Africa Wild

Saturday, 26. February 2022 – Shingwedzi

Explored roads: H1-6 – S52 – H1-6 – S101 – S55 – H1-7 – S56 – H1-7 - S50 – S135 – H1-6

Unfortunately the last full day dawned and for sure we wanted to make the best out of it. First stop was on the highwater bridge across the Shingwedzi where we spotted a couple of lazy buffaloes in the riverbed.



A small puddle was also here left and so they were all extreme dirty as they obviously spent the night in the puddle.



We headed straight to the S52 as this road becomes more and more to one of our favourites in this area and as we had in the past years a couple of incredible sightings there as long as same was not closed due to floods we were in fact curious what might come across today.

Luckily we stopped for a couple of little bee eaters who were flying around here



and during the past years we in fact met them quite often on that road.



They were busy in catching bees



and we watched and photographed them as long as they were present.



It was a more than lovely drive along the river and the views into the riverbed were so beautiful and to our luck we met also a Wahlberg eagle and quite a lot warthogs



who did not run straight away



but were willing to pose



even with all the oxpeckers on the back.

For sure the obligatory impalas had to be captured especially on such a nice early morning



and the little ones were simply too cute.





Maybe it was also the sentimental feeling of not seeing them for a long time





after we left the park tomorrow so we stayed with them a bit longer.



During the whole drive on that road we never met another car so we had the whole road all to ourselves and could stop also for our beloved birds such as red-billed hornbills,



a glossy starling



and even a red faced mousebird.



Also lots of zebras were around



the Shingwedzi looked a bit sad with no water left although the view was lovely.



Suddenly at the turn off to the Tshanga look out as well as Bateleur camp Timon shouted: “Hey man, what’s up here!?”

to be continued…………………

Another cliffhanger!

Lovely pics of the little bee-eater

Pretty impalas

Strange to see the Shingwedzi without water in February

Catching up, Pumbaa!

The interactions between the ellie and buffalo, and of course the goose and fish eagle were brilliant!

Strange to see the river so empty in summer!

Another great episode .

Love the birds riding on the back of Warthogs , think it would annoy them but I guess its nice to have assistance with bugs when you don't have hands to reach back there .

Also had chance to sit and watch the young Impalas at times .Funny to see the reaction of others when you do stop to watch impala

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 3:14 pm Another cliffhanger!

Lovely pics of the little bee-eater

Pretty impalas

Strange to see the Shingwedzi without water in February

Yes, during that visit it was extreme dry in that area but believe me this year's visit was the complete opposite

Richprins wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 5:58 pm Catching up, Pumbaa!

The interactions between the ellie and buffalo, and of course the goose and fish eagle were brilliant!

Strange to see the river so empty in summer!

We had such fun with the buffalo / ellie as well as goose and fish eagle interaction

RogerFraser wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 7:34 pm Another great episode .

Love the birds riding on the back of Warthogs , think it would annoy them but I guess its nice to have assistance with bugs when you don't have hands to reach back there .

Also had chance to sit and watch the young Impalas at times .Funny to see the reaction of others when you do stop to watch impala

Totally right but we already know the reactions when "only" looking for birds

3 male lions were lying on the roadside two of them right at the turnoff as if they were waiting for a bus





whilst another one was lying in the grass behind a bush close to where we parked.



Funny was that Timon said already early that morning still in camp: “I have such a strange feeling today…..” and we were for sure extreme happy about such a wonderful sighting and male intuition



but nevertheless is was strange that during the whole drive so far we never met any other car and



at that sighting two cars were already standing in the road that left from Tshanga but in total only three cars at such a sighting is in fact nothing



and all cars had the best look onto the lions and luckily all switched the engines off so the lions were still extreme relaxed





and all had time to take massive portraits from lion heads.

For sure the two lying together were from time to time checking out what the other one in the grass was doing





and he for sure checked his mates out not that they might leave without him



and also we were eyed from time to time although I was not sure whether the other two other cars were able to see that one from where they stood



they had instead the pole position closer to the two but we were extreme happy with the place we had chosen



as from there all three could be seen. Finally one of the two lions sat up



and looked a bit around



as not far from where they were lying a group of zebras came closer



finally both sat up and watched into the direction of the zebras and finally walked away in the higher grass to even have a better view onto the zebras.



The one close to us also stood up, checked out where his buddies walked but decided that it was not worth to follow them as he noticed that they only moved a bit farer away



so he soon went back into chill mood.



to be continued………………..