14 May 2014
Last night after dinner we did some stargazing, slightly
hindered by the bright full moon. Amongst other we saw Mars and the Southern
Cross before bedtime, to be woken up the next morning by a concert of howling
hyenas, roaring lions and the climax of a pearl spotted owlet.
We drove out of Satara at daybreak, spotting a group of wildebeest right outside the gate. Trying to locate the lions we heard, but then suddenly were silent for a while already, we turned onto the S100. We didn't spot any lions however, but a hyena was walking in the road until it spotted the cars. It turned into the grass and when we got to the spot three seconds later it had completely disappeared. It was a rather quiet start with some more wildebeest, a small herd of buffalos, baboons, impalas and a couple of zebras far away.
We turned onto the S41 and arrived at a giraffe training centre. Or that is what it looked like. There were about thirteen giraffes, all practising their fighting moves in four different spots. While we watch for more than half an hour more giraffes kept on coming into the open spot, joining in those training fights. When we left most of them had a break and were feeding of the acacias.
We drove to the Guzman waterhole on the way spotting African hawk eagles, wooly necked storks, more wildebeest, waterbucks, plenty of Swainson's spurfowl, crested francolins and guineafowls. As we started to get a bit hungry we decided to go the same way back, which was shorter and we'd been driving quite slow.
On the way back though, there was a lot more activity. Shortly after being back on the road we spotted a black-backed jackal that had been lying in the shade and spooked by us got up and crossed the road in front of us. From a distance he kept on watching us, so we could snap some pictures. Then he walked to a different shady spot, turned on the spot and flopped down instantly hidden out of sight.
We saw plenty of zebra harems, a bull elephant, a daggaboy and a steenbok startled us by running away out of a bush right next to the road. At Nsasane causeway we spotted two youngish crocodiles going into the water and a third one, which was very little, was lying on the sandbank. On the other side of the causeway two hippos were resting with their heads above the water. Then we spend over an hour watching a large herd of elephants playing in the water until the matriarch let them to the opposite side to start feeding again. It looked like they were having so much fun we almost wanted to join in.
With stomachs grumbling we continued, but still stopped for 4 male ostrich, multiple zebra sightings and more wildebeest. Then we finally had our long overdue breakfast while the outdoor tables of the restaurant were burglarised by vervet monkeys, stealing the sugar sachets. All in all a very good morning, well worth a late breakfast!
In the afternoon we took it slow again down Satara road with a loop going past Girivana Dam and Nsemani Dam. We spotted lots of giraffes again, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, but also kudus and watebuck. At Girivana Dam two Burchell's starlings gave a load concert while watching zebras drink and a crocodile sunning himself.
We spotted our first white rhino! As it looked like it wanted to cross the road we waited patiently and silently behind a bush till all the other cars cleared off. Once silence had returned the rhino came closer and indeed crossed the road at ease right in front of our car, brilliant sighting! A little further on we stopped four giraffes feeding on the side of the road. While looking at the giraffes at the same spot more giraffes, zebras and warthog showed up and all crossed the road behind us too.
At Nsemani Dam we sat for a while watching the hippos wake up and play and a crocodile floated by. We returned to Satara very satisfied with today's sightings and there will be more to come!
We drove out of Satara at daybreak, spotting a group of wildebeest right outside the gate. Trying to locate the lions we heard, but then suddenly were silent for a while already, we turned onto the S100. We didn't spot any lions however, but a hyena was walking in the road until it spotted the cars. It turned into the grass and when we got to the spot three seconds later it had completely disappeared. It was a rather quiet start with some more wildebeest, a small herd of buffalos, baboons, impalas and a couple of zebras far away.
We turned onto the S41 and arrived at a giraffe training centre. Or that is what it looked like. There were about thirteen giraffes, all practising their fighting moves in four different spots. While we watch for more than half an hour more giraffes kept on coming into the open spot, joining in those training fights. When we left most of them had a break and were feeding of the acacias.
We drove to the Guzman waterhole on the way spotting African hawk eagles, wooly necked storks, more wildebeest, waterbucks, plenty of Swainson's spurfowl, crested francolins and guineafowls. As we started to get a bit hungry we decided to go the same way back, which was shorter and we'd been driving quite slow.
