29 September 2014
Another
day, another tour. Early this morning we started by picking up Kevin and Kay
from Kruger Park Lodge and then went straight on a game drive. We entered at
Phabeni Gate and soon after saw our first animal: there were three buffalo
bulls grazing on the side of the Phabeni river.
We
continued down Doispane where our first impalas were spotted. First of many we
should say, as these guys weren't the only ones we saw today! These sightings
were quickly followed by zebras and kudus before making a stop at Nyamundwa
Dam.
At
Nyamundwa Dam we saw two fish eagles. One was nicely sitting in a tree close by
and he started calling the other. After some deliberation the other flew up
from his tree and joined the first one. Here we also saw waterbucks coming down
for a drink, white breasted cormorants, blacksmith lapwings and a large
crocodile on a sandbank on the opposite side.
Down
Doispane we drove spotting some elephants in the bush. We tested our patience
by waiting for them as they slowly set course to road. We were rewarded as the
little herd started crossing with two babies, two protecting adults and a
youngster that was showing his displeasure at a car with a running engine on
the opposite side.
Then we
came by a pretty lilac breasted roller, some more elephant bulls feeding in the
distance and a big warthog running away, which broke kevin's heart. He so
wanted a picture of one, but this guy did not want to be photographed. We took
pictures of blue waxbills, Cape glossy starlings and flying bateleurs to
practice camera settings. No I am telling it wrong. Where Kay took pictures of
the birds, Kevin mostly got some little branches where the bird used to sit but
already had flown off. Eventually he got the hang of it though and managed to
snap some.
Before
stopping for lunch at Skukuza we noticed a lone male baboon in tree. He was big
and looked like the king of the world. But then he dropped his food and had to
go down the tree. He climbed haphazardly down and then noticed us and decided
to leave his munhing stick and trot off. A whitebacked vulture on nest nearby
probably all saw it happen and had a private laugh.
After
lunch we had to go to the Skukuza airport to pick up new guests. On the way we
managed to get a photograph of a warthog. Not his front side though, but it was
a start. And some bushbucks were hiding in the bush (if you ever wondered where
the name came from, now you know). We pick up Ruth and Chris at the airport and
had a look at quite a few bats hanging at the entrance ceiling. But then we
went straight back on a game drive.
Down Alpha
loop we saw some buffalos and a herd of elephants down at the riverside, before
turning back onto the tar road and towards Napi. We stopped to enjoy the view
on top of Mathekanyan and tried to take some pictures of a yellow-billed hornbill.
We had seen the red-billed and grey one on the way as well.
Then we
saw some kudus and zebras before stopping at some elephants feeding. While watching
those a member of the public told us about a rumour about a leopard just down
the street from us. We followed her down and there he was, sleeping on a rock
not far from the road. This leopard was deep asleep, as we noticed quite soon.
No car noises, not even a big passing truck, got him to look up. Dead to the
world this one, but not dead dead as we got a 10cm movement from one of his
paws.
Just on
the bridge we saw two bushbucks and some impalas. One of the bushbucks was
drinking from a waterhole that was obviously dug by elephants as the stream had
no more water. And this bushbuck disappeared half down the deep dug out hole,
only to re-emerge to check if it was still safe.
Then We
were surprised by a secretary bird, which had the guide jumping up and down
from excitement as this was the first of this year. The secretary bird was
slowly walking away, now and then trampling on the floor. We hope it caught
something, but he was always empty handed.
At
Transport Dam the hyena pup that is begging for food from humans was lying just
outside its den on the back of the road. He didn't beg for food from us, but
did open an eye to glance. Further down Napi we encountered a small family of
ground hornbills, with the youngster flying into the road to dig into some
elephant dung. The adults were walking on either side of the road, with one of
them getting a bit anxious by the cars and fly over all of us to get to the
other side, a beautiful sight. Then we also saw giraffes, lots of impalas and
kudus, a kudu bull with great horns, waterbucks, a black headed oriole, black
crowned tchagra, guineafowls and a steenbok.
