A Fantarantulatastic Trip To Kruger - April 2017

[Lisbeth]

The lion looks rather worn out

[Flutterby]

Nice video.

Never seen a puffie in Kruger...nice one.

The chameleon was a good spot. At least you saw lion as well.

[PJL]

Thanks for the comments everyone

April 11th

Our last full day in Kruger dawned a bit overcast which made the start of our morning drive rather dark. Apart from a lone buffalo it was quiet along the H11, but shortly after turning into the S1 we had our first highlight of the day... a really little hyena pup playing next to the road whilst its mom snoozed nearby







It was the smallest pup we had ever seen, and yet it was so inquisitive



The mom occasionally kept an eye on us, but didn't seem too concerned about a couple of vehicles



We sat and enjoyed watching the youngster as it wandered around, checked out the audience and posed nicely for us









As a few other vehicles started arriving we left the hyenas in peace and continued along the S1 until we found a couple of cars including a certain brown discovery waving frantically at us to stop. I knew we must be at something special - and almost immediately a big male leopard came up onto the road from the same pool where the wild dog had been drinking the previous day.





I almost dropped my camera out the car in excitement, and I was seriously struggling to keep the camera still to take photos... leopard sightings have that effect



He seemed interested in trying to cross the road...





But he then gave up on that idea. Perhaps the cars put him off. After glancing around a bit he continued walking along the side of the road, and we did our best to try and be in a position to take photos without disturbing him too much











There were only 3 vehicles at this point and he didn't seem too bothered, but then the OSV brigade arrived which made the leopard make a move off the road very quickly. After a bit of sniffing at some bushes he disappeared into the tall grass...



It was by far our best ever leopard sighting, and although it was all over in less than 2 minutes it had simply been magical to see such a magnificent big cat up close

[Lisbeth]

The hyena cub still has the look of innocence in his big eyes and also a rather high cuteness factor

The leopard is better though A leopard sighting is mostly something very special and yours certainly seems to have been very much so

[Flutterby]

Cute hyena but I agree with Lis that the leopard is better! Awesome sighting! I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets the shakes at exciting sightings!

[PJL]

April 11th Continued

We weren't in any rush to go anywhere else, so we moved slowly up and down the road to see whether we could find the leopard again but he seemed to have done a very good disappearing act

However we forgot about the leopard when suddenly the same wild dog pack from yesterday came trotting along the road





Judging from the slightly red faces and big tummies they had completed a successful hunt that morning. They stopped in front of us for a while, staring down at the water...





We figured they would head down and drink again like the day before, but instead they continued along the road and marched past right next to our car which was an amazing sight



Other vehicles started moving to follow the dogs, but we were quite happy not to get in a traffic jam so stayed put. It turned out to be a good choice as the dogs suddenly veered off the road and went down to drink... there weren't too many places where you got a decent view of the water, and we were now in a prime spot





This one seemed to be carrying some leftovers for later



Another seemingly couldn't stay standing whilst drinking... the weight of that tummy too much





Soon the whole pack went down to the water





But there were still some nervous drinkers like the day before



A few minutes later they trotted off away from the road and disappeared from sight. What a morning it had been... 3 really fantastic sightings and we had only been out for 45 minutes

[Richprins]

How remarkable, Peej!

Ja, the predators there must be so habituated to vehicles by now...

How do you know the leopard is a male?

Only time when hyenas are ever cute, your kids must have been ecstatic!

How was the wounded dog?

[nan]

wow superb Leopard sighting and pictures
love also Hyenas and twice the Doggies

magnificent
so much to share


for me there is too many pictures per post... very difficult to open... I don't know with the african network how is it

[Mel]

Usually, we'd call Bushcraft a hamster... but you seem to have learned well from in... in every kind of way.
Even with your leopard sightings Stunning!

But I must say that the little hyena stole the show. At least from my point of view, because once I think
"I want one" it must be really cute

More of the wild dogs, once again a great sighting. (But I'm still with the hyena pup )

And great raptor sightings on top of it. Seriously

[Lisbeth]

Now you are exaggerating PJL Your shots of the dogs are great