On the way back though, there was a lot more activity. Shortly after being back on the road we spotted a black-backed jackal that had been lying in the shade and spooked by us got up and crossed the road in front of us. From a distance he kept on watching us, so we could snap some pictures. Then he walked to a different shady spot, turned on the spot and flopped down instantly hidden out of sight.
We saw plenty of zebra harems, a bull elephant, a daggaboy and a steenbok startled us by running away out of a bush right next to the road. At Nsasane causeway we spotted two youngish crocodiles going into the water and a third one, which was very little, was lying on the sandbank. On the other side of the causeway two hippos were resting with their heads above the water. Then we spend over an hour watching a large herd of elephants playing in the water until the matriarch let them to the opposite side to start feeding again. It looked like they were having so much fun we almost wanted to join in.
With stomachs grumbling we continued, but still stopped for 4 male ostrich, multiple zebra sightings and more wildebeest. Then we finally had our long overdue breakfast while the outdoor tables of the restaurant were burglarised by vervet monkeys, stealing the sugar sachets. All in all a very good morning, well worth a late breakfast!
In the afternoon we took it slow again down Satara road with a loop going past Girivana Dam and Nsemani Dam. We spotted lots of giraffes again, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, but also kudus and watebuck. At Girivana Dam two Burchell's starlings gave a load concert while watching zebras drink and a crocodile sunning himself.
We spotted our first white rhino! As it looked like it wanted to cross the road we waited patiently and silently behind a bush till all the other cars cleared off. Once silence had returned the rhino came closer and indeed crossed the road at ease right in front of our car, brilliant sighting! A little further on we stopped four giraffes feeding on the side of the road. While looking at the giraffes at the same spot more giraffes, zebras and warthog showed up and all crossed the road behind us too.
At Nsemani Dam we sat for a while watching the hippos wake up and play and a crocodile floated by. We returned to Satara very satisfied with today's sightings and there will be more to come!
15 May 2014
Today we moved from camp again and we started the drive from
Satara to Nkambeni really well. Outside the gate we encountered a journey of 7
giraffes, some of which were looking very surprised to see us already. We then
also saw two separate troops of baboons waking up, zebras, wildebeests, brown
snake eagles, waterbucks, white-backed vulture, warthogs and a buffalo bull
before we got to a sighting of three sub-adult male elephants play-fighting.
The biggest one made sure the others knew he was the strongest by putting his
head on theirs. While watching them play, deep in the bush, we heard an
elephant having one hell of a tantrum. We didn't see anything as the bush was
too thick, but judging by the amount and volume of the tantrum it was one very
unhappy elephant!
Then a little further on we were surprised in by a big bull elephant in musth, walking in the road towards us while we were rounding the corner. We were getting out of his way while he stopped to check us out. And then decided to come straight for us. But a little persuasion by voice made him veer back into the bush, and he started feeding right next to the car. The people who had been standing on the opposite side of the road stopped next to us and informed us that instead of looking at the elephant in the road they were actually looking at four lions in the riverbed. We moved onto their spot and indeed: three females and a youngster were lying there watching us.
At Mazithi Dam we saw the hippos playing and before we got to Tshokwane for breakfast we also spotted a nice kudu bull, a hovering black-shouldered kite, two purple rollers and a tawny eagle.
After breakfast at Tshokwane it became more and more quiet, as our luck had run out. We stopped for lunch at Skukuza after a long stretch seeing just impalas, vervet monkeys and a small herd of elephants crossing the road.
A stop at Lake Panic bird hide added a crocodile, more hippos, a goliath heron and other water birds to the list. Then we continued on Napi to Nkambeni seeing nothing until the Napi Boulders where an elephant bull stood drinking from a puddle. Just at the end we spotted a family of kudus.
Then a little further on we were surprised in by a big bull elephant in musth, walking in the road towards us while we were rounding the corner. We were getting out of his way while he stopped to check us out. And then decided to come straight for us. But a little persuasion by voice made him veer back into the bush, and he started feeding right next to the car. The people who had been standing on the opposite side of the road stopped next to us and informed us that instead of looking at the elephant in the road they were actually looking at four lions in the riverbed. We moved onto their spot and indeed: three females and a youngster were lying there watching us.
