tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76174469076869796522024-03-13T06:41:49.606+02:00Coral Wild - A Safari Guides DiaryCoral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-64308944899531091342022-04-19T14:57:00.001+02:002022-04-19T14:57:15.977+02:00Addo Elephant Park - It's not just elephants<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNvl7P3dQ9j2ECkrvbOzh0u2gPN52wD6JDZXqGkSiCxaP9g6xghxEGIgbj2SwvQOB9TiC4CEKB0DexnAxV67SCT5p6ujNs0p32OLXgr5x75NwSUj6m3g4qgdrXN-3lSWI7ClmktqWI0EfeyYJgA_hnOHZREYOsPRWr_NO-_rw71fdRaVMjLQQgw_S/s993/IMGS2080a_s.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNvl7P3dQ9j2ECkrvbOzh0u2gPN52wD6JDZXqGkSiCxaP9g6xghxEGIgbj2SwvQOB9TiC4CEKB0DexnAxV67SCT5p6ujNs0p32OLXgr5x75NwSUj6m3g4qgdrXN-3lSWI7ClmktqWI0EfeyYJgA_hnOHZREYOsPRWr_NO-_rw71fdRaVMjLQQgw_S/w213-h320/IMGS2080a_s.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steppe buzzard (best guess!)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;">More postings will follow about the amazing elephant experiences I had in Addo Elephant National Park in February this year, but I was lucky enough to see a lot more than just hundreds of elephant.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This is one of the postings that doesn't feature a single elephant!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I based myself at Main camp in the north of Addo for 3 nights and that gave me plenty of time to explore that scenic rolling area of thickly bushed hills and gulleys with large open areas inbetween. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It was only when I drove down the centre of the park on day 3, to exit in the south, that I realised how much more there is to see.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My next visit will definitely focus a bit more on the southern section of Addo.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This selection of photos are as a result, mostly taken in the north.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2j_bvIFutYBRBhxId_I6joFi9fA4HOWdlbS2k_0nzwYxe-5Sc-Z-G4sHzlv-qzPabUdmZfLmurQF2EfRCc-8khmddP65zkw8Ap0ztV6xu5ni20ZhwgvTBDKGxYNVwZsRaNyyVJCLqaZXYTPlwdordnMkLQaYJw1KWKnKfc4uFrb14wR3mh1F0Uxb/s759/IMGS1627b_s.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="759" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2j_bvIFutYBRBhxId_I6joFi9fA4HOWdlbS2k_0nzwYxe-5Sc-Z-G4sHzlv-qzPabUdmZfLmurQF2EfRCc-8khmddP65zkw8Ap0ztV6xu5ni20ZhwgvTBDKGxYNVwZsRaNyyVJCLqaZXYTPlwdordnMkLQaYJw1KWKnKfc4uFrb14wR3mh1F0Uxb/w400-h266/IMGS1627b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foraging for insects in old ele dung<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> There are both lion and spotted hyena in Addo, but the Black-backed jackal is also commonly seen.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSaZ4ls_4s__dFxbF-NTqSQtNoagJamPmyidldW1_K_YmG5rTyF7CEtJjh6dUt2QCcit-RywXSA9CA35X6hTVsKvI1szxSlW2-lhanrom0iLLAWwI4v6yOiZqZDXnOBPGW7edBXKdkDzaffniPmbvaGTcOS4Pe_IXyLoIjjd8NaFoIMc9-B7g1vDt/s673/IMGS1826a_s.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="673" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSaZ4ls_4s__dFxbF-NTqSQtNoagJamPmyidldW1_K_YmG5rTyF7CEtJjh6dUt2QCcit-RywXSA9CA35X6hTVsKvI1szxSlW2-lhanrom0iLLAWwI4v6yOiZqZDXnOBPGW7edBXKdkDzaffniPmbvaGTcOS4Pe_IXyLoIjjd8NaFoIMc9-B7g1vDt/w400-h266/IMGS1826a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scavenging a kudu hide<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> Some of the other smaller wildlife I saw over the 3 days..........</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3p5m0DneNcbZsYSO_f1PdFg8795ya03S5Xs6mFH0yqcQiBnEI5DUMj25q_zTDTravQX14eBAqx5axkxs-fwWOKbLvrKldazLlkvexZ2vlpBJ7dPfeJE_FfcEm07wSvZyrfc4DSQJAjjhprt74N8AGdHPV_QhhkhI2icCylOFy2xjtuSvimAprW7Z/s597/IMG_6934a_s.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="597" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3p5m0DneNcbZsYSO_f1PdFg8795ya03S5Xs6mFH0yqcQiBnEI5DUMj25q_zTDTravQX14eBAqx5axkxs-fwWOKbLvrKldazLlkvexZ2vlpBJ7dPfeJE_FfcEm07wSvZyrfc4DSQJAjjhprt74N8AGdHPV_QhhkhI2icCylOFy2xjtuSvimAprW7Z/s320/IMG_6934a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flightless dung beetle (endemic)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyAqVvCV-ZBGZ11vRiOG8rIPP3JoZ4FCgHf5IMs2-Q2dPlIOPY3x0UPFKiMCjlvQdpw6wy70b3MkJTSGbyyzd_MY4hfcubWggazMh618X07ZeMG5ijeRP8tOPZQHm4X9goQFsF0XNEoBgmDaoGmVt_nZYrisa875Z9OhkmRmSi55P5ykNuqst1LVy/s776/IMGS2191a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyAqVvCV-ZBGZ11vRiOG8rIPP3JoZ4FCgHf5IMs2-Q2dPlIOPY3x0UPFKiMCjlvQdpw6wy70b3MkJTSGbyyzd_MY4hfcubWggazMh618X07ZeMG5ijeRP8tOPZQHm4X9goQFsF0XNEoBgmDaoGmVt_nZYrisa875Z9OhkmRmSi55P5ykNuqst1LVy/w266-h400/IMGS2191a_s.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many yellow mongoose<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNTw5LR87H5ZnZJG7GmTSAoqBtE3syZalnNYNYg2RAJXtOKJ9APqmHZr57oEV9Y09Wg07NdqeWzTgVWeRvflGvro5niGZt3n-gMe0bPqv4w1t7y2yaQELhISc7i1wXyu4dEkPPlVUFkI4lNrRCDGmu8Brem9MppS4Pc4XxZXGqkjVAU5mWzpqUlo_/s815/IMGS1804a_s.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="815" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNTw5LR87H5ZnZJG7GmTSAoqBtE3syZalnNYNYg2RAJXtOKJ9APqmHZr57oEV9Y09Wg07NdqeWzTgVWeRvflGvro5niGZt3n-gMe0bPqv4w1t7y2yaQELhISc7i1wXyu4dEkPPlVUFkI4lNrRCDGmu8Brem9MppS4Pc4XxZXGqkjVAU5mWzpqUlo_/w400-h266/IMGS1804a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scrub hare (typically nocturnal)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">And although I wasn't specifically "birding", I did see a lot, including species that are not found in the north-east bushveld (Kruger NP and surrounds).</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzFHKlcl91FCXX_ajRjAPXswo6AqmgMukfLWKXS9wvWaVk11IomHcRhZKphlsaa5_5ZlgpkLrospT_XU2EPFJzqm1d3BaKBboNahM3MVkTm395J3F7nzbrfoyzNBP-ZV0oxOlbogmLPE9CDrHRDAsKT7VbeKWtdlbynx3oBYkxLk9l193Cc4CjTgb/s711/IMGS1638a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="711" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzFHKlcl91FCXX_ajRjAPXswo6AqmgMukfLWKXS9wvWaVk11IomHcRhZKphlsaa5_5ZlgpkLrospT_XU2EPFJzqm1d3BaKBboNahM3MVkTm395J3F7nzbrfoyzNBP-ZV0oxOlbogmLPE9CDrHRDAsKT7VbeKWtdlbynx3oBYkxLk9l193Cc4CjTgb/w400-h266/IMGS1638a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denham's bustard<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymQEEl_-pOLTPMNjulzDslmcyjyXres1QilbzjycuRl6UIHD-yLvK--NjVudDob7FLdDjCV5RbolFE7MDs32uWMhNZg3Je5vnSNsTNoOT0aawk9p3airi9hYY-gpO_IVJYTTBO0nZ4-rPR_UiVJK5bRho7gblLPINaHff1O7WLMQnqM8VEsOhCN1D/s720/IMGS1652a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymQEEl_-pOLTPMNjulzDslmcyjyXres1QilbzjycuRl6UIHD-yLvK--NjVudDob7FLdDjCV5RbolFE7MDs32uWMhNZg3Je5vnSNsTNoOT0aawk9p3airi9hYY-gpO_IVJYTTBO0nZ4-rPR_UiVJK5bRho7gblLPINaHff1O7WLMQnqM8VEsOhCN1D/w400-h266/IMGS1652a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowned lapwing<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOWsJwKSn9qvD9GLj59lZAfkJJcbBDLHwq-iqCySlIUhwZQ3SH55v8mv5RDjN0_HpazSI-NWaD7RKdrnW4a_fK7u-cM2QrRtBMvOIS7-o4Jd4CtFptAL_za6vVRKI04y37J5uTCDvZ73DBgXzyQ5czDIVdS2Qhesa0tR7H6Tw4mEt6pKVRdwms_xW/s925/IMGS2048a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="925" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOWsJwKSn9qvD9GLj59lZAfkJJcbBDLHwq-iqCySlIUhwZQ3SH55v8mv5RDjN0_HpazSI-NWaD7RKdrnW4a_fK7u-cM2QrRtBMvOIS7-o4Jd4CtFptAL_za6vVRKI04y37J5uTCDvZ73DBgXzyQ5czDIVdS2Qhesa0tR7H6Tw4mEt6pKVRdwms_xW/s320/IMGS2048a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather scruffy Fiscal fly-catcher<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Close to one particular road junction, a pair of ostrich had obviously placed their clutch of eggs.</p><p>On my first morning, the male ostrich was sitting on the eggs, whilst the female was out foraging in the open field across the road, and on the second morning they had swopped positions.</p><p>They gave me a great opportunity to get close up shots of their faces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO6Ri12k4vktNGFTTWPAt7HSGUsHDP4Q0eOre2kU8aX3Q97UHFO4wa8Lz0e0cRwABGnByUuClp24wVfvABaye2gHzOFUooZTuxd_8VkjBJhsjNuzADtfcPh9KZC9jF4GByjyMvw01bKyK2wpPP-CJMqRWbGeG8qeCmXCHnFndbnOWygj2Zw0P8CBc/s793/IMGS1792b-horza_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="793" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO6Ri12k4vktNGFTTWPAt7HSGUsHDP4Q0eOre2kU8aX3Q97UHFO4wa8Lz0e0cRwABGnByUuClp24wVfvABaye2gHzOFUooZTuxd_8VkjBJhsjNuzADtfcPh9KZC9jF4GByjyMvw01bKyK2wpPP-CJMqRWbGeG8qeCmXCHnFndbnOWygj2Zw0P8CBc/w400-h283/IMGS1792b-horza_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>And later on my third morning, in the south of Addo, I had ostrich mating - the pic below shows the male flirting/showing off for the female just out of the frame.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdU7avaez6UA9ilYZ8ANYJ6OuUwrSheNODUbz8YfTdmypZeTwl1VSGxHtc7peUtfgDiveILKLZM4YOfHMKf47uQW_2Z9yA5Rji0K3yCKyOUThcPZXsBTnbDJa6h9KxplCFTULqH2n5P20TwQCG7GsDDy7AatUWnDopFzNQSVElAq1T5zZyHOwftQX/s684/IMG_7068a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="684" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdU7avaez6UA9ilYZ8ANYJ6OuUwrSheNODUbz8YfTdmypZeTwl1VSGxHtc7peUtfgDiveILKLZM4YOfHMKf47uQW_2Z9yA5Rji0K3yCKyOUThcPZXsBTnbDJa6h9KxplCFTULqH2n5P20TwQCG7GsDDy7AatUWnDopFzNQSVElAq1T5zZyHOwftQX/w400-h266/IMG_7068a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Being late summer, there wasn't a spectacular amount of flowers out, but the dense thickets were full of the creamy flowered Caustic-creeper, with dashes of pink flowering spekboom and blue plumbago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN1WtzKFxhLacw0itr3k7Xt8f8oJubKqDbaEvAoMuO1Hd5hAHc8F_xauzwZ1zzrvKfQ2uX378WD8Ey8AlduNYdcUP-HhC06G7kO9hhfK85OXwDNRy84KfA35yIi4RDXH4r-SQKIcIdw2CWCvmwpTxhlLi1xB2yIhtI7OnoTm5Yup7RdCNQMj-RlrK/s797/IMG_7038a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="797" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN1WtzKFxhLacw0itr3k7Xt8f8oJubKqDbaEvAoMuO1Hd5hAHc8F_xauzwZ1zzrvKfQ2uX378WD8Ey8AlduNYdcUP-HhC06G7kO9hhfK85OXwDNRy84KfA35yIi4RDXH4r-SQKIcIdw2CWCvmwpTxhlLi1xB2yIhtI7OnoTm5Yup7RdCNQMj-RlrK/w400-h266/IMG_7038a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-veined White Butterfly on the Caustic creeper<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDDWTWj4-vW3wy1vPJCAnWKNAQ3TxAxYBTt3ZcmRgyS6a2ZUBiKMLWtHAE3gs7YE928Ek213OmEwzNgeZgdKLjiunBeiTkqApvBjoy-1t45VPUhjDmnxrg8dip-6nh5mnWnOmVAtdd_EbBEswLNsgHD85uviEJ-jN5yml38eWEb7w9sLRt0GunO2k/s890/IMGS2529a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="890" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDDWTWj4-vW3wy1vPJCAnWKNAQ3TxAxYBTt3ZcmRgyS6a2ZUBiKMLWtHAE3gs7YE928Ek213OmEwzNgeZgdKLjiunBeiTkqApvBjoy-1t45VPUhjDmnxrg8dip-6nh5mnWnOmVAtdd_EbBEswLNsgHD85uviEJ-jN5yml38eWEb7w9sLRt0GunO2k/w400-h266/IMGS2529a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spekboom</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEYhAQViCJ95RlgbsVqugwW8o5IU_NSehphSFffn8r7xtNQYqIfHf3oRVC2ycjTHo5t01V1rgxCE0GuzFGE-pTxt1xiAsSHjc_TCeRO3mg6UxX-uuHMgMnYfKVoFcHqxQwzz-3h4rd5Zbaekyak5jUos4_k65vno4n3_n2nIgWfRvrPkpNZZlLt5U/s731/IMGS2538a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="659" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEYhAQViCJ95RlgbsVqugwW8o5IU_NSehphSFffn8r7xtNQYqIfHf3oRVC2ycjTHo5t01V1rgxCE0GuzFGE-pTxt1xiAsSHjc_TCeRO3mg6UxX-uuHMgMnYfKVoFcHqxQwzz-3h4rd5Zbaekyak5jUos4_k65vno4n3_n2nIgWfRvrPkpNZZlLt5U/w360-h400/IMGS2538a_s.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plumbago</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Some more birds.......</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbTs0yUTp7_8w_u95RCT4Ca1iDs7omFyljZEhTqTBAANfL9PePyUEzdDhvZVuKn1nCOJKjy4VtSa4VOJnzACAkkUZTIPpqu72But8NkmL9JSiEfhy2FSEhb1Jkxm4psnsyB4SJ124jWEBY_Hs91Pag77PmQoHEd5CU9_6UK5cm3kjwUrLZv-JB50i/s952/IMGS2607a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="952" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbTs0yUTp7_8w_u95RCT4Ca1iDs7omFyljZEhTqTBAANfL9PePyUEzdDhvZVuKn1nCOJKjy4VtSa4VOJnzACAkkUZTIPpqu72But8NkmL9JSiEfhy2FSEhb1Jkxm4psnsyB4SJ124jWEBY_Hs91Pag77PmQoHEd5CU9_6UK5cm3kjwUrLZv-JB50i/s320/IMGS2607a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A handsome Bokmakeri<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxvoK1OI5CCWggKjmtN7bOfu7WStEYzArdOh4Uq_5ZGvccZCNFDUReKeFZtL2kXbbvWALbY8InA2tubF6_YqMhllddtk4xcCwoOM_LSfuFk57hrfbFMhBVV5hqZRCLDi6aajvZmYQ0vcddG2sjXqDUTUysN0lZDpDm-gHY_QO-brHcHa2unQRLZaZ/s1019/IMGS2611a_s.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxvoK1OI5CCWggKjmtN7bOfu7WStEYzArdOh4Uq_5ZGvccZCNFDUReKeFZtL2kXbbvWALbY8InA2tubF6_YqMhllddtk4xcCwoOM_LSfuFk57hrfbFMhBVV5hqZRCLDi6aajvZmYQ0vcddG2sjXqDUTUysN0lZDpDm-gHY_QO-brHcHa2unQRLZaZ/s320/IMGS2611a_s.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Red-backed shrike<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I saw more procreative activity in the 3 days than I've ever seen before. Those ostrich, a life-time sighting of mating elephant (will be posted about separately), and then this amazing pair of Angulate tortoises.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY8QIhO3JZvCBI4LOa2uzWxt23USlBoNTt7RtF2tAGbseojw8mtLpTf4CtlMOlSkbt_8Im9eUvlGhdqdapyA_u2jql1GnJTWs8iIHFNfxOtMz7alXt5nhyLKYVtrgleGhqXEFBHOPfiFENFqMILCpCGeqZomZqFsHkhcNOvjyCs4oLgEkFhnq1L8a/s752/IMGS2419a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="752" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY8QIhO3JZvCBI4LOa2uzWxt23USlBoNTt7RtF2tAGbseojw8mtLpTf4CtlMOlSkbt_8Im9eUvlGhdqdapyA_u2jql1GnJTWs8iIHFNfxOtMz7alXt5nhyLKYVtrgleGhqXEFBHOPfiFENFqMILCpCGeqZomZqFsHkhcNOvjyCs4oLgEkFhnq1L8a/w400-h266/IMGS2419a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>To wrap up this first, of several, postings on just 3 days in Addo Elephant National Park, I'll include an always cute pic of a warthoglet and it's mother. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFZ9rxcx10Aihna_f_ru524XFPSYX2EF374se7xzzuFH6-pD_buQRECMtPPvnWW19astFTtRrgWP20lU6mBXNIXmUya-ji1w1potHWCSYr28y5l17jnnmaFUpnSpQLF6JSSrF2Zhy9gtc3WH53Qw4lKXjxnIkSdBcqcf_h5RChnTEGnZBzg_agwDS/s750/IMGS2548a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="750" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFZ9rxcx10Aihna_f_ru524XFPSYX2EF374se7xzzuFH6-pD_buQRECMtPPvnWW19astFTtRrgWP20lU6mBXNIXmUya-ji1w1potHWCSYr28y5l17jnnmaFUpnSpQLF6JSSrF2Zhy9gtc3WH53Qw4lKXjxnIkSdBcqcf_h5RChnTEGnZBzg_agwDS/w640-h426/IMGS2548a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-49810021635188332442022-03-22T08:57:00.004+02:002022-03-22T08:59:26.090+02:00Mokala National Park - A gem of semi-arid savannah<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7bp_NiAM6-YbWB7BfwS_yMen13h6WbeYmkhhOcijy9uzSsjuuyQMOzkdMoaFHxUum6XmeatlGU3f_Te7VrV5c-ldjFsbixmDKv8GRVH5ndRfmY7ank1-NNueiurk2dq4mjKkbADtqopJlEUkUTyhSW6Dkap4XrOEW2i-07YBN_Akd1Q6xYflmNvI/s801/IMG_7825a_s.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="801" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7bp_NiAM6-YbWB7BfwS_yMen13h6WbeYmkhhOcijy9uzSsjuuyQMOzkdMoaFHxUum6XmeatlGU3f_Te7VrV5c-ldjFsbixmDKv8GRVH5ndRfmY7ank1-NNueiurk2dq4mjKkbADtqopJlEUkUTyhSW6Dkap4XrOEW2i-07YBN_Akd1Q6xYflmNvI/w400-h266/IMG_7825a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Situated only 20 kilometers south of Kimberley, the Mokala NP is the newest of the South African National Parks.<p></p><p>It has 3 of the Big 5 African mammals, but it's primary focus is the rare antelope of Southern Africa.</p><p>This image is taken looking south-west over the open grasslands of the Lilydale section towards the dolerite hills and bushveld of the Mosu section. </p><p>Note the red kalahari sand in the foreground. <br /></p><p>On my first full day in the park I had wonderful sightings in the grasslands.......