Flavour of the Month June 2012: H4-1: Skukuza - Lower Sabie Road

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
2h2 hours ago

10:47
2 Ostrich Feeding
H4-1, 5kms N of Lower Sabie
Tinged by Wildlife Photos SA @ Kruger Adventure Lodge

[Richprins]

Some 2015 pics by Supernova:


































viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6957&start=10

[Richprins]

Bushcraft, 2016:

I turned just after the hyena and ducked back down the H4-1 towards the causeway, but Bushpig got in on the action minutes later with an Eagle Owl, ellies made an appearance in the riverbed and then a little further 2 cars were tracking a cheetah in the bush which turned into a mission as the cheetah was on patrol at pace, however we eventually managed a few pics each time it paused, but after 2 minutes it was out of sight.







There’s a particular area on the causeway where a leopard has been regularly seen for months, so when I spotted 2 cars stopped in that area I started chirping all in our car “Leopard, get cameras ready”, however when I stopped we couldn’t see anything and my clan thought I had gone mad.

The occupants of the 2 cars weren’t the social type and refused to even acknowledge our existence, but there was another car a little further on so we cruised over to them.

A very happy and excited lady greeted us “Hello, there’s a leopard lying down over there”, which got my hype going again; however we still couldn’t see it.

The lady then tried a “different” way of explaining

“Do you see the big green bush swaying in the wind in front of us?”

I thought this was about to follow one of the Cow’s “do you see the tree” explanations, but at the same time she went into a full blown Macarena dance in the front seat to illustrate the bush movements, which immediately set the rats off cackling in the back seat and I was battling to keep a straight face, however there was only one bush moving that way, so we quickly spotted the leopard.

She then kindly offered her viewing spot as she was moving off, so we thanked her profusely and pulled into her spot.



A few minutes later a buffalo pulled in so I got over excited again, because I thought the leopard would get up and move off, however it didn’t blink an eye and in fact went to sleep.





While this was happening another car pulled in next to us “What do you see?” I was concentrating on not missing any action in case the leopard bolted, so this left the Cow in charge of the explanation which started with “Do you see the swinging green bush over there” however without the Macarena demonstration it didn’t have the same result. Eventually the Cow got her arms going and they spotted the leopard, which by this stage was snoring, so we took a last pic and moved off so the new arrivals could have our spot.



The drive back towards Skukuza produced all the normal gang, but nothing new so we only pulled the camera out again on Alpha loop just outside Skukuza as a bushbuck was parking off next to the road.



Around the middle of Alpha loop we spotted an OSV and the one guest seemed excited and was pointing repeatedly, however the rest of the guests and driver/ranger seemed lost, so I just continued on, however 20m later I stopped as something didn’t feel right and that guest seemed overexcited, so I reversed back towards the OSV and just as I stopped 3m from them the Cow shouted “Leopard’s tail”.

A leopard was walking in bush next to the road, however all one could see was the tip of its tail every few seconds, so I slammed the car in reverse and roared up to a spot on the road where one can see better and seconds later the leopard showed himself.

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 6&start=80

[Richprins]

We turned at the H12 Bridge to head back and around 500m later a civet cruised out the bush in front of us. I initially got very excited as it’s strange to see a civet walking around in the day, but then it walked up towards another car and almost looked as if it was begging.





Fortunately it then left the road and started to walk along in the bush next to us, so I followed along, but seconds later a car stopped next to us with only an old ballie in it “Move, give me a chance!”

I first thought “You rude old #$&*” but the Cow got in before me “There’s plenty space, just move in” I then moved beyond the Civet to give the pelican old timer a view and stopped a long way ahead of the civet who was walking towards us and photographed backwards, but the rocket scientist old toss drove along next to us, however didn’t have enough IQ to realize that the civet was 20m back, so his frustration grew “How I’m I meant to see!” and he started waving his hands in the air like a mad man while shouting profanities.

This was the final straw in my patience armour “Listen you #^&* you are on the wrong side of the sighting and the civet is now behind you, so why don’t you just #$^$#&^” He took the advice and charged off. The excessively polite Cow had also lost it and shouted after the car as it sped away.

I was now boiling and wanted to chase the old timer down and “nicely” explain things to him, but didn’t want to miss the civet opportunity, so quickly took a few more pics as it walked towards us.



5 seconds later I started up and headed after the old timer at 50km/h, but after 5km there was still no sign of him, but I knew his car as did the rats so all were on the lookout in front of us, so we nearly missed a scrub hare next to the road.

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
18h18 hours ago

16:20
3 lionesses and 1 young male lion on the road
H4-1, Nkuhlu
Near Lower Sabie
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Edwin - Legend safaris

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
5h5 hours ago

06:41
Lions stationary on the road
H4-1, in first small dirt loop, 2km E of Skukuza
Tinged by Nabeel

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
18h18 hours ago

16:30
Leopard on the road
H4-1, just before S79 turn
Near Lower Sabie
Tinged by Nabeel

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
18h18 hours ago

Sunset
“Jerry admiring it too”
Near Skukuza.
Tinged by Lynette

[Lisbeth]

The sky was beautiful last night

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
19h19 hours ago

15:00
Male leopard
H4-1, -+ 20km W of Lower Sabie
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Liza van Zyl