Africa Wild

Last week we spent a couple of nights in Addo with my parents who are over for a visit. We decided to upgrade a bit and treat ourselves to a stay at Nyathi camp - new territory for us

Nyathi is outside the main game area to the north - in the same concession area as Riverbend Lodge.



It has its own private dirt road and gates into the main game area for easy access, rather than needing to travel round to the main camp to enter the main section of the park.

We entered the park via the south gate and not surprisingly our first sightings were warthog
There are plenty of baby piggies in the park at the moment as well



Vukani and Ngulube loops were both relatively quiet, but Lismore waterhole had a couple of elephant drinking









There was no particular rush to get to the main camp for check in, so I decided we should explore the access road through the park in search of lions. We had been on a slightly dry run of luck when it comes to cats, so I was keen to see if we could track down Josie and her clan somewhere. The fire base side was quiet, but there was plenty of game down near Arizona. As we arrived there was a big herd of buffalo crossing the road and a big eland bull trundled off a short distance before glancing back at us





The eland must have got a bit mixed up because its herd was on the other side of the road so he quickly trotted back to join them whilst the buffalo looked on slightly confused





In the dip of Arizona dam itself we were thrilled to find a number of very little eland with their herd
I don't know how they do it, but normally the eland seem to hide their little ones until they are almost fully grown







TBC

I don't think, I've ever seen eland calves as young as these! Wonderful

So, you visited Addo over the crazy season Well, at least at night everybody was out of your way.
Would you have some photos of the accomm as well? Might be a nice change for a future trip
(Depending on how steep the price really is...)

Well done, Peej!

Buffalo are permanently confused...

So lovely that Addo continues to expand!

Just remind us, does one ever see leopard there?

nice to visite the other part of Addo NP

with so interesting sightings

Nice sightings to start! I don't think I've ever seen an eland calf!

Fantastic ellie and buffalo shots, PJL

plus warthogs but my favourites are the incredible close ups from the elands and even with calves

The eland bull looks enormous And it is nice to see calves too

Wow , that is one big eland

Mel wrote: ↑Tue Apr 03, 2018 4:52 pm I don't think, I've ever seen eland calves as young as these! Wonderful

So, you visited Addo over the crazy season Well, at least at night everybody was out of your way.
Would you have some photos of the accomm as well? Might be a nice change for a future trip
(Depending on how steep the price really is...)

Yep we visited in crazy season, but it worked out quite well in the end. Somehow it never felt too busy - some dodgy weather probably helped us with that
And yes I'll certainly be sharing some accommodation pics. Nyathi is a well kept secret in that it's not really that much more expensive than cottages at the main camp. Currently about R300 per night difference if it's for 2 people

Richprins wrote: ↑Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:52 pm Well done, Peej!

Buffalo are permanently confused...

So lovely that Addo continues to expand!

Just remind us, does one ever see leopard there?

This area of Addo has been part of the 'greater addo' park for many many years, but we've only had SP accommodation available for the past couple of years
Hmmm.... leopard. Well there seems to be some suggestion of a few individuals in the main game area although none have been seen to my knowledge for about 5 years or more. One was seen on the Nyathi side relatively recently by someone travelling outside the park ironically. It was relaxing in a dry riverbed not far from Riverbend Lodge.

nan wrote: ↑Tue Apr 03, 2018 11:03 pm nice to visite the other part of Addo NP

with so interesting sightings

Thanks nan! Definitely nice to explore some other sections

Flutterby wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:11 am Nice sightings to start! I don't think I've ever seen an eland calf!

They do seem to keep their little ones very well hidden. I've only ever seen calves once before

Pumbaa wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:54 pm Fantastic ellie and buffalo shots, PJL

plus warthogs but my favourites are the incredible close ups from the elands and even with calves

Thank you Pumbaa. Great to see such a mass of eland around. They seem to be doing very well in Addo overall

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:57 am The eland bull looks enormous And it is nice to see calves too

He was a very big chap Lis
I wonder how much he weighs

okie wrote: ↑Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:17 pm Wow , that is one big eland

Thanks okie... nice to have you tagging along

Our plan was to grab a bite of lunch at the main camp restaurant so we started heading into the north of the park. S did very well to spot a well-hidden scrub hare which then took off at lightening speed once it realised its cover was blown





Wayne's Valley had a lone elephant bull wandering along next to the road, as well as a secretary bird on the hunt





There wasn't too much else happening until we reached Gwarrie pan where there were many elephants hanging out. This chap had his war paint on and did his best to look menacing whilst walking towards us





Near the Woodlands dam there was an elephant carcass. We had heard that it had been involved in a fight a few days earlier and broken its leg so had to be put out of its misery
It didn't look like too much predation had been taking place so we figured we would check it out over the next couple of days to see if anything turned up.



Lunch at the restaurant was very enjoyable and we were then able to check in to the Nyathi accommodation at the main camp reception. I think we somehow got a new person on the desk as it seemed to take forever to get it all sorted but eventually we came out with info about how to get there as well as a gate remote for the camp. Something I hadn't realised is that the gates between Nyathi and the main game area only operated between 6am and 6pm, whilst people staying at the main camp had access to the park from 5:30am to 6:30pm. Thankfully at this time of year it doesn't get light until after 6am so it wasn't too much of an issue for us, but something visitors should be made more aware of perhaps.

There are 'residents only' gates from the main camp to Nyathi via an access road just past Domkrag dam. As we made our way round that direction this leopard tortoise crossed the road with a fair bit of lunch still attached to him



After a short drive down the access road beyond Domkrag we were at the gates where a chap opens/closes them for you as you make your way across the railway line & main road which separate the 2 sections of Addo. These chaps were monkeying around on the railway line, but they were apparently on the right track



After that it was time to see what the Nyathi section has to offer....

TBC