Africa Wild

At Mooiplaas then again lots of elephants were hanging around



and some even still could not settle their dispute until now.



As nothing else was around we left and returned to camp as we wanted to enjoy the view from our verandah as long as it was bright enough. We made ourselves comfortable although it was still extreme hot, we again noticed obviously the same elephants as from earlier



and also the fish eagle could still be seen.



Slowly the sun set and with the fading light we discovered Egyptian goose, a yellow billed stork on hunting mode,



a grey heron as well as a great white egret



and waterbucks nearly invisible.



We could have spent far longer there as the view was simply breathtaking and the darker it got the more bats flew from behind over the dam into the coming night and when it got pitch dark we went inside and nearly fell into our beds.



Friday, 25 February 2023 – Mopani - Shingwedzi

Explored roads: H1-6 – S50 – S143 – S50 – S135 – H1-6 - S135 – H1-6

For sure we first of all enjoyed another brewing hot coffee on our verandah before we packed everything together, however, today we skipped a visit to Shipandani causeway and drove straight to Mooiplaas but besides a lone elephant bull who crossed the road and soon disappeared in the thick mopane bushes and a buffalo in front of the setting sun



we did not see anything until we stopped at Nshawu No. 3. Here we obviously arrived at the right time as masses of wildebeests were about to arrive



and we were watched curiously.



A grey heron enjoyed the silence at the waterhole before the beasts arrived to take a drink

which soon happened





and they were all extreme thirsty.



Lots of youngsters could be seen as well and after nearly all quenched their thirst



they walked again away nearly in a single row, the light was perfect at that early morning and we were all alone there.





On the other side of the dam lots of wildebeests as well as zebras arrived who chased away the waterbucks who grazed there before peacefully, it was simply mystical.





When we arrived only the waterbucks were there and within minutes masses of antelopes arrived



not to miss the obligatory hippo in the water.



Nearly all of them were thirsty as well



but somehow got skittish and most of them suddenly ran out of the water



although we never found out the reason of their fright as we did not notice anything.



to be continued………….

Beautiful sunset The view from Mopani is always great at any time of the day

Nice photos of the wildebeests

So much to catch up on, Pumbaa!

What a productive bird pond indeed, and some brilliant pics!

I like the shrike, it is a spookvoël (ghostbird) in Afrikaans.

And great action at the water, this must be one of the prime wildebeest areas in the Park.

I like the bat pic too!

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 1:05 pm Beautiful sunset The view from Mopani is always great at any time of the day

Nice photos of the wildebeests

Totally right Pioneer dam is so beautiful and it was such a wonderful mornings between all the antelopes

Richprins wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 5:55 pm So much to catch up on, Pumbaa!

What a productive bird pond indeed, and some brilliant pics!

I like the shrike, it is a spookvoël (ghostbird) in Afrikaans.

And great action at the water, this must be one of the prime wildebeest areas in the Park.

I like the bat pic too!

Normally zebras and wildebeests can be find throughout the whole park but this year that area was flooded with them Why Ghostbird it is such a beautiful bird

The grey heron who previously was sitting by the water meanwhile removed to a safety place in the only dead tree there



and we carried on as well and found a resting waterbuck on the ground



who was not willing in stand up and so we got more than a couple of nice shots.



We meanwhile turned into the S143 as we wanted to pay a short early morning visit to Tihongonyeni as well and on our way we came across lots of zebras,



more wildebeests



and an elephant bull surrounded by thick vegetation.



We also saw amur falcons but too far away so we soon reached Tihongonyeni where again masses of zebras, wildebeests and even tsessebes could be seen,



however, they behaved a bit strange and after a more detailed look around now through binoculars we noticed the reason of the behaviour – lions!



All in all 6 of them were around although we only saw at the end of that sighting all of them. At least we were happy about their presence but obviously the zebras in the background not.



A black backed jackal hung around as well in the case there might some scraps to snatch.



Two of the lions were lying in the sun



whilst another was about to chase the zebras away

whereas we made ourselves comfortable for a longer stay there



as not only the lions were great to watch and photograph but also





the behaviour between all the different animals there.



Whilst one of the lions was busy with one group of zebras another group took a closer look onto the lions



and meanwhile more and more cars built up at that sighting but all in all we were six cars in the end which is for such a sighting indeed moderate.



Two of the lions meanwhile settled themselves behind the concrete whilst one was busy with face acrobatics



and obviously too lazy to move.



The black backed jackal or another one also appeared again



and meanwhile also the lazy one got up whilst the jackal stayed in the background







at least we had a lot to see as the lions were quite busy.



to be continued………………….

You leave us hanging here? I was sure that something interesting was about to happen

Pumbaa wrote: ↑Thu Apr 06, 2023 4:40 pm Why Ghostbird it is such a beautiful bird

It is for the sound it makes, Pumbaa!

What a grand lion sighting in lovely light!

And a traffic jam of 6 cars!