Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015*

[RogerFraser]

Just got notified that our photo blog of the lions got published online .

http://africageographic.com/blog/a-lion ... -can-chew/

[Richprins]

Searchin for Doggies successful indeed!

Those wildebeest bulls hang around to guard their territories over the summer months, while the families disperse to enjoy the water and grazing! It is a tough job and many don't survive...

[RogerFraser]

Poaching is a major issue at the moment and so close to camp

Great lion sighting on the S28 though

More dogs

We were shocked with the poaching , I know they always caught with silencers etc .But to literally be just on the first road outside a big camp like LS was an eye opener .I have to add on the next day we left the park .With the van in tow etc but at the gate there was only one security guard on duty and we were not even searched on exit (especially as I have that innocent look ) .Having found out about the incident I would have expected a bit tighter security ..

[RogerFraser]

Day 12 Jan 14th Part 3

After seeing this in Blue Tuna's Tr I had to put it in without the Vultures although its not the best pic .


Not far from the doggies we found this fine fellow on the prowl .


We tried to follow him a bit but he ducked behind the trees soon after we spotted him.

Slightly further on we found this saddle bill.


And then we found this feathered fellow .We realised straight away that it was unusual from anything else we had seen and low and behold I saw an ID by Blue Tuna on his TR as a Dwarf Bittern a few days ago .


Reaching the Tar again we found Lenny crossing the road


We drove across the H10 Bridge and found one of Lennys relatives


And a sunbathing herbivore was floating in the water


On the opposite side two juniors were having a play fight


These feathered fiends were still waiting for it to heat up



We returned to LS to make Lunch and fit the wheel bearing cover to the Van....

[Bushcraft]

You also photograph that tree on the S130

There’s a hyena den on the S130 which has been used on and off for years, so there’s always one prowling around

A dwarf bittern

[RogerFraser]

Thank you the DB was just a bonus.Glad that BT ID it correctly for me.

Day 12 Jan 14th Part 4

After lunch we tried to repair the van wheel dust cover with the one bought in Komati.We then found that the replacement hub was about 1 mm different in size .It was just too small so sat loose in the hub.So we repacked the bearing used the new dust cover and plenty of duct tape.We decided we use it and would travel to Malelane and asses if we needed to do anything else there.In camp we had a visit from Lenny.


We left later on with the temperature very high we decided to travel the S28 S137 then back to LS H10 bridge and Sunset Dam.
It was still blistering hot and not much was out .We had missed some action sometime earlier it seemed


We found some feathered watchers out in the sun





Went down to Dukes but nothing was stiring.Further down the road a herd of ellies walked across the road and went past the small water hole



and the wondered into the tree line


Getting back onto the tar .We came across this strange scene .A roller had been killed before we got there and was on the road .A Bateleur and Vulture were fighting over the scraps on the road .Then the Bateleur managed to take off with his prize into the nearest tree with the Vulture chasing .



Back at Sunset dam the Hippos were yawning the night in .


We watched our last Sunset in KNP



and left to start preparing for the trip home the next day...

[Richprins]

Interesting that vulture episode, Roger...


Bateleur, Tawny eagles and maybe later hooded vultures are normally first at the scene with roadkill...

This other vulture is unusual in that respect!

Once again, predators/scavengers behaving strangely?


Fascinating pics!

[Lisbeth]

European roller, Magpie shrike. Brown snake-eagle

Nice episode of the battle over a poor roller

[RogerFraser]

Richprins Thanx for the input .

Pumbaa always enjoy the rollers .

Lisbeth thank you for the help with the ID's during this Tale will be copying Heksie's format and dumping off some older TR's so may need your help again .

Flutterby yes was a different sighting to see.

Day 13 Jan 15th Part 1

We awoke early and packed the van for the last time .Leaving LS on our trip down to Croc Bridge gate.

On the way we found a few early morning feathered watchers.


This fellow was having an early morning bath at Vurhami Dam :



We then came across a massive road block we were about 1 km from the gate with a van on the back and four lanes of cars blocked the road end to end with not a traffic officer in sight .



After waiting over 20 minutes we finally managed to get a way to drive off road around the melee .
And finally saw the cause of the people acting like idiots ...



We finally got to the gate and had to leave the KNP behind

Stopping in at Malelane we checked our makeshift repairs and found the bearing cool and sealed so decided to continue with the repair.


Finally reaching home we found a wild dog pack that after running around rather wild they settled and began to resemble their distant cousins in KNP ...

[RogerFraser]

Kruger traffic chaos The day visitors are more than half the problem

Love your “wild dog pack”

Thanks for this fantastic trip report

for commenting and sharing the TR . I have been on both sides of the coin as day visitor and resident ,I personally believe allot of the issues can be overcome with education and enforcement .Certainly don't believe they could ever allow any more visitor numbers . Glad you enjoyed my first TR .I might even copy heksies format and throw a few more batch TR's from years gone past ....