Africa Wild

We came along yellow billed hornbills



as well as more impalas



maybe it was even the same group we already met earlier as also oxpeckers were around



and despite the blue sky a couple of lost raindrops again came down.



We in fact can always spend hours watching impalas especially when so many of them are around.



A yellow billed kite plus another raptor simply had to be photographed



and we now decided to drive back via the H1-1 to Pretoriuskop but were unfortunately held up as where the road was broken now a nice stream was flowing cheerfully over the road. A ranger was on the spot and told us as well as other passengers in their cars who meanwhile piled up that the DeLa Porte bridge is presently completely under water and impassable….but the water is already dropping and that we should try it again in two hours. Indeed also not the news we wanted to hear but as it looked as if it would stay dry for the rest of the day we stayed optimistic to still return to Pretoriuskop that day.

So we turned around and drove back into the direction of Skukuza but got held up at a tree where a booted eagle had to find a defence strategy





against the far smaller black shouldered kite who permanently was attacking the eagle.





This procedure lasted quite long and without cease the kite was attacking the eagle



at least we got a couple of interesting shots whilst watching that spectacle, however,



we never found out the reason why the kite did that



but is was another exciting experience to watch and we stayed at the sighting quite a long time until the eagle had enough and finally flew away.

We now turned into the S1 and got a shock when we had to cross the N’waswitshaka bridge as same looked heavy damaged with demolished crash barriers at least the lane looked okay. Meanwhile the river was still flowing but same dropped extensively but only a couple of days earlier the river must have flowing extreme strong and the bridge was completely flooded. With melancholy we also noted that the road to Lake Panic was also closed and so we continued along the S1 where we stopped for a couple of giraffes



who were feeding



and obviously the food tasted more than yummy as they nearly never stopped the breakfast.





We came across again impalas,



a lilac breasted roller as well as zebras and a hyena a bit farer away on the road



but we had to stop at this buzzard



as same stayed on the branch quite long



and even flirted with the camera at least we had a good laugh when noticing later that shot.



We meanwhile had turned around and nearly at the end of the S1 we stopped for a lone elephant bull



but then we got a shock as the H1-1 into the direction of Pretoriuskop had been closed by barrier tape. Does that mean we had to forget about returning to Pretoriuskop? A ranger was around and we explained our situation and after he noticed that we were driving a 4X4 he let us pass and whished us luck. At least the first hurdle had been crossed but how about the DeLaPorte bridge?

We slowly continued and even had time to stop for another elephant bull



and meanwhile we neared the part of the road which was partly broken and where only hours ago a river was flowing – same looked quite good again with no ranger on duty and no water flowing any longer and now we also stood in front of the DeLPorte bridge and jackpot there was still a bit water standing on the bridge but same was easily crossable and so we lingered not long and soon stood on the other side of the bridge.

Along the H1-1 we stopped at some streams which are normally completely empty during our stays but where today still water was flowing



at least the sun meanwhile shined steadily and so everything looked far brighter.



to be continued………………

Suddenly we already saw from far another hurdle – the Kruger helicopter stood in the middle of the road but a ranger on the road waved us near and with hand signals he mentioned that we can drive under the wings with no problems which we did and behind the helicopter we also noticed why same stood there obviously two poachers had been caught as many more rangers could now be seen and even some dogs. When it was no drill than a big big thanks to all those brave rangers fighting against poaching!

During the final stretch until we were safely back in camp we stopped for a group of kudus who stayed extreme hidden,



stopped for a tortoise



and captured a European roller with kill.



As it meanwhile was already late we skipped a visit to Shitlhave and went straight to reception when returned to camp as we still had an existing booking for Lower Sabie for the next 2 days which we could not look after as the road or better to say most of the roads were closed. With us at the reception was another couple who had the same problem as we had and must say that the two ladies at reception also here did their best with patience to re-book accommodation. We decided against a 4 nights stay at Skukuza first because with the rebooking we had to move 2 times into new bungalows there which we wanted to avoid and secondly we will stay there anyway 2 nights so I decided to return back to Berg en Dal.

Meanwhile Timon photographed outside the reception a group of mongoose who were hanging around there



and also two cute squirrels who found something to chew on,





one of the mongoose peeped out from behind the grass



whilst the rest of the gang had something in mind.



After we filled up our car I originally wanted to explore a bit the shop but there was electricity failure so I could only buy the bare necessities and wandered around in a pitch dark shop with a torch. Strange was that we had electricity in our bungalow – So far the load shedding did not bother us that much but whilst staying in Pretoriuskop a couple of times in the evening we had power failure but luckily not for very long only for minutes and sometimes by night when we needed the loo but that happened also already during other visits.

