Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

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BluTuna
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Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

Post by BluTuna »

Day 0. Friday 26 July 2013. Home -> Hazyview (Sanbonani Resort).

It seems such a short time since we were enjoying the wonders of the Kgalagadi Transfontier Park in early June but we had some timeshare points we had to use or lose and here we are on a long weekend at Sanbonani, a resort in Hazyview, about 10 kms from Phabeni Gate.

After an early start to beat the Friday morning traffic, we opted to enter the park at Crocodile Bridge so we could drive one of our favourite roads, the S28.

We got to Croc at around 11:00 and stopped to get some of their excellent coffee and absorb the Kruger peace and tranquility.

The Aloes are in bloom and there are lots of Sunbirds around, getting them into the camera is another story but I persisted and managed to get a Scarlet-Chested and a Whitebellied.
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Then it was off into the bush. There were Lions in the reeds at Gezantfombi but there was also a bun fight for viewing spots from the bridge and from the lookout. We moved on without bothering to take pictures.

We ecountered some giraffes but before I got the camera onto them, I spotted something smaller in the grass.
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Then there were the Warties, taking a siesta under a bush but keeping one eye on the kids.
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And a curious Swainson's Spurfowl.
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Further up the S28, some good luck. A bit distant but I'm happy to see spotty cats at any distance!
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At Nthahdanyathi hide some eles were taking a drink. There was still lots of water which was surprising as it's usually dry by the end of May.
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Some more warties, close enough to take some portraits.
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At the Lower Sabie Causeway, a hippo was sunbathing.
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Some Terrapins were in view
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And a monster Croc with huge teeth was also catching some rays.
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A quick stop at LS where the Bulbuls were feeding on the Aloes.
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More Hippos were sunbathing at Sunset Dam.
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And the last good sighting of the day somewhere near Skukuza.
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Last edited by BluTuna on Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.


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Flutterby
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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

Post by Flutterby »

Great pics BT! Love the sleeping warties! -O \O
BluTuna wrote:we opted to enter the park at Crocodile Bridge so we could drive one of our favourite roads, the S28.
Isn't it funny (and good) how we all have our favourites...we've never had luck on that road. ;-)
BluTuna wrote:There was still lots of water which was surprising as it's usually dry by the end of May.
And still lots of water in August...I think that's why we battled to find animals! :O^


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nan
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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

Post by nan »

you would say to me S28 is Cheetah lane 0- 0- 0-

superb start O/\ ^Q^


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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

Post by steamtrainfan »

Ah Ha - A BT TT - this is going to be good judging by the start.

Wish I could capture the sunbirds like you do.

Sleeping warthog \O \O

Dragon fly - was that on macro????

Joan and I also commented on the amount of water in Kruger. Lets hope they do not have some heavy rain this year.


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BluTuna
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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

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Flutterby wrote:Great pics BT! Love the sleeping warties! -O \O
BluTuna wrote:we opted to enter the park at Crocodile Bridge so we could drive one of our favourite roads, the S28.
Isn't it funny (and good) how we all have our favourites...we've never had luck on that road. ;-)
BluTuna wrote:There was still lots of water which was surprising as it's usually dry by the end of May.
And still lots of water in August...I think that's why we battled to find animals! :O^
In the south of the park, my favourite drive is S28/S137/S130. We have had so much great luck on those roads!

We battled to see anything in the unseasonably thick bush too.


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BluTuna
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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

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nan wrote:you would say to me S28 is Cheetah lane 0- 0- 0-

superb start O/\ ^Q^
S28 = Cheetahs! Well, more often than anywhere else!


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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

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Our cheetah luck is always north of LS! -O -O-


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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

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Flutterby wrote:Our cheetah luck is always north of LS! -O -O-
Strange, the great majority of our Cheetah sightings have been south of LS, either on the S28/S137/S130 or on the H4-2. We've also had Wild dogs, Blackies, Leopards, Lions, Serval, Caracal, and two spectacular meetings with Duke in his heyday on those roads!


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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

Post by Mel »

Quite a nice start for your short long weekend \O

I find the colouration on the warties interesting. Never seen them spotted like that :-?


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Re: Another Short Long Weekend in the Kruger

Post by harrys »

Good start to your short long weekend \O love the photos ^Q^


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