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

[Lisbeth]

You sure stayed for a looong time with the lioness

This kind of heavy rain is often limited to a not too big area

Nice ground hornbills

[Flutterby]

A lovely lioness. I'm sure she didn't like having wet paws!

Great pics again Pumbaa ...really make me miss the bush!

[Richprins]

What a lengthy private sighting...

Ja, it take s alot of rain to show in the sand!

How rare to see the hornbill catching escargot!

[Pumbaa]

Lovely wise old lioness !!

We spent such a great time with her

[Pumbaa]

You sure stayed for a looong time with the lioness

This kind of heavy rain is often limited to a not too big area

Nice ground hornbills

Totally right but the rain got more the following days and even heavier

[Pumbaa]

A lovely lioness. I'm sure she didn't like having wet paws!

Great pics again Pumbaa ...really make me miss the bush!

She was indeed not very happy to get wet and she did not move or even left the wet bush after the rain stopped

[Pumbaa]

What a lengthy private sighting...

Ja, it take s alot of rain to show in the sand!

How rare to see the hornbill catching escargot!

Also for us it was the first time seeing the hornbills eating those escargot although they do a lot of different things

[Pumbaa]

Same obviously tasted more than yummy



and after the snail had been eaten the gound hornbill noticed another one in the grass and came running fast



and finally presented triumphantly the trophy in the air - The other ground hornbill obviously was not such a fan of those snails as same was searching for something else but when same found such a grand snail same willingly allocated same to the snail lover- Such behaviour was indeed amazing to watch.



After the ground hornbills nearly went out of sight we continued our drive and stopped for some giraffes



unfortunately the rest of our drive also along the marula loop turned out to be quiet and we only spotted a herd of elephants busy in feeding.



At the low water causeway across the Sabie there was a hugh traffic jam caused by an idiot who left his car to look a closer look at something - Gladly there was a Kruger park ranger also caught the traffic jam who now also left his car to tell the idiot to give him a piece of his mind - Soon the idiot jumped back in his car and the traffic jam cleared soon up so we still had time to take a shot from one of the great white egrets.



As it was still extreme early we after another shots break at Skukuza decided to stay the rest of the morning at Lake Panic and to our delight it were only a few cars at the parking lot and so we heded forward to another hour at one of our favourites hide in Kruger and gladly lots of birds could be seen as well - as we soon noticed a green backed heron in hunting mode



and to our delight one of the squacco herons was as well present.



Then again the rolling thunder was extreme close and suddenly all the herons and birds searched for cover in the thick bushes and it again started to rain torrentially - At that point we and another couple were the only persons at the hide and it was a magical experience although nothing could be seen any longer besides the heavy rain - and it even looked as if the hide filled up a bit as some sand islands were covered after the rain had stopped.

A water dikkop during the heavy rain



and after another half an hour of torrentially rain same got less and the birds started to came out of their bushes and although it still rained a bit they obviously already knew that same might stop pretty soon - such a this green backed heron.

[Pumbaa]

Again water masses flowed into the lake and suddenly we heard again splashing and noticed some huge barbels who obviously dug themselves in the sand of the lake but after the heavy rain dug themselves out again and only soon after we heard more splashing and saw water whirling around and then suddenly also a large crocodile with a transmitter appeared out of the floods.



The rain got more less but it still dripped heavy from the leaves of the bushes and trees but gladly for us more and more birds could now be seen again such as the pied kingfishers,



and the green backed heron still with some raindrops





and then suddenly it stopped immediately and also the jacanas could be discovered again



although they are used in getting wet feet and the juvenile even had fun in playing duck



or in taking an extensive bath.





to be continued.....

[Flutterby]

Must have been lovely to be in the hide during the rain.

Lovely pics, thank you.