25 July 2014
We started a new tour today and after a pleasant drive
through the plantation area we arrived at Nkambeni Safari Camp, our home for a
few nights. After a long lunch break we set off for our first game drive. The
weather was still hot. We decided to go around Albassini and stop at Mestel Dam
first. On the way we spotted our first animal: kudus. At Mestel Dam itself it
was rather quiet. Even though it was hot, nothing seemed thirsty while we were
watching. The hippos bobbed up their heads briefly and a wooly necked stork was
probing away.
We continued our drive spotting a tawny eagle in flight. Down Shabeni there were no animals in sight but the grasses and trees kept us entertained. A loop around Shabeni showed us two klipspringers. They were showing themselves nicely as if they were deliberately posing for pictures.
Then we drove to Shithave Dam. We spotted our first impalas on the way and at the dam a crocodile was lying stretched out on a rock. We also saw terrapins on the rock next to him, a grey heron, another hippo head as well as some Egyptian geese. A small herd of waterbucks just left the water and crossed the road in front to continue feeding.
By now it finally started to cool down. And suddenly an elephant appeared on the dam wall. We watched her climb on top and when others followed her we decided to go sit next to the water (for those of you familiar with Shithave Dam, the small dam next to the main one) as the elephants seemed to be heading that way. Sitting at the water edge it was a wise move as the herd of elephants came indeed to the edge to drink. Mostly on the opposite side, but surprisingly a large cow came onto the dam wall about a meter in front of our car! Gosh, they are ever so large when they look down on you! But she was no trouble, as she pushes her youngster forwards to join the rest of the herd. A couple of youngsters we scaring the Egyptian geese which made a racket to try to chase the elephant of. No such luck so the geese bailed. We sat there watching them have their fill of water for quite some time, as it was great entertainment!
When the sun started setting however it was time to find our way back to the lodge. We spotted a lovely sunset and a duiker, that ran away, a red crested korhaan and some guineafowls on the way back when Mark called that he had spotted a leopard. We arrived at the sighting and got a glimpse of it but unfortunately not all of us saw it. We did however all see the sables and a warthog at the same sighting. It was a slow start with a good ending for our first safari!
We continued our drive spotting a tawny eagle in flight. Down Shabeni there were no animals in sight but the grasses and trees kept us entertained. A loop around Shabeni showed us two klipspringers. They were showing themselves nicely as if they were deliberately posing for pictures.
Then we drove to Shithave Dam. We spotted our first impalas on the way and at the dam a crocodile was lying stretched out on a rock. We also saw terrapins on the rock next to him, a grey heron, another hippo head as well as some Egyptian geese. A small herd of waterbucks just left the water and crossed the road in front to continue feeding.
By now it finally started to cool down. And suddenly an elephant appeared on the dam wall. We watched her climb on top and when others followed her we decided to go sit next to the water (for those of you familiar with Shithave Dam, the small dam next to the main one) as the elephants seemed to be heading that way. Sitting at the water edge it was a wise move as the herd of elephants came indeed to the edge to drink. Mostly on the opposite side, but surprisingly a large cow came onto the dam wall about a meter in front of our car! Gosh, they are ever so large when they look down on you! But she was no trouble, as she pushes her youngster forwards to join the rest of the herd. A couple of youngsters we scaring the Egyptian geese which made a racket to try to chase the elephant of. No such luck so the geese bailed. We sat there watching them have their fill of water for quite some time, as it was great entertainment!
When the sun started setting however it was time to find our way back to the lodge. We spotted a lovely sunset and a duiker, that ran away, a red crested korhaan and some guineafowls on the way back when Mark called that he had spotted a leopard. We arrived at the sighting and got a glimpse of it but unfortunately not all of us saw it. We did however all see the sables and a warthog at the same sighting. It was a slow start with a good ending for our first safari!
26 July 2014
This morning we set off with a brilliant sunrise. On the
road out of camp it was third time lucky with spotting a duiker that stood
still long enough to take a picture. Then on the way to Shabeni we spotted two
elephants and kudus in passing, as we made our way to Shabeni. Mark had spotted
a leopard once again and we were hoping for more luck this time. Unfortunately
it gave us the run around, showing itself on the opposite side of the rocky
outcrop than where we were watching, even if we drove to the other side and
back around again. When starting to lose interest we were surprised by
four buffalo bulls walking up the mountain next to our car. They stopped and
looked at us for a little while, but then resumed their grazing habits as if we
weren't there.
