show up such as these hungry giraffes,

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this impressive waterbuck male at one of the causeways

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we noticed a couple of European bee eaters not close enough for good shots therefore that dragon fly could be photographed

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as well as this gorgeous waterbuck youngster.

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Do not know where all these animals were hiding during our first drive to the picnic spot but now they were around. After another short visit to Gudzani dam we continued our drive on the S41 and soon more giraffes came across as well the usual suspects such as zebras and wildebeests.

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Along the S41 into the direction of the S90 there are also a couple of causeways to be crossed but most of them had not much water left as least at one a couple of dragon flies could be photographed

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and there were in fact more than one specie around.

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The grass along the S90 was again extreme high so that we unfortunately could not trace anything on the ground and we only discovered this saddle billed stork on a nest in a tree before we returned quite early back to camp.

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Due to the long drive and the heat yesterday this break in camp was extreme welcome and on top today we had “only” 36 degrees which it the “normal” summer temperature we do have normally during our stays in the park. After a nice long break on our verandah we strolled to the Cattle baron restaurant for lunch but before we reached same Timon again discovered a couple of bats in the trees in front of the reception.

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There were not that much hanging around as the previous years so we were happy in having found them and for sure soon had a crowd of people around us.

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Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 5:42 pm
by Pumbaa
The lunch was delicious and service also here fantastic and after we returned to our bungalow we made ourselves comfortable on our verandah trying to do some birding and soon we again noted a bearded woodpecker close to one of the trees around our bungalow.

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After a while even a couple of woodhoopoes landed on the ground close to another tree and entertained us quite a while.

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We again left camp quite late into the direction of Girivana and along our way under a marula tree a couple of warthogs had a great time in feeding on same.

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That little steenbokkie was in fact not very easy to spot as the grass was quite high but at least same did not run away and allowed a couple of shots.

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At Girivana itself an elephant invasion took already place and quite a lot different herds were coming and going so we parked under the large trees there and once again enjoyed all the different sized elephants

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quenching their thirst.

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to be continued...........................

Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 6:38 pm
by Lisbeth
Even If Lions are not my favourite animals, it doesn't mean that you should not post loads of them, when they are around ;-)

Cute steenbok and a splendid waterbuck ^Q^

Woodpecker pics^Q^

Elephants are always welcome \O

It is very hot <hot> :shock: I'm going to have a try in late winter ;-) Like you, I have always been to SA during summer.

Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2025 2:43 pm
by Bushcraft
Catching up from page 16 0:

Great peaceful wild dog sighting at the S114/H5 intersection.

Agreed, the vegetation on H4-1 is far too dense in February. We only rate the road in the winter months and only early morning or late afternoon due to the consistent traffic.

Awesome hyena sighting at “RP’s pond” on the S130 and then dogs in the mix interacting. What a sighting that was. ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ :-0

I also love that particular little loop viewpoint on the S30, but watch out for the sump killer rock that sticks out the ground. It cost me some panel beating already. O/

I find the S65 very hit and miss. ..0..

Some fantastic pics from your Lake Panic visit O/\

Lioness carrying a small cub, a lioness making an attempt at an impala and then a wartie O/\ O/\ :-0

Elephant at Tshokwane O:V

Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2025 5:50 pm
by Richprins
Another lovely episode, Pumbaa! \O

Glad it was only 36! 0: lol

Love the bats and dragonflies! [O]

And the steenbokkie!

Looks like Girivana had enough water... ..0..

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Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 10:40 pm
by Pumbaa
Lisbeth wrote: Mon Apr 21, 2025 6:38 pm Even If Lions are not my favourite animals, it doesn't mean that you should not post loads of them, when they are around ;-)

Cute steenbok and a splendid waterbuck ^Q^

Woodpecker pics^Q^

Elephants are always welcome \O

It is very hot <hot> :shock: I'm going to have a try in late winter ;-) Like you, I have always been to SA during summer.
During that trip it was extremely hot during other trips with only had one or two days with temperatures above 40 degress but during that trip nearly each day was around 40 degrees. This year it was the complete contrary it was again very wet with slight drizzling rain all day long and most of the time we had around 27 degrees but with extreme humidity. :shock: As already said we saw during that trip that many lions as we never saw ever before O** O** O**

Re: The Heat is on and the Lions as well

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 10:44 pm
by Pumbaa
Bushcraft wrote: Fri Apr 25, 2025 2:43 pm Catching up from page 16 0:

Great peaceful wild dog sighting at the S114/H5 intersection.

Agreed, the vegetation on H4-1 is far too dense in February. We only rate the road in the winter months and only early morning or late afternoon due to the consistent traffic.

Awesome hyena sighting at “RP’s pond” on the S130 and then dogs in the mix interacting. What a sighting that was. ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ :-0

I also love that particular little loop viewpoint on the S30, but watch out for the sump killer rock that sticks out the ground. It cost me some panel beating already. O/

I find the S65 very hit and miss. ..0..

Some fantastic pics from your Lake Panic visit O/\

Lioness carrying a small cub, a lioness making an attempt at an impala and then a wartie O/\ O/\ :-0

Elephant at Tshokwane O:V
During that trip the S65 was in fact a "miss" road but we had already nice leopard sightings there so we always give same a try O** O** O** That wild dog / hyena sighting at "RP's" favourite pond was in fact one of the best waterhole sightings we ever had. :yes: