Pooky and family March 2015*

pooky
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Pooky and family March 2015*

Post by pooky »

Sat 28th March 2015

An early start from Centurian. There were just the 4 of us, My SO, Mike, Graham my son and 4yr old Cameron. Graham's wife and daughter were going to the 1 Direction show on Sunday night and would join us on Monday. 0*\

Booking in at Croc Bridge was quick and easy.We made our way to Lower Sabie. \O

Just a short note on the rhino sightings we had. We saw 35 in all with some very young ones. I will start off showing some of these pics. no areas mentioned :-)

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A croc to greet us in the Croc river

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The Vurhami pride were languishing on the rocks by the dam.

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A giraffe pulling a tongue at us.
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This baboon was having his breakfast- a monkey orange - but it looked a bit green :O^

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We booked in and set up camp before going out for an afternoon drive.

Sunset dam had the usual kingfishers catching their lunch this time

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More to follow with lots of pics --00-- ^Q^ ^Q^


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

The first day continued.

We continued down the road past Nlkulu. General game was present everywhere then we hit a road block.

A nice family herd of ellies crossing the road.
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We saw 18 tortoises while in KNP, this was one of them, and he was heading straight for the car. Quick pic then
move on before he got under the car.

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We were sitting at the turn off to the Nwatimhiri causeway when a car came from there. They told us there were 2
leopards in a tree near the causeway.
We found the one leopard in a natal mahogany tree with thick foliage. The other one was there but we never saw it.

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The rest of the trip back towards Lower Sabie was fairly quiet. Checked the sighting board and saw leopard and lion
sighting down the H10 so off we went.

This leopard was very close to the road, but with lots of grass around. Some hyena had chased it from its impala kill in a very
low tree. She wasn't happy with the hyena and kept snarling at them.

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Such tiring work keeping these hyena at bay lol

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A white backed vulture waiting for something from the kill.

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There was a lion further down the road lying next to a kill but she was so well hidden in the long grass.

Such a cute little giraffe

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What a wonderful start to this visit. The big 5 are certainly not the criteria but to see them twice on the first day
was awesome O/\ O/\ And 2 leopard at that ^Q^ ^Q^ , normally so difficult to find. Maybe this would be our lucky
time and the ever elusive wild dog would also put in an appearance :-0 O\/ O\/


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
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Country: S.Africa
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

Sunday 29th March.

We woke to a cooler cloudy day. The route was down towards Skukuza. The road was littered with baboons
of all sizes.


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Even the birds were still sitting quietly waiting to warm up.
European roller

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At lake Panic it was extremely quiet. A bushbuck was wondering along the far bank.

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The light was difficult so not a great pic of an African Jacana

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then a high stepping black crake

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with a water thick knee very close to a big croc.

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On the way back we came across another ellie road block

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followed by this big fellow in the river.

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Sunset dam had lots of the usual. First up a white crowned lapwing

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Oh dear where do I go now. 0*\

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And a pretty painted torquoise croc - from all the horrible green algae in the water.

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and finally a common sandpiper. Please correct me if I am wrong.

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After yesterdays high this was quiet, but nevertheless still a great day.

Cameron just wanted to have a lizard and as much as we told him he wasn't allowed to catch one he wasn't having any of
that. At Skukuza we were watching a big fat lizard when he pounced. None of us thought he would be quick enough.
For a few seconds he was in his element until the lizard regurgitate its food all over his hands. Cammie dropped it in
fright but then the tears started. The only thing that consoled him was an ice cream. After that we never showed him
anything that was close enough to grab. Later on he saw a ranger with a snake catcher. He was off to find out where
the snake was and what snake it was. All of 4 years old!!!


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

This was taken in a pet shop a short while ago.
That poor python just needed to come home but
Dad, especially, wasn't having any of that. 0*\ O/ O/ O/

But I guess it will happen one day. :shock: O-/ O-/

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Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

Monday 30th March

We were going to meet Rene and Tenielle at Croc Bridge. We took a slow drive down the S28.
First up were some buffalo.

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Then a juv. gabar goshawk looking around for somebreakfast.

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Wattled starlings were flying around, but they didn't settle for very long. Not easy to photograph them :o0ps: (excuses)

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A southern ground hornbill was getting his feathers ready for take off. :-)

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At CB we walked around the campsite and found a juv. lanner falcon with a bat.Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you Dewi for the ID. It is a juvenile Little Sparrowhawk

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We were very early so decided to drive across to Berg 'n Dal. We hadn't gone very far when we joined a line of cars.
Must be lion,but we couldn't see anything. The girl standing up through the roof of the car in front confirmed this.
Then next to us a lioness came out of the bush.

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We drove along for quite a while.A big ellie was browsing next to the road, he decided to cross over in front of us.
We couldn't go back very far and things got a bit tight with him giving us the eye.

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The windscreen was a bit dirty :o0ps: lol lol

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We continued in the line of cars catching a glimpse of lion every so often.
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Stalk mode for this female, a warthog broke cover and ran up the road with 2 lionesses in pursuit. But the chase wasn't
serious and the lions eventually wondered off into the bush

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To be continued....
Last edited by pooky on Wed May 27, 2015 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

continued

After the excitement of the lions we had a quiet ride for a while with just some pretty rollers.

lilac-breasted roller
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and a european roller
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Then these two big ellies were in the road saying very nasty things to each other.