We then gave up totally and continued our game drive. We made a quick pitstop at Pretoriuskop before driving down Napi. As it then got hot already we made our way back to camp. Back down Napi we were then surprised by a honey badger that was digging around in a rhino midden. We stopped and he hurried to hide behind a nearby bush. We waited to see if he would come back as he looked only temporarily scared off, but then one by one another 6 or 7 cars showed up with their engines still running and the honey badger turned around and scurried into the bush. When all were gone we hang around to see if the honey badger would change his mind again, but no. At least not while we were there, but we had all seen it before running away!
The last stretch back to Nkambeni where a pool was waiting for us, we spotted some impalas, more kudus, some more buffalos and waterbucks.
We then gave up totally and continued our game drive. We made a quick pitstop at Pretoriuskop before driving down Napi. As it then got hot already we made our way back to camp. Back down Napi we were then surprised by a honey badger that was digging around in a rhino midden. We stopped and he hurried to hide behind a nearby bush. We waited to see if he would come back as he looked only temporarily scared off, but then one by one another 6 or 7 cars showed up with their engines still running and the honey badger turned around and scurried into the bush. When all were gone we hang around to see if the honey badger would change his mind again, but no. At least not while we were there, but we had all seen it before running away!
The last stretch back to Nkambeni where a pool was waiting for us, we spotted some impalas, more kudus, some more buffalos and waterbucks.
This afternoon we set off again but this time with two new
friends that joined the group. We spotted for impalas, kudus and a duiker on
camp road before we got told by a good Samaritan that a cheetah was lazing
around on Albassini. We followed up on the call and sure enough, we found it
lying on a little mount. He just laid there looking at us and we were looking
at him. We had plenty of opportunities to photograph him as we had the sighting
all to ourselves. Once other vehicles started showing up we decided to give up
our (the best) spot to the new arrivals and we continued to Mestel Dam.
There the hippos were pretending to be big rock on the shore. We might have believed so if they wouldn't have wiggled their ears once in a while. We also saw waterbucks and more impalas as well as a fish eagle trying to catch a fish, a pied kingfisher trying to find a fish, Egyptian geese and a hamerkop.
We drove back to the tar road the same way we came up and once again we came across the cheetah. And once again we had him all to ourselves. This time he had moved a little bit and was sitting up so we were hoping he would get up completely and walk. At first he laid down again for a while, but we persisted and suddenly he did indeed get up. He stretched, walked two paces, stretched again.... and dropped on his side and continued lying down. He wasn't really showing any signs to get up again in the next 10min we waited around. It was an awesome sighting, but with this kind of anti-climax we drove off to continue our drive.
On the Numbi tar road we had a family of kudus crossing the road, before turning off towards Manung Koppies. Here we spotted zebras walking through the bushes alongside the road. A little further on however we noticed 11 sable marching in a line to the opposite direction. We decided to turn around and follow alongside in the hope they would get to more open areas. But the sables showed their secretive side and ran across the areas that were less dense. At one point they stood standing still watching us with the sunset in the background. We followed the majestic animals all the way back to the tar road where we then lost visual.
We turned back on the road towards the lodge, still spotting a duiker and more kudus before on camp road three bull elephants were terrorizing the passersby. Well actually, none of the other cars had dared to come close. They let us go first what gave us a great opportunity to watch the elephants feed and two of the bulls greet each other from up close. When it was safe to do so we passed the sighting, immediately followed by a trail of other cars.
It was a great ending to a fantastic afternoon drive!
There the hippos were pretending to be big rock on the shore. We might have believed so if they wouldn't have wiggled their ears once in a while. We also saw waterbucks and more impalas as well as a fish eagle trying to catch a fish, a pied kingfisher trying to find a fish, Egyptian geese and a hamerkop.