Down Numbi
we noticed another giraffe with lots of red-billed oxpeckers on its back. We
got some elephants nicely feeding quite close to the road and we finished with
a look at a large buffalo herd. It was time to check-in at Nkambeni Safari
Camp, where we would spend some nights. It was the end of a very good first
day!
30 September 2014
After a
nice breakfast, we set off this morning hoping to find some new animals. We
have been very lucky yesterday and we were hoping to continue on our lucky
streak. It started of nicely with three elephants on camp road. Maybe you have
read already there is a lone mother with her calf in the area? Well, it was
her, but this time a bull was sassing her out. However, she showed no interest
at all. Even when the bull was showing off and showing her his fifth leg, she
didn't take notice and just kept feeding with her calf by her side. We did get
some excellent show of how elephants use their tusks in bending and breaking
off branches before munching though! A duiker ran away on the opposite side of
the road.
Then down
Numbi tar we saw a nice herd of buffalo in the distance and came across a hyena
that was standing on the side of the road. However we were not quick enough to
take pictures as when we stopped she quickly disappeared into a drainage line
under the road. We waited for a while but she didn't come out again. We also
saw zebras, impalas and kudus as well as a mother giraffe and her youngster
before turning right onto the dirt road to Fayi Loop. Here we found tracks of
one or probably two lions walking down the road. We followed them for quite
some time but just before the crossroads, they had disappeared off the road. We
did see tortoise tracks as well as giraffe and zebra, but lost the lion ones.
So we decided to take a loop around both Manunge and Pretoriuskop Koppies. The
first one, around Pretoriuskop Koppie showed us some impalas, a duiker quickly
crossing and an elephant on top of the koppie. Him being on top there told us
there would be no lions hanging around, so we continued passing three other big
elephant bulls. The loop around Manunge showed us another duiker. These are by
now known as ducks by the way, as Kevin keeps on calling them that!
Then we
drove down to Fayi loop. We spotted a nice suicidal display of the red crested
korhaan, a crested barbet, the always pretty Cape glossy starlings and grey
louries. Two daggaboys were just coming out of one of the little streams along
the loop and looked at us from a distance. Not seeing us as a threat they
stopped looking, walked over to the green pastures and started happily munching
away. The two reedbucks nearby were a bit more wary. After a break at
Pretoriuskop we continued our game drive down Napi. Here we spotted a sable
bull, a rare find as these animals are so secretive and always try to hide.
Then just past Shitlhave Dam, a female lion was lying under a bush. The
sighting wasn't great, as she was lying quite far away and there were lots of
bushes in the way. So not picture perfect, but nonetheless all of us saw the
lion!
A little
further down the road we unintended interfered with nature. While driving
around the bend we saw a beautiful bateleur landing in the road. However, with
his wings still spread, he took one look at us and flew off again. Note to
everyone on safari: always have your camera ready to shoot, because this would
have been a once in a lifetime shot. Not just because this bateleur gave an
awesome display, but when we stopped where he landed, a chameleon was sitting
in the middle of the road! The bateleur had landed with all intentions of
eating it and we saved the chameleon's life. Or let a bateleur go hungry, it
depends on how you look at it. We took some great pictures of the chameleon
though, before continuing on our way. As we left there was no car in sight but
two bateleurs were still circling around, so if the little guy made it across
after all, we will never know...
In the
meantime, Robbie had called us to a cheetah sighting. Curtis had found them in
the morning, but we were too far away and once we set course they started to
move into the bush already so we went on a break instead. But now they had come
out into view again and a bit closer to us. So we stopped looking at kudus and
impalas on the way, we drove straight down. The cheetahs were amazing! They
were showing themselves brilliantly and all of us took many pictures and videos
of the three brothers. They even showed off climbing a fallen tree for us, and
cuddling up under a bush. Needless to say we enjoyed it immensely (and thank you
Curtis and Robbie for the call)!
