And then the Fish Eagle started to call.....*

[Pumbaa]

Gladly all other cars on that busy road realized the small critter as well and stopped until same reached safely the other side – I can still see you!



We saw a cuckoo landing inside a bush and Timon only got that single shot whilst same popped out from time to time between the leaves.



Then we had a another fantastic time in watching a weaver male promoting his just finished nest and he even was successful in attracting a lovely female examining same precisely.



This was then again whilst we were causing a traffic jam and each car asked at what we were watching and after pointing out the weavers to them



we only got head shakes as answers. At least we had great fun in watching these busy birds





Although we in fact did not stay extreme long at sightings and moreover had all in all a more than quiet day it was somehow again close to 03.00 o’clock in the afternoon and I still cannot realize how fast the time can pass by when inside the park. At least whilst now driving the S28 in whole length the sightings of larger animals got slightly more and we came across a grey giant



and finally managed to get a picture of the always so busy flying from branch to branch bird – a Paradise whydah.



Wattled starlings were also buzzing around in large flocks and compared to these active birds the lapped faced vulture was having a lazy afternoon.



As we would not have much occasion in paying a visit at Ntanamyathi hide we paid a visit there right now and as so often whilst entering a hide not much seen right from the beginning but the longer you look around the more came visible such as this woodland kingfisher with kill,



two green-backed herons nearly hidden in the thick vegetation

[Pumbaa]

and a gorgeous black crake.



We also saw a monitor sleeping in a tree but struggled to get a picture as always a branch or leave was hiding our reptile friend.

After a lovely quiet break in the hide in which it was bearable due to the strong wind blowing we wanted to enter our car again but got fascinated by a lot of glossy starlings performing some comical poses which made us burst into laughter



although it were obviously some display gestures but nevertheless we got hooked and Timon snapped once more happily away.



“I am the King of the World!”



We were in no hurry and enjoyed once more the lovely sightings which came across such as this cute fluffy swallow.



Moreover as meanwhile the sun finally won against the clouds the best afternoon light welcomed us with brilliant light and even the animals got more active and we spotted some grazing rhinos,



lots of impalas and even an elephant herd crossed the road in front of us with lots of youngsters,



warthogs came across and a red-billed hornbill with kill.



The bush awoke again as normally in the afternoon and a group of kudus could be observed



as well as this enormous land snail.



to be continued.....

[Pumbaa]

The friend of Nhlowa we already observed during our morning drive appeared



and another elephant bull took a short afternoon nap



and then we realized that it was Nhlowa again nearly at the same spot we already met him in the morning now together with another friend.





Also all the other general suspects could be admired and we had great fun in watching giraffes,
taking pictures of the ever present zebras



and impalas.



Close to the camp we met a group of naughty vervets and simply loved watching their behaviour



and as we had no intention in leaving the camp later again for a short evening drive we stayed a bit longer with them



and could even enjoy the view from our verandah in camp as well still in daylight whilst we had a more than delicious braai. A bit sad was that our stay at Crocodile Bridge was already nearly over but we were also already looking forward to Biyamiti as this is also one of our favourite camps.

Tuesday, 17.02.2015 – Crocodile Bridge – Biyamiti Camp

Today was moving day again and isn’t it incredible how fast time flies by when enjoying the park? At least we will remain in that area of the park as we only will move to Biyamiti today.

Taken roads: H4-2 – S28 – S137 – H4-2 – H4-1 – S79 – S21 – S114 – S23 – S139

In no way we were ready and left camp as always at gate opening time. Nearly outside the camp close to the S25 turn off we spotted a lone hyaena and only one black-backed jackal feeding on something at least we only saw one animal of each species maybe more were lurking around hidden under a bush as both were constantly staring into one direction but it was neither another hyaena nor a black-backed jackal it was His Majesty himself at which both were looking at



and not only that he appeared on the scene he started to run into the direction of the hyaena and black-backed jackal in order to chase them away



and he even ran as fast that even his mane got extreme tumbled because of the head wind (better to say running wind) he produced.

