The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Alf]

Wow doggies laying down in the road

We always see them run around going crazy

[aat]

Pumbaa....
Reading and watching almost give one the idea to be there.... lovely gathering of cats, birds and antelopes....

Reading these travel tales activates that sign in my brains "I miss kruger" .....

[Heksie]

Great trip report so far with the beautiful rhinos and the malachite kingfisher close up and the dogs and the impis and the sleeping golden cats

[Richprins]

Nice, Pumbaa!

Interesting the impala lambs out already...as per normal! I swear some are still only coming out now!

My favourite is the old buff!

[Pumbaa]

wow Pumba

ready for the suite

The suite will come shortly

Lovely doggie sighting and nice birdies.

Yes, we had again luck with the doggies

I just love the Malachite Kingfishers with their beautiful colours and the same goes for the European Bee-eaters

Great doggie sighting

Seeing the Malachite even so close the colours looked even more beautiful

Wow doggies laying down in the road

We always see them run around going crazy

I know that but we had once again luck in finding some resting doggies

[Pumbaa]

Pumbaa....
Reading and watching almost give one the idea to be there.... lovely gathering of cats, birds and antelopes....

Reading these travel tales activates that sign in my brains "I miss kruger" .....

Me too, Aat

Great trip report so far with the beautiful rhinos and the malachite kingfisher close up and the dogs and the impis and the sleeping golden cats

Yes we had again luck on our first full day although must say the others were not that bad either

Nice, Pumbaa!

Interesting the impala lambs out already...as per normal! I swear some are still only coming out now!

My favourite is the old buff!

I also love those old buffies - they do have character

[Pumbaa]

The inevitable elephant herd appeared as well when it comes to water and riverbeds and gladly this one had only eyes for the water and did not pay any attention to us.



It was in fact a large herd and it took quite a while until we could carry on as also a lot of little ones followed the bigger ones.



When we already thought now we got it more broke through the bushes and followed the others



and even the obligatory later comers came running behind the others with a loud trumpeting.



This rhino was lucky in owning its own private spa as not much sought after puddles were left



so same was lucky in not having to share the private island with the elephants as well as same wandered to another one with a bit more water left.



Gladly for us the cars on this beautiful road decreased and so we had the Biyamiti weir all to ourselves when we arrived there. Needless to say that at the still existing weir many animals collected already and we had a lot to watch and photograph and consequently we stayed there quite a long time – A beautiful saddle billed stork could already be seen from far,



that cheeky three banded plover is to die for



and then a huge elephant bull arrived as well and quenched his thirst.



We already noticed when we arrived that the weir was still overflowing slightly but with the arrival of the elephant bull soon smaller waves moved through the water and now the water was even flowing in cascades over the weir and so on the other side the water started to flow stronger and soon also the wood sandpiper appeared and we even noticed a water monitor but then we had to clear the road for a passing car and when we returned same was already gone.

[Pumbaa]

Everything had to be captured even the beautiful water lilies,



a grey heron who meanwhile landed as well,



the still foraging saddle billed stork,



the emerging hippo which had luck in owning still a water hole with water in it as most of the others in which normally hippos do reside where already empty and bone dry



and when we were about to carry on also a green backed heron landed and same for sure had to be photographed as well.



Although we could have stayed for the rest of the day there we carried on but it was already clear that this was in fact not our last visit here.

On our way back to camp we once again met a beautiful kudu bull



same was happily munching away



and did not feet disturbed in any way by us



although it was meanwhile an extreme hot day and shade was very welcome.



to be continued...

[Puff Addy]

Hi Pumbaa,

I think your Wood Sandpiper is actually a Common.

Kind regards,

Adam

[Flutterby]

Always something nice to see at Biyamiti. Lovely ellie pics.