</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaJVsTVeYWijV6mEjBrPptN9HlAjvloakCj_jNJvS_BzchleL4eaLjvjdJwDN3c-GQlVMnGju76w-OiTp5t_IHF63gF1v73iDsi0m2OTvYLKsaNYn2csDoOZ8kW7FE6AMVdtnFVV1HAA2gcJi4b9nOtXWBPkPBfXmDkqEwVN1NX--1usM0QpbMUWW/s1113/IMGS3228a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1113" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaJVsTVeYWijV6mEjBrPptN9HlAjvloakCj_jNJvS_BzchleL4eaLjvjdJwDN3c-GQlVMnGju76w-OiTp5t_IHF63gF1v73iDsi0m2OTvYLKsaNYn2csDoOZ8kW7FE6AMVdtnFVV1HAA2gcJi4b9nOtXWBPkPBfXmDkqEwVN1NX--1usM0QpbMUWW/w400-h266/IMGS3228a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a solitary Gemsbok (Oryx)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjRssR77gxCvc-1Sj3sxKkMlS-ObxsYPqiB1xoccKF-rPcfIiPrWEKMtgzkPrFHfgRlFlxx8fChO1aO8xOGmY6D4i84H_MIJEIqvbfjbGp2svuKx9yz30TtbjPo8fuq7ameuWKurVC5gEL3dQzcK1ZPhSvDhYoXzBv0I3t864bR6eW-RZyA1EOKg7/s948/IMGS3266a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="948" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjRssR77gxCvc-1Sj3sxKkMlS-ObxsYPqiB1xoccKF-rPcfIiPrWEKMtgzkPrFHfgRlFlxx8fChO1aO8xOGmY6D4i84H_MIJEIqvbfjbGp2svuKx9yz30TtbjPo8fuq7ameuWKurVC5gEL3dQzcK1ZPhSvDhYoXzBv0I3t864bR6eW-RZyA1EOKg7/w400-h266/IMGS3266a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roan Antelope<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p></p><p>I spent some time at the lookout point over this waterhole in the middle of the grasslands, and had a herd of Eland antelope run past, without pausing, and then this small group of Tsessebe run down to the water.<br /></p><p></p><p> Most of the summer rainfall areas of South Africa have had a really good season this year and the grasslands were lush with most of the antelope looking fat and in good condition.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj783o8YG9KvK47E2NLDdJSUiOcAq_6oGifmPG6Ep2TgkInHIqGnmt_QMDPumsH6cA2wseJxhppo9t6WYAw91EiFNtjn_VXVKis_K1uUphxY5POJNBPy7SfW3lJdyQWUGp6oG4MnZORo8vDL-xVzqBA1OC3J4tbSGLCNvc9O0uNCvHk9YdqshFazs4T/s909/IMGS3350a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="909" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj783o8YG9KvK47E2NLDdJSUiOcAq_6oGifmPG6Ep2TgkInHIqGnmt_QMDPumsH6cA2wseJxhppo9t6WYAw91EiFNtjn_VXVKis_K1uUphxY5POJNBPy7SfW3lJdyQWUGp6oG4MnZORo8vDL-xVzqBA1OC3J4tbSGLCNvc9O0uNCvHk9YdqshFazs4T/w400-h266/IMGS3350a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eland</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxnsPPpemon6pl3Y24mRQAyPzeFEY49IS3z9CBotlwjymn34obTbj4OWboQWp-1FvIItEXjBYAbt9DptvHE2XqXoT_zOC5dDGoZ54kxFyYth5hLSd3VNiNo3F9eAgg4JjeesR262cwOwXXJCbL_j8W25i4ssvFK4B0VI-9cS3z_Nc3guzEydpm49Q/s909/IMGS3350a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidinrJDQm0FIuMPB1aez96Auh_4gyJ32k-Z_rZcLz5eWhwLph6QJ2-_ibE_zu15xeAr2IQ_aLYfnyd8aL0mdpjZC22jrXRtzOaVqwlocaOG5t84rvDq4TVnrzr3cJIpeOLO2Ohl186m6zDWBVPdz7UkxptR9fbE0E2767P9cZa0vuQNnuY0fSw8tTQ/s932/IMGS3383a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="932" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidinrJDQm0FIuMPB1aez96Auh_4gyJ32k-Z_rZcLz5eWhwLph6QJ2-_ibE_zu15xeAr2IQ_aLYfnyd8aL0mdpjZC22jrXRtzOaVqwlocaOG5t84rvDq4TVnrzr3cJIpeOLO2Ohl186m6zDWBVPdz7UkxptR9fbE0E2767P9cZa0vuQNnuY0fSw8tTQ/w400-h266/IMGS3383a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsessebe</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxnsPPpemon6pl3Y24mRQAyPzeFEY49IS3z9CBotlwjymn34obTbj4OWboQWp-1FvIItEXjBYAbt9DptvHE2XqXoT_zOC5dDGoZ54kxFyYth5hLSd3VNiNo3F9eAgg4JjeesR262cwOwXXJCbL_j8W25i4ssvFK4B0VI-9cS3z_Nc3guzEydpm49Q/s909/IMGS3350a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><p>Later in the morning I went south-west to the bushveld and saw many more tsessebe, giraffe, springbok, zebra, warthog and so on.</p><p>I also got a punctured tyre!! - the camel thorn trees in this part of the world have vicious thorns!!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzb7gtYFVLUZ-gUK9zlL7u-ZIHpTsNgg861zKbdR7GpqIKFqddY0TnMkUvu2b5nHgLgeAhChcPBiUVSA4I0sGmS-CRRioVp6iucnWDwh7UhJVUERuyQHn7wpaMyUgmbi9yyu1NvP_z3muvbTm0BBAJPgMczebMwhzzx_yQaZ43CC2f34oW1LM6Iqw/s602/IMGS3494a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="602" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzb7gtYFVLUZ-gUK9zlL7u-ZIHpTsNgg861zKbdR7GpqIKFqddY0TnMkUvu2b5nHgLgeAhChcPBiUVSA4I0sGmS-CRRioVp6iucnWDwh7UhJVUERuyQHn7wpaMyUgmbi9yyu1NvP_z3muvbTm0BBAJPgMczebMwhzzx_yQaZ43CC2f34oW1LM6Iqw/w400-h266/IMGS3494a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsessebe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiCz8gOZtW575z09MSY3yENq3xb3ob6Qah8wZEwOeZx7rntwsG3f3D8f_70t6BFE3lDDdhs9ie-bdaEscl5V_1D3oMQHsnwroMa-W_RXglOgDk_G4-tc2PYEsFRf8qqNyqCzKn5KUrm_QEXH0Hym3-VyNKsIs7FEZG07J4Yy5GNFZyiMDx-G1A8gy/s801/IMGS3561b_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="801" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiCz8gOZtW575z09MSY3yENq3xb3ob6Qah8wZEwOeZx7rntwsG3f3D8f_70t6BFE3lDDdhs9ie-bdaEscl5V_1D3oMQHsnwroMa-W_RXglOgDk_G4-tc2PYEsFRf8qqNyqCzKn5KUrm_QEXH0Hym3-VyNKsIs7FEZG07J4Yy5GNFZyiMDx-G1A8gy/w400-h266/IMGS3561b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsessebe female and calves</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTAEok6ZZauEzR_GTlBoTvzixnhKlbyhYDKa5ppu-ByDZmaEAhBx6e8E06plHOb_OudbV_n-ARpnZMxOhJadIFVbpNZEuiYx9ZqmNy_pS-7Zt06OYw4EsZsk0Az-TmU5zegaUQ3Aur4L2wQeV0UyAH2IOYknv-QZXUKHrgzF68YbsXJGv2i3h1Pnt/s722/IMGS3534a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="722" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTAEok6ZZauEzR_GTlBoTvzixnhKlbyhYDKa5ppu-ByDZmaEAhBx6e8E06plHOb_OudbV_n-ARpnZMxOhJadIFVbpNZEuiYx9ZqmNy_pS-7Zt06OYw4EsZsk0Az-TmU5zegaUQ3Aur4L2wQeV0UyAH2IOYknv-QZXUKHrgzF68YbsXJGv2i3h1Pnt/w400-h266/IMGS3534a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plains zebra and a midday drink<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>On day 2, after getting my tyre fixed at the nearby little settlement of Modderrivier, I had another great day in Mokala. </p><p>This time I went meandering through the dolerite hills and valleys, which had abundant game, and then on west to the far side of Mokala, seeing more game in the flat, lush, thorn tree park lands.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNACjGjLYpNznvYT9S6ZO0JGoRAoK_vt6lU-bBB16EbPLVD3DYis19aVsJXViAuz91qe-JZOzfP1MqRkeRvecZZQ7TxmzkMM0-4q3tTNlqmdPcne8YAMm4BehNgQvo3cMzaTj8kESem6dD-53Fiim7rain2tm3kV64Zni6NlQWmqL96hEMFGOK5vb/s602/IMG_7859b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="602" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNACjGjLYpNznvYT9S6ZO0JGoRAoK_vt6lU-bBB16EbPLVD3DYis19aVsJXViAuz91qe-JZOzfP1MqRkeRvecZZQ7TxmzkMM0-4q3tTNlqmdPcne8YAMm4BehNgQvo3cMzaTj8kESem6dD-53Fiim7rain2tm3kV64Zni6NlQWmqL96hEMFGOK5vb/s320/IMG_7859b_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warthog close to camp<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiM61dlmGEVx8paxoASZ8uBu_qveaVRilAxYGq4fLZaJnUHWoXgNcZNb1mDCgM3V3JHiM_8eVTSXVFTHGSkuV1T2gT7_Xvm-oe1Sga0fdS_MjVxTR2zH4ts_rZjxB3WI2G7Kdbj6QYSPyoY1f5yXZ2CC_jnADA2giNnz5BAdt4zQ7PP_tluRUns_L/s741/IMGS3570a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="741" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiM61dlmGEVx8paxoASZ8uBu_qveaVRilAxYGq4fLZaJnUHWoXgNcZNb1mDCgM3V3JHiM_8eVTSXVFTHGSkuV1T2gT7_Xvm-oe1Sga0fdS_MjVxTR2zH4ts_rZjxB3WI2G7Kdbj6QYSPyoY1f5yXZ2CC_jnADA2giNnz5BAdt4zQ7PP_tluRUns_L/w400-h265/IMGS3570a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo sheltering from the heat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzENa8j8tyrd-gzQ7Wb3YF1UzPaufNUnS7BvqgrtiN7Iyx9zBZiJi5usf0kDzP-Ex58CDOP5e1y7nqovBAVOvGy3UzG4tZVt83vpQTFGHk-G8J_sLzdTttDJpggSY1-W9exQUwLxtJxoDBryZ4TbD429Zl92gds3bn9xt7ZlA9uuu9yzXxzbh_saUT/s818/IMGS3614b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="818" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzENa8j8tyrd-gzQ7Wb3YF1UzPaufNUnS7BvqgrtiN7Iyx9zBZiJi5usf0kDzP-Ex58CDOP5e1y7nqovBAVOvGy3UzG4tZVt83vpQTFGHk-G8J_sLzdTttDJpggSY1-W9exQUwLxtJxoDBryZ4TbD429Zl92gds3bn9xt7ZlA9uuu9yzXxzbh_saUT/w400-h214/IMGS3614b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>A herd of springbok coming down to drink.