Africa Wild

Regarding the diderick they were in fact feeding each other sometimes the male fed the female and the other way round - Here is one proof

Sunday, 23 February, 2014 – Shingwedzi – Punda Maria Gate

We packed everything together with more than heavy hearts as finally our very last hours in the park dawned and we headed straight forward onto the H1-7 northwards. Another car could be seen in front of us and we also saw a silhouette of an animal still a bit far away which looked like a jackal and as also the other car passed the animal without further investigation we indeed thought it was another black backed jackal, however, one thing making me a bit perplex was the white tip of the tail of the jackal as I never saw so far a black-backed jackal with a white tag and then it dawned to me it was our very first side striped jackal ever and that was in fact already the first surprise with which we were rewarded today.



Unfortunately this was in fact the only shot we could take as same soon after disappeared on the road side in the thick vegetation. Another African fish eagle could be seen in a far away fig tree and also a group of ground hornbills was already active and busy in another tree and



lots of white winged widowbird were still looking for a wife.



Last year the S56 Mphongolo loop was still closed due to the flood but gladly same was this year open again, graded and in an excellent condition at least apart from the very last stretch but is was in fact not much from that road left to be graded and the sand and the equipment was still waiting on the road side for the workers from their weekend’s break. Lots of noisy baboons could be seen sitting in a fig tree or either on the ground already,



a fluffy female weaver popped out of a bush



and so did also a cute squirrel.



It was lovely that during our last hours in the park the sun was shining today brightly from the sky compared to the last two dull and partly rainy days. Sporadic elephant bulls appeared gladly for us they were only interested in feeding than in anything else.



We also enjoyed the views on one of our favourite roads in the park and gladly most of the ancient and beautiful trees along the riverbed of the Mphongolo survived last year’s flood. Another nice sighting was two crested barbets who was flying always down to the ground feeding on something strange looking something.



I simply love that cute pose





and it was indeed a pleasure to watch and photograph them on the ground as there no annoying branch, leave or grass was hiding these beautiful birds.



We spend quite a while watching them always flying from bush to the ground again and we had a fantastic time



and as always when watching birdies exactly on the bush on the other side of the road two Jacobin cuckoos appeared but they were in fact a bit tricky to capture.



In fact also the crested barbets stayed on the ground and Timon pressed and pressed the button



so it was another hard decision for me which pictures to choose as it was in fact one of the best crested barbet sightings we ever had so far.



Finally we had to carry on but again more white winged widow birds simply could not be overlooked on that magic road



and even some hidden views could be seen as well – It was an amazing ride although we are still waiting for some incredible sightings on that road but the views as well as the birdlife is always more than worth.



Babalala picnic spot came finally into sight and a well earned break from driving so far was needed although this had in fact to be postponed a bit as we noticed a strange looking white bird already and two vans with people building up their tripods and cameras so we for sure got more than curious and that was the minute where we got the second surprise of that day in form of an albino magpie shrike who was hanging around the picnic spot with it normal coloured mates.



Although same decided a couple of times to fly away it returned regularly so everybody could photograph or simply watch that beautiful albino.



We had a great time in observing all the birds who occurred on the picnic spot and also in talking to the other people who were also interested in this bird.



Obviously same had already seen same quite often in the vicinity of that picnic spot.



On top it was funny to notice the enthusiasm and to even share them with the other people when it comes to birds and in this case to a for sure not that often seen bird.



to be continued....

Although we had left Shingwedzi with gate opening time the clock was steadily ticking and so we simply had to say good bye to the people and of course to the birds at this stunning picnic spot and we even came across more birdies such as a lilac breasted roller,



colourful European bee eaters



even with kill



and a strange looking mushroom.



At the crossroad leading to Punda Maria Gate or further North to Pafuri we both looked at each other and took immediately the same decision maybe to postpone our today’s leave a bit further or to drag our stay in the park a bit longer Timon drove automatically into the direction of Pafuri and also under the aspect that we so far could visit that area only once after a failed attempt a couple of years ago where we stood in front of the closed road leading to Pafuri due to heavy rains the night before so we were today indeed happy to return to one of the most beautiful areas to Kruger but it was in fact not that easy to arrive there as on the H1-8 near Baobab hills we were stuck between two elephant bulls one was coming from the front and we started already to drive backwards when we noticed that from the rear also a giant approached – indeed not a nice position!