But in the
end we had to leave the cheetahs to turn around as new guests were joining us
and had to be picked up. On the way back we stopped for a small leopard
tortoise just in time. Our surprise arrival on the scene caused him to turn
around and walked off the road back into the bush. Then we felt like intruders
on a locust's private moment as they were mating in the middle of the road.
Hey, nature does as nature does! A last glimpse of the same herd of buffalo we
started with (they were still far away) and two little bee eaters in flying
colours, we returned back to the lodge. It was a wonderful morning!
In the
afternoon we could relax a little as it was getting hot again after two days of
cloud cover and drizzle. During lunch we could look at some buffalo and
giraffes and later the hippos in the dam in front of the lodge showed their
backs. Some were intrigued by the sparrows building a nest, white-faced ducks
and egyptian geese at the dam, groundscraper thrush thrashing around and masked
weavers flying by too.
Then it
was time for the sundowner...
1 October 2014
On the
sundowner it was a nice drive, but a bit quiet to the liking of my guests. They
did see a lovely sunset at Mashawu Dam with some lovely beverages. And there
were animals too: a family of zebras with a young baby, a Mozambican spitting
cobra, some kudus, impalas, a new animal sighting of wildebeest, an elephant in
the distance and a buffalo hiding in the grass. If you some it up, it sounds to
me like a good drive. Guess we were just too spoiled already, and just looking
for separate things like owls and rhinos. But there is always another day!
This
morning we set off a bit more subdued than normal. The wind had picked up
overnight and it made our night of rest a short one. Most of us had waking
nightmares of tents flying away, elephants dancing on the roof or simply just
couldn't fall asleep at all as the wind made too much noise.
However
the kudu bulls on camp road brightened us up a little. Then we drove down Numbi
tar spotting more female kudus, plenty of zebras and some of them really close
to the road and some hanging out with wildebeests, a runaway duiker (no longer
a duck!), and the always present impalas.
Around
Shabeni loop we went where we first spotted three nice bull elephants feeding
of some braaied vegetation. It probably tastes a bit different than normal, but
the nutrition is still in it. Around the corner we spotted another duiker,
which came across itself (another duiker) while feeding and they both got such
a fright the sped off in opposite directions! A bushbuck got a fright from one
of the duikers running in its direction and sped across the road. All runners
calmed down after a short sprint and we continued on our journey.
Our new
animal of today were some vervet monkeys. One was spotted in a tree close to
the road and the longer we watched him the more of them we saw in surrounding
trees. They were hopping around the trees looking for gum to eat. Then down Napi
it went. We spotted some giraffes. When asked if I had ever seen them fight,
and I replied "only very halfhearted", they decided to give a show.
One challenged another into a duel and off they went. But like I said, only
very halfhearted. That fact still hasn't changed. It didn't last long either,
as the challenged one thought eating leaves was more important.
And a
little further on we finally saw the long anticipated (white) rhino. This guy
had crossed the road just when we were watching the giraffes but he was still
close to the road so perfect picture opportunity. White backed vultures
were hitching a ride on a thermal in the background and bateleurs were flying
above.
We had
just turned into the Boulders loop when we spotted a sable bull making its way
to the tar. A quick reverse and we could have some pictures of a sable running
across the road. He was too scared to walk slowly so even when crossed he kept
running about 50 meters into the bush before slowing down. Everything was
running this morning, must have something to do with the wind! Furthermore we
saw another two white rhinos before continuing on the tar road.
Before turning
around we had some encounters with steenbok and some more giraffes and zebras,
but then it was time to head back to the gate. We stopped for a dark chanting
goshawk, that of course flew away, and a terrapin lying in the middle of the
road pretending to be a flat pebble.
At Numbi
Gate it was time to say goodbye to Chris and Ruthie as they were heading back
to the UK. I hope it was the end of your long trip you were hoping for! Thank
you for joining us and maybe till next time!
After a
short break looking at a sausage tree, marulas and aloe veras, we headed up
Albassini. We made our way to Phabeni Gate, not really stopping on the
corrugated road. Drive by shooting: zebra, giraffes and buffalos under a tree.
