Africa Wild

As it looks it will still take a bit longer before they might move again we carried on to decide to stop there again when driving back from the dam. Meanwhile the one zebra amongst the many wildebeests could still be seen crisscrossing the road so we stopped there too as they were really close



and took some pictures. This one obviously saw too many resting elephants and soon imitated one



and also the lone zebra amongst them was willing to pose.





We spent quite a while there when a car with a younger couple approached us from behind which we now stopped and asked them if they had seen the lions which they denied and so we now moved backwards and pointed the lions out to them and not a second too late as the lions were about to move





and followed the leader.



In slow motion one after the other crossed the street



in still good light not without eying us suspiciously



and to search later on for the mate in the high grass.

Meanwhile we reached the turn off into the S137 which we took and there lots of white backed vultures, yellow weavers,



European rollers



as well as kudus crossed out path.
We for sure stayed until also the last one crossed the street and it definitely did not take long until the high grass absorbed them.



What a wonderful morning so far again and that lion sighting compensated us a bit for the lack of animals on the S28 that morning but whilst driving now finally into the directing of the earlier existing dam we had to stop again as a kori bustard came across and for sure we had to stop for that bird to take some shots



whilst the passengers in the car who made us first aware of the lions came back from the dam and they wanted to know whether the lions are still there and unfortunately I had to tell them that they meanwhile were gone.

We pointed instead the kori out to them who was also enthusiastically been photographed by them.



Gladly there the grass was not that high and consequently same allowed a couple of wonderful shots. Meanwhile also more zebras joined the lone one and the wildebeests and we also finally made it to the dam where we stopped a while and enjoyed the silence there.



In that area it must have rained only recently heavily as still large puddles were existing and it was still very muddy. Gladly a grader stood already on hand to grade the street and also at the previous dam a couple of construction vehicles could be seen. On this 2 km stretch to the dam the animal activity was extreme good and it is always worth to drive this little detour.






Lots of wattled starling also flew from bush to bush even as much as the red billed queleas



another wonderful bird sighting on that road was a red crested korhaan who stood on a sandlhill –



gladly for us as otherwise same could not have been seen -



to be continued...

The first part of the S28 then unfortunately was totally quiet but for us it was a great opportunity to pay Ntandanyathi hide another visit after last year’s tragedy during the drought – This year the hide and for sure the dam shone in new splendour with the masses of water



and although the light was a bit harsh it was wonderful to see that dam that full again and this hide turned out to be the best when it comes to sightings we had this year in bird hides and it is always exciting to find out which of the many hides will be the best during ones stay in Kruger as each year it will be a different one.

Due to the time of the day not many people were inside the hide so we had enough space to observe the area precisely. Soon we noticed lots of masked weavers and a woodland kingfisher flew around as well plus a grey heron



but the highlight for us was a juvenile diderick cuckoo as this bird did not cross that often our path and moreover so far the ones we saw were not that willing to pose that close as this one



so soon Timon’s camera started to glow again as he took shot after shot.



The grey heron was sitting on a small branch staring motionless into the water waiting for the catch of the day.

The masked weavers were about to build new nests and from time to time we could watch them



collecting nesting material and even a bit farer away in a tree



we spotted a Jacobin cuckoo.



Finally also the grey heron was successful in fishing and caught an enormous fish



and after a well targeted hit with its bill into an area behind the gills the fish stayed motionless



and could be swallowed with a lot of difficulties due to the size by the grey heron.



On the other shore but too far away we watched a black crake, could not overhear and oversee the many hippos,



and finally the grey heron returned to its origin point taking and sunbath whilst digesting the fish.



All in all it was a great time we had in the hide with the few people there but many birds to watch we were extreme happy. We were about to leave when also a green backed heron landed on the branch where we previously could observe the grey heron



and also the diderick cuckoo posed again after we already spotted same overflying the hide and nearby trees.

Ntandanyathi Hide 2008

S28

Lovely!

It took ages for the lil'one to get up on those long legs

Must have been lovely to watch!

It was and I took loads of pics Only there was a stupid bush in the wrong place