It was nearly a wonder when both suddenly cleared the road and we could carry on obviously they had a meeting somewhere at a secret waterhole. The baobabs in that area are simply too beautiful so we had to take a couple of shots



and we even spotted another broad billed roller still too far away for decent shots but at least we saw another one.

Due to the dense vegetation we simply had to take lots of baobab shots



as travelling through such an amazing Nature is always breathtaking.



Besides the visit to Pafuri we also wanted to see a couple of nyalas in the Far North as the Southern ones are normally not easy for us to see and we in fact had luck as we spotted already on the road to Crooks corner our first male



unfortunately same was a bit shy and stayed nearly the whole time hiding behind a bush.



More beautiful baobabs came across as well as a group of zebras.



Whilst travelling along that magic road we in fact noticed that the fevertree forest suffered a lot from the recent floods the years ago, however, same is still a magic road to drive on and so a short break at Pafuri picnic spot was more than worth and for me this is still one of the most beautiful picnic spots in the entire park. Needless to say that our feathered friends was again plentiful to see and hear such as this woodland kingfisher



and finally we even had luck in capturing our very first broad billed roller also one reason for us to make that magic detour via that very Northern part.



Fir Timon it was in fact a bit tricky to photograph that colourful bird as same positioned itself right above us in a tree and so Timon had to juggle the camera plus lens extremely in order to get some reasonable shots



and we even had more luck as also a group of female nyalas was about to cross the road right in front of us.





What gracious beauties they are



to be continued with the very last installment and the third surprise for that day....

Obviously not only klipspringer are the ballerinas of the bush but also the nyalas.





A lovely sighting was also a kudu mom and her youngster which always do make us stop for a further investigation as these antelopes are extreme impressive to us.



In one of the loops where you come closer to the river we spotted an extreme large crocodile sunbathing on the shore of the river.



At Crooks corner we were allowed to leave the car so whilst strolling a bit around to stretch again our legs we took a couple of pictures from the left



to the right



and to the back and it was amazing to realize that you also could have stand somewhere else on the planet in a jungle.



Meanwhile we indeed had to hurry a bit in order to reach our overnight guesthouse still in daylight in order to avoid all the immense potholes along the road from Punda Maria to Louis Trichardt as it was meanwhile early afternoon but of course we made it slow and we even stopped for some dust bathing white fronted bee eaters.



When we reached the tar road we nearly had been knocked over by a police car which dashed into the direction of the border post with blue light and so we were extreme delighted and surprised when we suddenly saw this spotted beauty on the road side



who obviously wanted to cross the street but gladly did not dare so we could admire her at least for a couple of minutes.



This was in fact the most Northern leopard we ever saw and probably will ever see in the park but at least it was something that attracted us to drive this relatively long detour but it was more than worth



that we were paid off by our third surprise of that day and what a farewell gift on top.



and also a prove that the mammal sightings in the far North might be a bit sparse and hard to find but they are there with a bit of time, patience and luck.



This in fact is of course one sighting we will never forget and far too soon our still younger looking spotted beauty decided to turn around and ran back into the dense mopane bushes on the road side where she came from. Although I was feeling a bit sorry for her as in fact I only could see mopane bushes and no comfortable tree which she could climb and rest on but I guess she found one.....

Our way back onto the tar road was then more than tiring as it got meanwhile extreme hot but we were still over moon because of the leopard so we definitely did not bother. Today we even tried the S60 into the direction of the Punda Maria gate and at Klopperfontein we could again spot a group of noisy Egyptian goose and further down a group of female ostriches



which on top came extreme close.



Due to the lateness of the day we did something which we normally never do when leaving the park we skipped the Mahonie loop as this is normally our good bye drive but today it was already in fact too late and normally we never do have such luck on our last half day in the park but this year and also last year with the herd of elands we again were proved wrong and you simply never have to give up hope.

The End