Kruger park December 2016 - another Self Drive.

[Hads]

Lower Sabie - Afternoon drive continued.

We left the Lions to do their thing and headed back to see if the doges were getting active.

It was still very hot so I was not getting my hopes up. Their was about 15 dogs in total in this pack so it was a healthy sized group.

There was a little bit of activity with the dogs and we did stay with them for 20 mins or so but most were still dormant so we decided to head for the S28 and Northwards back towards camp as we had quite a distance to travel.

We did have some more special sightings along the way.

Next up was a Tawny Eagle intruding on some guinea fowls real estate, the guinea fowls looked like they were protecting something as they were parading up and down in front of the eagle.

Further down track we came across a white rhino which are always great to see, I always wonder how much longer these guys will be in our presence. There was also some relaxed buffs

The north end of the S28 is a pleasant little hide called Ntandanyathi - great spot for a spot of birding, there was a couple of resident hippo's. One was very battle scarred all over his back. I practised some photography on some swallows.

Once we got close back to Lower Sabie it was nearing 6:30pm, but we had just enough time to catch the sunset over the Sunset dam and have a quick refreshment.

Another great day has come to an end in a special place in Kruger, so it was back to camp for a well earned braai and as you do when braaiing - you drink a lekker cold beer.

Edited March 24, 2017 by Hads

[Hads]

Lower Sabie - Continued on from previous post.

Ntandanyathi hide and a few more pics on the way back to Lower Sabie.

I promise that's it for this day.

I did capture my old mate the WKF before night fall .

Good Night.

Edited March 24, 2017 by Hads

[PeterHG]

Looks like a great day again @@Hads. That male lion certainly looks very impressive! Love the sight of the Tawny Eagle behind the Guineafowl!

[Hads]

Thanks @@PeterHG , it was another special day in Kruger. The Tawny Eagle and Guinea fowl interaction was very interesting.

Only 2 more days to go on my report.

[Hads]

Lower Sabie - Skukuza Morning Drive- Last full day in the park.

 

Having been on Safari for a week now your body clock is tuned to getting up around 4am in the morning.

I treat a Safari drive like a fishing trip, you just don't know what exciting things you will confront in the day.

Today was no different, not as much predator action but still abit of action, today we had some nice Rhino sightings.

We headed off roughly the same time venturing due North up the H10, crossing the Sabie River bridge was a stunning little Pied Kingfisher looking for brekkie.

Further up the H10 right alongside the road ws a couple of White Rhino's with several red-billed oxpeckers doing their cleaning duties. Great sighting and an awesome start to the day.

Not far past these guys but pretty well hidden in the dense bush was a Lion couple who looked like they had a good nights dinner.

We drove on until we got to the second S29 Mlondozi loop turn-off and turned east heading towards the Mlondozi picnic look out, which has stunning views. This loop has very open plains and is a very pleasant drive.

Next up was a bachelor Ostrich wondering around the open plains and then a large herd of Cape Buffalo's. There must of been 200 + in this herd and looked very relaxed. One of my favourite photo's on this trip was of all the Buff's sitting down and I captured a sea of horns.

It was a special Rhino morning and we came across another 2 big guys and then about 2km's on was another Rhino laying down but had an impressive horn.

We completed the Mlondozi loop and got back onto the H10 before heading back past Lower Sabie up the H4-1.

Edited March 25, 2017 by Hads

[Hads]

Lower Sabie to Skukuza morning drive continued.

A few more Rhino pics and some general game on the Mlondozi loop.

Edited March 25, 2017 by Hads

[Towlersonsafari]

I do like the backlit oxpecker and the fluffy Zebra, and the rhino pics are splendid! @@Hads

[Hads]

Thanks @Towlsonsafari , I enjoy trying to photograph the ozpeckers.

[PeterHG]

Lower Sabie rest camp - a couple of bird pics.

 

The little laughing dove (or is it a namaqua dove?) was very friendly when we arrived.

I love the Red-billed Oxpeckers, I have never seen one without a mammal.

Sorry can anyone identify the last bird in the post? Is it a fork tailed drongo?

 

Great read again with beautiful Rhino and Buffalo pics! Yes, a laughing dove in the picture you are referring to. I think the one in your last picture is a Fiscal Flycatcher

[Hads]

Thanks @@PeterHG - the fiscal flycatcher is a new bird for me.

[Hads]

Lower Sabie to Skukuza morning drive cont.

