A leisurely 13 day train trip behind steam to Kruger Park*

[steamtrainfan]

FRIDAY 23 AUGUST 2013 - PART 1/2 - 06:00 TO 16:45

Our route today takes up the H1-4 to Olifants for breakfast. Then S44 - S93 - S46 - S94 to Letaba. South on H1-5 to S46. Turned around and up to S47 for about 8kms when we were forced to do a U-turn due to an angry elephant that charged out onto the road right in front of us. Back on the H1-5 we parked on the bridge and got out the car to stretch our legs. The return to camp was done via the small S47 loop.

Northern black korhaan.


A steenbok with a deformed horn.


We stopped at Olifants for breakfast where I took this photo:

Black-backed puffback.


And this one of a bat that seems to have got lost. He was hanging on the wall at the restaurant.


Somewhere along the S93 Joan got this shot of this ??eagle?? sitting on a log.


The following photographs are not totally in focus but we are putting them in for their worth as "action" shots. If anyone knows how I can create a clearer image of the second and third photos please PM me as we would really love to have better photos than we have at the moment.

Joan managed to capture this pied wagtail tugging at a well and truly flattened piece of elephant dung.






As we sat checking the photos and adjusting the shutter speed, as the waggie was still trying to pull a piece of dung off, an SUV came roaring up from the opposite direction over the slight rise resulting in the waggie flying away. He had to slam on brakes as we were parked on a fairly narrow bridge, in the middle I admit, but all we got from him was a dirty look and a finger.

Some ellies near Engelhard Dam.


While waiting to check in at Letaba I got these shots of a white-bellied sunbird busy at an aloe.




While travelling up the H1-6 Joan managed to get this shot od a martial eagle in flight.


I consider the S47 to be one of the best in Kruger as it runs next to the river and is very bushy and condusive to great sightings. However, today was an exception as the only animal we came across was a very angry elephant who suddenly stormed out from behind some trees and into the road in front of us. Slam on brakes, very quick U-turn and back to the H1-6 without seeing anything else except monkeys and baboons. We parked on the Letaba river bridge and got out to stretch our legs and look at few crocodile lazing in the water.

We then returned to Letaba using the small loop just south of the bridge.

Joan took this photo as the suns rays coming through the clouds made for quite a pretty picture.



NEXT: We watch fascinated as a plover gives a saddle-bill stork a hard time.

[steamtrainfan]

Thanks very much B.B.

FRIDAY 23 AUGUST 2013 - PART 2/2 - 16:55 TO 18:00

At one spot we looked down into the river and saw a saddlebill stork walking around in the water when a plover suddenly started to harass him. Unfortunately there was no sunlight on the birds as they were in the shadow of the river bank.
No narration needed for the following photos.













He then decided to take off but needed quite a long runway.








What a wonderful way to spend 15 minutes on a late afternoon.

Further down the road we saw this giant kingfisher.


Finally for today a view from the restaurant fence.


NEXT: We go to Sable Hide to meet Sprocky.

[steamtrainfan]

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST 2013 - ALL DAY.

Morning: Our route for today was H9 to Sable Hide and return via S69 loop.
Afternoon: H1-6 and S47 to Mingerhout Dam and return.

We were really looking forward to today as we were going to Sable Hide. We have never been there before and a BIG plus is that Sprocky will be meeting us there.

Not much to be seen on this road so Joan took this photo of a rather bedraggled looking eagle.


At Sable Hide there was nothing to be seen until this herd of impala came down to graze.


Sprocky arrived and produced a flask of coffee much to Joans delight. We had a nice chat and "skinnered" about all the other mites on this forum.

Joe and Yvonne arrived and introduced to Sprocky who immediately pulled out a Africa Wild card and gave it to Joe encouraging him to become a member. Joe undertook to look into it once they were back in Durban. Still waiting

A German couple then arrived, the man with a bazooka Canon camera and lens, and the chatter continued. They were flying back to Germany tonight so could not stay long and left soon afterwards.