[Pumbaa]

To be honest I cannot remember ever having seen a male lion running during our previous trips so this was indeed a premiere for us and a more than wonderful start into the new day.

Needless to say that soon a traffic jam had been build and all the people started the day with a grin on their faces



After he successfully chased the hyaena and black-backed jackal away from the remains of the kill he returned slowly to the bush he was probably lying under checking from time to time whether the other predators kept away from the food and only then we realized that there was also a beautiful Mrs. lion as she curiously checked what her SO was doing and so we supposed that there might have been more lions somewhere else hidden.



Both kept on staring back to the hyaena



and the hyaena stared back



and somehow crept back closer to the kill



and even successfully stole some scrap. Unfortunately the lions kept for the rest of the sighting completely hidden and also the jackal and the hyaena could hardly be seen anymore. Although we still stayed nothing more happened and so we carried on.



At Gesanftombi an elephant bull was quenching his thirst



and right at the beginning of the S28 we spotted a heavily feeding hippo outside the water and this is for us always a rare sighting at least when the hippo is so close.



Not far from that spot two more hyaenas appeared suddenly on the roadside in the grass.



Greatly they continued running in the same direction as we wanted to drive so we simply had to wait until they came closer and indeed from time to time they checked everything out and allowed some shots



and after we followed them for a while on the road both turned back into the grass farer away out of sight.



to be continued...

[Pumbaa]

We met an elephant bull which positioned himself very picturesque or he simply needed a break





and also a group of three rhinos crossed our path so peacefully.



The rest of the drive was a bit quiet but we definitely cannot complain with our morning so far and at Duke’s a large herd of zebras just arrived and they started to drink





and after they quenched their thirst the next ones had already arrived and once again we had a lot to watch





somehow a lone wildebeest was joining the zebras and strolled around with them.

[Pumbaa]

Giraffes came across



as well as two kori bustards which are indeed a regular sighting for us on that road.



Then it was time for buffaloes again and we had to wait on the road as a large herd just arrived and obviously also wanted to pay a visit at Duke’s



As so often when surrounded by buffaloes we love to take portrait shots of them as they always look extreme curious and do pose long enough for a couple of shots until the next ones appeared into our camera finders.



I simply love the shots when they are still chewing on something



and as always they walked far too fast by as always new interesting faces came into sight and we wanted to captured as most of them as possible and also lots of newborn could be seen close to their moms and hidden by other bodies so we could only take some pictures of the teenagers. At least we once more had a fantastic time to be surrounded by them and to even share their dust, flies and smell with us.



We came across a couple of very well filled ponds and at one we took this shot of a water dikkop extreme close as these birds are normally so very well camouflaged and hidden under a bush that they could be overlooked easily so we were happy today to get such close up



and the sandpiper we saw already yesterday was also still around.



The ever noisy woodland allowed a shot



and the wattled starling even showed us its kill and we met a lot of red-back bush shrikes and Egyptian goose as well.



to be continued.....

[Pumbaa]

Not long until we already stood on the Lower Sabie causeway and also from here we spotted a group of three buffaloes taking some rest on a sandbank





and needless to say that the many crocodiles also taking a sunbath on one of the many private islands.



After only a short break at Lower Sabie we were already back on the road and stopped once again at Sunset dam were we saw the “silver surfer” again doing what same is loving to do and surfing on the back of a hippo.



The many crocodiles we already saw yesterday somehow got even more and larger overnight, however, our eyes always got back to the grey heron hippo back riding as this was simply so lovely to watch.



Same even took off, circled a bit around



and only to land then on the next hippo's back only three hippos farer away from the one same just was standing on.



After we saw enough from the hippos and the heron we changed our parking position and from where we now stood we could better see the three banded plover



and an african spoonbill which was foraging in the plain water



and according to the small waves on the dam you could adumbrate that it still was extreme windy today. The spoonbill caught a stick and was throwing same up and down after same was undertaken an extensive investigation.



Our monitor friend walked also by extreme close and we always changed from the monitor to the spoonbill and vice versa. Sunset dam is always a fantastic spot to stop but cannot remember having ever seen that much different animals during the whole day there as this year.

