The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Alf]

Wow what an impressive rhino

[nan]

I'm surprised too with the Rhinos... seems to be Black Rhinos is it ?

like the Lion... in the wind
and the huge eyes of the Eagle

[Flutterby]

Lovely pics in the morning sun. Maybe those are black rhinos.

Great lion sighting too.

[Mel]

I'm falling behind here... Maybe I should go away every other weekend or so... makes me having to work harder throughout the week and therefore less time for the fun stuff around here.

But what a pleasure to look at all the new photos! I'm not really sure where to start lauding them - there are just to many.

But the sables really stuck with me.

[Pumbaa]

I love your elephants

We saw and more that day nearly everywhere

What an impressive male, Pumbaa!

And interesting the rhino calf walking behind the mother, they are meant to walk in front with white rhino and behind with black...or have I got it back to front?

Unfortunately this is the only shot I got I checked the pictures again but I am really sure that it were White ones - Maybe the calf fall a bit behind and had to keep up with mom

Wow what an impressive rhino

Her horn was in fact impressive and for sure the both grey beauties as well

[Pumbaa]

I'm surprised too with the Rhinos... seems to be Black Rhinos is it ?

like the Lion... in the wind
and the huge eyes of the Eagle

I am pretty sure that it were white ones, nan

Lovely pics in the morning sun. Maybe those are black rhinos.

Great lion sighting too.

Would have loved to once again see blackies

I'm falling behind here... Maybe I should go away every other weekend or so... makes me having to work harder throughout the week and therefore less time for the fun stuff around here.

But what a pleasure to look at all the new photos! I'm not really sure where to start lauding them - there are just to many.

But the sables really stuck with me.

That was in fact a more than surprising sighting

[Pumbaa]

We had all in all a fantastic time in watching them and to discover more and more



sometimes they only stopped in sharpen their claws at one specific tree and some were already waiting in line to do so. Unfortunately Timon could not photograph them as from where he sat a bush was blocking the view but I could admire them from my back seat.



All of them looked in good shape and I counted around 30 in total and we were once again extreme happy as we have never seen such a numerous lion pride ever before



although extreme small cubs could not be seen but some teenager put a show together and entertained the passengers in the cars watching them.







For sure we stayed until the very last lion could no longer be seen and it could be that they might have returned to that spot during the afternoon but at least for today we had to carry on as we still had a long way to go. On top it was fantastic to see once again lions on the S28 as we so far had only the possibility in seeing lions there ones!

Unfortunately not much came across during the next stretch only a far too far away martial eagle in a tree and a hyaena a bit hidden under bare bushes.



Again we paid a visit to the Lower Sabie causeway and today besides the many water birds the crocodiles were active as well as some of them were feeding on something which looked already a bit rotten.



Crocodiles from everywhere in different sizes were trying to get their share as well and so the carcass was hard-fought.



A lot of cars had piled up on the bridge only to look a poor creature which obviously looked like the remains of a buffalo will be eaten by crocodiles.

[Pumbaa]

Not long and the first one was completely full and secured already the best place on a sandy island to take a nap.



As now the crocodiles were gone and the feast over we could concentrate on the birds and for sure photographed once again one of the many open-billed storks



and also one of the many wood sandpiper was close enough as well.



A short break at Lower Sabie was needed to stretch the legs a bit and to stock up on food for our stay at Biyamiti but we did not stay that long and soon we stood in front of Sunset dam again and could admire more black-winged stilts and wood sandpipers and even an African jacana could be captured today.



Our colourful friend the malachite was around as well on its favourite place to look for something to feed on



and that cheeky three banded plover was simply too cute



and also in that dam lots of crocodiles were hanging around some looked extreme curious.



In the distance masses of impalas were coming to quench their thirst and they looked carefully around not to be caught by one of the sunbathing crocodiles.



Warthogs were running around between them and even a group of buffaloes paid a visit as well as today was again one of the hotter days and at that early hour it were already nearly 30 degrees.



to be continued...

[Alf]

Those crocodiles had a feast. No wonder the one took a nap

[nan]

feroce Crocs
Lions playing
like very much the Open-billed Stork and the cheeky one
again nice serie of birds

it's a real pleasure to follow travel tale