Flavour of the Month June 2012: H4-1: Skukuza - Lower Sabie Road

[Richprins]

The carcass was on the left side of the road and the innards a bit further off the road.
We ask the other visitors, if they knew who made the kill, but they didn’t know either. We decided to wait and see what might happen. Well after 10 minutes the two cars left the place, little did they know what after another 10 minutes would come out of the bush.

Suddenly to our surprise three Wild Dogs appeared and started sniffing and eating. We had a good place to watch this happen and couldn’t believe our luck. It is amazing to see how fast they are. The doggies dragged the antelope from the left side to the right side of the road while munching away. Other cars had arrived, but everyone had a good sight and no one disbehaved. After a short while one of the doggies came closer to our car and showed interest in the innards, which were just besides of us. I believe you all can imagine the commotion in the car, we were absolutely flabbergasted. Even Johanna, who is really sensitive, enjoyed this sight. Sure she felt sorry for the antelope, but knew that the doggies need to hunt for survival.
It was over all too soon and it is incredible what was left of the antelope. The Painted dogs thought it might be okay to leave something for us. So one of them approached our car on the right side, turned around itself several times and made a poo. The other two decided that they should mark their territory and peed near to this spot. After the dogs left the place, you could see all smiling faces in the car.
Here are the pics which tell the story. Oh, nearly forgot the last two pics shows the difference of what an adult and a child captures in pic.

[Richprins]

After this special Painted Dog sighting we continued towards Nkuhlu, as we wanted to find the spot where Hayden had seen the leopard the day before. On the way a lovely Kudu family crossed the river.



At the junction to the H12 a huge Baboon family kept us entertained for a while. It was so funny and again we learnt that they aren’t that different from human beings.

These two little ones were playing so cute, but soon mummy arrived at the scene and wasn’t impressed. So she stopped the play, got hold of one of them and got him down.





The little ones were quite angry about this and expressed this loudly. Well mum was quite resolute!!!!





After the baboons left, we drove on as well and a gorgeous Nyala, as well as a Dwarf Mongoose showed us how to have a little scratch.





We found a new bird, but still cannot identify for sure. I think it could be a Ashy Flycatcher.



Just before the picnicspot we found the leftovers of the impala, but no leopard was to be seen. Only a lone Hyena was having a rest nearby.





Other cars stopped as well and we told them that this kill happened the day before and showed them the hyena. At Nkuhlu we made a quick loo stop and ate some rolls. Soon we were on the road again, still in hope to find the elusive leopard. Instead two lionesses appeared for a few seconds. We hardly spotted them first, as they were deep in the bush, but gladly one of them decided to show her beauty for a pic.

[Richprins]

From a JustN@ture report:

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... f=46&t=758

In one of the loops on the H4-1 we had a Fish Eagle



Ms Kudu was standing dead still hoping we would not spot her…gotcha



Just before the S21 we spotter our first Martial Eagle…with a kill









Looked like a guineafowl was the victim. Bit further down this chap was chirping away


Shrike White-crowned (Southern)

[Richprins]

We took a drive down the H4-1 as we still had about an hour to kill and stopped to watch some ellies in the river bed when these guys came up , by this time others had stopped to also watch and did not leave room for us to leave so we could not move and this chap was coming closer and closer so I took my photos and closed the window as he had gotten so close I recon I could have patted him on the horns





On our way out we stopped to watch this herd of ellies taking a drink and a young one also having a drink.

[Richprins]

So the afternoon drive back...we took the S79 and on the causeway this Mom and calf had done drinking so it was the teens turn to have the water all to itself …
or to make out that it was all hers -O -O -O








At the bridge we spotted this Little Bee-eater and sat and watched a large troop of baboons babies playing




What you can do I can do too…








Gets distracted easily…but not for long










Quick brake, hand shake…then they start again










All this under the watchful eye of a sibling...


Watching the young ones playing I nearly missed this male nyala in the river bed and this hippo on the bank.

[Richprins]

A remarkable 2013 pic by Pumbaa at the high-water bridge!





https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 1&start=30

[Twigga]

If you told me a week ago that we would see cheetah on this road I would've think you're crazy

We saw 3 cheetah in the riverbed in one of the loops 10 km from Skukuza on friday 3 Aug

Unfortunatly no pic as they were far off

Then a troop of baboons intimidated the 3 and chased them down the riverbed

What an unforgettable sigting

I saw on page 1 Bushcraft and clan also saw a cheetah in 201t on this road

[Flutterby]

Yep, the last place you'd think to look for cheetah!

[Richprins]

Twiggy!

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
1d1 day ago

09:35
1 Leopard on the move
H4-1, 5.3km W of Lower Sabie
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Seankirby