[Pumbaa]

We already could have stayed for the rest of the day there but we still had a long way to go and so allowed us only 5more minutes with the spoonbill who needed a scratch



and the monitor found something which looked a bit like a dried frog or a piece of poo but obviously it tasted great as the thing was in no seconds gone into the stomach of the monitor.



Our five minutes were over already long time but we simply had to watch a bit a yellow billed stork which also came closer and also the buffalo weavers had to get their attention as well.



Finally we could drag ourselves away and headed forward via the tar road - a road which we do normally avoid due to the heavy traffic - The black rhino which was the reason for a traffic yam at least according to a couple of people kept hidden for us.

Further down that road we enjoyed the sporadic views into the Sabie river and had great fun in watching a troop of baboons which also is an often sighting on that road. Some were grooming



whilst others were playing and chasing each other in the large trees. We always drive a short detour via the S79 but same kept quiet today and drove back to watch a large group of hadedah ibises in the N'watimhiri waterhole instead.



Compared to the previous years the water level was extreme low, however, it was still enough left to attract birds and we were happy to observe the hadedahs



foraging as this bird do occur at least for us more in camps as in the park itself so we had a great time in capturing same and so it was obvious that we once again caused a traffic yam whilst "only" watching birds.



A bit farer away we also discovered an egyptian goose with only one gosling.



We finally turned into the S21 and soon came across a lovely and beautiful bushbuck.



to be continued with some good old painted friends....

[Pumbaa]

Not far on that road on the left hand side a large waterhole is always inviting for a quick stop and today we had incredible luck here as so far we only spotted there a couple of birds but today a lone hyaena was lying comfortably close to the water



observing especially all the people in the cars quite extensively and got more and more attentive



as also a noisy troop of baboons arrived and wanted to quench their thirst as well



and needless to say that this procedure took quite a while as the baboons only drank in groups whilst the other were playing and observing the area, others meanwhile pushed along and with all the noise and all the restlessness around the hyaena stood up, however, did not run away.



After the baboons were gone the hyaena returned to the place where it was the minute before lying and settled again but for us spectators the show only started as now also a huge elephant bull appeared on the scene



nearing quite quickly the waterhole, sniffing a bit with his trunk around and finally found the right place to take a large mouthful or better to say trunkful of water



and after he drank enough the water splashing started and all the passengers in the cars which meanwhile piled up at the waterhole got a bit nervous as he was steadily coming closer





eying us exactly and suspiciously



and after also putting a bit flavour of the bush on he disappeared between the thick vegetation and could no longer be seen. At least it must have been one of the friendlier guys as he did not get disturbed in any way by all the cars.

[Pumbaa]

The show, however, was not yet over as also a warthog was grassing peacefully close to where the hyaena was lying



but the warthog did not pay attention to the presence of the hyaena and kept on feeding and it was more that the hyaena got more nervous about the presence of the warthog.



We again had a fantastic time in watching animals by only standing at a waterhole instead of heading hectically forward on the roads to find as much animals as possible as some other people always do.



Whilst comparing later at home pictures from this waterhole we took this year especially with the ones we took in 2010 were only a mud hole was left we got again a bit more relaxed as this year although it was far drier than the previous three extremely wet years this waterhole was still extremely filled up and it did not look that dark again as we suspected so far.



We were about to leave when a car arrived and told us something about a wild dog sighting only half "k" away and as this was anyway the direction in which we wanted to drive we hit the road in no minute and found nearly just around the next corner a pack of wild dog resting under a couple of bushes



WoW what luck we had again as we already noticed yesterday a pin on the sighting board showing a wild dog sighting on this road and in fact we did not expect to still find them today as well at nearly the same spot as we also do not trust that much in these pins.



However, the more we were happy that we once again found them as also in the previous years the doggies did not let us down.



The sightings at the waterhole we just came from made already worth to have driven that road but this was for sure a more than fantastic bonus and as the doggies were in no way restless we parked the car, put the bean bag in the right position and started to fire away and watching sleeping buddies and awake beauties.



to be continued with more paints....