Flavour of the Month - Feb 2013: S56-Shingwedzi/Babalala

[nan]

Let's do S56-Shingwedzi/Babalala for our flavour of the month

[Toko]

S56 Mphongolo loop

[nan]

S56-Shingwedzi/Babalala

Game viewing > S56 Mphongolo loop

[Flutterby]

This is what Nigel Dennis (Where to watch game in Kruger) has to say about the S56:

Another fine drive that sees less traffic is the S56 Mphongolo River Route. First travel north on the H1-7 main tarred road. It is worth stopping for a moment at Lamont water hole along the way as, occasionally, fair numbers of game drink here.

After about 5 kilometres, you will reach the S56 turnoff. This is another splendid route with impressive old sycamore figs growing along the river bank. Bird-watching can be particularly rewarding, and a marvellous variety of species will reveal themselves to the patient observer. Neither will big-game enthusiasts be disappointed, as this represents prime habitat for both lion and elephant.

Approximately 16 kilometres into this route is a large river pool. This is an excellent place to photograph elephant as they slake their thirst. I like to take my time along this road and rarely reach Babalala picnic site, which marks the end of the S56, before late morning.

[Toko]

Babalala picnic site & water hole

[nan]

let's start with a little natural pond, a little bit before Shireni... going to the North

was a big herd of Buffaloes, maybe hundred, and these beautiful birds, Yellow-billed Oxpecker

[Amoli]

It's Saturday morning....

anybody want to stop for breakfast.... It's on me....

[harrys]

Some of my photos:

Honeybadger:



Elephant:





BBJ with kill:

[nan]

here is the little natural pond... invested by buffaloes... and not only

very quiet

and they arrive... climbing the rocks

[nan]

with a Yellow-billed Oxpecker

a wound

And continue their way on the right side, sometime gentily, sometime with a mess