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeEgobxef8JeVSp0IJHKMtqMGRC9OpwcZY2vjsNsWERntB_eNbwmifOfKh4IuWWZAyePkEeZrWP1vOUTPFpnXdZipwx5lQIY8hzmgKCemGpRxv5mE_hhDU9ng-81IL9-WdcsjKoYDfiOcEY9zGKrhL4RLVj06SuZ_PxuqcZhLSqQ9epUnQO_9wiuH/s764/IMGS3646a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="764" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeEgobxef8JeVSp0IJHKMtqMGRC9OpwcZY2vjsNsWERntB_eNbwmifOfKh4IuWWZAyePkEeZrWP1vOUTPFpnXdZipwx5lQIY8hzmgKCemGpRxv5mE_hhDU9ng-81IL9-WdcsjKoYDfiOcEY9zGKrhL4RLVj06SuZ_PxuqcZhLSqQ9epUnQO_9wiuH/s320/IMGS3646a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vRBRGdVUA_f8Sim9l39T03EOpQpSlTbWjq1STwT_RCbupZRx2AMFvWfyNWCTZGQFCpA0jA-KZW3yugS5Iu-60ILG15KcaIEvfcVfmzghOyS3JNHa5mpNxXDuZrPyu94kr6T4OMPLDXK-NC0lWx93PKn5esF6FyD08UoROSks9eWHdVQNsPf1YRG_/s761/IMGS3658a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="761" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vRBRGdVUA_f8Sim9l39T03EOpQpSlTbWjq1STwT_RCbupZRx2AMFvWfyNWCTZGQFCpA0jA-KZW3yugS5Iu-60ILG15KcaIEvfcVfmzghOyS3JNHa5mpNxXDuZrPyu94kr6T4OMPLDXK-NC0lWx93PKn5esF6FyD08UoROSks9eWHdVQNsPf1YRG_/w400-h266/IMGS3658a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red hartebeest<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2EjopfiewQJ0z7901UB3dcFU08x7UXPOkDozID31bmC99NeWyy70hb29nlpLbkUEODOoM3JprKq0tEPzH-xbG_AjSpGvOAj_bIz6MKR2ZTwpgUARMmPIGVxyBanU_zGJmaMr4ukUed1K_b8fQrY0kjMPEETeZ5zaC_NqBCOybSNoQZ09C4xe5DFC/s703/IMGS3672a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="703" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2EjopfiewQJ0z7901UB3dcFU08x7UXPOkDozID31bmC99NeWyy70hb29nlpLbkUEODOoM3JprKq0tEPzH-xbG_AjSpGvOAj_bIz6MKR2ZTwpgUARMmPIGVxyBanU_zGJmaMr4ukUed1K_b8fQrY0kjMPEETeZ5zaC_NqBCOybSNoQZ09C4xe5DFC/w400-h266/IMGS3672a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plains zebra<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc7NhKscqOo0EdjNPsXJ62thWBLTK1C_zk43PCG7_rmWbqvoa-rHp9o8idpmNSpvEYJ_ma8XUybUMhJWCAODGgQb-yK1uMYeldfk3Ch3RbF_uYA3PtQ9G9idgTyMPG7xkm83-P4N-tlxHzYKAcDb5FTuaql1BYEruj92NCVFoZcwTwRJOX7CqBev7/s725/IMGS3680a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="725" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc7NhKscqOo0EdjNPsXJ62thWBLTK1C_zk43PCG7_rmWbqvoa-rHp9o8idpmNSpvEYJ_ma8XUybUMhJWCAODGgQb-yK1uMYeldfk3Ch3RbF_uYA3PtQ9G9idgTyMPG7xkm83-P4N-tlxHzYKAcDb5FTuaql1BYEruj92NCVFoZcwTwRJOX7CqBev7/w400-h265/IMGS3680a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gemsbok (Oryx)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixO9-YkZ1_DqFzheaq0iHKgs3DSinHvqe3TLgvsHA54zRijiVyv3pGXL3jEXVo0dDkKUs2W0RjocDEGd4ri896XCyUGZTq8fxO0AZBXvSfWhRJZLKjIEgkGibqTD2fyTxUeQ5NZoBbQbnImXW1gtoORTXjbJK0LXodwAss6HPmDjeyNJCnQwlL4KDv/s746/IMG_7920a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="746" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixO9-YkZ1_DqFzheaq0iHKgs3DSinHvqe3TLgvsHA54zRijiVyv3pGXL3jEXVo0dDkKUs2W0RjocDEGd4ri896XCyUGZTq8fxO0AZBXvSfWhRJZLKjIEgkGibqTD2fyTxUeQ5NZoBbQbnImXW1gtoORTXjbJK0LXodwAss6HPmDjeyNJCnQwlL4KDv/w400-h266/IMG_7920a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffe</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>I would definitely like to visit Mokala again, and perhaps stay in the other rest camp, Mosu, which is located in the hilly southern section.</p><p>I can also recommend Lilydale camp where I stayed this time. It's on the high bank above the Riet River and has glorious views. I include below, the view from my chalet's deck at 3 different times of the day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF63yxoLwHN1YjGG3jS-qmnCbZrLL1zyZm9SoN720FlUjNzUAXEN2ke6WQQttIg93Pwv6d3WabQ3GjVccPPsuvsotA8yV8HLm-BywftxQQ2KbYEJhCr2ijJ03BrUd1IMtgeat0Ljye1-JRjLkZu-EdgtCEh5vr3l5ZdwAp02SuL46Or7fpUXwA7W3/s821/IMG_7941a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="821" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF63yxoLwHN1YjGG3jS-qmnCbZrLL1zyZm9SoN720FlUjNzUAXEN2ke6WQQttIg93Pwv6d3WabQ3GjVccPPsuvsotA8yV8HLm-BywftxQQ2KbYEJhCr2ijJ03BrUd1IMtgeat0Ljye1-JRjLkZu-EdgtCEh5vr3l5ZdwAp02SuL46Or7fpUXwA7W3/w400-h266/IMG_7941a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early evening and sundowner time<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS-Q325whloVFOLmlQkUpS7vFGTfboBlafzqyvyGsfisTxmlNf5WLKQmRYImjxYHtdSUsY-JNcZKwgcJRbQnboYEDY1fdK7oagMQOkBfJpoWdD3HQ56ey05hQAD7z5DRWlBzIIDHtlUoI-C_eMQjzM5E2RWi122YdSUONQnVqWcUGm4YqrbUgNmoT/s1040/IMG_7850a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1040" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS-Q325whloVFOLmlQkUpS7vFGTfboBlafzqyvyGsfisTxmlNf5WLKQmRYImjxYHtdSUsY-JNcZKwgcJRbQnboYEDY1fdK7oagMQOkBfJpoWdD3HQ56ey05hQAD7z5DRWlBzIIDHtlUoI-C_eMQjzM5E2RWi122YdSUONQnVqWcUGm4YqrbUgNmoT/w400-h266/IMG_7850a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> Clear skies, and my first ever attempt at photographing the stars!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPngrqgj6NgclRDdT76wbST-if-6XWymEOUA5ILi9RbeOw-Fcr5YkIl-FKOUY0jcdq24_3ZJ3WuqgDiRFdAwuUvL2oKPz_EBs-ologADVOKtvbmCSxrJVP4LG0nPmVcgdx67cjwa68XVKkzUS4WNILgUzqdbOVXkhvN_oR9aGhtfuCm-S_JvkQFC8/s905/IMG_7942a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="905" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPngrqgj6NgclRDdT76wbST-if-6XWymEOUA5ILi9RbeOw-Fcr5YkIl-FKOUY0jcdq24_3ZJ3WuqgDiRFdAwuUvL2oKPz_EBs-ologADVOKtvbmCSxrJVP4LG0nPmVcgdx67cjwa68XVKkzUS4WNILgUzqdbOVXkhvN_oR9aGhtfuCm-S_JvkQFC8/w400-h266/IMG_7942a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn on my last morning<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>There had been some distant wildfires the previous day, so a little smoke in the atmosphere produced these wonderful colours the next morning.<br /></p><p>This little gem of a park is well worth visiting. The official website recommends a minimum of 2 nights, but I spent 3 nights and had no time to get bored. </p><p>So on your next road-trip between the south and north, or west and east of South Africa, plan to stop here for a few nights.<br /></p><br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-38834752998508151522020-12-22T10:08:00.004+02:002021-12-18T11:42:07.388+02:00Escaping to Kruger (3) - And back south again<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP7qVsdbkg-C_y_wrErtZjpATh_hFR5K6wAXAtUuJWdKWWDC4Brw9lXOSQa4zpjsQ4anCUI7Wl77rf3JelW0TWRtaSvFCFL45aQVBfogAVj67t6sxiKGa8WusmJRMnnuFOVxN0X4Dcu_ATT_jXLMNPGZHFd3qj1Qn9Egxl4Q0DqToxJYg8qefgqOu9=s879" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="879" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP7qVsdbkg-C_y_wrErtZjpATh_hFR5K6wAXAtUuJWdKWWDC4Brw9lXOSQa4zpjsQ4anCUI7Wl77rf3JelW0TWRtaSvFCFL45aQVBfogAVj67t6sxiKGa8WusmJRMnnuFOVxN0X4Dcu_ATT_jXLMNPGZHFd3qj1Qn9Egxl4Q0DqToxJYg8qefgqOu9=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levaillant's cuckoo<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: right;">For Parts 1 & 2 of this trip to Kruger please click on these links...<br /></p><p style="text-align: right;"> <a href="https://coralwild.blogspot.com/2020/12/escaping-to-kruger-1-jouney-north.html" target="_blank">The Journey North</a> </p><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://coralwild.blogspot.com/2020/12/escaping-to-kruger-2-birding-in-parfuri.html" target="_blank">Birding in the Parfuri</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">On our last morning at the Eco-training camp, and for much of the rest of the day journeying back south to Shingwedzi - it rained, rained and rained.</p><p style="text-align: right;">The animals were all drenched and often looking "miserable, but life in the bush goes on.