Africa Wild

After five months of really hard work writing projects and assignments to qualify to write the Estate Agents exams we both agreed that a break away from it all on our own was what was needed. We decided to go to The Kingdom Resort which is only a stones throw from Pilanesberg as they were offering a great midweek special - Monday to Thursday night. We would just have to pay to go in every day. Little did we know that it was the same week as SANParks offers free entrance every day. Due to some confusion with regard to the conditions for free entry at the entrance gates we both got free entry on two days, on two days only Joan paid and one day we both paid.

DAY 1 MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER - AFTERNOON.

Our first sighting was of Mavuso one of the big bull elephants that roam around alone.



Lengau Dam.



A while later a nice couple stopped us and told that there was a pride of about 13 lion on a kill at the historical site on Moloto Drive. By the time we arrived there there were only a few very full and exhausted lioness lying around.













Then behind some long grass and bushes we saw some lion at the kill - not a good view though.



Two hippo in the waterhole at Pilanesberg Centre.



On Hippo Loop at Mankwe Dam.





Finally for today some ellies playing in Lengau Dam.

Great sightings to start your trip

Lengau dam seems to be bucolic
Hippo loop... why not Antelopes or Zebras loop

nice portraits of Lions.. and tongue
my prefered ? Hippo pool and surrounding

That pool looks small for those two hippos

Didn't know the SANParks free entry also applied to Pilanesberg!

Alf is right, the pool at PC is small for two hippos...even for one!

Great sightings so far, but I think it gets a lot better!

harrys wrote:Great sightings to start your trip

Thanks very much harrys.

nan wrote:Lengau dam seems to be bucolic Hippo loop... why not Antelopes or Zebras loop nice portraits of Lions.. and tongue my prefered ? Hippo pool and surrounding

Hi nan. You had me rushing to my dictionary to look up "bucolic". Agreed it is certainly bucolic.

You have a point as we see more antelope and zebra on Hippo Loop than Hippo.

Alf wrote:That pool looks small for those two hippos

It is a very small pool. The only time we have seen two hippo there. There is normally only one.

Flutterby wrote:Didn't know the SANParks free entry also applied to Pilanesberg! Alf is right, the pool at PC is small for two hippos...even for one! Great sightings so far, but I think it gets a lot better!

Nor did we Flutterby so it was a pleasant surprise. We have made a note for nest year.

About it getting better, do you have inside information??

DAY TWO 13 SEPTENBER 2016 - MORNING.

Dragon Fly at Rathlogo Hide.



Scratching in ellie poo for a snack or two.



A slight disagreement.





The Kudu in Pilanesberg have amazing horns.



This reminds me of the old SANParks badge.



Just a nice scene at Rathlogo Dam.





Afternoon sightings to follow.

Lovely pic of the dragonfly!

Quite a big ellie Lovely sightings and pics to go with them

When I go to a park I do anything but detox... Unless you count the getting away and enjoying the bush as your detox

Wonderful sightings and nice pix!