Africa Wild

sept. 2012


Gnus arrive

a huge herd



Andres has something to do

Kudus

Kudus and Gnus

Grootkolk is a special place and I have described the wonderful sunsets as you wait in anticipation for some action. The mornings can be just as rewarding. We are up an hour before you are allowed to drive and we get the kettle boiling and again wait in the hope of some action. We have had many wonderful sightings in the early morning. On the 17 November 2012 we had a honey badger while it was still darkish



Followed by a brown hyena



Then a lioness and cub





The lion then joined the lioness and cub

Familiar Chat/Traquet familier


Violet-eared Waxbil/Cordonbleu grenadin




African Red-eyed Bulbul/Bulbul brunoir
lazy one

Forktail Drongo/Drongo brillant
ready... for a familly

Thank you nan

Beautiful Grootkolk Sunset

Four-striped Grass Mouse/Rhabdomys pumilio




Karasburg Tree Shink


sharing



Grootkolk, everybody share with everybody

Gorgeous pix and info everyone!

Well, I'm back from a short KTP trip and 3 nights in Grootkolk. The BIG G remained true to form for us - the lions were in camp and in the area. We got very excited on our first night there - the jackals started howling like mad, AND we heard the leopard rasping close by. We shone the spot , found a jackal who was intently looking in the direction of unit 3 and 4, but no leopard. He/she decided not to come to the waterhole and just passed thru camp without giving us a glimpse. On the whole Grootkolk was quiet during the day, with all the action occuring after the waterhole light went off - then the brownies started arriving, spotted hyenas coming for a midnight bath, cape fox and batties, not to mention the 3 lionesses and 3 cubs. The hour before midnight and after seemed to be the magic time. And - we saw our first live porcupine in the park , foraging just after midnight next to unit one. Andries said that we were very lucky as the porcupine normally is seen between units 3 and 4.

As for the BIRDS!!! - Brace yourselves: Sanparks has a new Grootkolk rule - no putting out water for the birds, no birdbaths etc. We missed the birds this time. Of course there are still the birds in the trees and surrounding bush, but no real close encounters anymore. Apparently the rule was made after a tourist complained about all the bees at their unit. Well, we found that the bees were worse than ever this time, perhaps due to the lack of water for the birds?

I hope to post a pic or two later tonight, we had a royal visit on our last morning.

In the past, we have had some exciting times at Grootkolk:
A km north of the Grootkolk turnoff, April 2008



A few kms south - December 2008 trip



And a few kms north again - December 2008 trip





We have also known people to leave Grootkolk before their booking is up, because it is too quiet.

and still some magic





Eben woers

Quite a big pride at the mo, PRWIN - although mostly split:
3 females with three medium cubs, 2 females with 2 smaller than the medium cubs, two big males,
but usually only one around and an adolescent male who is actually my 'Petit Prince' from October 2012
and March 2013. Hope you'll catch him because he didn't wanna pose for me this time around. Also,
would appreciate any report on his behaviour as he seems to move a bit oddly and seems to be too small
for his age.

I know there is another lion but got lost in Franco's account and never saw all 14 of them. Just 13 at the max
(with the lionesses you never know )