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Fortunately for me, the rain was not so hard that I had to always keep my car windows closed.</p><p>I got damp, but, hey, it's summer in the north-eastern lowveld, so I didn't get too cold.</p><p> What struck me, was how another week into summer, with a bit of rain and more sunshine, the bush had generally got another 100% greener. I hope my pics can show you how much.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmYQYkAX7y6K0R6m9v2fJ84UZoUE6ZQSKL3fF4Sr3JGOjsIABqamJnTJjkjfU_ghzvWa6HFuyeZ9u4RitqdfK0LOtdQdcvnooJohDXGJTQbe6OTpzUyFdpuAD5TlcwDBN9kyHFije8dI6mwjo11M0444TfiiSPslds4768twJ4uzqugQfK_l0N85Af=s722" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="722" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmYQYkAX7y6K0R6m9v2fJ84UZoUE6ZQSKL3fF4Sr3JGOjsIABqamJnTJjkjfU_ghzvWa6HFuyeZ9u4RitqdfK0LOtdQdcvnooJohDXGJTQbe6OTpzUyFdpuAD5TlcwDBN9kyHFije8dI6mwjo11M0444TfiiSPslds4768twJ4uzqugQfK_l0N85Af=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p> </p><p>At Dzundwini Hill (near Punda Maria) I spent over half an hour enjoying the giraffe, impala and elephant feeding all around me.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi60wLv1rRsYqPGoavq0IHfdfxDDvTBmB680Fl8zDuS8V2LD0VnxY6xOHfduM56ppQgwnlaHGVC-v-XlJqnU6FobQ_MkaIway2y3xnjkBNH3vr4a_-cS9PCU8pvmPeNm7b6tAvB0fZHInrJ4GO8Ro3PRpbyPymZ3VPVDYGHnpahVdBpXoSCy-A9kNvz=s722" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="722" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi60wLv1rRsYqPGoavq0IHfdfxDDvTBmB680Fl8zDuS8V2LD0VnxY6xOHfduM56ppQgwnlaHGVC-v-XlJqnU6FobQ_MkaIway2y3xnjkBNH3vr4a_-cS9PCU8pvmPeNm7b6tAvB0fZHInrJ4GO8Ro3PRpbyPymZ3VPVDYGHnpahVdBpXoSCy-A9kNvz=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU8_Z_3K8cgWuXZ6xTk7hc_UzC1E9vH5qLV-PSTorwqy6Q8phpCbyPDxWow8fF978LEPpjFimsiu8Vi6X3uh-oNEQOw9nBcm9GWRNNH9IegpHvIHq8TOcTVb_w6hpwt_pTkq2LWKXciaz1XB8R2AKqjIF_O7SC1q3xTtd3_xbLa402gBlQJyA5VqKS=s690" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="690" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU8_Z_3K8cgWuXZ6xTk7hc_UzC1E9vH5qLV-PSTorwqy6Q8phpCbyPDxWow8fF978LEPpjFimsiu8Vi6X3uh-oNEQOw9nBcm9GWRNNH9IegpHvIHq8TOcTVb_w6hpwt_pTkq2LWKXciaz1XB8R2AKqjIF_O7SC1q3xTtd3_xbLa402gBlQJyA5VqKS=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p> </p><p>These young waterbuck were a little far to get really great pics of, but I really loved the lush vegetation backdrop.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU1Z0RG4sNGV5vCEvaMm5YL8NYQvxGXo3thlUPLigcqbO7WeZsMADOWyXqNriG-zwHjpVsSHOW5GVKgDLxc6TSRXeRvfnbp2YV5I1KYRZwBx7VrTSLmbyL8esdAQLt8lOIlSCEkb8ycvhr7zp5obyhv7u5_m0LcbL6GEcRjQRFS67dUhAZxUNYMxwo=s933" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="933" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU1Z0RG4sNGV5vCEvaMm5YL8NYQvxGXo3thlUPLigcqbO7WeZsMADOWyXqNriG-zwHjpVsSHOW5GVKgDLxc6TSRXeRvfnbp2YV5I1KYRZwBx7VrTSLmbyL8esdAQLt8lOIlSCEkb8ycvhr7zp5obyhv7u5_m0LcbL6GEcRjQRFS67dUhAZxUNYMxwo=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi66dQi3ttN5Fh1GNEahfraBdO0pIKWGTApOe_VBkqS8R0y7i0QrmoAZf_Z4cvv5AK9Fbo4Wiq8an4gi3zNqiyFSnYmEMo7Bd-rO0X6f_tLXrBYHHrQvFb3NWYyT4G3yT_In-P8KarIwIvA299a8PyUTinSGzKvW2pQVHtq2VqEviIW5zgIjSnPL8Wz=s752" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="752" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi66dQi3ttN5Fh1GNEahfraBdO0pIKWGTApOe_VBkqS8R0y7i0QrmoAZf_Z4cvv5AK9Fbo4Wiq8an4gi3zNqiyFSnYmEMo7Bd-rO0X6f_tLXrBYHHrQvFb3NWYyT4G3yT_In-P8KarIwIvA299a8PyUTinSGzKvW2pQVHtq2VqEviIW5zgIjSnPL8Wz=s320" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p> </p><p>Being early December, there were impala lambs everywhere and not always sheltering away under the bushes.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgp5MH3Fzme7baOSydVRjUG9DJ_qsp1XHB7TyOTmC3bLi20r5D4dqAIpjX2UpfgpzDnieJcwGJ6wZRfUAKTXxMeTvS_H2qVEkXnufmMyKmfYSJtglQPryJCnSIl3r2Nus2X9Q3RrZj8NSCE9zv6W2_m2t1S_gxXS3rQqF6kOEOHAeTGwt7y-vlDprV=s959" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="959" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgp5MH3Fzme7baOSydVRjUG9DJ_qsp1XHB7TyOTmC3bLi20r5D4dqAIpjX2UpfgpzDnieJcwGJ6wZRfUAKTXxMeTvS_H2qVEkXnufmMyKmfYSJtglQPryJCnSIl3r2Nus2X9Q3RrZj8NSCE9zv6W2_m2t1S_gxXS3rQqF6kOEOHAeTGwt7y-vlDprV=w640-h306" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjur-f99QJsl2X_uCxawY3gN2HLwZbRJT1Ty7crKzBK3gNQSWjwfQ_ORf9QYhjphYPoqIZ3kvvIpptS7fcnGH-0_KPCPWI2WeQK8KXM9QGVXQK4KrnTbsbbZaYsqIghA2HRN-kUF9T1Z76c325waR4yM8MyrkCQivGspIa79coTzjKy7x2DJupPkvVN=s572" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="572" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjur-f99QJsl2X_uCxawY3gN2HLwZbRJT1Ty7crKzBK3gNQSWjwfQ_ORf9QYhjphYPoqIZ3kvvIpptS7fcnGH-0_KPCPWI2WeQK8KXM9QGVXQK4KrnTbsbbZaYsqIghA2HRN-kUF9T1Z76c325waR4yM8MyrkCQivGspIa79coTzjKy7x2DJupPkvVN=s320" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Another 1/2 hour stop was with this troop of baboons and a small herd of nyala (females and youngsters) sheltering under some of the tall riverine trees along the Mphongolo River road.</p><p>They all looked so wet and cold!</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTWbK4S0Ku0hlV3JIXwQ8cInum9JOhMf_1tVsA8EkmPGt6GmLqZnWFVObry0usxo1Le_65uetYfbFb95SnXccwUoxMx3YYEI354ssUeHOua8xgCviFUT_o6fHm_K1OlZhDkMJ0BSpcDMcy3lJ_qNTi1gxSlU7FEZdDsjyE223SI6p0OEQ8lkWC52so=s778" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="778" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTWbK4S0Ku0hlV3JIXwQ8cInum9JOhMf_1tVsA8EkmPGt6GmLqZnWFVObry0usxo1Le_65uetYfbFb95SnXccwUoxMx3YYEI354ssUeHOua8xgCviFUT_o6fHm_K1OlZhDkMJ0BSpcDMcy3lJ_qNTi1gxSlU7FEZdDsjyE223SI6p0OEQ8lkWC52so=w400-h266" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdM2KXqMsT1KVNA1geDz1Ikz4Bhm5jE8acV2-M63040d7msZpuwbwWUUusxntHcEuV1Zt8SB3ziqTUuV5NwXkt66-v12KLwGITiBd45kUMIvePgTQroDnY4W7Y1uDs1DlB1pWM3Th1qz_SF0RImOpPDyHyIrGaQuEnx2Ch2YQ4rHhqFfYraYu_2A9b=s829" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="829" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdM2KXqMsT1KVNA1geDz1Ikz4Bhm5jE8acV2-M63040d7msZpuwbwWUUusxntHcEuV1Zt8SB3ziqTUuV5NwXkt66-v12KLwGITiBd45kUMIvePgTQroDnY4W7Y1uDs1DlB1pWM3Th1qz_SF0RImOpPDyHyIrGaQuEnx2Ch2YQ4rHhqFfYraYu_2A9b=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfMiMdVavDrYA_Xi9Wf09rhVlms3DkBoB-xzY4bvi1lXVcCFUQv67GI7rOxz4ODVc1I3qcYFeyzoNUlj2sL8y5gh9EjR5Ij9offBIC16yqcXFbq0cPCyB4SP7pK57tSKtgAKqW2NwE_GgZigM88IxJH3DiGeDS3vfUHm9XBENt7k6gNZH00pfbFie4=s855" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="855" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfMiMdVavDrYA_Xi9Wf09rhVlms3DkBoB-xzY4bvi1lXVcCFUQv67GI7rOxz4ODVc1I3qcYFeyzoNUlj2sL8y5gh9EjR5Ij9offBIC16yqcXFbq0cPCyB4SP7pK57tSKtgAKqW2NwE_GgZigM88IxJH3DiGeDS3vfUHm9XBENt7k6gNZH00pfbFie4=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXjLeI6X17i9tRq7uAjzoCcg8DvXR67b4MTY1Qvb6graoYKtx6XGBmQMCNCAF1-umrAd-JqvPakzN4TxWvDxzzSKeZ0EsG4Q-kmhjaXFQTHd9_V4HrOJ2K2kJA6bxndqDyQlHcFNCZl6JkxJXfUuV_BrefoyJtx8ASmIR9VlwvIgGYStXN36INIoiv=s820" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="820" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXjLeI6X17i9tRq7uAjzoCcg8DvXR67b4MTY1Qvb6graoYKtx6XGBmQMCNCAF1-umrAd-JqvPakzN4TxWvDxzzSKeZ0EsG4Q-kmhjaXFQTHd9_V4HrOJ2K2kJA6bxndqDyQlHcFNCZl6JkxJXfUuV_BrefoyJtx8ASmIR9VlwvIgGYStXN36INIoiv=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the second day of the journey south, I was based in Shingwedzi Camp, and I only took one, relatively short, mid-day game drive along the river. The weather had cooled down even further so there weren't a lot of large animals out and about, but I got some great birding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are just the birds that decided to perch in the bushes quite close to