A cat or a lifer a day keep the doctor away

[Pumbaa]

Stunning close up pictures of all these different birds

We were so happy that they occured that plentiful already

[Pumbaa]

Lovely stuff, Pumbaa!

It is palpable how happy you were to be back.

I think the bulbul is also eating an exotic berry.

Thanks - Hopefully we can be back next year

[Pumbaa]

That place is perfect for birding. You only have to wait for them

I love the bush with the matching bird

You are always lucky with sunbirds! Normally they are hard to photograph

Nice way to start the holidays

Which model is the first bird? First I thought it was a grey-headed sparrow but the reddish/beige colour of the breast does not fit and also the impression as a whole points elsewhere Only the bill fits

The sunbirds are indeed hard to photograph but that one somehow was a poser No idea but would also go for the sparrow - Unfortunately this is the only shot we got

[Pumbaa]

Lots of lovely birds about.

On our first full day in the park we in fact saw so many different birds already - It was unbelievable

[Pumbaa]

Friday, 07. February 2020 – Malelane – Berg en Dal

Explored roads: H3 – S110 – H3 – S113 – S23 – S114 – S119 – S118 – H3 – S110

After a very restless night in the airplane due to a permanently crying small child this night was not that better as I was already wide awake around 02.00 o’clock in the morning because it was that hot in the room and the air condition did not work properly so I only snoozed until the alarm clock went off. The advantage, however, was that the things were packed in no minute, hot water for coffee and tea cooked so we arrived at the gate across the bridge when same was about to open.

Needless to say that we stopped on same to take a look around and to adsorb the atmosphere – sigh!



The white faced ducks could be spotted nearly everywhere on one side of the bridge



and on a sand island on the other side.



Lots of herons were around – We saw already a grey heron in the distance, a goliath heron quite close



and even a purple heron even closer – For us this heron is a rarer sighting and we do not spot same regularly so each time when we do see one we are always very happy. Crocodiles were, however, plentiful and love the river with the same name,



also here we already noticed pied kingfishers in a bush



and had a good laugh about a crocodile taking a nap on a sand island and rested its upper body on a rock.





We discovered a fish eagle on the rocks in the distance joined by a grey heron and more white faced ducks

[Pumbaa]

but same took off and landed in a tree a bit closer to where we stood



and for sure we had to capture once again the motionless sitting purple heron.



After quite a lovely while on the bridge we carried on as most of the cars who overtook us must meanwhile entered the park but we still had to deal with the formalities



and whilst I was busy with same Timon got a hint from a guide that there are lions not far away on the tar road. The formalities were ready in no minute and our 17 days Kruger adventure was about to start as soon as the barrier opened and closed behind us which also was done quickly and we were finally back home……

Soon we stopped already for a magpie shrike,



a cute dwarf mongoose stopped long enough and posed quite nicely for us whilst the other family members kept hidden,





also a forktailed drongo could be captured



and then we were caught in a traffic jam already and bit doubtfully we were facing the lions at least we noticed two paws in the air a bit far away and due to the high grass more was not yet to be seen but we nevertheless could not believe that we already were standing at a lion sighting that early during our trip as normally they only show up later to us.

From time to time at least it was a movement detected and consequently part of the head of a lion could be seen





for sure also a yawner.



to be continued…..

[Mel]

Off to another Pumbaa & Timon safari And you started so well with the birding. My favourite thing to do when I'm not able to get into the park yet and have to stay over for the first night And an impressive variety you got there too

The drive in with a lion already - wow! But the mongoose is my favourite

[Richprins]

Pumbaa!

Sorry about the aircon and baby...

Fat-looking crocs!

This is going to be a grand trip, and lions already!

[Mel]

I forgot to ask: What lodge were you in along the Malelane?

[Klipspringer]

Lots of white-faced ducks, love them, they are the most elegant ducks out there. In summer, there are plenty, I wonder what they do in winter when you don't see many