It was still quite early and we decided that we would head up to Skukuza via the S21,S112 and waterhole dirt (S65) roads.

Just prior to hitting the S21 road whilst still travelling on the H4-1 I was looking out along the Sabie River when I noticed across the other side of the River a honeymoon couple of Lions, they were quite far off but I was impressed with my spotting, I must of turned my head at just the right time.

We pointed them out to others who were very grateful.

The S21 was generally pretty quiet but is a pleasant drive, as I mentioned before I love the last 5-6 km's of the western part of this road, especially around the rocky boulders area's. Half way up the S21 we caught a glimpse of a Black rhino but he was well hidden in the thick foliage of trees.

At the junction of the S21 & S112 roads is a lot of large boulders and a car was stopped looking up towards some large rocks, what was there , 2 beautiful lions, one was an adolescent male with an awkward looking mane. Male lions who have not developed a decent mane look quite comical.

This was a nice sighting , the lions were very relaxed though and kicking back enjoying the views over their surroundings.

This area is generally quite good for Cat sightings, it has been for FIL and myself during our trips to Kruger together.

 

Edited March 28, 2017 by Hads

[Hads]

Lower Sabie to Skukuza cont.

It had been a very pleasant morning so far, FIL and I do cover some miles but we spend plenty of time out and about each day. That is the biggest positive for Self Drive trips.

The remainder of the trip up to Skukuza was very rewarding as we came across some knob billed ducks,my old favourite bird perched in a tree directly above us on the waterhole road, WKF stunning little guy.

Closer to Skukuza some Rhinos were chilling out in a muddy waterhole and on the Sabie river were some Elephants crossing it. Elephants near or on water is always a special sighting.

One unique sighting was of a male Kudu with only one horn, he must of lost it fighting I would imagine.

By the time we arrived at Skukuza a coffee was calling out our names and breakfast was sensational.

Edited March 28, 2017 by Hads

[Hads]

It was Siesta time so I left FIL at camp to have forty winks (sleep) and I ventured off to the Ntandanyathi hide for an hour.

It was very peaceful and once again I tried my hand at some bird photography especially with a sandpiper.

There was some action along the way and at the hide with an obliging masked weaver , red billed quelea's , yellow billed stork , red billed oxpeckers hitching a ride and a lovely wood sandpiper.

Edited March 29, 2017 by Hads

[Peter Connan]

Great sightings!

 

I think your Drongo/Flycatcher may be a Black Tit...

 

And I think your Brown snake-eagle is actually a Tawny, but there are several large, brown eagles with very variable plumage, so it's difficult to ID them accurately.

[Hads]

Thanks @@Peter Connan - I do struggle with the identifying of birds. Much appreciated with the ID of those birds.

Nearly finished my report, my last day's morning drive was a cracker though.

Edited March 30, 2017 by Hads

[Peter Connan]

Don't we all?

[Hads]

Lower Sabie - Final afternoon game drive.

When you get very cose to finishing your time on Safari you always try and cherish every last minute available.

This afternoon FIL and I headed northwards along the Mlondozi loop and onto the Muntshe loop where we hit the H10.

This part of the park was quite drought stricken and has lovely open plains which is at the base of the a large rock/hill/Kopje called Muntshe. We were greeted at the start of the drive by a fast moving Secretary bird which are always entertaining to watch. Due east of Muntshe we came across a Black Rhino mother and calf which was great, they seemed quite nervous and watched up closely from a distance of about 200m away, in the foreground was 2 eagles which I think are Tawny Eagles. Anyone take a guess what the eagles are?

 

Not far past these guys was a lovely white rhino. It does not get much better than this and he was very relaxed getting a clean from some oxpeckers. We stopped to enjoy this big guy and slowly moved on and were greeted by 4 stunning big Male kudu's and a couple of baboons doing some personal hygiene work on one another.

We continued on and travelled the S30 Salitje road which I have never travelled before, we came across a couple who had seen a lioness and cub on the move , we tried to find them without luck.

The Salitje road is a fantastic drive, it was quiet today but the section of road near the Sabie river has stunning tree's and river frontage views. We did however see a flock of Ostriches which was a neat sighting.

We were getting very stretched for time and once we got back on the H4-1 we headed straight back to camp.

Another great day had come to a close, it was time for another well earned beer and lekker braai.

 

The next day is our last day with a morning drive left - we meet the Vurhami pride.

