From Floods and Surprises in River beds

[Pumbaa]

Pumbaa!

Agreed about the mountains in the background...makes all the difference1

Birdies all over, and disgusting storks eating disgusting crickets!

The malachite is perfect1

We also love the disgusting storks

[Pumbaa]

The marabou has the ugliest head in the block

Perfect pics of malachite kingfishers

We were happy that we could watch the Malachite that long

[Pumbaa]

Lovely Malachite!

And that creepy crawly thing was gone

[Pumbaa]

Again we were amazed by the lush and green vegetation in the background

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and we even discovered European rollers, jacanas and lots of Egyptian goose

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relatively close.

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Shortly before the camp you must cross a small riverbed and you have the alternative between the lower one and the higher one today we decided for the lower one and were about to debate whether we will made it as the water was a bit high in the riverbed when Timon suddenly shouted “There is a leopard watching us!” for sure I thought he was joking but he was not and here is the proof.

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[Pumbaa]

What a massive buddy and although completely against the light it turned out to be a fantastic sighting as we had him all to ourselves - our surprise in a riverbed!

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on top he was extreme handsome and not at all scared

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as he started to stump steadily but slowly through all the puddles which had formed in the riverbed

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on top he was not water-shy and simply walked determined into the direction he wanted to walk far too soon for our liking he walked up to the embankment

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[Pumbaa]

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but luckily for us he watched for a very last time into our direction and finally disappeared.

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For sure we drove a bit backwards but the leopard vanished into thin air but we were over the moon for the rest of the day as this was simply such a boom and unexpected sighting.

After this thrilling encounter we needed a short break and as Letaba camp was just around the corner we did so but did not stay long and to our luck the S95 was open as we always prefer to drive close to the river with all those stunning views. We stopped for hippos,

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an openbilled stork was sharing an island with a crocodile

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[Pumbaa]

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and more of these species were taking a sunbath.

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Soon we reached the high water bridge across the Letaba and left the car for a look around

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The river was extreme well filled and the view was breathtaking – For sure due to the high water no water birds could be seen in the river

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[Pumbaa]

but we noticed a couple of yellow billed storks in flight obviously searching for a landing place.

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To our luck the turn off to the Matambeni hide was open and so we turned into same but before we reached the hide we wanted to drive all the loops which do lead you closer to the river and there we came across a yellow billed hornbill

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to be continued…….

[Lisbeth]

Quite a stout old leopard that you found there

Nice river views

[Richprins]

Pumbaa!

What a magnificent sighting all alone!

That is what makes the north special!

A prime leopard indeed!

And nice to see the river full too!