Stories from Tar Roads and From Spots

[Mel]

Those who appreciate the little things, also get the great sightings

Lovely birdies, particularly the woodhoopoes (too many "o" in there )
But I also love that little lizzard and the agama

[Richprins]

Nice to sit at camp sometimes, Pumbaa, and lucky with temps only around 30!

Woodhoopoes aren't all that common?

Love Girivana!

Petrol late is unacceptable!

But that led to lion!

[Pumbaa]

Lots of nice smaller things, and some seen from your chair, which I far prefer instead of flat lions

Love the time in camp and there is always so much to be seen - It is fantastic

[Pumbaa]

Those who appreciate the little things, also get the great sightings

Lovely birdies, particularly the woodhoopoes (too many "o" in there )
But I also love that little lizzard and the agama

That lizzard was that fast we were luckiy in capturing same and in fact all the smaller things are precious in any way

[Pumbaa]

Nice to sit at camp sometimes, Pumbaa, and lucky with temps only around 30!

Woodhoopoes aren't all that common?

Love Girivana!

Petrol late is unacceptable!

But that led to lion!

At least not for us but I think they are common - Obviously it was a long evening for the petrol attendant but in fact not acceptable at least they could have put a sign at the petrol station that they will open that day later or something like that.....

[Pumbaa]

They were a bit far away but still extreme good visible and also the one cub decided to show up again and sat obviously only for us on a mound



and same continued to stare into the same direction as the one of the adult females only did seconds earlier.



We were happy to having finally found again lions around Satara although not on the familiar roads we normally drive when staying there but on a relatively new one for us as we so far only drove the H7 once in full length to Orpen. Some times meanwhile passed and the cub could no longer be seen but the female from who we so far only saw the head



was now in the mood to have a closer look at us and sat up.



From the other lions nothing could be seen any longer and now this female also started to have a look around



and suddenly one noticed at least the tail from the cub again:



Meanwhile also another car stopped, noticed the lions and also told us about a lion sighting further down that road into the direction we wanted to drive anyway and as we got our shots and the lions now finally settled in the high grass and could not be seen any longer we continued



but for sure we first paid Bobbejaankrans a visit and there we enjoyed the awesome view with lazy waterbucks in the distance



and a lone buffalo closer to where we stood.



After then it got quiet again we finally also discovered the other lioness as many cars besieged her but must say this one was not that good visible as the others we saw already earlier



as she decided to stay behind a thick bush at least we saw her but for sure were happy that we stayed already long enough with the other ones as also the traffic was a bit annoying there but as this would be again our way back we decided to later check this spot again out.



We then stopped again for another beautiful brown snake eagle

[Pumbaa]

and for a family of guineafowls who finally could be discovered as in this area the grass was not that high



compared to the other parts of the park we just came from as when they left the road nothing could be seen any longer from these birds.



Overall I must say that it was an extreme nice drive although we only drove on a tar road but same followed nicely the Timbavati river and same is indeed worth a drive and a more than nice alternative when our other beloved roads around Satara might be quiet or even on rainy days. Also we were impressed by the masses of general game here close to the gate as reams of zebras, wildebeests and for sure impalas were grazing or chilling in that area.



Then we entered camp and besides everything else I did not notice a petrol station and meanwhile Timon got furious and I a bit concerned but I entered the reception were an extreme friendly lady explained that the next filling station is only 200 meters away but outside the park gate so we calmed down again left the park only to re-enter same again after we filled up successfully now. At Orpen camp we then needed a short body break and must say also this camp is looking fantastically.

We then stopped again at the lioness but same still laid on the ground behind the bush



and now we tried to locate her from the other side as she was lying at the junction of the H7 / S106 and as we wanted nevertheless drove back via that road we detected her now from the other side but far away but at least she looked up and we successfully captured her now from there.



Must say that this road was still a bit muddy but it was a lovely drive and we stopped for another flower alongside the road



and around a smaller waterhole lots of animals gathered around. We noticed swallows on the ground,



warthogs,



zebras



where we fell in love with this little foal.



Impalas were lying on the ground lazily in the background whilst the foal got thirsty.





to be continued…………….

[Lisbeth]

The little zebra is still "woolly"

The helmeted guineafowls are always nice to see with that funny look

Did they make you check out and in again at the gate? Or maybe it is not needed when you sleep in the park

[RogerFraser]

A very new Zeebra youngster

Lovely picture of the swallow .

[Mel]

Terrific shot of the swallow

Quite a few lions you saw

And that zebra foal is so very cute