After about 90 minutes we too took leave of each other and went our separate ways.

Sprocky, thank you so much for your hospitality.

At Masorini Dam there were three elephant drinking, two from the trough and one deciding it was better to go directly to the source.




This one reminded us so of our dear departed Labrador who also could not drink water without dribbling the last drops all over the show.


At Nhlanganini Dam there was a huge herd of buffalo. Joan could not fit them all in even on wide angle lens.


From here and all the way to Mingerhout Dam and back all we saw were monkeys and baboons. In hindsight it was rather silly to do the S47 as we could see signs of work being done, although no workers in sight, on the culvert wash aways.

On the S47 loop we saw four double-banded sandgrouse/sandgreese/sandgrouses???????

These fellows can sure camouflage themselves as at first we saw four but by the time the camera was ready there were only two to be seen.





Back in camp I got this shot of the bats leaving their bat box.


That was all for this episode BUT so as to ensure you get your moneys worth I will now add our rhino photos.



This guy was so close we had to reverse a couple of metres in order to fit him in the picture.


Now this guy had a different agenda. He kept playing hide and seek with us. He would trot ahead and around the corner and disappear. We would then come forward and he would suddenly storm out of the bush and give us the beady eye. This went on for four times until he finally gave up and disappeared into the bush on the right hand side of the road. We still drove past very slowly as we were not sure if he was still playing or not. When we saw his backside disappear down into the river bed we knew he had tired of the game.


This one was so enjoying his mud bath he almost fell over a couple of times.




Finally this fellow quietly contemplating whether to have a drink or not.


NEXT: We motor down to Skukuza for a last two nights.

[steamtrainfan]

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 2013 - PART 1/3 - 06:00 TO 07:30

Our route today would take us straight down the H1 road to Skukuza.

First thing this morning this fellow came to say good morning.


His lady friend was not so shy.


Our first sighting today was this big herd of buffalo crossing the road.


Near Olifants there was elephant in the river.


We popped up to the Nwamanzi lookout point. Always a lovely view at any time of the day.

As we came out and turned right onto the H1 we saw a Telkom bakkie suddenly brake. A leopard had crossed the road in front of him. By the time we got the camera ready he was already in the bush. This is the only photo Joan managed to get.


At the Olifants river bridge this pair of fish eagle.


Just south of the bridge was this hyena who obviously had a den right next to the road.


She/he was quite relaxed with us virtually on top of it. Unfortunately the rest of the family did not make an appearance.


NEXT: Loving lion mums and cubs.

[steamtrainfan]

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 2013 - PART 2/3 - 08:15 TO 08:30.

A couple of km's before Satara we came across these to males quite far into the bush.


They weren't doing much except just lazing around.

We saw more cars parked further down the road so we went to investigate.

Here we found four lioness. Two were lying down but the other two sat up nicely for the camera.


Then we saw one cub get up. There were four cubs in total but we could only get photos of two of them. Who the actual mommy was is a mystery.
















The second lioness with the first cub that walked across to her above.











What an amazing 15 minutes spent watching these to lioness and cubs.

NEXT: On down to Skukuza.

[steamtrainfan]

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 2013 - PART 3/3 - 08:30 TO 18:00.

After taking our leave of the lioness and cubs we mosy on down to Satara for breakfast.

Before reaching Satara we see this fellow.


After a hearty breakfast at Satara and bumping into Joe and Yvonne again we continued on down to Skukuza.

We decided to 10km of the Sweni road in the hope of seeing those two cheetah again. No luck.

All we got a photo of was this purple roller.


Stopped off at Nkaya Pan for all the obvious reasons but all we saw was one crocodile lazing in the sun again.


A hammerkop playing captain of the ship with the hippo taking the salute as another does a high speed flypast.


At Kumana dam this lone ellie was taking a very slow drink.


On the Nwaswitsontso loop this Bataleur was nice and clear but the light was bad.


A couple of km,s before Tshokwane we saw this lioness and a cub.


