And then the Fish Eagle started to call.....*

[Pumbaa]

We were once again extreme lucky to have seen them again around Skukuza as this area normally is not letting us down when it comes to wild dog sightings.



Unfortunately we could only take a couple of shots because they were extreme restless and soon disappeared in the bush out of sight but better a short sighting of them than none.



The sun already rose and it felt already at that early hour that it will become an extreme hot day – A couple of white backed vultures were still in deep sleep on a dead branch and although the sunlight must already have tickled their noses nothing moved.

In the same riverbed in which we spotted two days ago the lionesses we came across two kudu ladies who wanted to cross the riverbed



checking carefully the place where the lionesses slept but after same had been scanned carefully they dared to cross the riverbed nearly in slow motion.



Car- and animalwise the rest of the S65 was extreme quiet and besides a very well hidden woodland kingfisher nothing else came across. On the tar road back to Skukuza we were soon caught in a traffic jam and first could not see anything – Lions – We have been told! – Finally we could spot a resting lioness looking curiously at all the people in the cars who looked back to her.



Unfortunately the lioness was only visible from nearly one spot only so there was a lot of driving around in full swing



and although we scanned carefully all the bushes close to the lioness we did not see any further lions clearly.

After the mess around her she decided to also have a closer look and stood up



and looked somehow a bit tired, however,



she was in fact a very powerful and impressive looking lioness and on top a real beauty.



Due to the fuss with all the cars at that sighting we did not stay that long and after she went back into sleeping modus we also decided to carry on as it was still a long way to go to Satara.



As most of the cars were still stuck in that traffic jam the road was extreme quiet and we could admire a couple of zebras and a lone elephant bull in the distance until Timon stopped again as he spotted a hyaena pup in a den

[Pumbaa]

and after he switched the engine off we realized that this pup in fact was not alone but also two other ones at nearly the same age were “guarding” the den.



Needless to say that with such gorgeous little youngsters around we could not carry on and as still no other cars joined us we once again positioned the cameras and pressed the buttons like mad.





Also the little ones got curious and were also taking a closer look at least they were in fact still not in the insubordinate age in testing how robust our car actually is and stayed in contrary a bit shy





Love the mischievous look of that one!



Finally another still younger one than the others also dared to come out of the den



and allowed us to take a couple of shots. So we had altogether four pups to watch on and photograph



until one idiot arrived at the den, took only a short view and then started to play some dubious noises which unfortunately chased the pups away – How I hate such ruthless people -



in no seconds he rushed away – I still cannot explain that behaviour and really do not understand it at least if they only drive around in the park to chase the animals away they simply have to go somewhere else! After it got quite again the hyaenas dared to show themselves again but also for us it was time to leave.

We got to see in the distance a fish eagle until we were back again at Skukuza for a short pit stop until we finally left that area via the causeways over the Sand and Sabie rivers were we spotted a large group of marabou storks cooling their legs in the water



as now at 8.00 o’clock in the morning it was already unbearable and although



we were also standing in the blazing sun with no shade we enjoyed that scenery a bit longer until we carried on.



to be continued...

[Pumbaa]

At Mantimahle an elephant herd has just arrived and all of them were already busy in quenching their thirst. They were drinking a bit far away and the air started to glimmer already so the pictures came already out a bit blurred.



After we paid N’wantindlopfu a visit with no sightings we drove back to the tar road and soon had to stop for a couple of cute and fluffy little bee eaters.



Isn’t that blue eyelid line gorgeous?



Normally we wanted to visit Leeupan but it took us a bit longer until we arrived there as another steenbok



another feathered friend,



a bushbuck lady



and a group of vervet monkeys forced us to do a couple of stopovers. This one obviously tried to read its own hand.



Besides a couple of white faced ducks in the distance and only a small amount of water left nothing exciting could be seen at Leeupan, however, we stopped the engine for a while and simply sat and waited and were rewarded with a buffalo weaver sighting right beside our car.



They were busy in collecting nesting material and obviously underrated the weight of the branch the weaver had chosen and it took a couple of useless attempts until same got the heavy freight lifted and flew with same to the huge weaver nest in the middle of the pan.



In the middle of the pan where still a bit water was left and lots of green covered the pan a head of a strange looking bird was popping out of the green and after we did some investigations we discovered a spur-winged goose although very well hidden and too far away for a decent picture.

An ice cream break at Tshokwane was a more than welcome break as well to stretch a bit the legs. Further down we met a kudu mom and her little one

[Pumbaa]

and Timon pressed the button right in the right second as both looked into our camera – What a gorgeous pose. Needless to say that we also abused their will to pose for two close ups of them.





A couple of giraffes were doing what they normally do during the whole day – feeding – and obviously it tasted yummy.



At Mazithi dam we made another short break as an elephant bull had just arrived to quench his thirst



or at least to play a bit in the water.