At Mazithi Dam we saw the hippos playing and before we got to Tshokwane for breakfast we also spotted a nice kudu bull, a hovering black-shouldered kite, two purple rollers and a tawny eagle.
After breakfast at Tshokwane it became more and more quiet, as our luck had run out. We stopped for lunch at Skukuza after a long stretch seeing just impalas, vervet monkeys and a small herd of elephants crossing the road.
A stop at Lake Panic bird hide added a crocodile, more hippos, a goliath heron and other water birds to the list. Then we continued on Napi to Nkambeni seeing nothing until the Napi Boulders where an elephant bull stood drinking from a puddle. Just at the end we spotted a family of kudus.
16 May 2014
This morning we started after breakfast and we encountered a
large herd of impalas. Slowly manoeuvring around them we continued our journey
and spotted a white rhino in the drainage line just before the end of the dirt road.
He was nice and relaxed so good photo opportunity even with the low sun.
While continuing on the tar road, I got a call about a serval cub not far away so we decided to go that way. We spotted the cub which was not looking too good. It was too young to be on its own. Unfortunately we didn't spot its mother and we learned later that it is probably abandoned or the mother had died as another guide had spotted the same cub around the same spot two days prior. So it was a lucky, cute and sad sighting all at the same time.
We continued on a very quiet Napi to visit Transport Dam. We heard from Mark he had seen hyenas there so we were on the lookout. Just before the dam we indeed spotted two young hyenas and their babysitter soaking some sun close to the road. When another car arrived they got up, whined a bit and moved off into the bush. Great sighting nonetheless! At Transport Dam the resident hippos were lounging in the water, we saw a waterbuck, a water monitor and various water birds.
Further on we spotted a large journey of giraffes with some nice young ones. The mothers were good in hiding them though, so it was sometimes a bit difficult to see them.
On the way we saw two more white rhinos walking on the road towards us. They turned off into the bush before coming too close and walked off. We also saw the serval cub again that was now stretched out in the sun to warm up.
After a break at Pretoriuskop we drove around circle road, where we could add more impalas and a hunting black-shouldered kite to our sightings list. We then drove back to Nkambeni to have a bit if free time.
In the afternoon the guests went on a sundowner drive. More on that tomorrow!
While continuing on the tar road, I got a call about a serval cub not far away so we decided to go that way. We spotted the cub which was not looking too good. It was too young to be on its own. Unfortunately we didn't spot its mother and we learned later that it is probably abandoned or the mother had died as another guide had spotted the same cub around the same spot two days prior. So it was a lucky, cute and sad sighting all at the same time.
We continued on a very quiet Napi to visit Transport Dam. We heard from Mark he had seen hyenas there so we were on the lookout. Just before the dam we indeed spotted two young hyenas and their babysitter soaking some sun close to the road. When another car arrived they got up, whined a bit and moved off into the bush. Great sighting nonetheless! At Transport Dam the resident hippos were lounging in the water, we saw a waterbuck, a water monitor and various water birds.
Further on we spotted a large journey of giraffes with some nice young ones. The mothers were good in hiding them though, so it was sometimes a bit difficult to see them.
On the way we saw two more white rhinos walking on the road towards us. They turned off into the bush before coming too close and walked off. We also saw the serval cub again that was now stretched out in the sun to warm up.
After a break at Pretoriuskop we drove around circle road, where we could add more impalas and a hunting black-shouldered kite to our sightings list. We then drove back to Nkambeni to have a bit if free time.
In the afternoon the guests went on a sundowner drive. More on that tomorrow!
17 May 2014
The sundowner last night was another one with lots of luck.
They had almost missed the sunset, but only because a leopard had slowed them
down. So no complaints there. They had also multiple sightings of spotted eagle
owl, a white rhino, a scrub hare and a buffalo.
This morning was the earliest start as all guests went on a bushwalk. They spotted a warthog and two white rhinos while on foot and six buffalo on the drive back to the lodge. They were tracked by a leopard while on foot as well. They had heard a kudu bark the alarm and didn't spot it but on their way back were shown the fresh tracks of the leopard coming toward the group, probably notice them and turn around.
