17 July 2014
An early morning start for us today as we made our way to
collect the challenge group. Once everyone had boarded the bus it was time to
make our way to Nelspruit where guides Karen, Mark, Dean and Robbie were
awaiting our arrival.
Upon arriving in Nelspruit it as time to board our Open
Vehicles where we took the scenic route to Numbi Gate.
We went straight to Nkambeni Tented Camp our home for the
next 3 nights where we had some lunch and guests got a chance to have a swim
before we headed out on our first drive at 15h30.
The afternoon safari
we started our drive up the Numbi tar. On the recently burned area we spotted
three elephant bulls. They were feeding on a marula tree that they had pushed
over. A little further on in the background we spotted some zebras. Also on the
burned area, they blended in well, so we mostly saw their tails swing.
Around Shabeni we saw a klipspringer on the rocks as well as a bateleur flying around. It was rather quiet, even the birds were still in hiding from us. On the bit to the tar we also saw two buffalo.
Back on the tar road we saw three more daggaboys as well as a giraffe that was hiding in between the trees. The more we looked the further she went into the bush.
So we continued down Napi where a martial eagle showed its brilliant wingspan by flying over. We followed it for a bit but it decided not to sit down.
Down at Shitlhave Dam we had waterbucks crossing in front of the car. The young ones were a bit hesitant, so after looking around they ran across. However the older ones took it nice and slow so that was good for pictures. We also saw a crocodile, hippo, terrapins and for the bird lovers a grey heron, blacksmith lapwing, hamerkop, forktailed drongos and darkcapped bulbuls.
On the way back to Nkambeni Safari Camp, we were lucky to see a great sunset, a white rhino, our first impala and two giraffes with a little baby giraffe. All in all not bad for a first day!
Around Shabeni we saw a klipspringer on the rocks as well as a bateleur flying around. It was rather quiet, even the birds were still in hiding from us. On the bit to the tar we also saw two buffalo.
Back on the tar road we saw three more daggaboys as well as a giraffe that was hiding in between the trees. The more we looked the further she went into the bush.
So we continued down Napi where a martial eagle showed its brilliant wingspan by flying over. We followed it for a bit but it decided not to sit down.
Down at Shitlhave Dam we had waterbucks crossing in front of the car. The young ones were a bit hesitant, so after looking around they ran across. However the older ones took it nice and slow so that was good for pictures. We also saw a crocodile, hippo, terrapins and for the bird lovers a grey heron, blacksmith lapwing, hamerkop, forktailed drongos and darkcapped bulbuls.
On the way back to Nkambeni Safari Camp, we were lucky to see a great sunset, a white rhino, our first impala and two giraffes with a little baby giraffe. All in all not bad for a first day!
18 July 2014
This morning was our first morning safari. It started good
with sightings of impala, the sunrise and a small herd of buffalo all on Camp
road, and a male waterbuck, zebras and kudus on the side of Numbi tar road.
We then turned onto where we spotted a couple of daggaboys, and a white rhino in the distance, before we were informed of a possible lion sighting. We did arrive at the scene when the lions were already moving away, but some of us still got a glimpse of them. We continued our drive having three more sightings of white rhino, of which one of them was close to the road.
On the way also stopped for a tawny eagle, bateleurs flying over, more zebras, impalas, cape glossy starlings, redfaced mousebirds. We then got to a sighting of giraffes hiding in between the trees. The slowly showed themselves bit by bit, but we didn't get to see them in full glory. But there was a zebra standing like royalty on a dirt mount. He definitely was photogenic and behaved as if he was the king of the world! But in all fairness, he was a nice stallion!
Just before entering Skukuza for our break we spotted some redbilled hornbills and an elephant that was very shy as he was hiding in the thick bush. After the break we saw some vervet monkeys on the side of the road. One was eating what looked like a muffin wrapper. He had either found it because people had thrown it out of the car, stolen it from people or he had been given it by people. But no matter how you look at it, the people are at fault, because unfortunately this little monkey was ripping the plastic and eating it.
At low level bridge over the Sabie river we spotted a nice crocodile that decided it was getting too hot and moved back into the water while we were watching a pied kingfisher fish (successfully) and two Egyptian geese. On the way to the bridge over the Sand river we also saw some magpie shrikes, yellowbilled hornbill and dwarf mongoose.
It was busy at the bridge over the Sand river where we saw hippos coming up for air, a white headed vulture that took off, a fish eagle in a tree and a brown hooded kingfisher. We then turned around to see it all again, but then also the baboons suddenly appeared out of the reeds. The youngsters were playing as the older ones purposeful walked across and some even had a drink from the puddles. And this time around we saw some little bee eaters at the bridge over the Sabie.
On the way back to Napi road we saw a maribou stork flying over, a slender mongoose crossing as well as a tree squirrel before we arrived at Mathekanyan. We stopped at the viewpoint for some nice (group) pictures.
