I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

[Pumbaa]

Wow what a lovely start to the trip . Always love watching Ellies around water .

Pity about the plastic bag . Had a WildDog pickup a piece during our last trip as well just wanted to get out and take it out its mouth

Cannot understand how some people dispose their trash especially in a park like that

[Pumbaa]

Great shots again, Pumbaa!

I wonder why they go to all that trouble to get to the island?

I do not know but nearly all the elephants stayed still quite long onto that island Maybe the best grass in that area

[Pumbaa]

We definitely could not drag ourselves away as it got already late but we had such a wonderful time on our verandah



especially these youngsters were simply too cute.



Also the sun started to set



but asour table for dinner was only booked for 19.00 o’clock we in fact waited until nearly no spare time was left.



Unbelievable but true still more elephants appeared on the edge and started their slide we even noticed a speckled mousebird in a nearby bush



and enjoyed a bush without bird.



Many people who also stayed at the lodge also watched the elephant parade and gathered on the grass or some even watched them whilst taking a swim in the pool.



With a couple of very last shots of the sunset



or to the many elephants on the large island





we finally took a shower and made it just in time for dinner and even whilst it got darker and darker we still noticed the many elephants on the island whilst enjoying dinner.

[Pumbaa]

Friday, 11. February 2022 – Malelane – Berg en Dal

Explored roads: H3 – S110 – H3 – S113 – S23 – S114 – S118 – H3 – S110

As we ordered breakfast packs the day before we packed everything together by dawn but for sure a hot coffee in hand we enjoyed a couple of moments the look from our verandah into the river before we left. The obligatory stop then at the bridge across the Crocodile river shortly before Malelane gate was a must also to let the very early cars pass so that the first queue that early morning at the gate might already be settled.

We soon noticed a pied kingfisher on a huge rock another one was also around



the water dikkops were very well camouflaged but we detected them



and besides a couple of black smith plovers it was quiet but we already noticed that the water level of the river was far lower compared to the previous very rainy years.

As already hoped I was the only person at the gate and as I already filled everything into the required forms at home the paperwork was done in no minute and after the very last rearrangements our car was prepared for our 16 days Kruger adventure we could enter same and you cannot believe how it felt to be back in our home from home.

First animals we saw were as nearly always impalas



for who we stopped quite long as it was more than one year ago when we saw our last one.



Mist was still hanging between the mountains in that area and we simply enjoyed the views



as it was obvious that the sun might clear away same soon



we took a couple of more pictures as it looked as if it will be another hot summer day.



Soon we also stopped for our very first zebras during that trip



who were feeding on the high grass



and in between we simply had to take more landscape shots



as we were so happy that we once again made it to our beloved park.



to be continued………..

[Richprins]

Astounding landscapes and sunset, Pumbaa!

And birdies!

Always impala to greet one!

That B&D area really is lovely in summer, and the mist is special!

[Lisbeth]

Speckled mousebird in Kruger

Lovely scenery shots

And I can imagine how it must have felt being back even if you had only missed one year or not even

[Pumbaa]

Astounding landscapes and sunset, Pumbaa!

And birdies!

Always impala to greet one!

That B&D area really is lovely in summer, and the mist is special!

A pity is always that we normally only stay one night in that area - It is indeed a very special landscape

[Pumbaa]

Speckled mousebird in Kruger

Lovely scenery shots

And I can imagine how it must have felt being back even if you had only missed one year or not even

Not even - We luckily could so far go every February but nevertheless a year is still a long time to wait

[Pumbaa]

Although it looked far dryer compared to the previous years the grass and vegetation was high and lush and here and there a couple of smaller puddles were still left in the veld and we found one puddle in front of a larger bush and were about to carry on when a coule of red faced mousebirds landed in the bush



and as they were so close and not hidden as they often presented themselves to us we for sure stayed and watched as well as photographed them. A couple of them were feeding on berries the bush offered



whilst still more were willing to pose long enough for a couple of shots





whereas one even was willing to take a bath.



Soon we were over the moon as although we often see this bird specie in flight we often have bad luck in photographing them. In the same bush now also a woodland kingfisher presented its kill



and a juvenile red faced mousebird was also around



and so was a pintailed whydah in a neighbouring bush



whilst the woodland finished its meal



and afterwards even took also a bath in the puddle.



Obviously we parked right in front of the right bush at the right time as within minutes that many different birds could be seen as also swallows landed there



but after all birds left it got quiet again. Indeed a wonderful start into our trip with all these different birds already and whilst we carried on even more bird species showed up such as white fronted bee eaters,



a yellow breasted bunting,

[Pumbaa]

an African hoopoe on the ground



as well as this indigo bird proved within only meters.



Meanwhile we already turned into the direction of Matjulu waterhole and due to the lack of other animals we carried on in finding more birds which was in fact not that difficult today.
It was quiet also carwise and so we even more enjoyed our drive and so we could stop for more birdies such as this crested barbet



and also at Matjulu we were the only car and were happy that more birdies were willing to present themselves



a pin tailed whydah whereas without tail



and even common waxbills although these birds were not easy to capture as they landed in the high grass to feed on the seeds.



After we looked a bit around and took a couple of pictures right in the bush behind us a blue waxbill landed and presented a flower



into each direction





even into the height



obviously a gift for a nice lady. We already experienced this behaviour during one earlier trip at Dukes waterhole but definitely we never will get tired in watching this again.



The blue waxbill still continued to present his flower whilst we now also discovered a white fronted bee eater in another bush close to where we stood.





to be continued……….