To complete the day we went on a long afternoon drive. We drove down Napi to Skukuza spotting impalas, kudus, dwarf mongoose, a red crested korhaan, warthogs, nice male waterbuck and a striped kingfisher before we got to Transport Dam. There the zebras were grazing merely. Then a little further a big bull elephant was feeding close to the road and then later the gentle giant crossed the road in front of us close to the car. He wasn't bothered by us but a persistent forktailed drongo that came too close to his head got a headshake and swat with his trunk. And all good things come in threes, as a little further we had three adult giraffes, a youngster and a baby crossing in front of the car as well.
After a short lunch break at Skukuza we drove down Doispane and Albassini back to the lodge. We saw a nice bull elephant on the crossroads of Paul Kruger Road and Doispane. Then once again we were lucky in spotting giraffes, a young hyena washing himself outside his den and a small group of male buffalos shortly after each other. The impalas, cape glossy starlings, yellow-billed hornbills and all the grasses and trees kept us busy till we spotted an elephant passing by on the opposite side. We then had to wait a little for a leopard tortoise to cross the road, but his short legs could still carry him with quite some speed.
At Nyamundwa Dam we saw two impalas fight while the female impalas and wildebeests were grazing uninterested in the outcome. Down Albassini it started to get really quiet, but once again we were lucky in seeing four giraffes crossing the road in front of us. Then at Mestel Dam a small herd of buffalo just walked away and the hippos were starting to wake up. After that the animals went into hiding until we got to Nkambeni Lodge. All in all a good day!
This morning was the earliest start as all guests went on a bushwalk. They spotted a warthog and two white rhinos while on foot and six buffalo on the drive back to the lodge. They were tracked by a leopard while on foot as well. They had heard a kudu bark the alarm and didn't spot it but on their way back were shown the fresh tracks of the leopard coming toward the group, probably notice them and turn around.
To complete the day we went on a long afternoon drive. We drove down Napi to Skukuza spotting impalas, kudus, dwarf mongoose, a red crested korhaan, warthogs, nice male waterbuck and a striped kingfisher before we got to Transport Dam. There the zebras were grazing merely. Then a little further a big bull elephant was feeding close to the road and then later the gentle giant crossed the road in front of us close to the car. He wasn't bothered by us but a persistent forktailed drongo that came too close to his head got a headshake and swat with his trunk. And all good things come in threes, as a little further we had three adult giraffes, a youngster and a baby crossing in front of the car as well.
After a short lunch break at Skukuza we drove down Doispane and Albassini back to the lodge. We saw a nice bull elephant on the crossroads of Paul Kruger Road and Doispane. Then once again we were lucky in spotting giraffes, a young hyena washing himself outside his den and a small group of male buffalos shortly after each other. The impalas, cape glossy starlings, yellow-billed hornbills and all the grasses and trees kept us busy till we spotted an elephant passing by on the opposite side. We then had to wait a little for a leopard tortoise to cross the road, but his short legs could still carry him with quite some speed.
At Nyamundwa Dam we saw two impalas fight while the female impalas and wildebeests were grazing uninterested in the outcome. Down Albassini it started to get really quiet, but once again we were lucky in seeing four giraffes crossing the road in front of us. Then at Mestel Dam a small herd of buffalo just walked away and the hippos were starting to wake up. After that the animals went into hiding until we got to Nkambeni Lodge. All in all a good day!
18 May 2014
This morning was the coldest one of this week. Unfortunately
it was also our last drive of this tour. We set out full of hopes of having
some nice sightings before we would leave the park, but our luck had ended. We
drove around Shabeni and Albassini, even visiting Shithave Dam before exiting.
We spotted two kudus and a buffalo. It was a very nice kudu bull chasing a
female kudu through the high grass while the buffalo looked on from his vantage
point on Shabeni rock.
Then it was time to depart for the return journey to Nelspruit and then Johannesburg. Janneke and Dick het was een topweek! Dank jullie wel voor je gezelschap. And Dritta, Byrum, Lilly and Frank it was short but sweet. Thanks for all the laughs and the hugs, and hopefully you'll return to us!
Then it was time to depart for the return journey to Nelspruit and then Johannesburg. Janneke and Dick het was een topweek! Dank jullie wel voor je gezelschap. And Dritta, Byrum, Lilly and Frank it was short but sweet. Thanks for all the laughs and the hugs, and hopefully you'll return to us!
Keep watching for more!
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