A short but slightly longer weekend in the Kruger (Nov 13)

[Sprocky]

Stunning close-up shots, BT!!!

[BluTuna]

Nice start BT!! Pity about the traffic, but at least you had a nice destination to look forward to!

Love those vervet pics and the conehead pics are great, if a little creepy!

Thanks Flutts We had a super nice destination and our accommodation was a lovely unit overlooking the Crocodile River.

Strange, I've never found Mantids to be creepy and I've never had a problem with handling them (I would completely flip-out if I found a Scorpion crawling on me).

I'm finding myself more and more fascinated and less repelled by insects since I started photographing them, even wasps, which used to give me the heebies are now interesting subjects to be photographed - but that might change when one decides to sting me!

[BluTuna]

Stunning close-up shots, BT!!!

Thanks Sprocky

[BluTuna]

Day 1, Saturday 16 November 2013. Ngwenya Lodge, Morning Drive.

I woke up early, as I often do when I'm sleeping in a strange place. Instead of lying awake, staring at the ceiling I decided to get up and see what was going on.

I stepped out onto the verandah, directly in front of me the Moon was setting across the Crocodile river. I thought I'd try a few long exposures before it went behind the clouds and this was the best result.



Then I found a Dumpy Longhorn Beetle and managed to get some closeups




Ready for take-off!



As it began to get light, I tried another long exposure across the river (while nobody was looking ), it was completely overcast by that time.



We were in the park just after the gates opened and spied this juvenile Fish Eagle at Gezantombi.



The S28 was very quiet. There is plenty of water around in puddles and wallows and this giraffe was drinking from one of them.



Dung Beetles were everywhere, I can't remember seeing so many before. This one was trying out a new concept, the Dung Cylinder!



This Elephant has some respectable tusks but probably not big enough to be considered a "Tusker" yet.



Grey Louries (I refuse use their new name) are daily visitors to my garden but this one was in good light and it posed so nicely for me that I had to take some pictures.




More Dung Beetles.




At Nthahdanyathi hide, flatulence was the order of the day.



In the Sabie River, a small group of Elephants were splashing about.





To be continued.....

[Super Mongoose]

More stunning bugs BT! Love "violet" dungy! And the young fish eagle is just beautiful! Always nive to see the Ellies play in the water!

[Bush Brat]

Brilliant pics as usual BT!

[Pumbaa]

Great shots, once again, BluTuna

[Richprins]

Excellent, BT!

I love the "dung cylinder"...

Glad you also rebel against the new bird names!

The dung beetles are not as frightening as the rest!

[Mel]

This one was trying out a new concept, the Dung Cylinder!

You always crack me up with your narration.

Love the juvenile fish eagle and obviously your attention to detail on the insects once again.
Particularly the violet shimmering dung beetle.

But the lourie is fantastic as well - and I see why you don't wanna use the new official name.
Go-away-bird? Gimme a break.

[nan]

and the competition one... everybody push in its own sens