Then it was back to the lodge as it started to get hot and we were getting hungry. However, the morning wasn't over as we got treated to sighting of a hyena pup lying outside its den, a warthog, grey hornbills, lilac breasted rollers and a herd of elephants having a drink at the dam just before we turned into camp road.
In the afternoon we set of for another game drive. As it was quite hot still, it started of quiet, but then Mark and Robbie called us on the radio for a leopard. He was lying on Shabeni rocks, posing like a proper model. We sat with him for quite some time before he decided the show was over. He walked down the rock towards the cars and then crossed the road. As the grass on the opposite side of the road was higher than the leopard he instantly disappeared, not to be seen again.
We then continued the loop spotting some more impalas. We turned onto the tar with the intention to drive up Albassini to Mestel Dam. A car had stopped and they were looking into the bush so we slowed down as well. We saw sable antelopes hiding in between the burned branches. Unfortunately not good enough for pictures, but we saw two of them walking away and there were possibly more of them around.
On the tar road we also saw a warthog and a black-headed oriole. On Albassini road we came across a small group of kudu and some large elephants feeding in the distance. We never made it to Mestel Dam as time was running out, so we had to turn around, but on the way back we were surprised by some more buffalo quite close to the road. It was the end of another great day.
We then turned onto where we spotted a couple of daggaboys, and a white rhino in the distance, before we were informed of a possible lion sighting. We did arrive at the scene when the lions were already moving away, but some of us still got a glimpse of them. We continued our drive having three more sightings of white rhino, of which one of them was close to the road.
On the way also stopped for a tawny eagle, bateleurs flying over, more zebras, impalas, cape glossy starlings, redfaced mousebirds. We then got to a sighting of giraffes hiding in between the trees. The slowly showed themselves bit by bit, but we didn't get to see them in full glory. But there was a zebra standing like royalty on a dirt mount. He definitely was photogenic and behaved as if he was the king of the world! But in all fairness, he was a nice stallion!
Just before entering Skukuza for our break we spotted some redbilled hornbills and an elephant that was very shy as he was hiding in the thick bush. After the break we saw some vervet monkeys on the side of the road. One was eating what looked like a muffin wrapper. He had either found it because people had thrown it out of the car, stolen it from people or he had been given it by people. But no matter how you look at it, the people are at fault, because unfortunately this little monkey was ripping the plastic and eating it.
At low level bridge over the Sabie river we spotted a nice crocodile that decided it was getting too hot and moved back into the water while we were watching a pied kingfisher fish (successfully) and two Egyptian geese. On the way to the bridge over the Sand river we also saw some magpie shrikes, yellowbilled hornbill and dwarf mongoose.
It was busy at the bridge over the Sand river where we saw hippos coming up for air, a white headed vulture that took off, a fish eagle in a tree and a brown hooded kingfisher. We then turned around to see it all again, but then also the baboons suddenly appeared out of the reeds. The youngsters were playing as the older ones purposeful walked across and some even had a drink from the puddles. And this time around we saw some little bee eaters at the bridge over the Sabie.
On the way back to Napi road we saw a maribou stork flying over, a slender mongoose crossing as well as a tree squirrel before we arrived at Mathekanyan. We stopped at the viewpoint for some nice (group) pictures.
Then it was back to the lodge as it started to get hot and we were getting hungry. However, the morning wasn't over as we got treated to sighting of a hyena pup lying outside its den, a warthog, grey hornbills, lilac breasted rollers and a herd of elephants having a drink at the dam just before we turned into camp road.
In the afternoon we set of for another game drive. As it was quite hot still, it started of quiet, but then Mark and Robbie called us on the radio for a leopard. He was lying on Shabeni rocks, posing like a proper model. We sat with him for quite some time before he decided the show was over. He walked down the rock towards the cars and then crossed the road. As the grass on the opposite side of the road was higher than the leopard he instantly disappeared, not to be seen again.
We then continued the loop spotting some more impalas. We turned onto the tar with the intention to drive up Albassini to Mestel Dam. A car had stopped and they were looking into the bush so we slowed down as well. We saw sable antelopes hiding in between the burned branches. Unfortunately not good enough for pictures, but we saw two of them walking away and there were possibly more of them around.
On the tar road we also saw a warthog and a black-headed oriole. On Albassini road we came across a small group of kudu and some large elephants feeding in the distance. We never made it to Mestel Dam as time was running out, so we had to turn around, but on the way back we were surprised by some more buffalo quite close to the road. It was the end of another great day.
19 July 2014
This morning we set off to go on a full day safari. We
spotted a buffalo straight away on camp road, which was obviously still in the
waking up state.
Down the Numbi tar road and onto Napi we went, waiting for kudus and impalas to cross. We then spotted a hyena that came trotting around the corner. He didn't stop, but only looked up at the cars as he made his way down as people took pictures. No glance back, he was a hyena on a mission!
