The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Pumbaa]

Further along we even found a nice posing jacobin cuckoo



and then something grey dared to peep out of a bush and we were lucky about a wonderful rhino female



and finally also the not that small any longer calf showed up as well.



Needless to say that both soon were surrounded by cars but luckily all had a good view onto them without disturbing them that much.



Such sightings are always so precious and we stayed with them as long as they were willing to show themselves as after a while both disappeared again in the thick vegetation.





We headed forward and then spotted first a couple of giraffes, however,



soon we noted meanwhile in the riverbed more and more giraffes



which looked liked a giraffe invasion – It was lovely to see that many giraffes together.



The view into the riverbed was nevertheless lovely although only puddles were left



and also a couple of European bee eaters were willing to show up



some even presented their fresh catch.

[Pumbaa]

Close to Gardenia hide there is on the left hand side normally a larger puddle left and luckily this year as well although most of the puddle already dried up and as already on that early morning at Matjulu also at this puddle a lone buffalo declared the puddle as his own private spa.



The buffalo was occupied by oxpeckers



and due to the few water left only a sandpiper could be seen here but as it was such a peaceful spot we stood quite a while and enjoyed the quietness there.



As we last year could not pay at nearly no bird hide a visit due to the closed roads we took in hand that we this year will simply enjoy our stays at any hide extensively and so we stopped at Gardenia hide which also already looked extreme empty. At least we noticed masses of water dikkops



who positioned themselves in a row along the shore and we also detected another sandpiper



and took more pictures of the water dikkops.



Suddenly we noticed a movement out of the glimpse of our eyes and this little chap popped out of a hole in a tree close to where we sat. luckily same stayed there the long as we stayed at the hide obviously same found a comfortable place to relax.



Noisy Egyptian geese were hanging around as well



and after a while even two giraffes dared to come closer but as fast as they arrived as fast they were gone already without quenching their thirst.



Soon after the giraffes had disappeared also two impala rams arrived and they finally dared to drink from the water





and with a final view onto a cheeky looking Egyptian goose we left the hide and continued



to be continued…………………..

[Lisbeth]

The second impala must have had a bad experience drinking, as he looks ready to sprint away

The dikkops have their usual sleepy look

Nice pic of the monitor

Yes, rhinos have become rare sightings these days

[Richprins]

So nice to see rhino these days, Pumbaa!

Good Heavens, what a gathering of dikkops!

The giraffe often don't drink, they are incredibly nervous!

And a nice monitor!

[ExFmem]

As with all your TTs, this one is chock full of wonderful photos. Always an enjoyable way to spend my time and bring a smile or two, or twenty...

I also find some of them humorous ( ), like the zebra mom yelling (yawning ) at the baby, the impala-oxpecker interactions, or the first pic of the plum coloured starling, etc. Need to revive the "What's the animal saying?" thread from awhile ago.

[Pumbaa]

The second impala must have had a bad experience drinking, as he looks ready to sprint away

The dikkops have their usual sleepy look

Nice pic of the monitor

Yes, rhinos have become rare sightings these days

Always morea than worth to spent time in one of the many Kruger hides

[Pumbaa]

So nice to see rhino these days, Pumbaa!

Good Heavens, what a gathering of dikkops!

The giraffe often don't drink, they are incredibly nervous!

And a nice monitor!

Simply loved that monitor in its private hole

[Pumbaa]

As with all your TTs, this one is chock full of wonderful photos. Always an enjoyable way to spend my time and bring a smile or two, or twenty...

I also find some of them humorous ( ), like the zebra mom yelling (yawning ) at the baby, the impala-oxpecker interactions, or the first pic of the plum coloured starling, etc. Need to revive the "What's the animal saying?" thread from awhile ago.

Thanks so much and hopefully more smiles are on the way to you

[Pumbaa]

Along our drive we stopped for a red-billed hornbill with a kill and



compared to last year this year it was far dryer and most of the causeways we crossed along the S25 were carrying extreme few water



at least a bit water was here and there left.



A couple of dragonflies were attracted by the water and posed nicely for us on a rock.



Our favourite loop where one could drive down closer to the Crocodile river was obviously no longer existing so we continued and even found a beautiful kudu male who was busy with feeding.



In the Biyamiti river also only a couple of smaller puddles were left



at least at the next causeway there was a bit more water left and due to the meanwhile existing heat we found there a couple of impalas



and buffaloes who already occupied the best spot in the water in the shade and a bit hidden we even spotted a black stork.



As already said it heated up meanwhile and as it was already 11.00 o’clock we thought this might now be a quiet drive for the rest of the day but today we were luckily proved wrong as not far from the causeway we now noticed a pride of lions on the roadside under trees in the shade.





They were luckily good visible for everyone at that sighting but not much cars were around so we soon did choose a spot

[Pumbaa]

and due to the fact that there were so many of them lying around at least one was always willing to sat up and pose.





They were extreme lazy and unfortunately at a closer view full of ticks as so often and we now even could tick the Big 5, however, as you know we are definitely no Big 5 hunters and stop for everything which is willing to show up but when they are so easily to be seen we for sure enjoy their presence as well.



Some looked as if they were in hunting mode whilst others were sleepy



nevertheless the spot they decided was extreme shady so no need for them to go deeper into the bush.





Do not know whether there was somewhere a kill neither we never found out the exact number of lions but as we also had a place in the shade it was simply such a wonderful sighting and also meanwhile our cameras started to glow.



Some of them were using trunks as headrests which was funny to watch



and whenever one started the engine or another car arrived a couple of them lifted their head



or even sat up.



At least two male lions could be detected but as they were lying partly



over each other we never found out how many they were in total.



to be continued……………..