Africa Wild

Nice to see so many animals at the waterhole.

nan wrote:fantastic pic of the Impala looking at the Buffs

Ja, and also check out the other one looking that the zebra bum... not only buffs...

Nice hornbills!

The zebra bum shots .... and that single impala between ellie and zebbies

Richprins wrote:Excellent, Pumbaa!

I think the ellies are behaved because babies are there...

Normally they bully the other animals!

Nice hornbill sighting too!

You are right when in herds they in fact do beahve

nan wrote:fantastic pic of the Impala looking at the Buffs

It looks like pure horror

Flutterby wrote:Nice to see so many animals at the waterhole.

Yes around Satara that was the easiest way to trace the animals

Mel wrote:

nan wrote:fantastic pic of the Impala looking at the Buffs

Ja, and also check out the other one looking that the zebra bum... not only buffs...

That is also some kind of horror in the facial Expression of the impala

Lisbeth wrote:Nice hornbills!

The zebra bum shots .... and that single impala between ellie and zebbies

We had a great time at Girivana and laughed a lot

After quite a wonderful time we left and even drove the short detour to Nsemani dam but as already expected and already seen same was bone dry – In fact an extreme sad sighting as we always had wonderful moments there when there was still lot of water left.

The rest was also quiet and when we entered camp we already could check in and were allocated in bungalow G177 (as requested) but prior I checked outside the reception on a piece of paper the weather forecast for the next days and soon got a bit more relieved as they predicted far cooler temperatures the next days.

Please do not get me wrong I know that it can be hot in February in Kruger but the 45 degrees we had that day were a bit too much and so after we packed everything away for our four nights stay there we had to relax a bit from the heat and put the air condition on full power.

Originally we were a bit lazy but somehow could pull ourselves together and decided to give one of the most famous roads in the park another try, the S100, and we were surprised that due to the still prevailing heat and the hour of the day we saw quite a lot compared to the last stretch we drove to reach Satara earlier that day.

Lots of elephant bulls were hanging around trying to still find something to chew on



whilst the kudus already found something to feed on.





As always on that road waterbucks are not far



and could easily be seen



as well as some road impressions on such a yelling hot day.



Even a couple of Carmine bee eaters braved the heat and dared to be on the road as well



although it was by far too hot.



When we came to the first possible loop we could drive we were a bit astonished as all the other dams near Satara were bone dry and also the scenery especially on the S100 looks dead but here the N’wanetsi was still carrying water even that much that a couple of hippos could be heard and seen as well there.

We wanted to drive the complete S100 that evening with even enough spare time on our way back and so we only admired shortly some giraffes,



more waterbucks



and elephants who patiently handled some roots with their feet.



We then turned around and besides the animals we already met on our way to the end of the street we spotted some blue waxbills,



a steenbok and more elephants feeding on the many palm trees along that part of the road.



Meanwhile it was time for the golden hour and everything was illuminated in brilliant light and that was in fact the last time we saw the sun in the Satarian area as the following days were extreme overcast. We had to stop for some waterbucks once again



and then nothing moved as we were caught in another traffic jam and as already many times experienced obviously all people staying in Satara that evening decided to drive the S100 that evening and what to say we even spotted lions at nearly the same spot we already saw them on our very last evening last year so we took that as good omen for the rest of our stay in that area.



Although we were once again surprised that on that day they already started to move despite the still prevailing unbearable heat. Needless to say that the light was once again brilliant and we could observe him sniffing on one of his ladies just lost poo.





The time was meanwhile ticking close to gate closing time but we could still not move forward as even more cars arrived and everything was blocked with cars but we finally found a gap and made our way back to camp slowly but still had enough time to capture that beautiful sunset.



Back in camp we lit the braai and spent another magnificent evening on our verandah. When going to bed later that evening I touched with my hand by mistake our bungalow wall and must say it still felt as if the wall was cooking that hot was same and needless to say that it felt as if the air condition is not working as it did not cool further down. At a later stage we fell into sleep and slept quite well although it felt as if we slept in an oven.

to be continued....

glad you found something in the S100
Antelopes, beautifull birds and even a Lion

Nice to know there are still lions on the S100. Love those evenings at Satara!

Waterbucks were not missing

A very handsome lion

45° is really too much Luckily they have invented the air condition