Today we were in the mood to discover a couple of never driven roads in Kruger and instead of driving further North via the tar road we left the Southernmost baobab as well as Kumana dam behind and turned into the S33 and soon had to cross several low water bridges with some lovely ponds to admire.



This road was closed for a long period after the strong floods a couple of years ago and some bridges still looked brand new as especially right in the beginning lots of smaller streams had to be crossed with some lovely views



and it does not matter that we only spotted a lone buffalo taking a rest in the grass in the plain sun and lots of wood hoopoes in a tree a bit far away nothing else came across until we turned into the S36 where we stopped at another small pond covered with green and some water lilies



and even a noisy group of Egyptian goose were complaining about their disturbance because of our presence.



to be continued....

[Pumbaa]

We already joked a couple of times during that day that we only had seen once a sable in Kruger and that it was about time to see some more and that when the chances might be good the S36 could not be that false – You cannot believe our eyes when suddenly we in fact discovered a single young sable male on that road.



A pity was that he was extreme shy and in exactly that area the vegetation was extreme dense so we only could admire him with some green leaves in the foreground but at least we saw another sable!



We for sure switched immediately the engine off and waited for maybe some more but our sable friend was then galloping away and crossed finally the road behind our car. WoW – Although very short but another magical sighting and we already thought that due to the heat that day – it was indeed meanwhile unbearably hot (nearly 40 degrees) we will not see something exciting for the rest of the day but we were so wrong.....

In a small pond shortly before Nhlanguleni picnic spot we discovered a beautiful saddle billed stork



and a couple of black smith plovers



and after another short break at the picnic spot we carried on. Although it was a Saturday it was extreme quiet carwise on the S36 which was another good reason to travel along that road but we in fact finally met one car and same told us about a male lion sleeping in a riverbed and after we reached the explained site we found him deep in dreamland maybe dreaming from a beautiful lionesses or some huge portion of meat.



A small branch was abused as pillow and I simply loved the way how he slept – He looked like a small kitty but due to the heat I could very well understand that he was not in the mood to move a single bit and so his body roll in order to turn around a bit happened only in slow motion. For sure we stayed a bit with him and were happy to at least found him but after nothing else happened we headed forward



only to nearly bump together with an approaching car out of which the driver told us something about a wild dog sighting close to the Talamati turn off whilst we pointed out the lion to them. From where we saw the lion until the said wild dog sighting it was still a long way to drive and also the heat was not that bearable anymore so we carried on in snail’s pace with not high hopes in finding the dogs and for sure with the eyes still in the bush to maybe discover something else as well and so we did found a couple of brown-headed parrots on a thick branch in the shade of a tree



and a grey hornbill.

[Pumbaa]

Can you believe it we nearly drove past the resting wild dogs as they were nearly lying stacked on each other under a bush right on the road side very well camouflaged.



So we once again switched the engine off and enjoyed their presence and felt with them because nearly all of them were panting extensively due to the heat.



We tried to count them but did not come far as they were lying spread all over the place, on the other side of the road and behind bushes or trees but I guess this was the numerous pack we ever have seen so far



and it was for sure that they were not going anywhere as long as the sun was still shining that hot.



We had also luck as for nearly the first half hour we were standing at that sighting we were alone and also the surrounding trees and bushes offered a nice shady place



but due to the fact that also the wind was no longer blowing it was for sure no longer really comfortable also not in the shade neither for us and especially nor for the doggies.





The activity of the doggies were limited to panting, yawning and sleeping although we had a more than fantastic time in photographing them and from time to time one of them dared to change its sleeping place.



to be continued...

[Pumbaa]

We were allowed to take a couple of portraits as long as they were lifting their heads to look around what the rest of the pack was doing.



Somehow from out of nowhere one safari vehicle after the other appeared and soon we were surrounded by trucks and gladly they all behaved very well.



After nearly an hour we spent with them it was already afternoon and we still had a long and hot way to travel to Satara ahead of us we decided to leave the pack although it was hard to leave them and if we had stayed at Talamati we for sure might had tried to find them again in the afternoon but we got a lot of shots and with smiles on our faces we drove on.



As always when travelling on that road we paid a visit at Ximangwaneni dam where we spotted today two lapped faced vultures on foot in the plain sun



but due to the fact that nothing else could be seen and due to the not existing shade there we in fact did not stay that long and headed forward via the S126 which is also a road which we do travel at least once when staying in that area.

Needless to say that this road was quiet which was in fact no wonder due to the heat and hour of the day although we saw a huge herd of wildebeests grazing in the heat



and then only nearly at the end at Sweni waterhole a large herd of elephants were on the move with lots of little ones around them





and a group of zebras out of which the little ones were extreme active.



Finally at 16.30 o’clock we arrived at Satara and as this is normally our time when we leave for our afternoon drive and due to the fact of the long distance we travelled today, the heat and the fact that we already had amazing sightings that day we skipped our drive and instead relaxed on our verandah of our bungalow G170 – our home for the next four nights.