Then at Kruger Park Lodge a last drink with Kay and Kevin and it was time to
say goodbye again! This time I know they had a great time and I really hope to
see them again next year on a longer trip!
With the
remaining guests I set off again in the afternoon. When we turned onto Numbi
tar a group of 9 buffalos was just slowly making their way to the road. It
was an excellent opportunity of some pictures and our patience was rewarded as
one by one by one by six they started crossing in front if us. Then we also saw
zebras multiple times as well as kudus.
Circle
road was what we drove next. A duiker didn't run away for a change, but in
between the bushes taking a picture was still difficult. Two warthogs were
eating while sitting on their wrists and then crossed the road to eat on the
other side.
Then we caught
the end of a massive herd of buffalo crossing the road. Everywhere in between
the bushes as well as across the drainage line we saw black dots being
buffalos. It must have been more than 100! We hang around to see if a
lion would come to take down the stragglers, but no such luck. We did spot a
giraffe (with an identity crisis?) in the middle of the herd though.
We
suddenly spotted an elephant disappear into the bush a little further around
the circle. Two more backs we spotted before we realized a straggler of the
herd didn't really like us being in between her and the herd. She made a big
drama quite far away from us and was planning giving us a wide birth around and
cross when Curtis came driving around the other bend. The sound of his engine
drove her into more anxiety as she heard the vehicle but couldn't see it. When
in sight she told them as well she had no pleasure in being away from the herd.
And with a last look at both vehicles she got over it and ran across the road
to join up with the rest of the herd. Poor girl was stressing completely, we
humbly apologize, but it was completely accidental!
As the
elephant probably happily rejoined the herd, we continued our journey. We saw a
nice red crested korhaan, more zebras and fighting impalas and more buffalo
before crossing the tar road onto Shabeni link. It was hinted not to stop for
buffalos anymore as they now must of had plenty of photos, but the buffalos
obviously hadn't heard it. They were standing in the middle of the road and
were not about to move, so eventually I had to stop for these buffalos once
more. After that we drove straight past them.
At Mestel
Dam we were hoping for some hippo activity, but the resident hippos were still
too sleepy. Which resulted in us just seeing bits and bobs of hippos like ears
and nostrils and upon leaving one big yawn. A white rhino bull was added to the
sightings here as well.
At the end
of Albassini and the end of our drive we had a quick biology lesson: how do two
giraffes make three. Do the math...
2 October 2014
After last
night's windy ordeal, we were all happy to go to bed early after an early
dinner last night. A good night's rest, a hearty breakfast the next morning and
we were good to go for our next and unfortunately last game drive of this tour.
On camp
road two buffalos came to say farewell and then we drove up Albassini via a
quiet Numbi tar road. Here we spotted some more zebras, large herds of impalas,
another group of zebras hanging out with some giraffes and a brown hooded
kingfisher. At Mestel Dam the hippos were already back in the water, so all we
could see was some ears and nostrils sticking out.
Further along, except for
even more zebras, giraffes and some kudus, we spotted a new animal! On top of
their den two dwarf mongoose were starting to wake up and sat resting in the
morning sun. They were quite curious when we stopped and looked in our
direction. However not so brave as to come closer and when we started the car
to continue they scurried back into their home.
At the end
of Albassini we drove down Doispane for a bit to see what we could find. A tree
full of barn swallows on Mashawu bridge, which of course took flight when
photographed. We did come across some nice fresh paw prints of a big cat, and
tried to followed them, but they disappeared quite quickly after we noticed the
first ones. He had walked off into the bush and was now hiding in plain sight,
as the grass was just as long and yellow as he was.
It was the
end of the safari, as after the last pictures of some lovely posing kudus, we
exited from Phabeni Gate and made our way to Nelspruit. Here I said goodbye to
Rajan and Nazli, who were flying back to the USA tonight. I hope you had a
great time. Thanks for joining us and hopefully we can welcome you back one day
with the entire family!
