Africa Wild

From that point the day was pretty quiet for a long time to be honest. We found some rats/mice though



Near Rooidam some lions (Jack & Jill) were flat out behind bushes. It wasn't much of a sighting despite the number of cars so we headed to the main camp for lunch. Afterwards we headed back to see whether there was any movement from the lions and as luck would have it, Jill was up and walking. She sat down for a while with an intent look on her face and then got up and started playing with something just like a domestic cat



On close inspection it was a tortoise

It didn't keep her attention for long before she started walking parallel to the road - still a fair way off



Her direction was good though, and I made the decision to move before the rest of the crowd so we were in a prime spot for when she crossed the road - right next to us





It didn't take long for her brother Jack to get up and start wondering where she had gone. He is starting to become a magnificent lion





We were again in a great spot for the crossing but he got a bit confused and after popping out next to us decided to backtrack into the traffic jam

Heading back south we stopped to take some pics of the spekboom which was in full flower



Close to Waynes Valley we had a brilliant surprise with S spotting a brown hyena on a hillside close by



Whilst waiting for it to re-appear more and more cars arrived so we moved on a bit thinking that perhaps the sighting was over and we would double-back once the crowds dispersed

A bit further on there was a jackal relaxing



We turned and tried the sighting again despite the queue not really giving way, but we got lucky again with a view of it further down from the bulk of the traffic before it disappeared entirely





Despite very few elephants, the park had really delivered some amazing sightings. We also had a nice view of rarely (in Addo) seen bushbuck as well as a bushpig crossing the road

very pretty spekbom

and of course, I like the hyena.

Your mousies are Karoo Bush Rats Otomys unisulcatus, Myotomys unisulcatus – contrarily to other vlei rats, these are found in semi-arid and arid habitats.

Great stuff, Peej!

Remember that brown hyena you saw years ago that made it into Getaway?

Stunning fox sighting! And great sighting of the lions and brownie!

I didn't know spekboom flowered....I just planted some in our garden!

Ja!

Spekboom are the best trees for capturing CO2, for some reason!

Flutterby wrote: ↑Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:03 am Stunning fox sighting! And great sighting of the lions and brownie!

I didn't know spekboom flowered....I just planted some in our garden!

Yip the Cape Karoo Midlands Mountains are covered in purple in Spekboom flowering season ..My garden is full of it ..good for a natural environment and hideaway for lizards etc

The spekboom is spectacular, I have always wanted to see one in bloom, but our dates never meet

Jack is extremely handsome

Also the brownie is not a bad sighting How clever you are to avoid the traffic and get to see the animals all the same

Thanks so much PJL,

really love the battie shots as well as the zebra foal, the jackals and the ellie and not to forget the lions and brownie - Indeed a lot of stunning sightings