We drove back to the tar road the same way we came up and once again we came across the cheetah. And once again we had him all to ourselves. This time he had moved a little bit and was sitting up so we were hoping he would get up completely and walk. At first he laid down again for a while, but we persisted and suddenly he did indeed get up. He stretched, walked two paces, stretched again.... and dropped on his side and continued lying down. He wasn't really showing any signs to get up again in the next 10min we waited around. It was an awesome sighting, but with this kind of anti-climax we drove off to continue our drive.
On the Numbi tar road we had a family of kudus crossing the road, before turning off towards Manung Koppies. Here we spotted zebras walking through the bushes alongside the road. A little further on however we noticed 11 sable marching in a line to the opposite direction. We decided to turn around and follow alongside in the hope they would get to more open areas. But the sables showed their secretive side and ran across the areas that were less dense. At one point they stood standing still watching us with the sunset in the background. We followed the majestic animals all the way back to the tar road where we then lost visual.
We turned back on the road towards the lodge, still spotting a duiker and more kudus before on camp road three bull elephants were terrorizing the passersby. Well actually, none of the other cars had dared to come close. They let us go first what gave us a great opportunity to watch the elephants feed and two of the bulls greet each other from up close. When it was safe to do so we passed the sighting, immediately followed by a trail of other cars.
It was a great ending to a fantastic afternoon drive!
27 July 2014
While the sun was rising we drove down camp road. We talked
about the sun and the difference in winter and summer almost missing three
buffalos lying in the grass. We could just see their horns and heads sticking
out as they were still fast asleep.
We scared some duikers while driving past again and then stopped for a large dazzle of zebras. They were in between the bushes, but close enough to take some nice pictures.
Continuing on Napi road we came across impalas, a juvenile bateleur and kudus. Giraffes were waiting for us just before Napi Boulders where a male was chasing some interesting females. He didn't make them run away though, they walked slowly through the trees and as soon as they walked away he followed.
Further down the road two hyena pups were hanging around. One was brave enough to come close to the car and investigate it. They were very wary of movements and sounds but they had a good sniff of our tyres nonetheless. Then suddenly they bolted. We wondered who scared them when suddenly an adult hyena came out of the bush. She sniffed the path the youngsters had walked, following them at a trot. Oh oh, guess they are in trouble now! It was indeed already way past their bedtime, so maybe they were no longer allowed to play outside!
While having a break at Skukuza we were told about some lions that were lying in the riverbed this morning. We decided to take a bumble around and see if we could get some luck. But alas, when we arrived at the particular spot, they had long since left. But the drive was not for nothing as along the way we saw plenty of impalas, two bushbucks, vervet monkeys and a crocodile!
After a quick peepee stop at Skukuza again we drove straight down Napi back to camp. It was getting rather hot and the few animals we saw was rather spread out. We first came across a steenbok couple that upon seeing us shied away into the bushes.
At Transport Dam we saw a hyena pup lying outside its den. This one younger than the ones we saw this morning earlier, this one probably is the orphaned one we keep coming across. While warming in the sun, he doesn't look too bad for an orphan!
We also encountered warthogs feeding close to the road, twice we saw some elephant bulls. The second sighting was a group of three of which two were fighting to establish which was stronger. The third one had no interest in this and was feeding of the highest branches he could reach, stretching as much as possible.
Then four ground hornbills were walking on the road in front of us. One of them got a bit of a fright and flew a few meters ahead as where the others walked past the car nicely. We also pointed out many kudus, impalas and some more zebras until we reached camp road. Hungry now, as it was already past lunchtime, we were hoping for a clean entrance but an elephant blocked the road. He was feeding off the side of the road. Being no match for an elephant we had to wait patiently for him to move, while enjoying watching him and his friend nonetheless.
In the afternoon we set off for a short drive. We drove the route up Numbi tar and around Shabeni and Pretoriuskop before returning to camp. Most of our time we sat watching baboons play, feed and walk around. But we also spotted a crested barbet, twice a reedbuck, twice a lone buffalo bull, a duiker and impalas.
Some of us had chosen to do a Sundowner Game drive instead. How that went, you'll hear tomorrow.
We scared some duikers while driving past again and then stopped for a large dazzle of zebras. They were in between the bushes, but close enough to take some nice pictures.
