Never say never....

Post Reply
Guinea Pig
Posts: 71
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:14 am
Contact:

Never say never....

Post by Guinea Pig »

Following a bumper trip in 2011, we didn't really expect to be going back to Kruger again in a very long time. Especially since I discovered Kgalagadi. \O But the opportunity presented itself and we just did a short hop.

We had an awesome trip even though it was so short. 8)
No lions or leopard but some pretty cool sightings none the less. I will update our travels as we work through the photos.

Day 1 saw us entering at Orpen and travelling up to Phalaborwa Gate. I have to be honest here and say I hate the new gate at Orpen. Ugly as sin. Didn't even bother to make a photo. =O: Had no trouble renewing our Wild Cards though.

This critter at Orpen Camp was the first to be photographed:

Image

Image

Along the H7 after a thundershower, one of the tiniest zebbies I've ever seen:

Image

Lots of Southern Carmine Bee-eaters around:

Image


Guinea Pig
Posts: 71
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:14 am
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by Guinea Pig »

We arrived reasonably late in the day and were met by some thundershowers on our way to Satara.

Usually they're gone in a flash but this Steenbokkie happily did his business offering us a photo opportunity:

Image

Happy to find some Ground Hornbills for our guests:

Image

Just outside Satara we found a large number of White Stork:

Image

Ag and why not... Couldn't find the Scops owl next to reception, but these guys were hanging all over the tree:

Image


Guinea Pig
Posts: 71
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:14 am
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by Guinea Pig »

Good thing we weren't travelling at his pace...we still had to make our way to Phalaborwa Gate! O**

Image

We had an amazing trip as far as elephants go. We saw some REALLY big ones. Made things very interesting in the car though. One of our guests watched way too many You Tube videos before we left and scared herself silly of elephants. Took a long time to convince her they're mostly gentle giants. :O^

Number 1 close to Satara on the H1-4:

Image

And then Ngodzi blocked our way between Olifants and Letaba. You'll notice we were rather far from him... 0*\ DuQues had to shoot at 400mm! It did get better later on as you'll notice by the closeness of the elephants to the car.

Image

A buffalo along the S69:

Image

We were very amused at the interaction between these birds. The Helmetshrikes did NOT like the Tawny in their tree.

Image


Guinea Pig
Posts: 71
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:14 am
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by Guinea Pig »

Onto Phalaborwa....

Some Klipspringertjies on the way to Sable Dam.

Image

A good spot by one of our guests in the shrubs next to the parking spot by the hide - a Greater Spotted Cuckoo:

Image

And a Sabota Lark not wanting to move from next to the car... Proud of this photo - I had to make it because Duco was on the wrong side of the car. O/\

Image

Of course the Klipdassies said hello too:

Image

We arrived at the gate with 7 minutes to spare. =O: We spent the next 2 nights with friends at our favorite accommodation in Phalaborwa. Day 2 would see us doing a Safari into the park...


User avatar
Toko
Posts: 26619
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:29 pm
Country: -

Re: Never say never....

Post by Toko »

0/* Hello Guinea Pig :-)

Lovely bird photos ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

And you found a tusker O\/ O\/ O\/ Perhaps you would like to post it here and win an award :shock: :-?


User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by nan »

0/* Guinea Pig
I love the Bat, as well the cute tiny Zebra
nice portrait of the Lizard and of course the Tusker O/\
^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

the White Storks are starting their passage to the North O/\


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
Flutterby
Posts: 44150
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:28 pm
Country: South Africa
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by Flutterby »

Hi GP - nice to see you again! \O

You had some lovely sightings to start your trip! ;-) Love the cuckoo ^Q^ and the tusker! ^Q^ ^Q^


User avatar
harrys
Posts: 13872
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:37 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Warmbaths
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by harrys »

HI Guinea Pig some really nice sightings and great photos \O ^Q^ ^Q^


Marakele day trips

KNP: May be one day again??
User avatar
Bushcraft
Posts: 13359
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 2:59 pm
Location: KZN, South Africa
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by Bushcraft »

Ugly Orpen gate =O:

Wow, great tusker O\/

Those bats drive me crazy at night :O^

Some fantastic pics ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

0()


Bush Brat
Posts: 1499
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 10:08 pm
Location: Johannesburg
Contact:

Re: Never say never....

Post by Bush Brat »

Super sightings so far, looking forward to more! 0()


Post Reply

Return to “Travel Tales of Kruger National Park”