Africa Wild

A loop leaded along that larger pond with huge trees given lots of shade which was needed as it was again one of those hot and humid days and for sure we were watched from behind a bush a curious looking vervet eyed us



and after same discovered we are harmless same even came closer and



allowed us some nice shots.



We still carried on and came across buffaloes,



another saddle billed stork and a pair of Egyptian geese.



An elephant encounter on that road is normal and this was ours when this huge bull appeared in one of the many loops



a lovely sighting was this pair of plum-coloured starling in one of the many trees.



We did only met very few cars on that road and meanwhile the camp was not that far any longer but at another pond or puddle a younger elephant bull had a great time



with another friend and they splashed in the water like small children



until a larger elephant herd arrived to quench their thirst



as then you simply could watch that they now had to behave and they did no longer played in the water as frolicsome as just moments earlier.



to be continued...

Lovely account, Pumbaa! The Kanniedood area is great when not too many cars!

A massive buffalo there...you should put it up on the mega-buffalo thread!

Lovely pics of the Helmetskrike...not easy to photograph.

Baby elephants playing in the water

The buff looks very content and seems to enjoy some very delicious grass, judging by the look on his face

Excellent shots of the shrike!

And of course those cute little ellies

Richprins wrote:Lovely account, Pumbaa! The Kanniedood area is great when not too many cars!

A massive buffalo there...you should put it up on the mega-buffalo thread!

Also this year it was even more nicer there with all the green grass and the full Shingwedzi river

Flutterby wrote:Lovely pics of the Helmetskrike...not easy to photograph.

In fact - This year we saw none of these birds...so we were happy about those shots

Alf wrote:Baby elephants playing in the water

Not even the babies....

Mel wrote:The buff looks very content and seems to enjoy some very delicious grass, judging by the look on his face

Excellent shots of the shrike!

And of course those cute little ellies

That buffie looked indeed very confident

Nevertheless we had a more than amusing time to watch all the elephants that come



and either took a bath or simply drank until finally they again disappeared in the bush again.



Time for us to continue as we were also meanwhile a bit tired from being on the road the whole day so far and from the heat so we were not that disappointed that it was quiet the rest of the drive but we spotted grey herons in the distance noticed the many magnificent and large trees along that road,



a beautiful waterbuck



and more wood hoopoes had to be captured



until we after paid a short visit at the causeway and finally entered the camp via the back entrance. Check in had been done in no minute and B70 was the home for our last two days in the park – We stayed in that unit already two years ago and I had requested for that one again and gladly we got it.

For sure we did not leave the camp for an evening drive as we simply had enough and were in fact not in the mood to braai so we paid a visit to the restaurant and had a more than delicious dinner there. Not much people around so we nearly had the restaurant to ourselves but the foods was great.

When we walked back to our unit it was still unbearable outside with no wind blowing but with the air condition and the fan on it was at least in the bungalow bearable.

Saturday, 27. February 2016 – Shingwedzi

Explored roads: H1-6 – S101 – S52 – S55 – S135 – H1-7 – S57 - S56

That night we both slept not very well as it was either too hot when we switched the air condition off or to cold when same was on and somehow already early in the morning a bat who must have made it into our unit kicked up a fuzz and we only could continue our sleep until we made the light on the verdanah on, in our unit we switched same off, opened the sliding door and same gladly did what we wanted from same and left our unit voluntarily.

Meanwhile it also cooled down outside extremely so we opened the window and with the cooler breeze and the bat outside we continued a bit our interrupted sleep.

The weather had the same colour as our mood on our last full day as same was dark and wet and on top it was more than quiet on the roads. In the bad light we noticed a tawny eagle, a couple of double banded sandgrouse were running around



and a grey heron was on the look out.



Unfortunately since Red Rocks no sign of any fur or feathers, really nothing – At Red Rocks we left the car and could realize from above a hammerkop, a crocodile and another black crowned night heron



and for sure we enjoyed the view onto the rocks and down to the pond. Whilst we carried on European bee eaters crossed our path



as well as a nicely posing red-billed hornbill