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

[Pumbaa]

Lovely Black-shouldered kite! Even if that mouse tail sucks

I love the black cougal Never seen one and did not even know about it

Beautiful weather

That black coucal sighting was amazing and always wonderful

[Pumbaa]

Such cute little chicks!

That steak looks yummy!

Wow, a Black Coucal...also never heard of it before!!

At first sight I thought it was a burchall's but that bird did look a bit different after taking the second look

[Pumbaa]

Black Coucal!

Your large group of Giraffes contains only one animal?

...and that steak looks a little rare for my liking

I do wish we could be in the park at the same time Pumbaa. We could both stop to photograph the same Impalas and enjoy causing a massive roadblock of confused passers-by!
The Pied Kingfisher is a favourite bird of mine so thank you for putting one in and making me smile.

Imagine all the birds we photographed and caused a traffic jam - the looks we get are always something very special

[Pumbaa]

And our bird luck was still not over as we stopped for a yellow billed kite also with a kill



obviously the breakfast buffet was well stocked today on the S28 for the raptors.



Also at that sighting we stayed until the bird had finished its breakfast and flew away.



Meanwhile we had turned into the S137 already and also here it was birding time as I shouted to Timon: “Stop – pearlie” – A cute pearl spotted owlet was eying us suspiciously



until same got bored from us and scanned the area instead.



On exactly that road we spotted our very first pearlie a couple of years ago and for sure were extreme happy that we could find another one in that area again.



Whilst still watching the owlet another birdie sang us a lovely song



and wanted to be captured as well. Also here we stayed until the owlet was no longer in the mood in posing for us and disappeared.



In the distance we realised a huge herd of elephants



followed again by many egrets



and same came steadily closer to the point where we parked our car.



Same were feeding simultaneously



and obviously were chatting a bit about this and that

[Pumbaa]

and finally they were about to come exactly the way where we stood as we once again as so often parked the car



right on their beaten path so after a couple of shots Timon carried on and let them pass and finally all of them reached



the other side of the road and were about to disappear in the distance.



The rest of the drive until we reached the turn off to the S82 was then unfortunately totally quiet but right in the beginning of that road we saw masses of cars – far too much for our liking but gladly I could convince Timon to at least stop and maybe get a glimpse of what was so exciting. Well it took not long until we were completely blocked and we could neither drive forward nor backward so we had no choice than to wait but it did not take that long until we could see a couple of lionesses with her teenager cubs.



The lions were about to cross the street and gladly allowed us a few shots until they walked out of sight completely.



The traffic jam then broke up quite fast and we took the opportunity and turned around as well



as we finally discovered what caused the mess and secondly could not see anything else and on top we needed urgently a short break at Lower Sabie where we were happy in capturing another bronze mannikin



who was hanging around at the parking area and allowed us to take a couple of shots.



Before we carried on we stopped again on the Lower Sabie causeway where today a lot of hippos



could be seen really close, checked again the spot on the S82 where we spotted the lions only shortly but neither any car was left nor any lions could be traced and so we carried on but before driving North



we stopped for sure again at Sunset dam where our malachite friend was again sitting on its favourite spot



and one of the larger crocodiles was taking a sunbath quite close.



to be continued.....

[Flutterby]

Lovely birds again! Never seen a Bronze Mannikin in Kruger!

Mama ellie was not happy with you!!

Nice lion sighting.

[Lisbeth]

The pearlie is sooo cute

More lovely birds and also the elephants are not bad

The S28 is definitely a favourite of mine

[Richprins]

Like Jurassic Park there!

Love the elephant shots, and well done on braving the traffic jam, Pumbaa!

Those mannikins are TINY!

[Pumbaa]

Lovely birds again! Never seen a Bronze Mannikin in Kruger!

Mama ellie was not happy with you!!

Nice lion sighting.

Was also for us a first in Kruger

[Pumbaa]

The pearlie is sooo cute

More lovely birds and also the elephants are not bad

The S28 is definitely a favourite of mine

For sure one of our favourites as well - Sigh