Continuing on Napi road we came across impalas, a juvenile bateleur and kudus. Giraffes were waiting for us just before Napi Boulders where a male was chasing some interesting females. He didn't make them run away though, they walked slowly through the trees and as soon as they walked away he followed.
Further down the road two hyena pups were hanging around. One was brave enough to come close to the car and investigate it. They were very wary of movements and sounds but they had a good sniff of our tyres nonetheless. Then suddenly they bolted. We wondered who scared them when suddenly an adult hyena came out of the bush. She sniffed the path the youngsters had walked, following them at a trot. Oh oh, guess they are in trouble now! It was indeed already way past their bedtime, so maybe they were no longer allowed to play outside!
While having a break at Skukuza we were told about some lions that were lying in the riverbed this morning. We decided to take a bumble around and see if we could get some luck. But alas, when we arrived at the particular spot, they had long since left. But the drive was not for nothing as along the way we saw plenty of impalas, two bushbucks, vervet monkeys and a crocodile!
After a quick peepee stop at Skukuza again we drove straight down Napi back to camp. It was getting rather hot and the few animals we saw was rather spread out. We first came across a steenbok couple that upon seeing us shied away into the bushes.
At Transport Dam we saw a hyena pup lying outside its den. This one younger than the ones we saw this morning earlier, this one probably is the orphaned one we keep coming across. While warming in the sun, he doesn't look too bad for an orphan!
We also encountered warthogs feeding close to the road, twice we saw some elephant bulls. The second sighting was a group of three of which two were fighting to establish which was stronger. The third one had no interest in this and was feeding of the highest branches he could reach, stretching as much as possible.
Then four ground hornbills were walking on the road in front of us. One of them got a bit of a fright and flew a few meters ahead as where the others walked past the car nicely. We also pointed out many kudus, impalas and some more zebras until we reached camp road. Hungry now, as it was already past lunchtime, we were hoping for a clean entrance but an elephant blocked the road. He was feeding off the side of the road. Being no match for an elephant we had to wait patiently for him to move, while enjoying watching him and his friend nonetheless.
In the afternoon we set off for a short drive. We drove the route up Numbi tar and around Shabeni and Pretoriuskop before returning to camp. Most of our time we sat watching baboons play, feed and walk around. But we also spotted a crested barbet, twice a reedbuck, twice a lone buffalo bull, a duiker and impalas.
Some of us had chosen to do a Sundowner Game drive instead. How that went, you'll hear tomorrow.
28 July 2014
Last night's Sundowner was nice but quiet. The guests
enjoyed the sunset view as well as a buffalo sighting, but it was a rather
quiet drive.
This morning some of us went on a bushwalk while others went on an early morning drive. The bushwalk was a great experience. They had walked around trying to find lions, which they could hear roaring not far away. However the lions kept eluding them. Nonetheless they enjoyed the walk, with its attention to the smaller things and quiet nature.
On the morning drive it seemed most animals had forgotten to set their alarm clock. We left camp while it was still dark, catching two scrub hares in our headlights. When the sun started rising it peeked through a layer of clouds, but then the clouds firmly shot the gap and no more sun. And with that the animals seemed to have rolled over once more to stay asleep a bit longer. We enjoyed ourselves by looking at various tracks and scat along Fayi Loop. Some were fresh, but apart from a zebra, duikers and some impalas, we didn't see any mammals so far. The birds started to wake up first and we could see and/or hear various species like chinspot batis, cape turtle dove, brown headed parrot, hoopoe, purple crested turaco, cape glossy starling, forktailed drongo, black shouldered kite and another crested barbet. We aslo heard a reedbuck whistle which sounded just like a bird, but of course isn't one.
At the end of Fayi Loop we stumbled upon an elephant that was deep in the bush. We sat around for a while as we heard more noise than one elephant feeding could make. Slowly more and more appeared and some came into an open area to see them nicely.
Then on the tar a herd of sable was walking alongside us in the high grass. They stopped and looked at us while we stopped looking at them. They sure are beautiful, it is to bad they are so shy. So they didn't come out in the open. But the kudus close to Numbi weren't shy at all. Out in the open on the side of the road they were posing for pictures like they had done it before!
