When small Streams turn into Rivers

[Michele Nel]

And maybe that is a striped kingfisher?

The striped kingfisher has a very distinct dark eyestripe and below the feathers are beige not brown

Definitely a Brown-hooded ...top of bill is red whereas a striped kingfisher's bill is black on the top half and red on the bottom half. :)

[Pumbaa]

Lovely shot of the rocks with the fish eagle

The old Dagga Boys

There always seems to be Waterbucks with young ones around there

and mostly no traffic at all

When there is nothing else around waterbucks are always there - Totally right

[Pumbaa]

I am enjoying this trip report Pumbaa ..only up to pg 8 though. :)
Looking forward to catching up. :)

Thanks so much, Michele,

also for your correct id - Sometimes I mix the different ids up or simply forget the english names - We normally use nick names for nearly all birds in Kruger

Will hold thumbs for a lot of different birds when you are in Kruger

[Pumbaa]

Catching up again, Pumbaa!

I really enjoyed the last two episodes, all sorts of sightings and glorious pics!

Quite rare to see wildebeest in the Mphongolo.

And maybe that is a striped kingfisher?

Love the Redrocks views plus all the bee-eaters!

Would be nice to spot a striped kingfisher and on the first sight I thought it was one but on the second view we noticed that it was a brown hooded

Red Rocks is always worth a stop - We love the view

[Pumbaa]

Due to the more or less quiet drive we returned back to camp quite early and after a small break at our bungalow we went to the restaurant for a late lunch and luckily we noticed that more or less the construction of the new roof in front of the shop and for the outside area of the restaurant were in full swing. Our lunch was delicious and so was the service so with full stomach we returned back to our bungalow where we had a nice and long break and only left camp again for a very short evening drive as this was our last evening in the park we simply wanted to be outside as normally we had skipped same. For a final time we left camp again via the back entrance and even drove a short while along the S50 were we came across waterbucks, impalas as well as zebras.



Soon we stood again on the Shingwedzi causeway where we still were impressed by the masses of crocodiles hanging around there,



we also stopped on the Shingwedzi highwater bridge and drove for a final time our beloved confluence where again masses of marabu storks arrived,



gathered on the many dead trees there



where they were obviously about to spent the night at.



We enjoyed simply each view into the river whilst driving already back to camp and approx. one kilo prior to camp we again had the honor in meeting masses of elephants and again lots of little ones could be seen as well.





For sure teenagers as well as larger ones enjoyed the fresh green grass or leaves



and we simply stood there and enjoyed being so close to them



most of the elephants were on a mission obviously as mostly all of them went straight into the bush



as they came from the river and now had their dinner



and normally the little ones were the cutest.





As it was far too windy outside we spent the rest of the evening inside with reading and packing most of our things together as tomorrow we unfortunately had to leave the park.

[Pumbaa]

Sunday, 26. February 2024 – Shingwedzi – Punda Maria Gate

Explored roads: H1-7 – S58 – H13-1 – H13-2

Our final morning dawned and now we even started to count the hours or better to say the minutes in the park, however, a brewing hot coffee is always the first must, also on such a day. If everything will went well we again decided to drive even today the whole way back to Johannesburg to spent our final night in South Africa in our beloved airport hotel where we always can use the room until it was time for the check in in the afternoon the next day and on top even the check in was easily reachable in walking distance so we decided only to stop a bit longer for something extraordinary as it was nevertheless a long way to drive.

So after everything had been put into the car we started with gate opening time and it was still overcast but by far not that stormy as yesterday. We soon stopped for a tawny eagle and then it got quiet for the next 30 minutes until we saw something standing in the distance



and whilst we approached the dark silhouettes we soon found out to our joy that in front were about 20 wild dogs standing blocking the road





In the beginning they were still a bit uneasy at least they did not run straight away



and stayed where they were.



Indeed a more than successful ending of our trip which started so wet and with a couple of disappointments as we never experienced before



we soon switched the engine off and soon the dogs came close into our direction and got more and more relaxed





and whilst more and more started to calm down the first dogs already laid down on the road side.





Right after they calmed down and we positioned our car the best way to photograph them two more cars from the back arrived



and we already thought that the wild dogs might chased been up, however, both cars were in fact not at all interested in the dogs and circled luckily slowly between the different groups of lying dogs and carried on. The dogs had not been disturbed by the two cars and we could happily arm again our cameras and simply fire away nearly into each direction as meanwhile they were lying spread all over close to the roadside so extreme good visible for us.



to be continued………………..

[harrys]

Very cool doggie sigting

[Lisbeth]

a couple of disappointments as we never experienced before

What was that, Pumbaa? (I don't remember )

A marabu tree and one with a golden bill

Fabulous doggie sighting

[Michele Nel]

Wow ..awesome Wild Dog sighting and lovely photos. :)

[Pumbaa]

Very cool doggie sigting

We were so happy about that wonderful sighting on our way out of the park