Whilst I simply sat and enjoyed the surroundings with a lovely breeze coming up and preparing our salad for the braai Timon grabbed his camera and strolled through the camp in order to capture some animals and in fact it took not that long until he met a group of banded mongoose



which looked extreme curious back to him with their long claws.

[Pumbaa]

Miss Satara could not be found but a couple of birds appeared and could be seen in the treetops in the shade – He found a greyheaded bushshrike



and a chinspot batis.



The braai that evening was once again amazing also on top that it got cooler and cooler with an upcoming wind and after that exciting day we went extreme early to bed.

Sunday, 22. February 2015 – Satara

Roads we paid a visit today: H1-4 – S100 – S41 – S90 – H7 – S12 – S40 – H1-4

Our first Satara morning and this is always something very special, however, as it was a Sunday the queue at the gate was already enormous although we still had a couple of minutes left when we reached there before the gate itself is said to open but when same finally opened nearly nothing moved and we only saw flashlights from far which means obviously something interesting might be sitting just outside the gate already and so it was when it was our turn and most of the cars carried on 2 male lions in full glory where running around the road.



A bit further back into the direction of the S90 we realized also a female but she in fact did not come closer.



At least with this early morning sighting I got an impression how it can be at a sighting during holiday times. Gladly our two big boys did not move far and so we also could admire the sunrise on the other side of the road.



It was obviously mating time as both males where permanently looking back to the lioness and where also sniffing on the road as something must have smelled lovely.



Gladly the males stayed where they were and even allowed some nice close ups.





to be continued....

[Pumbaa]

Gladly the queue of cars had meanwhile reduced so we could still park on the roadside and enjoy the big cats.



At least everybody who stayed that night at Satara and left that early could not say they did not see any lions that day.



Meanwhile the males withdrew themselves in the thick vegetation as they obviously had enough from the traffic and this was for us the signal to carry on and first morning drive whenever staying at Satara is on the S100 and with all the cars already on the move we had the road all to ourselves.

First animals we saw there where a group of far away waterbucks and a raptor in a tree



Although it was compared to other years extreme dry in the Satara area the Sweni river looked as full as never before.



A crested barbet came across next



who was permanently moving and did not sit still – It was busy in cleaning its plumage excessively obviously it was about time.



The obligatory woodland kingfisher could not hide from us



and then we spotted a quite impressive martial eagle sitting on top of a tree



Compared to the previous day today it was the total contrary it was extreme chilly, cloudy nearly the whole day with a strong wind which later on turned into a quite heavy storm so we only could take pictures with a grey background and the temperature did not even rise over 20 degrees so also for us it was cold and I was sitting the whole day in the car with my jacket on which in fact did not happen often when in Kruger.....



So it was a bit pity that when a lovely black shouldered kite came across the clouds where still grey in the background.



The rest of the S100 was quiet – we already supposed this as already in the previous years the other roads in the Satara area were more productive but we in fact never gave up. A troop of baboons were hanging around where one was having an injury which same was licking carefully.



Finally we turned into the S41 into the direction of the Sweni picnic spot and spotted at one of the causeways a yellow-billed stork nicely posing for us

[Pumbaa]

a pied kingfisher was also around and we even spotted two cute three banded plovers busy in searching for something to feed on.



Needless to say that in the huge pond at the causeway a huge crocodile was also on the look out.



Then we stopped once again at one of those causeways already close to Sweni picnic spot where only mud was left but after stopping the engine we had once again one of those bird moments where all the birds in that area paid a visit at exactly that spot we were looking at – The grey lourie was still a bit far away but the blue waxbill was cute as same found on the ground a feather from a helmeted guinea fowl I guess



and was busy in presenting same proudly. Whilst Timon was busy in photographing the waxbill I spotted another feathered friend



and the waxbill was still desperately looking for some appreciation – “Is nobody around?”



Also a brown hooded kingfisher was around but only sat on a branch examining the whole spectacle from above.



Then also a pied wagtail, a couple of masked weavers and some swaison’s francolins landed in the mud as well.

After a very well needed break at Sweni picnic spot we headed back via the S41 again and nearly in the middle between the picnic spot and the turn off into the S100 we already realized from far a beautiful bateleur who just landed on the ground and whilst we drove carefully closer not to chase same away we realized that same had just caught a small snake and was holding same between its claws.



Although the snake itself looked already a bit frazzled same was still moving in the typical snake manner.





Gladly also all the other cars which came back from their break at the picnic spot noticed this special sighting as well and gladly stopped and even no pusher needed to hurry immediately to another sighting so the bateleur stayed on the ground



as otherwise same would have flew away with its kill. In between same was always putting one foot or better to say claw on the snake not that same although meanwhile headless but still moving might escape the raptor.





to be continued....