Africa Wild

Coming From Travel Tales from Forest to Beach to Bush July 2013

Part 2
Kosi Bay to Mkuze: Day 6

The wind started blowing the day before we left Kosi Bay to Mkhuze Game reserve. The normal calm lake became a rough sea of waves and with the wing came the clouds. The next morning we quickly started packing up when the clouds turned into rain. Luckily only for a short period, but enough to make the tent wet.

We left Kosi Bay early and travelled towards Manguzi and Phelandaba. At a traffic circle in Phelandaba we turned left and headed south pass Lake Sibaya and Sodwana. We decided to enter Mkhuze at the new Ophansi gate, but were for a moment lost when it took us a bit longer than expected. I thought from the turnoff its only 4 km, but it is actually 15 km on a badly corrugated gravel road. This road does save you some time when compared to driving to the main gate after Mkhuze town on the western side of the park. See link below for the route we followed.

http://goo.gl/maps/wouXo

Map of Mkhuze Game reserve provided by Toko under KZN parks (best map on internet )



Mkhuze game reserve does not fall under the Wild card and at the gate we first paid the conservation fees and thereafter booked in even at Mantuma camp, although still too early. Luckily reception had no problem booking us in and we got the key just after 12 pm. Unfortunately we had to wait about 30 min for the chalet to be cleaned and our take-away, which took nearly an hour.

After the meal of toated samis and chips we headed towards on of the best hides in the park, namely kuMasinga hide. The parking area is a few 100 meters from the hide where you need to walk through open veld to find rhino's and buffalo at the hide. Heading back one natural think of the animals you were just viewing in the safety of the hide that might just walk in the direction of the car park.

Maybe not of the dangerous kind -O -O -O :







The Afro guinea fowl spotted by Moshi:



After kuMasinga hide we drove to Nsumo pan hides from where we spotted far off and close-up birds and hippos. The pan was very full compared to our previous visit and had no island in the middle to get closer view of the pelicans:

More creatures from Day 5 taken at kuMasinga hide:

You will find the good, the bad and ugly at kuMasinga hide. Decide for yourself who is who. -O -O -O



Did not find you at the car park. Where the .... are you.



The clever and good child waiting for mum while she is drinking.



Sorry what did you say?



Don't stand in my pool.

Mkhuze continues:

The hide was very active during the afternoon with more sightings of zebra, wildebeest and rhino.



These two zebras were very cautious to go into the mud to take a drink and waited along the side of the water hole.



Another shot of Mr. One Ear with its ear on the right side or is it left. -O -O -O



More to follow.

nice to see Cormorant playing basketball... with fish -O
the Rhinos are sibling -O
cute little Zebies

Nice little zebbies

Lisbeth, nan and BC thanks for your lovely comments on my Mkuze pics.

Mkhuze to Cape Vidal: Day 7

We waked up just before sunrise and left Moshi M at the chalet to sleep in a bit longer, while we went for a quick visit at Masinga hide. It was very misty and along the way we did not see a lot besides the Nyalas and zebras.

I thought than in such cold and misty weather you will not find many animals at the hide, but were surprised to find 4 rhinos drinking. A few minutes later they left and gave as their "best" side for a pic.







While watching the rhino we heard an awful bleating and bellowing noise, which we could not relate to the rhinos. We missed a large herd of buffalo that came to drink a few minutes before, but there was still one small calf remaining totaling stuck and trying to keep its head above the deep mud pool where it got trapped it.



The other visitors at the hide already called the KZN rangers for help and 10 minutes later they arrived in full force. Two guys were standing guard to protect the rescuers in case the mother came back that was spotted about 100 meters off in the bush. After nearly getting stuck themselves they got the poor calf out and lay it down to recover. Every now and then it tried to move its legs but could not get up again.







We left the hide for breakfast and to get Moshi and all our stuff before moving off to Cape Vidal. On our return to the hide the calf was still there moving only its ears. The herd did return, but sadly moved off leaving the calf behind. I don't think the poor animal survived, but at least they tried to rescue it and also came to fill up the water hole with a large water truck, ensuring that it is safe again for the animals to drink.

Its amazing that the small zebra foals knew not to enter the mud, because they would have run into the same fate as the buffalo calf. As the saying is nature can be cruel.

what a drama

Life is cruel

Poor baby!!!