We made sure there was no one behind us this time :O^ in fact there was only a tour bus there with us.


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White fronted bee eater

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and a small family of waterbuck were also on the rivers edge.

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We got to Berg 'n Dal and discovered Rene was already through Nelspruit so there was no time to go back to Croc
Bridge. Before leaving for Malelane gate we found this woolands kingfisher sitting nicely for us.

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We met on the highway and went back into the Park at Croc Bridge, back up the S28 to Lower Sabie,
Cammie was delighted to have his Mum with him again :-)

These wildebees were relaxing in the sun.

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A mud bath had been the order of the day for this big guy

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and a dazzle of zebra resting their heads on each other lol

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When we got back to Lower Sabie this is what we could see across the river - Kruger burning 0*\ Needs to be done
I guess , but how many little creatures perish in the process 0*\

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Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

Tuesday 31st March

We'd had problems starting the Landy so a trip to Hazyview for a new battery was priority.

Not far down the road was a traffic jam. 2 young lions were lying in the road. We couldn't chance switching
off so as soon as we could we moved through


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At the N'watimhiri bridge there were several cars. Eventually we found what they were looking at -
under a thorn tree was a well hidden leopard, then it bolted for cover into the trees
Not a good pic :o0ps: but proof :-)

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It had rained during the night and there were still showers around. The rest of the drive to Hazyview was quiet.
We got the car sorted out, then made our way back. The sun tried to come out at times.

We saw a burchell's coucal. It looked like a young one.

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followed by this very pretty orange-breasted bush-shrike.

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Then a kudu munching away

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a very thoughtful baby baboon

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An unknown spider

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This big ellie had been enjoying a mud bath

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a close up of his dirty face.

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Back at Sunset dam there were again alot of water birds.
First up a giant kingfisher.

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then a three banded plover with green legs

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and a common sandpiper also with the thick green algae on his beak and legs.

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Another great day in the Park


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

Just a few more random rhino pics before the next episode starts

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I will just hide here then you can't see me lol

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Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
Posts: 2053
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Country: S.Africa
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

Wednesday 1st April

After all the rain yesterday all the fires appeared to have been extinguished \O

We decided to go across the low level bridge and on to the Saltjie road.

Just on the Saltjie road and -huge excitement - a honey badger. He was such a busy little guy, digging, moving on,
and digging again until he found something to eat.

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The rest of the road was very quiet. There were areas which had been burnt,but the fire was out now.

Then we found this warthog enjoying the green grass on the edge of the road.

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He had a passenger - an oxpecker.

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A woodlands kingfisher had something which he needed to get rid of.

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I looked as if it was snail shells :O^ :O^

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We stopped at Skukuza for some refreshment. The monkeys were about in force near the restaurants. This one
was showing us his weaponry - nothing to be sneezed at :shock:

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A hippo was wondering along in the river below the deck

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We went on to Lake Panic. At least the sun was shining so there was a bit more activity. This nyala bull was near the
walk way into the hide.

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A green backed heron posed beautifully for us.

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reflections :-)

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and a pied kingfisher.

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We heard the nyala bull barking. We speculated as to what he was barking at ...........

to be continued =O: =O:


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
pooky
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Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:54 pm
Country: S.Africa
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Re: Pooky and family March 2015

Post by pooky »

Continued

Graham gave a loud whisper 'leopard' and there on the far bank was a leopard. He had probably walked right
through the parking area :-? All one could hear were cameras clicking away :-)

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When he disappeared into the grass we left and drove down towards the nursery in an effort to see him again but no luck.

On our way back this ellie had an inchy eye lol

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Have a look at the muscles in this kudu's neck. He needs them to hold up that pair of horns \O

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Then a road block while Mr ellie wandered down the road lol

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We stopped at Sunset dam to watch a pied kingfisher with a fish he had caught. Unfortunately he flew
off before he swallowed it.

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Back at Lower Sabie. A beautiful starling.

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and a small elephant family in the river.

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Later in the afternoon we again went to Sunset dam. There were plenty of cars there and we wondered what they were
looking at.
First up a pair of water thick-knees

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Then we spotted the 2 young lions on the far side. At first the impala never saw them and were walking closer and closer
until one ram looked straight at the lion before taking off with the lions half heartedly giving chase.

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Thirsty business chasing impala, but watch out for the crocodile lol

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A young impala in the late afternoon light.

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These young baboons were playing in the bushes next to the car.

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and an even younger one casually riding on mum's back

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This is what the sky looked like across the river. The fire had flared up again or been restarted. There was a sign up at
Lower Sabie to say this was an intentional fire. It certainly looked very dramatic.

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We had dinner at the Mugg and Bean that evening. It was a very nice meal.

Fire at night is always beautiful but I couldn't help feeling sorry for the little creatures 0*\

There was a bit of a commotion in the far corner of the restaurant. Graham went to see and there was a small black mamba
curled up in the corner. A ranger had been called to move it. We had to make sure Cameron never went anywhere near
as he would have wanted to pick it up 0*\ 0*\


Satara 30 Sept - 7 Oct

Botswana June/July 2018
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