And then the rain set in or at dusk the bush comes alive

[Ratel]

I have just caught up Pumbaa! Been away for a while...

What a treat it has been enjoying all your beautiful photos. And you saw 'our' lion cubs! Its fantastic to see the four were still surviving when you were there.

I considered your mystery falcon might be a female Lesser Kestrel?

Looking forward to more!

[Pumbaa]

So many lovely birds...especially the whydah! Seen them in Kruger, but never managed to get a pic!

Nice tusker too!

They are such active birds and always when you thought you pressed the button in time same flew away again

[Pumbaa]

What a miracle photographing 3 of the impossible seven, Pumbaa! Mongoose, malachite and whydah! Very good pics, plus a tusker!

What are the remaining impossible four?

[Pumbaa]

A slender mongoose is a great find The birds are lovely, especially the malachite kingfisher; they have such beautiful colours

We are always happy when the malachites do come across

[Pumbaa]

I have just caught up Pumbaa! Been away for a while...

What a treat it has been enjoying all your beautiful photos. And you saw 'our' lion cubs! Its fantastic to see the four were still surviving when you were there.

I considered your mystery falcon might be a female Lesser Kestrel?

Looking forward to more!

Isn't always great to find the animals one saw during ist trip in another trip report again

[Pumbaa]

After an extensive photo shooting with the malachites it was then time for us to take a break at Lower Sabie camp especially to stretch the legs at bit.

Although we so far did not had that luck with sightings on the S29 we always do give same a try whilst in that area and so it was today but it was already extreme hot so we did not expect to see that much but we stopped for a namaqua dove, a bird we also do not see that often



and for sure zebras and giraffes were around



but the rest was quiet and although the grass was high it was obvious that it was an extreme dry summer so far as we already saw that area far greener. Last year we did not drove the Muntshe loop but today it was time again to give this loop another try. We spotted a troop of baboons busy in feeding on marulas as these trees do occur along that road quite often



whilst others were taking a nap.



Due to the marula trees the elephants were not far and besides feeding on the marulas the dust along that road



was nothing to sneeze at



whilst others were taking a nap in the shade of a lovely tree.



Another thing what always fascinates me is the coating of dust or mud on a tree trunk



also when the grey giants are not around at least so you always know where to look a bit more carefully around when parking under such tree.

[Pumbaa]

Again it was another quiet drive along the Muntshe loop but we decided to drive back to Lower Sabie via the S129 instead of via the tar road and we soon spotted a steenbokkie



hiding in the grass



A bird which often eludes us in Kruger and is indeed a rare sighting for us are the secretary birds and so we were a bit disappointed that we only got a single and on top not very good shot of two of them after they disappeared completely out of sight.



In the distance we then came across a group of ostriches and gladly for us and after we waited a while the whole group came steadily closer into our direction



and then even extreme close.



The ladies were also willing in posing for us and as also such a large group of ostriches is not an everyday sighting for us we stayed quite a long time with them.



As it was meanwhile midday the heat started to get a bit unpleasant and also the ostriches started to pant in the sun.





We stopped a couple of European rollers along that road as well as for another steenbok who gladly did not dash away the second we stopped the car.



The rest was then again quiet but we discovered giraffes, a wahlberg eagle,



another kori bustard who is a regular sighting for us along that road



to be continued.......

[Flutterby]

I like the ellie with the dust. Nice ostrich sighting.

[Lisbeth]

Nice to see so many ostriches together

A typical elephant nap Also nice the one throwing dust into the air

[Richprins]

Interesting sightings, Pumbaa.

Very healthy ostrich group!

I also like the dusty elephant!