Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015*

[RogerFraser]

Day 10 Jan 12th Part 4 the Afternoon Continues on the H10 Bridge ...

As we crossed the bridge we came level with a Hippo that had been out the water and was getting back in.
It gave us the look that hippos have when you come upon them out the water.

Further along a crock was sitting in the current waiting for something to drift by


Of course the Giant Kingfisher was on duty.



We carried on and decided to drive to Lulabye Rocks and back to Sunset Dam to spend the last few minutes before gate closing.
At the viewpoint at Lullaby rocks we saw a herd of Ellies crossing further down and enjoyed their antics for a while.




Was quite interesting to watch as they drank while they crossed .Some of the younger ones took time to have a dip and roll around in the water until the adults shoved them along.

On the way back to Sunset dam we found a hippo out the water but before we could call fishy he was in the bushes.


This fellow though caught in the open did not manage to escape us .


Arriving at Sunset Dam it appeared all quiet .We found an Egret in the tree


The hippos were yawning and beginning to leave the water at the far side of the dam...


......

[RogerFraser]

did not manage to escape us .

I hope that you mean:"escape our camera" and not "our wheels"

(cattle egret

No not our wheels ... just the camera .We try to be very careful and have on occasions caused a road block to let a chameleon or tortoise get across a busy road safely

[Lisbeth]

Roger, I was just pulling your leg

[RogerFraser]

Day 10 Jan 12th Part 5 Sunset Dam 20 minutes till gate closing ...

The hippos were grazing on the bank on the far side of the dam...


We watched the stork fishing



I took some sunset photos




I noticed some buck in the distance coming down to graze across the dam


Oh wait those aren't buck its two Lions and they are on the prowl.


The lions adopted their hunting pose trying to look disinterested in the goings on yet watching vigilantly .But what could they be watching?
There was only a few birds and the Hippos .

The lions started their approach and it became obvious they were targeting the hippos

The managed to get really close without any alarm from the hippos


and suddenly the larger juvenile male jumped up .Surprisingly the adult split away leaving the Lion to close on the baby


The lion jumped onto the hippos back and tried to take it down.


The baby squealed and ran by now the Adult had relised it was only one Lion and was coming back to help.

The lion could sense it had bitten off more than it could handle and slipped off .The hippo came in with clear intent and the lion decided it was time to exit quickly


The lion rejoined his Pride mate with his pride dented


Our shaky Video is here http://youtu.be/I-ZcEqhpiZ8

And they disappeared into the bushes ... We had 2 Minutes to get in the gate .What an end to a fantastic day in KNP.

[Richprins]

Good Gravy, Roger!

Very special indeed!


That big lion is one of those males without any mane to speak of...

If so, a mating couple, who get very hungry eventually...and a bit silly...unusual, in fact!

Will pass on?

[RogerFraser]

Lisbeth - Ok Pluver , Geese ,Stork Egret ... How'd I do ? Was very interesting to watch .Some years ago we watched a whole pride stalk a Gnu near crocodile bridge but we literally ran out of time and had to fly back to camp .The Sunset drive passed us on the way so we asked them when they got back what happened but it appears it somehow managed to get away.This time we managed to see the whole event .

BJ we heard lions that evening while braaiing they were very load and they were definitely on a kill .You could hear them arguing and fighting .We found it very frustrating as we could not get anywhere near a fence to try see what was happening .At all the previous camps we were always next to the fence .We did find some left over leg pulling in the morning will share in next part.

Toko was very special end to a great day.

Richprins thanks we assumed it was a Juvenile Male as he was not much bigger than the female .

We also been approached to do a Photo blog of this for Africa Geographic .

[RogerFraser]

RP- Still got to finish and submit it

Day 11 Jan 13th Part 1

We heard lions that evening while braaiing they were very loud and they were definitely on a kill .You could hear them arguing and fighting .We found it very frustrating as we could not get anywhere near a fence to try see what was happening .

Leaving camp early the next morning we immediately headed off towards the direction that we heard the Lions
Approaching the S82 a Hyena crossed the road it was too dark to get pics.We decided to turn onto the S82 and another Hyena ran across in front of us carrying something in its jaws . It was just getting light so we managed to shoot a few shots. As you can see my jibes about leg pulling it appears to be a GNU leg he had managed to snatch .






He decided to take his breakfast off into the bushes we drove down the S82 and back but the lions and kill were obviously down the no entry road and we could not get any closer .

We left to drive our planned route H10 -S128 to Mlondozi dam lookout for breakfast.
On the S128 the only animal’s stirring was a herd of Zeebras in their PJ's




Crossing onto the S29 we came across two Kori Bustard's that seemed to be facing off but then they just waddled off into the grass .






Turning onto the Mlondozi dam road we found a small turtle enjoying a puddle from the previous days rain in the middle of the road and hoped other drivers might be cautious of the puddles .


We reached the dam lookout and hired a skottle for bacon and eggs for Breakfast ....

[RogerFraser]

nan Yes the cross confused us too .We assume it was just a marking off something and not deliberate .

Toko - Was just a pity we could not get to see them on the carcass

Lisbeth - Always nice doing brekkie at a view site after the early morning drive .

Richripns - Thnx

Pumba thanks for the feedback and reading the rambling TR so far

[RogerFraser]

Day 11 Jan 13th Part 2



After breakfast we decided to carry on the S122 onto the H10 .Stop at the lookout points then onto Orpen Dam
.Tshokwane and back down the H1-2 to the H12 over Sabie river and back down the H4-1 to Lower Sabie .So with the
route planned out we set off .We have never had much luck on the S122 or H10 apart from Ostriches and our luck held true... This Family crossed the road at great speed in front of us .





On the H10 we found some small critters

And some big horns

Approaching the hill a breeding herd decided to wonder around the road for a time before they moved off so we could pass .


We stopped at the view spot and enjoyed the view ,in the distance there was some Gnu and Zebra .


A very colourful lizard climbed around the rocks




On the opposite side view point all we found of interest was a mongoose.


We carried on and stopped at Orpen dam .We found the site in a terrible state .There was no staff present and there had been a troop or two of baboons through leaving the place in a terrible mess .With nothing much to see we left and found another lizard on the pathway back to the parking .


On the way to Tshokwane we found a Stork on the S35


We arrived at Tshokwane and stopped for a break and some ice creams ....

[Toko]

Wonderful view over the greenish plains

The skinks are of the same species: female and male Rainbow skink Trachylepis margaritifera

And you saw whites storks every day