Remember remember to do some work in September .

[RogerFraser]

Mid September we had the chance to do a work trip to my client site in Mkhuhlu .So we obviously booked to stay at Pretoriuskop ,Orpen and also spend a few days at Marloth Park.

Arriving at the Malelane Gate after about 8 hours on the road it was really hot and about 13:50.


Close to Afsaal we found this youngster sunning itself


We found this snake eagle in the heat


After checking in at camp and resting we went out for a quick trip to Shiltahve dam where we found this Fish eagle .


The Local only Hippo was entertaining itself and us with a display of its imitation of a Dolphin


The sun was setting fast and we had to make our way back to camp already so we could not stay to watch the show for too long .




On the way back to camp we saw the SANparks Helicopter flying something around one of the hills .I later herd that they were doing Dehorning operations at this time so not sure if it was something related .



The following 2 days we left early to site and came back late with little to report in the way of sightings ,there had been a fire on most of the road between Pretorius and Phabeni gate ,it was very quiet in the way of life and all we saw was multiple ranger patrols . After the two days at Pretorius the next stay was two days at Orpen on our way out of Pretoriuskop camp we were signaled by a group of rangers going out on Patrol and there was a Leopard that seemed strangely intent on something in the bushes on the side of the road .





And with a little call the reason suddenly appeared and dashed across the road in front of us .It was still early and too dark for the camera to catch a fast moving cub but some sort of image was captured


We turned around and managed to catch a few more glimpses of Mother and cub walking along service roads around the side of the camp until they headed into thick bush and we turned back to the main road .

We had a great start to our proper time in the park and the trip improved from then on .

[nan]

wow Roger, love the Euphorbia and the magnificent Leopard

Snake-Eagle has yellow eyes and no feather in the legs

love Pretoriuskop too... near Afsaal and often Sable Antelopes on the way... but not for the Boons, or maybe is ok now

ready for more

[Lisbeth]

That's an absolutely lovely spotted lady that you found there and with a cub it gets even better.

The hyena is still in it's "cute" years

Those working trips of yours must be quite pleasant

[Richprins]

Great stuff, Rog!

Nice scenic views, and of course the leopard, what luck there!

[RogerFraser]

wow Roger, love the Euphorbia and the magnificent Leopard

Snake-Eagle has yellow eyes and no feather in the legs

love Pretoriuskop too... near Afsaal and often Sable Antelopes on the way... but not for the Boons, or maybe is ok now

ready for more

nan one day I will actually start to learn about the birds more seriously . We had problems with Boons years ago when camping but lately only had some biscuits grabbed by the monkeys when we turn our back on them .

That's an absolutely lovely spotted lady that you found there and with a cub it gets even better.
The hyena is still in it's "cute" years
Those working trips of yours must be quite pleasant

it was a great surprise for us to see the Cub and so close to camp as well definitely improved our mood as it had got a little down with the two days travel without much seen of interest to and from Phabeni for work .

Great stuff, Rog!
Nice scenic views, and of course the leopard, what luck there!

thanks R.P. very Lucky if we had been 30 seconds earlier or later we would never have seen it .

[RogerFraser]

On the drive to Orpen we found this breeding herd drinking at Delaport dam



The area was still very dry so they were enjoying the waterhole .



For some reason while crossing the bridge we found a couple of Ellies and youngsters drinking from holes dug into the dry riverbed .While they were literally 200m away from the herd and the waterhole .Guess they decided to find their own or maybe it was schooling for the youngsters about finding water in a dry river


We found a really old grumpy looking Buf that had seen allot of life it seems .


This guy was speeding across the road so we tried to make sure he got there safely


On one of the little Koppies this guy was standing on his points looking out while a friends was eating .


After a brief Toilet stop at Skukuza City we carried on and took a pic of the back of the train while crossing the river .


While on the other side this Heron was waiting for breakfast to swim past .


and some more Buf were having their morning cooling wallow .


At the next bridge some Vultures were bathing and sunning themselves




We carried on with our trip to Orpen.

[Lisbeth]

The buffalo does not look too well

Nice pics of the elephants crowding around the water hole

The klipspringer pic is rather special and of course the heron awaiting his luck

[Richprins]

A grumpy-looking buff indeed, Rog!

It certainly looks dry!

I like the ellies at the water, and the heron!

That train...

[Klipspringer]

I like the ellies in the riverbed. They go for clean water as the waterhole water is usually dirty with lots of poo etc.

[ExFmem]

You've already seen quite a variety The leopard w/ cub is always special, and the ellies never fail to amuse.