SO birthday dash Feb 2022

[RogerFraser]

Our first sighting on the S121 was a buff wallowing in the muddy hole .



We continued and as we came around a bend with quite an overgrown bushes suddenly a pair of Impala suddenly jumped out the bushes and ran over the road .We almost hit them and got quite a shock and shortly thereafter the cause of the excitement came slinking out the grass and gave us a look that left no doubt we had interrupted his planned ambush


He walked down the road with us following and marked a few spots then wondered down into a drainage ditch .




We carried on towards camp . A big piggie was in the shade


Deep in the grass close to the camp turnoff we found a car stopped and the reason soon appeared as it moved deeper into the shade




We waited a while but there was no more activity so we carried on to camp.

At camp we had a colorful visitor


After a break and some breakfast we left to drive to Skukuza city for birthday lunch at Selati . Some flowers for SO


And a Fisheagle in the middle of the bush nowhere near water


Close to Skukuza we found a scrum . Not having a choice we joined the queue and took some pics of some lovely Males resting in the shade on the hot day .


The one crossed in front of some cars and joined his brother




We arrived at Selati and had some nice burgers and dessert at a bit of a price , the rugrats had given the money for the meal .It was a good meal


And we shared a cheesecake dessert


We did have an issue paying with the cash the rugrats gave us as no one had any change and we waited about 20 minutes while the waiter and then the manager ran around looking for change .

The obligatory selfie in front of the train

and the train itself .


We left and started to drive back down to Malelane intending to do some loops on the way back ...

[Lisbeth]

We did have an issue paying with the cash the rugrats gave us as no one had any change and we waited about 20 minutes while the waiter and then the manager ran around looking for change .

It should not happen at a restaurant like that

The food is nicely served, but how do you manage to eat a burger like that RP is going to be happy

Nice leopard sighting

[RogerFraser]

We did have an issue paying with the cash the rugrats gave us as no one had any change and we waited about 20 minutes while the waiter and then the manager ran around looking for change .

It should not happen at a restaurant like that

The food is nicely served, but how do you manage to eat a burger like that RP is going to be happy

Nice leopard sighting

we were surprised but I guess most pay with plastic these days

[Pumbaa]

Thanks Roger,

at least you also experienced the construction work at Biyamiti these days

Love the klippie and for sure leopard and wild do luck you had

[RogerFraser]

After leaving the big city we found the scrum was still present at the Lions .We decided to not join it again and managed to find a path through that we drove without stopping .Needless to say the participants appeared most astonished that we were not stopping .

We went down Biyamiti loop and did not find the Elephant on the road anymore .Instead it had climbed up on a little rocky hill





We got a chance to snap this little fellow before he disappeared into the grass


Still not much happening at the Weir apart from tractors


The Hyaenas cubs were still there


and then we completed the proper Big five for the day although this one was difficult to get a clear picture of


A stork tree


and ground hornbills not on the ground


it was getting late by this time and we were getting close to camp when we found a car stopped close to where the dogs had been earlier so we stopped and sure enough some movement far off in the grass .So we pulled over and stopped to watch as we did not have far to go but being this close to the gate soon there was a mini scrum of cars joining .

[Lisbeth]

I wonder if the hornbill is on the nest

Cute dwarf mongoose

I like the marabous in the tree

Elephants always look out of place on a hill, however small it is

[Richprins]

What lovely sightings all day, Rog!

Spoiled with predators, and even a dehorned black rhino!

Scrumptious meal there at Selati!

Appletizer...

You look healthy, wealthy and wise in the selfie.

I like the hornbill, and the dog with flowers!

Weather looks much better indeed.

[RogerFraser]

I wonder if the hornbill is on the nest

Cute dwarf mongoose

I like the marabous in the tree

Elephants always look out of place on a hill, however small it is

No the Hornbill seemed to be looking for bugs in the tree .Dont think it was big enough for a nest .

What lovely sightings all day, Rog!

Spoiled with predators, and even a dehorned black rhino!

Scrumptious meal there at Selati!

Appletizer...

You look healthy, wealthy and wise in the selfie.

I like the hornbill, and the dog with flowers!

Weather looks much better indeed.

It was a really good day and got better ...

[RogerFraser]

We waited and hoped the dogs might come little bit closer and they obliged by coming and playing right next to the car


And soon the rest joined them in the road and the hunt began


They ran down the H3 towards the gate and we hoped they would turn towards camp on the s110 as time was running out to stay with them and our luck held as the turned and ran up the S110. Most of the cars either peeled off to the gate and some passed and left to try get to Berg en Dal before gate closing .


Some of the doggies would run into the bushes and other stay on the road . Suddenly a hare burst out hopping from the bushes and in the most comical sight instead of running after it the dog decided to mimic it and it hopped after if .




Most of the dogs decided that a hare would not be a big enough meal and did not bother to chase it .The pack then decided to take a break in the road and regroup


At this stage there was only 2 other vehicles with us we assumed were all staying at Malelane...


They were having a nice rest


We had pulled over and shut off the engine and enjoying the sighting when an Impala suddenly walked out of the bushes on a game trail . It was literally totally unaware of the dogs right there . It did not take long to react though running down the road past the dogs and neither did the dogs and the chase was on ...




The dogs were running all over the road and bushes but it did appear the Impala had managed to evade them .We literally had only 2 minutes before gate closing so decided to leave them .Expecting the other cars to follow us but the y did not . We still dont know where they went to but we were the last into camp

We had a lovely braai in camp


It wasn't all great though with the dogs this is a sight that made me one dog found a plastic bag and tried to eat it

[Lisbeth]

What a gorgeous doggie sighting, apart from the plastic They cannot have been very hungry or maybe the impala was a very fast impala