Whilst we lit the braai it again started to rain a bit but not much although our neighbor braaied with umbrella so due to the rain Timon skipped his visit to the pool and we had an early dinner on our verandah and where more than happy that we made it back safe and sound. Luckily tomorrow there was no need to cross the DeLaPorte bridge as we will turn right into the H3 prior the danger zone and therefore we slept very well that night.

Monday, 13. February 2023 – Pretoriuskop – Berg en Dal

Explored roads: H1-1 – S66 – H1-1 – H3 – S110 – H3 – S110

Luckily when we awoke the next morning we soon noted that no rain had fallen overnight so after our obligatory morning coffee on the verandah we packed everything together and left Pretoriuskop – in fact a more than nice camp and we can imagine that when there will be no road closures we might stay there again especially the loop roads are a nice drive we so far only did once.

A lot of cars had already piled up at the gate whilst most of them continued into the direction of Numbi gate we turned right into the direction to Skukuza and soon stopped for a pale chanting goshawk indeed a beautiful raptor



and as this bird is not coming along that often we stopped for an extensive photo shooting as on top that raptor posed so nicely.



Today we paid a final visit to Shitlave as this is a dam we do not visit often but always worth a stop. We were greeted by two Egyptian goose,



the obligatory three banded plover and once again the fish eagle who today sat on top of a tree as the small stream which still flew over the dam yesterday ran dry today





unfortunately same soon took off and flew away.

We finally left this nice place and stopped for zebras and soon on both sides of the road large trees were growing and it felt as if we were driving through a forest and through all the trees the sun was shining and this was already worth a stop but then we noticed a couple of birds who arrived such as a group of wood hoopoes as well as a scimitarbill



who just caught something. Also such a beautiful bird we more or less see not that often.



After we carried on we also stopped along the road for yellow billed hornbills,



grey louries,



to our delight also for a red collared widowbird



and a yellow throated longclaw



who posed nicely on top of a bush.



A hyena came running into our direction and on the left hand side you can see how high the grass was in that area that was obviously also a reason why the hyena was moving along on the road.





Same ran unwaveringly permanent into our direction and after we drove a couple of times backwards



same decided to turn finally into the bush and disappeared out of sight.



to be continued.........................

Oops! I have fallen behind Will be back later

So sorry for only catching up now, Pumbaa!

All sorts of adventures, never knowing which roads are open, and even a poaching incident!

What a variety of birds to be found in the summer indeed!

The booted eagle shots are amazing, I wonder what the problem was?

I'm glad you enjoyed Pretoriuskop, and sorted your bookings.

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 10:49 am Oops! I have fallen behind Will be back later

Sorry, still waiting

Richprins wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 5:48 pm So sorry for only catching up now, Pumbaa!

All sorts of adventures, never knowing which roads are open, and even a poaching incident!

What a variety of birds to be found in the summer indeed!

The booted eagle shots are amazing, I wonder what the problem was?

I'm glad you enjoyed Pretoriuskop, and sorted your bookings.

We never found out the reason of the dispute between the eagle and the kite Yes, Pretoriuskop was lovely hopefully next time the loop roads are open

This morning we again turned into the S66 leading to Transport dam and for sure that road had to be driven still extreme cautious due to the wash outs at least there was not that much water flowing as yesterday but water was still flowing.

Soon we discovered a smaller crocodile taking a sunbath on one of the embankments,



water dikkops



as well as white faced ducks.



After a nice break there with the rest of the coffee we left this spot and returned to the tar road but soon got stuck in a traffic jam in which we lined up as we anyway could not do anything else and soon hit the jackpot as a bit in the distance in a large tree a leopard was lying.



Same was despite the distance extreme good visible and so lots of cars as well as OSV’s were blocking the road.

We soon looked through the binoculars and hoped that after two leopard sightings only from the back we now found one facing us and we had luck this male was facing us but was in the beginning sleeping.



Somehow we managed to find a spot along the roadside in stand-by mode with camera in hand also here the grass was extreme high and from time to time a blade of grass was blocking the view.



Finally our waiting paid off and the leopard looked into our direction obviously wondering about all the rolling junkers on the road.



Nevertheless we had once again a fantastic time despite all the other cars but as the leopard posed so nonchalant



we fired permanently away

and in between wondered about such a strange sleeping position.



We were so happy that finally we found a leopard who was willing to look into the camera







and even posed a bit – indeed some strange wishes but also this was an incredible compensation for all the closed roads.





After all we paid at that sighting around half an hour and already got an uncountable number of shots and as there was no further activity and we were satisfied we finally gave our spot to others and carried on.





to be continued.......................