 

 

Edited April 1, 2017 by Hads

[PeterHG]

I do recognize the feeling when a safari trip is about to end, @@Hads! ( this is usually the moment we start planning the next...). Some great sightings, Black and White Rhino, wow! And a beautifule male Kudu indeed. Geat shots of all of them! I do agree the eagles look like Tawny ones.

[Hads]

Thanks @@PeterHG for the Tawny Eagle confirmation.

My next Safari will more than likely be back at Kruger which I can't complain about.

The Black Rhino sighting was very special.

[Hads]

Lower Sabie - to Bergen Dal , our final game drive for this trip.

For some reason I always feel like that the last day of Safari is a write-off and you generally do not see that much.

I am unsure why I feel like this, maybe it is the sadness that you realise that it maybe a few years until you get to go on Safari again, even though the whole family was going to Nambiti game reserve before our holiday finished.

However my feelings were unjustified as we had some very special Cat sightings, probably my best Lion pride sighting ever.

 

The Safari experience with FIL is always special and I do appreciate him taking me to his beloved Kruger park.

 

We had packed up pretty early and were out the Lower Sabie gates by about 0445 hrs.

I had the drivers seat today and as we left the gates I thought it would be wise to venture to the Sunset dam for a quick look. It turned out to be quiet, I had a chat to a father and son and the Dad said to us try the S28 on your way South as it is one of his favourite roads. Well that solved that dilemma , I decided to take that route.

It turned out to be a great decision as we got to meet the Vurhami pride (we were told this at the first pride sighting by a local guide).

It was quite an overcast morning and it had been pretty quiet, we were travelling on the S28 for a few km's and up ahead was a lone vehicle stopped by the side of the road. Off into the low scrub about 100-150 meters off the road was about 8 lionesses which had taken down an animal in the early hours of the morning.

A game vehicle pulled up a few minutes later and the guide identified the deceased as a buffalo. With the binoculars you could see the pride well but my photo's are not that great. FIL had a good chat with the guide and he informed us that this was the Vurhami pride and is usually 20-23 lions in size but they will split up for hunting due to not all the cats being able to get there share of the kill. He said this pride dominates this region of the park - it must of been quite a battle as the lions were very muddy.

What a great way to start our morning - we must of spent a good 20-30 mins with the pride, it was a pity they were not closer to the road.

I did not expect to meet the remainder of the pride about 10km's later down track .

Apologies for the photo quality as it was still early and quite dark plus the pride was quite a distance away.

Edited April 2, 2017 by Hads

[Hads]

Final Safari drive continued - Vurhami pride group 2 up close and personal.

Just prior to leaving this pride of lions the ranger we spoke to another vehicle coming our way and they mentioned that there was another pride further down the S28 with a kill but closer to the road.

When we arrived I could not believe it , there was another 15 lions that had killed a blue wildebeest about 10 metres off the road, there was only 4-5 cars when we arrived and FIL and I were very lucky getting a fantastic view point of the pride feasting away.

There was a mixture of 3 pride Males, several lionesses and 2-3 half grown cubs.

The noises, growls , odd scuffle and snarl was awesome to hear and to be so close to such a large pride during feast time gave me goosebumps - I could of sat there all day with these cats.

It definitely does not get much better than this - 2 large prides on kills on your final game drive.

Hopefully you enjoy the pics - there are plenty to browse through.

Edited April 3, 2017 by Hads

[PeterHG]

Incredible experience and ditto pictures, @@Hads!

[Towlersonsafari]

what an excellent end to the safari @@Hads

[Hads]

Thanks @@Towlersonsafari and @@PeterHG , the trip report has not quite finished as there was still another little surprise for us on the way out.

[Hads]

Last game drive continued.

FIL and I finally decided to leave the lion pride after spending quality time with them, it was difficult to drag myself away, this was made harder by being blocked in by a couple of other vehicles (which of course I did not mind).

The final few sightings on the way out along the crocodile river road were also very nice, a few km's down the river road was a neat looking Tawny eagle and Bataleur in a dead tree followed by a Hammerkop fishing on a river crossing.

 

Not far past these guys was a special treat as we got a decent sighting of a female Leopard, she was on the move and we lost her in some dense bushes not far from the car. Africa does not cease to surprise !

One last sighting was of some Warthogs, one mum had 3 little ones close at hand.

 

With that I conclude FIL's and my Kruger Self Drive Safari.

Let's hope the next Africa Safari is not too far away.

Thanks to those who followed along.

 

Edited April 5, 2017 by Hads