When small Streams turn into Rivers

[Richprins]

Catching up, Pumbaa!

Wow, what a day!

The jackal behaviour shots are all brilliant...

And tsessebe and eland great sightings for the north...

What lovely tuskers, pity aat seems to have disappeared.

There are more wildebeest around Mopane than anywhere IMO!

Love Tihongonyene.

[Pumbaa]

wow those Tuskers....
and all the rest of course

Pumbaa

It was long time ago since we saw such impressive tuskers in the park

[Pumbaa]

At Tihongonyeni there is room for a lot of animals and mostly 3 or 4 species are always present.

Those two elephants are serious tuskers

I love the light-coloured tawnies

A very handsome waterbuck posing



P.S. I have tried to ID the tuskers, but have not succeeded. Maybe with more time....

We simply love that open area although must say this year was a shock when being there no grass it looked like a wasteland

[Pumbaa]

Catching up, Pumbaa!

Wow, what a day!

The jackal behaviour shots are all brilliant...

And tsessebe and eland great sightings for the north...

What lovely tuskers, pity aat seems to have disappeared.

There are more wildebeest around Mopane than anywhere IMO!

Love Tihongonyene.

Also the zebras appeared at least during our trip there in masses - Always great when finding rarer antelopes as well

[Pumbaa]

We finally continued our drive and besides more wildebeests, a Wahlberg eagle we also stopped for this little chap



and also for some giraffes.



Timon could not resist in stopping for another European roller who just caught an amoured cricket



and not only with the autumn leaves of the mopane bushes the colours of that shot are so beautiful -



again the roller threw more than once the cricket in the air and same already looked extreme damaged and Timon pressed the button again in the right time.



Finally we then reached Grootvlei as that stretch of the road from the crossing until the dam can be a bit monotonous due to the masses of dense mopane bushes but unfortunately today it was not that much to be seen at the dam besides a couple of knob billed ducks,



hippos in the water also some resting impalas and waterbucks could be noticed on the other side of the dam.



We did not stay that long and on our way crossed a couple of nearly dry causeways indeed something strange compared to the flooded once in the South but in one of these smaller streams we had to cross we detected a beautiful nyala bull who’s horns were smeared completely with mud



luckily same came still closer whilst taking a bite from here and there and we were happy to spot such a handsome nyala bull that close.

[Pumbaa]

At Nyawutsi hide we then spotted the first car as Timon was a bit concerned already that maybe some causeways were not crossable but as already said most of the smaller streams in the North were already nearly dry. Nyawutsi is a hide extreme far away but always a must for us as same is having such a wonderful view and today we were lucky in even discovering two water monitors one took a sunbath



and the other one was more preferring a nice dip into a smaller runlet which was overflowing the koppies





funny was that the monitor was hanging with the back of its body in the water whilst the rest was lying on the rocks.



We also spotted from the hide water dikkops, hamerkops as well as a couple of raptors circling in the sky but all of these birds were too far away for decent shots. Meanwhile we reached the Shingwedzi river and now the road was leading along the river with some nice loops to allow closer views into the riverbed in one we discovered a goliath heron,



on a dense bush an African hoopoe was willing to sit still long enough for a couple of shots



and to Timon’s delight we also came across a nicely posing and extreme close African fish eagle



and also at that sighting we took a couple of pictures



until same decided it was enough and flew away



but today we were successful in finding two more fish eagles during our drive.



As all the other rivers even the Shingwedzi was still flowing but in fact same was by far not that full as the others in the South nevertheless the view was breathtaking anyway.



to be continued………………………

[Lisbeth]

I love the monitor sitting in the water

Also the African hoopoe , which is such a pretty bird

Beautiful fish-eagles

The river looks really dry I hope it has rained later, because if not there will be trouble later in the year.

[Pumbaa]

I love the monitor sitting in the water

Also the African hoopoe , which is such a pretty bird

Beautiful fish-eagles

The river looks really dry I hope it has rained later, because if not there will be trouble later in the year.

That was indeed a full river especially compared to this year - This year nearly no water was left in the Shingwedzi only in a couple of puddles in the shade

[Pumbaa]

Carwise it was in fact extreme quiet which allowed us to stop at each loop extensively and look out for birdies so we stayed a bit longer with that pied kingfisher.



Close to where formerly the Kaniedood dam was located we detected on a sand island in the river a group of marabu storks



sharing that island with a spur winged goose



obviously that marabu stork was not in accordance that this goose was sharing an island with them



at least here we watched around and enjoyed the different birds together and meanwhile also a strong wind started to blow.





Finally we stood in front of the Shingwedzi causeway and same was still overflowing nicely but easily to cross and as often at such causeways uncountable numbers of crocodiles piled up to maybe catch a fish



and not only in the river we spotted crocodiles but also right on the causeway two smaller crocodiles had a dispute



but same was settled soon, however, whenever crossing the causeway one had to be careful not to overrun these crocodiles, luckily all the cars we watched whilst crossing the causeway were extreme careful and even warned other drivers about the smaller crocodiles on the causeway.



I tried to count the crocodiles in the water but gave up when I counted already ten – there were masses and compared to the smaller ones on the causeway all of them were quite huge.

[Pumbaa]

After only a short break at camp also with a visit to the shop were we now got all the things we were looking in vain in the Mopani shop for sure an ice cream had also to be enjoyed we left via the main gate and now enjoyed a view into the Shingwedzi from the short stretch until the crossing at least a couple of buffaloes could be seen in the riverbed



whilst other shared a puddle together



and still others - now from the highwater bridge – had a huge lake all to themselves.



We always love to drive along the confluence although same is only a very short loop but the views into the riverbed are amazing and from here we spotted another lone buffalo.



It was still time to drive the S55 where we noticed a small group of male waterbucks before we returned to Shingwedzi



again via the back entrance and consequently via the causeway where now a green backed heron could be seen quite close



and for sure our friends the uncountable crocodiles so far did not give up their position in the queue



Now also a resting marabu stork enjoying a break on a private island



as well as a grey heron now came closer to the causeway



before we returned to camp and although it was a bit prior to official check in time we got already our keys for our beloved bungalow No. B70 in which we moved soon but got a bit sentimental as this was now our final camp in Kruger during this trip.



to be continued…………………