me, <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMi1zET_VgLe9g_IbeDE8pLt1a-5WwSVQFVjiNkZa8ZyU43IFr7PCgnAYMequZu1FL_HynBJ0FN8WLwHUqZ-Qt0JfVpNOmcWlo9jOUT0PRrknCc5S_gFf4oPeIN1qub-Cc8eqLNlWpNcdoZM_5-4Xk3dCefmd1cKeI03sTG-Zc-dGsLwlJwCAcmdAx=s958" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="958" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMi1zET_VgLe9g_IbeDE8pLt1a-5WwSVQFVjiNkZa8ZyU43IFr7PCgnAYMequZu1FL_HynBJ0FN8WLwHUqZ-Qt0JfVpNOmcWlo9jOUT0PRrknCc5S_gFf4oPeIN1qub-Cc8eqLNlWpNcdoZM_5-4Xk3dCefmd1cKeI03sTG-Zc-dGsLwlJwCAcmdAx=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodland kingfisher<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVkvptYx0sirv1-Ddvx-ygtTV2K_0hbUS72TRd_uiee8FShAq_Zmt2eukxszqg9BNi-JBuhw2waNdmqwKupDAdxTRbysyfB22kumXY6g8eS247YIv9HqBPa1ekvji5NHVO71b55W_g3Tna-Za9b7W2I3bbtnFDmxMfV5En6-NG_D8TNKv67QhqewwT=s1023" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1023" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVkvptYx0sirv1-Ddvx-ygtTV2K_0hbUS72TRd_uiee8FShAq_Zmt2eukxszqg9BNi-JBuhw2waNdmqwKupDAdxTRbysyfB22kumXY6g8eS247YIv9HqBPa1ekvji5NHVO71b55W_g3Tna-Za9b7W2I3bbtnFDmxMfV5En6-NG_D8TNKv67QhqewwT=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-fronted bee-eater<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZb10sUtXYECjYhR4zQxuuWfdvxGqUHXq0RXwUL4thmzK5EgEoD8xcvauZPHOzfFAPvt0SqS-E4akcRKW513q9r3HKgwegPRvubnzFOP5w5gIAfWJgeXJX6lRNCpOZ77bpAxohiDYYOFBukRbcA7hvGgVel2CXZGDCWh8DPw-X0Z0E8nLF6Q2VZLbx=s912" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="912" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZb10sUtXYECjYhR4zQxuuWfdvxGqUHXq0RXwUL4thmzK5EgEoD8xcvauZPHOzfFAPvt0SqS-E4akcRKW513q9r3HKgwegPRvubnzFOP5w5gIAfWJgeXJX6lRNCpOZ77bpAxohiDYYOFBukRbcA7hvGgVel2CXZGDCWh8DPw-X0Z0E8nLF6Q2VZLbx=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African hoopoe</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 3, found me traveling south to Letaba Rest Camp, and although it remained overcast, the rain had stopped.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmbnqAc-WUMw3JpRV7e4L_US6P_YJKYxB_v2ZYG3cO_YN4Wl_nBPflHqGlHIMmXe67N01Xot4WLsU0vRsiges6Epzr2pvmgdWGT2nj6APH8tut8Zg-RFsZyDlmARylbfS5RQSAEtKRL05crjsqSMi5IIJlB8Fjm32v18ioOkQ6oaHM7Vuy9TIlYYNW=s602" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="602" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmbnqAc-WUMw3JpRV7e4L_US6P_YJKYxB_v2ZYG3cO_YN4Wl_nBPflHqGlHIMmXe67N01Xot4WLsU0vRsiges6Epzr2pvmgdWGT2nj6APH8tut8Zg-RFsZyDlmARylbfS5RQSAEtKRL05crjsqSMi5IIJlB8Fjm32v18ioOkQ6oaHM7Vuy9TIlYYNW=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table> In the morning I saw not much at all, except for this stunning Water monitor lizard at the bird hide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By early afternoon I had hit Nshawu vlei which is a beautiful open area stretching over 20km north to south draining the water run off from the Lebombo range on the eastern border (of Kruger and South Africa). At this time of the year it has sweet, short, green grass, water and lots of animals!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsM0B7kemKi4dRTclOJepQ_Z0i6pPmGoUF2XwjotWBkza0FViyJjCoGSLjMjMDECGFYvQn-tkwAAwcypyLUKVjaN7Z_2IVB8VYdBjBNDndrB5ZN-X00YwUbvOZcADWroMDg6tf--4FLLVJxZULIimbD2hE1oiZRmUSFPyOfobkgj_6uX3gIR_lBlnG=s995" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="995" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsM0B7kemKi4dRTclOJepQ_Z0i6pPmGoUF2XwjotWBkza0FViyJjCoGSLjMjMDECGFYvQn-tkwAAwcypyLUKVjaN7Z_2IVB8VYdBjBNDndrB5ZN-X00YwUbvOZcADWroMDg6tf--4FLLVJxZULIimbD2hE1oiZRmUSFPyOfobkgj_6uX3gIR_lBlnG=w640-h352" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTl2REQS15cPXoC5eicafPwbBVcTymroUKu5l24MdM0Tch1K989Du5QD5OC_rpjGpilYteXdqHbG-NuydaXB0iTMaiQbX9cvmNRhbUVlb6y37pxHp6Wje5iz27tWglkgyzf31X7-NNSQ7fYn5HTANb2znpCgL3jzyr0nxe7ThVyaR11jlDk5slNPFk=s801" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="532" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTl2REQS15cPXoC5eicafPwbBVcTymroUKu5l24MdM0Tch1K989Du5QD5OC_rpjGpilYteXdqHbG-NuydaXB0iTMaiQbX9cvmNRhbUVlb6y37pxHp6Wje5iz27tWglkgyzf31X7-NNSQ7fYn5HTANb2znpCgL3jzyr0nxe7ThVyaR11jlDk5slNPFk=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6ra6Y05EiyewEaB43Wktx9caHm7TVV0Qhw9S-wgyfwNSreXbVFnqG_vtqBE_foprXFPLvau91rlve_LBuVllgF24S7A_ekB34YUdzHqzBm2TrxvLbq5RxwhFP9WoPnx4_lc4I6IA8Wb7junlZHZm1rf9qKNxhEiuz_-6ID90y6KPZtUp8boWfnybn=s754" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="754" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6ra6Y05EiyewEaB43Wktx9caHm7TVV0Qhw9S-wgyfwNSreXbVFnqG_vtqBE_foprXFPLvau91rlve_LBuVllgF24S7A_ekB34YUdzHqzBm2TrxvLbq5RxwhFP9WoPnx4_lc4I6IA8Wb7junlZHZm1rf9qKNxhEiuz_-6ID90y6KPZtUp8boWfnybn=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> It was a long day on the road. and I was very thankful to have my favourite hut and view of the Letaba River to relax with a glass of wine. A big bonus was the sun breaking through and lighting up the river!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ31yNzgNiwz9BYuWXiHQ4NmS_vZfBWaWLmANjyIMi3hVEAVfLPYtaQXHFbUp1UvJ4KtVDtc6QN_ybd2beXVfFHtu1jUSnt6CFfhKElvcp68zpojoj_hPZpxXCryRMX5fXmry4_I1n6hnJQkECiHcKuCtAy-ppsKnqBCCvxLMtIR9SReFTKObHGH8K=s944" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="944" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ31yNzgNiwz9BYuWXiHQ4NmS_vZfBWaWLmANjyIMi3hVEAVfLPYtaQXHFbUp1UvJ4KtVDtc6QN_ybd2beXVfFHtu1jUSnt6CFfhKElvcp68zpojoj_hPZpxXCryRMX5fXmry4_I1n6hnJQkECiHcKuCtAy-ppsKnqBCCvxLMtIR9SReFTKObHGH8K=w400-h231" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are impala, waterbuck & birds in view!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As often happens, the weather was clear and sunny on my last morning drive out of Kruger. Of course the temperatures and humidity were exponentially higher.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This old buffalo interrupted his feasting for a brief moment to eyeball me...<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLuICvs3QclO17JPgNEcr2hfaMC_ywpypAk9GamSqG2m8RpYjgUuUv6jF_vrmqIpF3nMwc4wxE8jCaXUedESpfc80HkdZdlEPbSGioaPNSpofLeyH51ZoXlkF7LO88gd4CWpk-aqoDJkr1lgJRE0QVTikFwafE4Q5xfaVA0AajJ3DhhMSjIiud1ysU=s666" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="666" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLuICvs3QclO17JPgNEcr2hfaMC_ywpypAk9GamSqG2m8RpYjgUuUv6jF_vrmqIpF3nMwc4wxE8jCaXUedESpfc80HkdZdlEPbSGioaPNSpofLeyH51ZoXlkF7LO88gd4CWpk-aqoDJkr1lgJRE0QVTikFwafE4Q5xfaVA0AajJ3DhhMSjIiud1ysU=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was an amazing trip to Kruger, the first since the pandemic really hit us, and until I can return to working (on safari with clients) in the Kruger I will try to do trips like this more often.<br /></div>Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-83816836422864584372020-12-17T11:34:00.004+02:002021-12-18T11:39:47.505+02:00Escaping to Kruger (2) - Birding in the Parfuri<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQoSS1K4kOGf9fheePNEKAVJK0AJHcPuEkn4OpkWa87qE7eweP2BIaivazDffpJwWrvjUqk9KIavfEkVSR-MaB9cDZ6kX5dzM-4V3BDxOdKFxgj1rpaEngLEuiYubRMMK-QdtvObIuMhxf29qAC3Cb6U91x6F5NPHEb4JNL_0sg7yePnFZwLW-L2Wi=s840" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="840" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQoSS1K4kOGf9fheePNEKAVJK0AJHcPuEkn4OpkWa87qE7eweP2BIaivazDffpJwWrvjUqk9KIavfEkVSR-MaB9cDZ6kX5dzM-4V3BDxOdKFxgj1rpaEngLEuiYubRMMK-QdtvObIuMhxf29qAC3Cb6U91x6F5NPHEb4JNL_0sg7yePnFZwLW-L2Wi=w400-h233" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Parfuri region in Kruger National Park<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: center;">For the post on the first part of my trip, click on this link <a href="https://coralwild.blogspot.com/2020/12/escaping-to-kruger-1-jouney-north.html" target="_blank">Escaping Kruger (1) - The Journey North</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoNsKX6vXk0C_eZTk631IhO_jOg8G4WFEb9sMcLFYKy4LPF1r7CA3R7YprP4NbjyGAkgkIOtj1vPtyibkhvau90EmJHgl7NkaMTBTrL3uYW4XRZ5J_F5LRMt9-k9qVzdTl0s_raroMAd_iFH_BROijZu5wa09PfeuwzJvh4dxgnd_-C0fypMQUs8FO=s1234" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1234" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoNsKX6vXk0C_eZTk631IhO_jOg8G4WFEb9sMcLFYKy4LPF1r7CA3R7YprP4NbjyGAkgkIOtj1vPtyibkhvau90EmJHgl7NkaMTBTrL3uYW4XRZ5J_F5LRMt9-k9qVzdTl0s_raroMAd_iFH_BROijZu5wa09PfeuwzJvh4dxgnd_-C0fypMQUs8FO=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baobabs are common</td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> I had booked on a Birding Course with Eco-training, but my main motivation was to "just be"in the Parfuri, enjoying the walks and game drives in areas and ecozones unique to this particular region of Kruger.