Browns in Kruger October 2018

[Bushcraft]

29th Lower Sabie continued

As we left the 3 male lion I looked in my mirror and there was chaos behind us as people lost their marbles for a gap, so we agreed that it was the correct decision to move on.

A few km later a lioness with a cub showed up, but we missed a pic of the cub as it ducked behind some bush so we followed the lioness as it seemed like she was hunting, however she eventually parked off also so we moved on.

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A little way up the H1-2 there’s a small dry riverbed fairly close to the road and more lion made an appearance and the 1 decided to have a pee right in front of another lion which the rats found hilarious so we parked off with them for 10 minutes before moving on.

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The car gang was parking off at the leopard den site again, but there were no leopard around and after chatting to an experienced OSV driver we know, the general consensus was that the mother had moved them during the night because there had been too much people activity the previous few days. Penny also has ranger/guide contacts and confirmed this later in day which was a pity for her and Bobby because they hadn’t seen them yet.

I sulked mildly for the rest of the way to Tshokwane and plotted various scenarios in my mind as to where the mother leopard would have taken them, but eventually got distracted just outside Tshokwane by some elephant digging for water.

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Nobody was hungry yet by the time we reached Tshokwane as it was still relatively early so we decided to continue on towards Mazithi Dam before turning to head back.

Just outside Tshokwane the normal local wildebeest gang were hanging around, then 2 BBJ’s, some buffalo and then our first leopard for the day. The leopard soon went to sleep so we decided to continue on towards Mazithi and catch up with the leopard again on our return.

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[Bushcraft]

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A few km from Mazithi we found some cars stopped on the side of the road and our first 2 cheetah of the trip were chowing something. They were on the opposite bank of the riverbed, so a long way off and the heat was causing massive problems with the photographic attempts because no matter how still we held the cameras, wavy lines appeared in the pics, so for sanity reasons we settled on a proof type pic.

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[Bushcraft]

Mazithi Dam was empty and now the stomachs were starting to moan for chow as it was close to 10am, so we turned and headed back to Tshokwane.

The leopard from earlier had woken up and was cruising around on the branch so we decided to park off and watch to see the outcome.

Minutes later the leopard approached the trunk of the tree and suddenly jumped right into the upper branches and out of sight. We could not believe that he/she had made that size jump and it shows that they could actually clear most camp fences fairly easily, well this leopard anyway. The Cow got it all on video and I will look at posting the various clips at the end of the TT.

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The boerewors roll thing went a little pear shaped as the rats spotted a “kudu wors roll” on the menu which horrified them. I tried to explain that eating a normal wors roll meant they were eating a cow, but that didn’t help, so they went the hot chip/toasted sarmie route and I got the wors roll. Chow at Tshokwane certainly isn’t cheap, but in our opinion it’s definitely improved under the current management.

I plotted one of the lounge suite setups which are really comfortable, so we relaxed and chatted over chow for nearly an hour before heading back to Lower Sabie.

To be continued

[Lisbeth]

Great pic of the wildebeests

You talk about leopards as if it is normal to see at least one every day ........and it regularly turned up. Incredible!

and also cheetahs

[Richprins]

Ja, this is a good time of year to visit, hey BC!?

Exquisite leopard pose there!


So this is cheetah, lion, leopard, jackal and hyena in one morning?


So now the Afrikaans food is ok?

[Peter Betts]

It was now only around 4:30pm but still 38 degrees and everybody was keen to call it a day, so we went back to camp for swim and an early start to our braai.

Later that evening Bushpig, Albert and I went on a patrol around camp and ended up taking a pic of a barn owl outside Mugg & Bean.

I got a small pelican much later in the evening as staff/guests were staying in a unit, which I’m sure used to be a guest house many years ago and they were making a fair amount of noise. I understand that it was a Friday night but most paying guests want the sounds of nature and peace.

To be continued

Thats why we never stay in those 'Hollywood camps because of the traffic, Noise and non Kruger ambiance

[Peter Betts]

The car gang ..not for me ..even the human habituated leopards are getting crowded out now and have to move cubs etc ,,well as long as they stay south and don't follow me to Grootvlei dam ..I am happy I guess ..Lovely sightings you had in spite of car intrusions

[harrys]

Wow what awesome sightings I just love the Leopard cub .....maybe one day I will have the privilege to see one

Harry, PM me your next trip details around 3 weeks prior to leaving and I will check if I can assist with leopard cub info, that's if I have any at the time.

Thanks BC will do

[Bushcraft]

Great pic of the wildebeests

You talk about leopards as if it is normal to see at least one every day ........and it regularly turned up. Incredible!

and also cheetahs

I'm glad you like the wildebeests Lisbeth You be surprised with leopard if you are in the key areas at the right time and then you just need luck and plenty eyes in the car

[Bushcraft]

Ja, this is a good time of year to visit, hey BC!?

Exquisite leopard pose there!


So this is cheetah, lion, leopard, jackal and hyena in one morning?


So now the Afrikaans food is ok?

Correct time of the year makes a big difference RP

Ja, a good morning

I have always liked Afrikaans food Although there's some weird bean salad thing that I duck