She was in fact lying down when we arrived and could hardly see her until a light aircraft flew very low and directly overhead that had her and the cub look up.


A second cub stood up which we had not seen until now.




The cubs then ran towards the road and ducked into a culvert. This made mom get up and start calling them - maybe to re-assure them that all was ok.


She came directly towards us and lay down again. We assume that she had seen where the cubs were and was happy.


The one cub was coming out of the culvert towards Mom but the again the sound of the aircrafts engine could be heard and he turned and ducked back into the culvert. We do not know what was going on but this aircraft was circling round and going higher until it eventually disappeared.


Mom having a good scratch - just look at that expression on her face.


Finally for today - a southern White-crowned shrike on Maroela loop.


NEXT: Joes leopard photos.

[steamtrainfan]

If we can just back track for a few days to 22 August 2013 and on the H1-4 just north of Ngotso Dam.

Here are Yvonnes photos of a leopard in a tree right next to the road.









Where were Joan and I during this time. Looking for game just south of Satara.

You win some and you lose some.

[steamtrainfan]

MONDAY 26 AUGUST 2013 - PART1/2 - 06:00 TO 08:00

This morning we will do the H4-1 down to Lower Sabie and return. I firmly believe that this road always produces the best sightings in the morning.

A beautiful bright and calm morning greeted us as we set off. However not 30 minutes later the mist rolled in.


Eventually the mist was so thick that we almost missed this hippo on the side of the road.


A couple of baboon foraging on the side of the road.




The one good thing a thick mist like this does is to create very pretty spider webs. As the game was very scarce Joan took to getting artistic with the spider webs.




Not sure what spider this is but he was quite colourful.


At Sunset Dam the mist started to lift - very slowly.


Finally an African pied-wagtail.


Well their goes another of my firm beliefs in Kruger down the tubes.

Oh well, maybe after breakfast the sun will come out, burn away the mist and we will see bountiful game on the return trip.

NEXT: The return trip to Skukuza.

[steamtrainfan]

MONDAY 26 AUGUST 2013 - PART 2/2 - 09:45 TO 17:45

Back to Skukuza via the H4-1. Afternoon went to Lake Panic and then H1-1 to Transport Dam and back to Skukuza via S112 and S114.

By the time we left Lower Sabie the mist had lifted and it was lovely sunny day.

Our first sighting on the return trip was at a small waterhole which is not shown on the map.

A green-backed heron and an African pied-wagtail.


Two turtles trying to get a tan.


All the usual gangs along the H4-1 but no chance for photos.

We turned right onto the high level bridge and did a U-turn on the other side. While riding slowly along Joan suddenly shouted "Leopard". There he was down below us just about to walk into a few thick bushes. Joan managed to fire off a few shots of which these two are the best.




When he disappeared we turned around and rode very slowly along the S30 in the hope that we would maybe try to cross the road somewhere. No luck.

On the little loop near the T-junction to turn off to Skukuza we saw these two sharing a picnic spot.


Back at camp for lunch and I heard this beautiful bird call.

I went off in search of this bird by following the sound of the call.

I then came across this black-headed oriole in a tree.




In the afternoon we stopped at Lake Panic for a while.




On way to Transport Dam Joan got this shot of a mongoose running across the road.


Sadly that was all we saw this afternoon as we returned to Skukuza without any real good sightings.

While walking to the shops I tried to get a decent shot of this red-capped robin-chat but he would not keep still long enough and it was getting pretty dark as well.


Our final pic for today is of Joan at the kudu fight statue.


It was our last night in Kruger so we went to bed with very heavy hearts.

NEXT: Two hours at Lake Panic.

[steamtrainfan]

TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2013 - PART 1/2 - 06:15 TO 07:15.

We love spending our last night at Skukuza as we and then sit at Lake Panic for a few hours just enjoying the peace and tranquillity of it and maybe get a few photos in as well.

A few of the photos that Joan managed to get.



















NEXT: Our final few photos.