We returned to the lodge to join the ones that were on a bushwalk for breakfast, and to swop stories. Then we had to pack up and leave Nkambeni. At Numbi Gate we waved goodbye to Adeline, Lauren and Wilson, who left us to return to Jo'burg, while I continued with Caitlin and Colene to our next rest camp Berg en Dal.
We drove slowly down Voortrekker road, enjoying sightings of warthog, big elephant herd, waterbucks, nice kudu bulls, a tree squirrel and duikers if they didn't run away. A large troop of baboons was feeding all around the road, which was a pleasure to watch. The babies hanging around, kings passing by and two females having a squabble.
After a quick stop at Afsaal we continued south on the H3 where we stopped for multiple giraffe sightings, zebras, dwarf mongoose and loads more elephants feeding. And oh yeah, we love our birds on this tour: juvenile purple heron, hamerkop, a bird party with blue waxbills, magpie shrikes, yellowfronted canaries, southern black tits, a cinnamon chested bunting and yellowbilled hornbills, cattle egrit, helmeted guineafowl, redwinged starling, white breasted cormorant, spotted thick-knee, swainson's spurfowl, burchell's starling, green pigeon, lilac breasted roller, grey lourie (grey go-away bird) and last but not least bateleurs (to name a few).
This morning some of us went on a bushwalk while others went on an early morning drive. The bushwalk was a great experience. They had walked around trying to find lions, which they could hear roaring not far away. However the lions kept eluding them. Nonetheless they enjoyed the walk, with its attention to the smaller things and quiet nature.
On the morning drive it seemed most animals had forgotten to set their alarm clock. We left camp while it was still dark, catching two scrub hares in our headlights. When the sun started rising it peeked through a layer of clouds, but then the clouds firmly shot the gap and no more sun. And with that the animals seemed to have rolled over once more to stay asleep a bit longer. We enjoyed ourselves by looking at various tracks and scat along Fayi Loop. Some were fresh, but apart from a zebra, duikers and some impalas, we didn't see any mammals so far. The birds started to wake up first and we could see and/or hear various species like chinspot batis, cape turtle dove, brown headed parrot, hoopoe, purple crested turaco, cape glossy starling, forktailed drongo, black shouldered kite and another crested barbet. We aslo heard a reedbuck whistle which sounded just like a bird, but of course isn't one.
At the end of Fayi Loop we stumbled upon an elephant that was deep in the bush. We sat around for a while as we heard more noise than one elephant feeding could make. Slowly more and more appeared and some came into an open area to see them nicely.
Then on the tar a herd of sable was walking alongside us in the high grass. They stopped and looked at us while we stopped looking at them. They sure are beautiful, it is to bad they are so shy. So they didn't come out in the open. But the kudus close to Numbi weren't shy at all. Out in the open on the side of the road they were posing for pictures like they had done it before!
We returned to the lodge to join the ones that were on a bushwalk for breakfast, and to swop stories. Then we had to pack up and leave Nkambeni. At Numbi Gate we waved goodbye to Adeline, Lauren and Wilson, who left us to return to Jo'burg, while I continued with Caitlin and Colene to our next rest camp Berg en Dal.
We drove slowly down Voortrekker road, enjoying sightings of warthog, big elephant herd, waterbucks, nice kudu bulls, a tree squirrel and duikers if they didn't run away. A large troop of baboons was feeding all around the road, which was a pleasure to watch. The babies hanging around, kings passing by and two females having a squabble.
After a quick stop at Afsaal we continued south on the H3 where we stopped for multiple giraffe sightings, zebras, dwarf mongoose and loads more elephants feeding. And oh yeah, we love our birds on this tour: juvenile purple heron, hamerkop, a bird party with blue waxbills, magpie shrikes, yellowfronted canaries, southern black tits, a cinnamon chested bunting and yellowbilled hornbills, cattle egrit, helmeted guineafowl, redwinged starling, white breasted cormorant, spotted thick-knee, swainson's spurfowl, burchell's starling, green pigeon, lilac breasted roller, grey lourie (grey go-away bird) and last but not least bateleurs (to name a few).
More coming soon!!
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