We passed Shitlhave Dam to spot a sable bull hiding in the thick bush. We got a glimpse of his horns and his body, but the shy sable was not willing to show himself. We had a very nice kudu bull posing in the middle of the road for us.
Then close to Transport Dam we had another hyena bouncing past us. This one also just trotted past, no "hello" or "good morning". This one didn't even look at us!
Down the Numbi tar road and onto Napi we went, waiting for kudus and impalas to cross. We then spotted a hyena that came trotting around the corner. He didn't stop, but only looked up at the cars as he made his way down as people took pictures. No glance back, he was a hyena on a mission!
We passed Shitlhave Dam to spot a sable bull hiding in the thick bush. We got a glimpse of his horns and his body, but the shy sable was not willing to show himself. We had a very nice kudu bull posing in the middle of the road for us.
Then close to Transport Dam we had another hyena bouncing past us. This one also just trotted past, no "hello" or "good morning". This one didn't even look at us!
Two Elephant bulls a little further down the road had only
eyes for the bushes they were feeding, so we started feeling a little ignored.
However just after turning onto the H3 a steenbok definitely noticed us and
took a run for it. That’s not quite how we wanted to be noticed though.
Then we got a lion sighting. Dean, Mark and Robbie had found them before us and we were lucky they were still on the side of the road when we arrived. The male was looking intently at every car, so this time it was just right! We had some great opportunities to take pictures of him and his girlfriend before a truck decided to rush past and scare them back into the bush. Here they decided it was naptime and lay flat in the high grass. That was our cue to move on.
We continued down the H3 to Afsaal, stopping for a crested francolin with chicks which proved they were born with flight capabilities, a lone wildebeest, white-breasted comorant, a green pigeon and lilac breasted rollers.
Zebras were grazing in the open area past Afsaal. We took a turn into Timfene loop where we saw a very nice giraffe in his full glory. He wasn't the least bothered by our arrival so he stood nice and still for pictures. Around the S114 a herd of elephants was crossing the road in front of us before going down to the river to have a drink. We also saw a fish eagle (and we heard him too), warthogs, more elephants and down the S110 a group of baboons hanging around a herd of buffalo.
We stopped for lunch at Berg en Dal where the vervet monkeys were waiting around to steal the scraps. Then we took a drive back up the tar road. Here were treated to more sightings of buffalo, baboons (twice), elephants, giraffes, zebras with young, wildebeest and warthog before we turned into Afsaal again for a quick toilet break. Then it was a dusty drive up Voortrekker road. We saw an elephant herd feeding quite close to the road, plus more warthogs and kudus and giraffes and impalas.
Then we decided to take a turn around Shabeni Koppies, just for luck. Alas, there was nothing on the Koppies, but our luck had worked as Mark had found a leopard in the meantime and we were quite close by. She was walking through the bushes but we had a nice look at her when she was in open areas! It was a great finish to a long but very good day!
Then we got a lion sighting. Dean, Mark and Robbie had found them before us and we were lucky they were still on the side of the road when we arrived. The male was looking intently at every car, so this time it was just right! We had some great opportunities to take pictures of him and his girlfriend before a truck decided to rush past and scare them back into the bush. Here they decided it was naptime and lay flat in the high grass. That was our cue to move on.
We continued down the H3 to Afsaal, stopping for a crested francolin with chicks which proved they were born with flight capabilities, a lone wildebeest, white-breasted comorant, a green pigeon and lilac breasted rollers.
Zebras were grazing in the open area past Afsaal. We took a turn into Timfene loop where we saw a very nice giraffe in his full glory. He wasn't the least bothered by our arrival so he stood nice and still for pictures. Around the S114 a herd of elephants was crossing the road in front of us before going down to the river to have a drink. We also saw a fish eagle (and we heard him too), warthogs, more elephants and down the S110 a group of baboons hanging around a herd of buffalo.
We stopped for lunch at Berg en Dal where the vervet monkeys were waiting around to steal the scraps. Then we took a drive back up the tar road. Here were treated to more sightings of buffalo, baboons (twice), elephants, giraffes, zebras with young, wildebeest and warthog before we turned into Afsaal again for a quick toilet break. Then it was a dusty drive up Voortrekker road. We saw an elephant herd feeding quite close to the road, plus more warthogs and kudus and giraffes and impalas.
Then we decided to take a turn around Shabeni Koppies, just for luck. Alas, there was nothing on the Koppies, but our luck had worked as Mark had found a leopard in the meantime and we were quite close by. She was walking through the bushes but we had a nice look at her when she was in open areas! It was a great finish to a long but very good day!
20 July 2014
Today there was no game drives as it as time to return back
to Johannesburg so we had some breakfast before loading onto the vehicles to
head out to Nelspruit where we then said goodbye to the challenge group.
We hope you all had a good safari with us this year and are
looking forward to returning back next year for year number 14!!
No comments:
Post a Comment