</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;"></p><p>One consequence of this was that photography took a back seat, for a change. I always had my compact camera with me, but the Penatx and big lens stayed packed away in my tent.</p><p> So no bird photos and any pics of animals are a little distant, or lower quality.</p><p>However, I hope you enjoy my landscape pics!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5pu0yiBbOEQrA2C0a7sMOyIwIfYkeWKWikoVyif_8fL5u-S6PmdnHyBWcNJ6xUABpTXFd_65v46shW7EN54VowYmwMijQlAPLZ6Qk4hsH7IdSjk5BKMb8GNKnh0IrJ8ZiIgkWcR26kumK4xDHbj_RgPbFPTHo1XevbANVRUA7ffzHgmSQmie-0OH3=s831" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="831" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5pu0yiBbOEQrA2C0a7sMOyIwIfYkeWKWikoVyif_8fL5u-S6PmdnHyBWcNJ6xUABpTXFd_65v46shW7EN54VowYmwMijQlAPLZ6Qk4hsH7IdSjk5BKMb8GNKnh0IrJ8ZiIgkWcR26kumK4xDHbj_RgPbFPTHo1XevbANVRUA7ffzHgmSQmie-0OH3=w640-h278" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fever tree forest<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqYfMN9yXy53XOLRkVc7TmYREvgFKT2V8mG0M01HykhjnwHT2P2y7WPRHDMCtWsBFUuNv-QuDgQcR_va88fVfvPukIcgEY421khsQ09k69V6OEJEy3c6qj-U3vi9GOo8FaQ3FyPLioAMQOkzSEeJVfy7P8_d5FRkrwGbv5ihxc12f0IY7JQAbgmh3h=s780" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqYfMN9yXy53XOLRkVc7TmYREvgFKT2V8mG0M01HykhjnwHT2P2y7WPRHDMCtWsBFUuNv-QuDgQcR_va88fVfvPukIcgEY421khsQ09k69V6OEJEy3c6qj-U3vi9GOo8FaQ3FyPLioAMQOkzSEeJVfy7P8_d5FRkrwGbv5ihxc12f0IY7JQAbgmh3h=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only 4 of us on the course<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Between camp and the Limpopo River there is a wonderful Fever tree forest.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We saw a lot of birds, heard even more and had a bit of an adrenalin rush when buffalo ran through the thick bush not far from us.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH950FnDjxwIJ9tcGeGj2WGlHjQ9vwReedz2sWP7BGWEWS9SNWUXiQkMzIL94sBvL9dcqFSvxXFIAgZVFCFHP5HrXGoUNX3cLhkHChp3hRZyZJUJ7FJXH1ihulUBNMLwzwSgOOIXj-q3w3WrFRLa4kXUKFvupgxw5WKYuito2eEM_5HsWJidbqfJAK=s684" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="684" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH950FnDjxwIJ9tcGeGj2WGlHjQ9vwReedz2sWP7BGWEWS9SNWUXiQkMzIL94sBvL9dcqFSvxXFIAgZVFCFHP5HrXGoUNX3cLhkHChp3hRZyZJUJ7FJXH1ihulUBNMLwzwSgOOIXj-q3w3WrFRLa4kXUKFvupgxw5WKYuito2eEM_5HsWJidbqfJAK=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant & calf, not far from camp<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>One afternoon, we made the long drive to Crooks Corner on the Limpopo River, where the boundaries of 3 countries (South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) all meet. <p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisfXwopyp9iuly-OPcG3TqYe0WnS3ob-3VfB26OB_FWOfPrl7eVkJ24tw8ntDo791DxCktY2csnzzpCf_xAGlDnVPG9Xk482lCWXBwwG9BblKBM7COMZ_iLZgvYwHnAKBTdMSCruum9GGCkAE2D-ac-qdZR1AkUgZ3XgDbYVG6sFRJhfA_xPLjSUCz=s780" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisfXwopyp9iuly-OPcG3TqYe0WnS3ob-3VfB26OB_FWOfPrl7eVkJ24tw8ntDo791DxCktY2csnzzpCf_xAGlDnVPG9Xk482lCWXBwwG9BblKBM7COMZ_iLZgvYwHnAKBTdMSCruum9GGCkAE2D-ac-qdZR1AkUgZ3XgDbYVG6sFRJhfA_xPLjSUCz=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A healthy herd of Eland antelope<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> And the excitement!!!! My first sighting ever of Eland antelope in Kruger. There were quite a few youngsters and some beautiful mature bulls. This was when I was sorry I didn't have my bigger camera with me!<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="800" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqocCFZcmK9YEo-WxypsNmBkdMApnA_kuvvAKmymcnVbgVhkdWYiWCCGq06vNdZafVA9VpLuhIpXdIorNijs-FDfaZz9K3NnVfSYkGdpF4a2ckhp-MbL12NSR2Tl_5AH-BMz_aKNStPemdGGRLditRYi9g8QSre_sffiuobzlY4J_bNd-YLO9bnSsi=w400-h216" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo and baobabs<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On another morning we went to the spectacular Lanner Gorge where the Luvuvhu River cuts through the sandstone ridges symbolic of this part of Kruger.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT8SEX91YxLfnDLaTEvNDZEFKAFiTOyskAGN1qqvyWCqOcEXPgoPvdiFooEP9jkpxcK6rBw5OyLl9TIeajwXJNsNEXNkKme0Hljht4cjvfqieT_WEtaCa5WuI9NT55UnzKAIN7VHxtm-oNnxoSuyrAETPXDKWVg-AHWja4xtL8ucm9cuBMCrY5vE-6=s1097" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="1097" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT8SEX91YxLfnDLaTEvNDZEFKAFiTOyskAGN1qqvyWCqOcEXPgoPvdiFooEP9jkpxcK6rBw5OyLl9TIeajwXJNsNEXNkKme0Hljht4cjvfqieT_WEtaCa5WuI9NT55UnzKAIN7VHxtm-oNnxoSuyrAETPXDKWVg-AHWja4xtL8ucm9cuBMCrY5vE-6=w640-h226" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIewtDWfRuahaQA9uQwMJtx18Vd_7MeJmGs2ycS04RG4WSyPWzLuMSaiyougkY4-NseOa9irKgNU62xs1J_Qr8bXFC6AHcez2DaRCkdHdK0fTJmBgZoV4rt7TwSZsKp9xq53AgXoDjD_4xfRAmB3PhXHT4RKi4k9Ae_2lsWe0yA7oaqpf1DE9cIln7=s1040" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1040" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIewtDWfRuahaQA9uQwMJtx18Vd_7MeJmGs2ycS04RG4WSyPWzLuMSaiyougkY4-NseOa9irKgNU62xs1J_Qr8bXFC6AHcez2DaRCkdHdK0fTJmBgZoV4rt7TwSZsKp9xq53AgXoDjD_4xfRAmB3PhXHT4RKi4k9Ae_2lsWe0yA7oaqpf1DE9cIln7=s320" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQIv-B0I6MD47tahcIFtaoUARudjGConFEuQf5ifDZMb2L7YdF8sHv89Gxo4xZ7gqkCrLzJe_bzj4VZ917iwMnkqYE12yhtxuJGJVrWXV7OBmGtZayZD1mOf94N5zxI7fkzT1aKgLIfUio-kiX2ir37TXutwCaXDQNlHKAgJQHpTFH688uOfI5Fcny=s727" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="727" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQIv-B0I6MD47tahcIFtaoUARudjGConFEuQf5ifDZMb2L7YdF8sHv89Gxo4xZ7gqkCrLzJe_bzj4VZ917iwMnkqYE12yhtxuJGJVrWXV7OBmGtZayZD1mOf94N5zxI7fkzT1aKgLIfUio-kiX2ir37TXutwCaXDQNlHKAgJQHpTFH688uOfI5Fcny=s320" width="320" /></a></div> Some of flowers coming up after the early rains<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On our last full day, the two trainee field guides on our course were required to do their exams, whilst the two of us who were there just for "fun"went on a long walk with the camp's Chief instructor/manager.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheC4KaEeheJRoFZBceZkQ5l6C1V_fBmsV9UykWE5Ksc9d6HkvJeMljJoImpWQj3ykgXS15BBlFYHK7KCbfnoENCY6ZdPciKa4JllZ-BAYg2o452cP4KhvzeIYJZSZUaX4uRR2ZAFjitgNoD7FzQREbqImx57K-BZjLOssa_9hGGzRrzGzSNwm3r_Jt=s1040" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1040" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheC4KaEeheJRoFZBceZkQ5l6C1V_fBmsV9UykWE5Ksc9d6HkvJeMljJoImpWQj3ykgXS15BBlFYHK7KCbfnoENCY6ZdPciKa4JllZ-BAYg2o452cP4KhvzeIYJZSZUaX4uRR2ZAFjitgNoD7FzQREbqImx57K-BZjLOssa_9hGGzRrzGzSNwm3r_Jt=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We started out at 4.30am every morning, being mid-summer, and on this day we had a welcome break from the cloud cover to have a stunning sunrise.