The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Pumbaa]

So dry! I love the zebra portrait.

It was heart breaking to see in that dry as we never saw it that way in February

[Pumbaa]

It sure is dry

Let's hope and pray for some heavy summer rains shortly

[Pumbaa]

More great lion pics

Mananga Trail Very dry

That were not the last lions we saw that day - Obviously your cat magnets worked for us as well

[Pumbaa]

Pumbaa great shots

Thanks PRWIN - Although it could have been far greener

[Pumbaa]

Very good, Pumbaa!

Ja, animals are not habituated to cars so much off the beaten track!

Maybe put up a pic of the Mananga vs last time?

Your wish came true - See my last post - The comparison in incredible

[Pumbaa]

Well today the zebras stayed away from that spot but we had luck in watching an extreme large group of wildebeests





and some of them needed an urgent itch.



Then it got quiet again and only further down the road we spotted a house sparrow on the dry ground to search for something to snack on



and we were happy to find another lark and it was again like a Déjà vu as also last year we spotted at nearly the same places these birds.



Suddenly quite a large group of baboons appeared





on the search for something green between all the bare bushes.



We stopped and let all members cross the road and that took quite long as it was a large troop and we had fun in watching them and I simply cannot get enough from these baboon back riding shots!



It was heaven to drive on the trail as it seemed we were the only car in the entire park as we did not meet any other car. In a dead tree we found a very relaxed bateleur



which simply had be to captured extensively.

[Pumbaa]

As you can see on the feathers of the bateleur it was still extreme windy that day and the temperature was still bearable – the locals would have called it cold but that way it was a more than pleasant ride on the trail for us.



Although we took it slow the first part of the trail was already over and same continued now on the S100 until we were allowed again to drive off road again but besides lot of impalas





another steenbok,



and a group of waterbucks also this part was at that time of the day quiet also traffic wise.



Shortly after Gudzani dam it was then again time for us to hit back to the trail and this area was filled with game and we had a great time in watching from right to left and left to right and see gorgeous little kudus,



feeding giraffes,



beautiful Carmine bee eaters really close



and for sure the ever present waterbucks in that area which was at the beginning of that part extreme stony and rough – a bit like the area around Olifants camp.





to be continued....

[Alf]

Stunning, stunning, stunning Bateleur

[nan]

love the baby Kudu and Boon sleeping on the back of... its uncle/cousin
the Bateleur is magnificent like the Carmine Bee-Eater

[Lisbeth]

Looks like another track when it is nice and green

Nice bateleur and also the bee-eater!

I like waterbucks a lot