Sneaking into KNP for a quickie 2014*

[RogerFraser]

It happened very quickly one minute we were talking about it .How long it had been since our last KNP trip .How could we get there with out much money to spend and then like magic the pieces came together .My company needed me to go to site in Gauteng but I had to drive up . My sister called to tell me that they had bought their retirement house in Marloth park and we could go there any time to use it .... A plan was hatched travel up just before the long weekend and sneak a quickie into KNP for five days

[RogerFraser]

Night 1 Marloth Park 29 April 2014

After leaving Gauteng at after Midday we were worried about getting in before

dark.And low and behold got caught up in the stop go for a good 30 minutes .We

arrived well after dark and did a few laps of the loops arround Marloth park before

we found the spot ...

The night was clear and we tried our hand at some night time shots





We also spotted a small visitor and found out later this was the frst time they had

been seen here .


A perspective shot over the tree -roof



Getting to bed early we decided to rise early to get to Croc Bridge gate to do the

day visitor entry queue and entry into KNP

[RogerFraser]

Day 1 30 April 2014

After waking early and arriving about just underan hour before gate opening we found ourselves about 2km from the gate in the queue .This being the first time we did the day visitor thing it was quite a surprise to see how early people arrived .Ok note to self arrive earlier on day 2...

After doing the paperwork and being searched for alcohol we were allowed to enter about 30 mnutes after gate opened. Our first sighting was this youngster .


and their gaurdian ..


There was a huge traffic jam on the H4 road so we quickly ducked down the S25.

We found a roller .


Some white faced ducks ?

Some Impala

And the local lookout was on duty


By the S128 bridge we found some sunbathing beuties


Even this youngster was catching some early morning rays


We carried on arround the corner and what no it could not be 1 hour in the gate ,we found a few other cars watching

[RogerFraser]

Day 1 30 April 2014 cont

I think I was in shock it was a sighting we had hoped for for a long time a Leopard in a tree with a kill.I approached the 3 cars slowly and then sat watching .It was only after about 2 minutes I relised I was the subject of a death stare from the car next to me and relised I had not switched the tracktor engine off in our excitement .I appologised profusely and switched off the noisy beast and we sat and enjoyed the sighting .










We Picked up it had a nasty gash on its side.





We had been at the sighting for about 25 minutes and a few more vehicles were arriving so we decided to move on and let them enjoy it .

[RogerFraser]

Day 1 30 April 2014 cont

We had been at the Leopard sighting for about 25 minutes and a few more vehicles were arriving so we decided to move on and let them enjoy it .

Crossing the river by the S26 we found a juvenile sunbathing


A Legavaan was making novel use of the bridge repair membrane .

At the back of Mpondo Dam outlet we found some ducks


Some water buck were on the lookout


This fellow had seen his share of action over the years it seems .


This Saddlebill was sitting down for a rest.


At a small pond we found a large pod of hippos .


We traveled on the H4-2 and watched a herd of ellis across the river.There seemed to be a emerging tusker traveling with the herd but they were a way off .




A youngster was a bit closer to the road


We found a marshal eagle but it refused to turn arround for his photo .




We carried on to Sunset Dam

[RogerFraser]

Day 1 30 April 2014 cont

We carried on to Sunset Dam

Some hippos were being very unhippo like in the sunshine .


A pluver was walking the shoreline.


We found a very young monitor on the side of the dam


A bird was cleaning someones crumbs

A bigger monitor was on the prowl


We left the dam to Lower Sabie to get refreshed .Some birds were enjoying the bird bath at the camp.

Leaving LS we went over the bridge and saw some impressive crocs sunbathing.

Some geese were wading.


A lone croc had an Island to himself .


These crocs had a pillow.



We went back to the H4-2 to head toward the Gate .

[RogerFraser]

Day 1 30 April 2014 cont

We went back to the H4-2 to head toward the Gate .

a Black stork was preening itself .



We headed down the S128 and found this little one



At the bird hide there was only a few happy hippos wallowing


Further on two ellies were playing .




This fellow was wondering off after his afternoon mud bath .


The sun was getting lower in the sky


Mr Z was eating his dinner


This big ellie was browsing.


We tried some sunset captures.


The big ellie came out ofthe bushes for some glamour shots




And we reached the gate and left the KNP for Marloth Park arriving in the dark.

[RogerFraser]

Day 2 1 May 2014

We got up half an hour earlier on the second day and arrived at a spot about 30 meters from the gate .It was a misty morning in the Sugar cane and as soon as the gate opened we got in.The HR on duty recognised the Horny Landrover and we chatted fo a while.

As we made our way through the mist the first animals we were abke to photgraph came wondering out the mist .There were two of them and they kept facing off across the road but then moved off to the side and we could get some pictures .



The Z was also up already having breakfast



A Burchell's coucal was not enjoying the weather



A Kudu hid in the mist


The Giraffe was keeping an eye on proceedings



We rejoined the H4-2 towards Lower Sabie

[RogerFraser]

Day 2 1 May 2014 cont ..

We rejoined the H4-2 towards Lower Sabie

This ellie family was crossing the sabie .


On the Lower Sabie bridge the crocs were still arround


They were busy feasting on the leftover pieces of a hippo .



We carried on with no significnt sightings through to Mlondozi for breakfast





After Breakfast we traveled through to the S30 on our way to S128 .Not long after leaving the tar we found a terrified double cab

sitting on the side of the sand road and a little further a traffic jam and at the head an Ellie in Must was testing everyones

reverse gears .




After reliving a few hundred meters of the road in reverse and the poor fellow in the Double cab doing a U turn and leaving the

fellow moved over and we all wizzed past with the Ellie voicing his opinion .




We found our Iconic Roller along the road :



Back by the Lower Sabie bridge the Crocs were still using their pilow :

[RogerFraser]

Day 2 1 May 2014

We turned back towards Croc Bridge .We needed to get back to Marloth park with some daylight as we only have solar power there and needed to put the panel out to recharge the battery and also get a gas bottle delivered as we had run out .
This lone Buff was not far down the road .


We found an Ellie that was trying to keep cool



Closer to Croc Bridge we found a traffic jam and while sitting at the back saw a Lioness and two older cubs appear and cross the road infront :





As it was hot and midday we saw nothing else in the park.

At Marloth we found a line of hairy caterpillars :


A local marloth vistor came by :


We watched the sun setting between the trees :


Another Marloth favorite visitor :


A last pic of the Horny Landrover at the house before it got too dark :