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-d55x4ojLMdtlm05YjzaY2TEPjgLvtFLZaoppqTnW4EisfbiC1_VJAKDHm9GuIlkOPnPyGtKGI75ehb07-0uOCj2TYVoCNwBxbv4yzlnCfbCmJ8x-rrJ7hyAej4N44Ch9IpwYB8NYZoKuW80k4JDXAVGfO_Z4vGv16P8WNmi49MOL6qUD_oR76rv5=s1010" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1010" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-d55x4ojLMdtlm05YjzaY2TEPjgLvtFLZaoppqTnW4EisfbiC1_VJAKDHm9GuIlkOPnPyGtKGI75ehb07-0uOCj2TYVoCNwBxbv4yzlnCfbCmJ8x-rrJ7hyAej4N44Ch9IpwYB8NYZoKuW80k4JDXAVGfO_Z4vGv16P8WNmi49MOL6qUD_oR76rv5=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon-fly</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Some of the insects we found.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaTlpRIhbU2CfLxGa5MOCunEbAVXFwskPIBROo4F_pO-9JNMKa3s9Kl_c8Qz_gZP_t_mCsQlTEhAYbiB6_ZaYWjEHnV_KsCMlmgtYmMnQKa7pQDQ_7Et-ZM_GvXYZoFuGRSZgfG0flMjf2y69mJtPi4EdaargzbvMoq1HRcWPwDHE7MwvJez30Rkzr=s684" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="684" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaTlpRIhbU2CfLxGa5MOCunEbAVXFwskPIBROo4F_pO-9JNMKa3s9Kl_c8Qz_gZP_t_mCsQlTEhAYbiB6_ZaYWjEHnV_KsCMlmgtYmMnQKa7pQDQ_7Et-ZM_GvXYZoFuGRSZgfG0flMjf2y69mJtPi4EdaargzbvMoq1HRcWPwDHE7MwvJez30Rkzr=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dung beetles<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpcEIWJqy2t9KDvV2N0TUtLdAigM5-bro_V2tvZHPDGPfRFmO8hhyG6-z2FmqRPRnQ7wZZU64pgh8IVfMHVVqgSM2cqRbN2PEOy-E0wf4iqs-2U1iAc5or2TC6aFqEq11TBvf162IYT_MpMu1Dp3xYcPNkry0fPuRkHuXj5Fw2Jg-p6ARtIDaCnTe5=s683" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="683" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpcEIWJqy2t9KDvV2N0TUtLdAigM5-bro_V2tvZHPDGPfRFmO8hhyG6-z2FmqRPRnQ7wZZU64pgh8IVfMHVVqgSM2cqRbN2PEOy-E0wf4iqs-2U1iAc5or2TC6aFqEq11TBvf162IYT_MpMu1Dp3xYcPNkry0fPuRkHuXj5Fw2Jg-p6ARtIDaCnTe5=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Luvuvhu flood plain</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>And in the late afternoon, we went for a drive and sundowner stop at the Mutale River gorge.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhSqYzPBTrk9orQa70fwed1m38Fc-Wn-5kowNE894u4z6too9P-xLmEXSy5FGbE93HwwgTrxyf4PJJM0TaBO9tkLvkb8kZBKzev6EU-uzlmitd7Ugmjdiz_jvUM8R-xNgYzSm2MVQaw4r1aWLzMFhjfwZWWEKsspkMJzggDhxLarELSMztlnIH_51y=s876" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="876" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhSqYzPBTrk9orQa70fwed1m38Fc-Wn-5kowNE894u4z6too9P-xLmEXSy5FGbE93HwwgTrxyf4PJJM0TaBO9tkLvkb8kZBKzev6EU-uzlmitd7Ugmjdiz_jvUM8R-xNgYzSm2MVQaw4r1aWLzMFhjfwZWWEKsspkMJzggDhxLarELSMztlnIH_51y=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Overall, I had a wonderful 6 days in the Parfuri. It was mostly overcast, which is not great for photography, but certainly kept the temperatures a little more tolerable.</p><p>Then, I headed south for 3 days back through Kruger (see the next post for more animal pics).</p><p><a href="https://coralwild.blogspot.com/2020/12/escaping-to-kruger-3-and-back-south.html">Going back south again</a><br /></p>Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-63753326376357946342020-12-15T11:43:00.007+02:002021-12-16T12:40:43.366+02:00Escaping to Kruger (1) - The journey north<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirP5SDUj2zDC17Hj8u-oO-FLVuYNkF3Y_xKCpdNs3RvcxIRK2zBEIwtnUg2h4W_Wkte10IP0oxolFl1vpmYBxdLDxsdbLvis98enxtfyd65rNasm6kvfioximOBcWkTcz7cXfNwgQyNjvU374e_rFVMG64hQUMi8rusAON9SV6z-zexoYYs4AbIQ0F=s701" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="701" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirP5SDUj2zDC17Hj8u-oO-FLVuYNkF3Y_xKCpdNs3RvcxIRK2zBEIwtnUg2h4W_Wkte10IP0oxolFl1vpmYBxdLDxsdbLvis98enxtfyd65rNasm6kvfioximOBcWkTcz7cXfNwgQyNjvU374e_rFVMG64hQUMi8rusAON9SV6z-zexoYYs4AbIQ0F=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>After another four months in urban, semi-isolation I was feeling a desperate need to get back to the bush. I'd been wanting to return to the Parfuri region of Kruger ever since the birding course I did with Eco-Training there in 2009. So with that target in mind I started planning.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBG6TbxNhQB9z80sfsKEsBCJVdqGYsgA8EvHVZL08E3HRIFXqHo9du0_d3DvRy75dFxG1fHTW9feHH-4Y3Vi7FrecrA_hGDd7p8yq7WvuuUOTT0IHxWoVFkXY2kjnNXlGCoM6q317urELMvGXYx4lRlFfk2SbOM14-oc9ZD_q9qHlo10PLQHxBldrG=s840" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="840" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBG6TbxNhQB9z80sfsKEsBCJVdqGYsgA8EvHVZL08E3HRIFXqHo9du0_d3DvRy75dFxG1fHTW9feHH-4Y3Vi7FrecrA_hGDd7p8yq7WvuuUOTT0IHxWoVFkXY2kjnNXlGCoM6q317urELMvGXYx4lRlFfk2SbOM14-oc9ZD_q9qHlo10PLQHxBldrG=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Parfuri is the northern-most section of Kruger, stretching along the Luvuvhu and Limpopo River floodplains and bounded by Zimbabwe and Mozambique. </p><p>Most of it is inaccessible to the general public. You have to be a guest at one of the private lodges, or on course with Eco-training to get to see it's highlights.</p><p></p><p>It's a very long drive from Johannesburg, so I planned to enter Kruger further south at Phalaborwa and stay a night each at Letaba and Shingwedzi Rest Camps on my way north to start the birding course.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6UT1Q7j25Vy-TbdPKao2E5T57gVgaqqj8qg_eOrxV2U1d1Ut0CRfAfNk6nkcxmaLW_gcGASJzQPVq0_dK61bE2CyR6bl03YTDOLPDD829FTmAhYb4AhnENOWaySmmLjwxfLwvmVMMMlYOdsoU4BioEru3QyvN_SeZeqlOMYDWrQLYoXH5TabQOhjA=s1115" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1115" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6UT1Q7j25Vy-TbdPKao2E5T57gVgaqqj8qg_eOrxV2U1d1Ut0CRfAfNk6nkcxmaLW_gcGASJzQPVq0_dK61bE2CyR6bl03YTDOLPDD829FTmAhYb4AhnENOWaySmmLjwxfLwvmVMMMlYOdsoU4BioEru3QyvN_SeZeqlOMYDWrQLYoXH5TabQOhjA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Southern Ground Hornbill<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Being near the beginning of the rainy season, the bush was a weird mix of browns and bright greens.</p><p>At the start of my trip, there was some fresh, new, green grass coming up, especially near the roads, and the mopani trees/shrubs were all shining with brilliant new leaf.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuz8fIhP9K9NeoJQjVa2QdPJfCWSQSohPddbhxIl9t7dClS3aQ-1zqr4_hRxMza-HBIIHj6HbbVKxKQAdItxbzdkx-Ec5rbjDMJppoYd2XZ57ZvZoqcPXCYcOmpZ2ZSzUxmIbHsU6se-6s2_e-Qxf8ICIWitvgzJ5S6zmB5ixkt36ZdBMTUEt5Scd8=s779" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="779" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuz8fIhP9K9NeoJQjVa2QdPJfCWSQSohPddbhxIl9t7dClS3aQ-1zqr4_hRxMza-HBIIHj6HbbVKxKQAdItxbzdkx-Ec5rbjDMJppoYd2XZ57ZvZoqcPXCYcOmpZ2ZSzUxmIbHsU6se-6s2_e-Qxf8ICIWitvgzJ5S6zmB5ixkt36ZdBMTUEt5Scd8=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skittish zebra at Mooiplaas waterhole<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxEmpTHCfXOiJF2xE5lkejiceaP04W-4qNOJr_wF9ezvK34qRLM1P67iC5D8B7MDowRgGk6Xm8mZEbUpwLr0bnTeMPT_Ie-SLyHH7XrucJmSa1XsJNjFd3QZmUsAj1TgZXKFzB3L32xAsARWcnp0bLFYy_DTD-e-GI8qowTH68m8gC8-tFwJceEjNg=s902" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="902" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxEmpTHCfXOiJF2xE5lkejiceaP04W-4qNOJr_wF9ezvK34qRLM1P67iC5D8B7MDowRgGk6Xm8mZEbUpwLr0bnTeMPT_Ie-SLyHH7XrucJmSa1XsJNjFd3QZmUsAj1TgZXKFzB3L32xAsARWcnp0bLFYy_DTD-e-GI8qowTH68m8gC8-tFwJceEjNg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zebra and wildebeest looking for that new grass<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> The downside of this time of the year is the abundance of cloudy skies, so not ideal for photography.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbGM7NB5yn5M5k1Ye6ogewMHcUfzicgOcgkdQz1lsloDvcAEprIcrx-eBArxQomaghOsy3qnoH3l9qy9weeTktQiIcxfNGdN8kdzSryfQMMzTJ2JfVOQ4LVqcwuw2XBzGt62FyHt-mWum4EC8VTAIXzDuzNZ7MtALYyJ1lFnSgGiW-eq2tkg_h2s0o=s940" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="940" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbGM7NB5yn5M5k1Ye6ogewMHcUfzicgOcgkdQz1lsloDvcAEprIcrx-eBArxQomaghOsy3qnoH3l9qy9weeTktQiIcxfNGdN8kdzSryfQMMzTJ2JfVOQ4LVqcwuw2XBzGt62FyHt-mWum4EC8VTAIXzDuzNZ7MtALYyJ1lFnSgGiW-eq2tkg_h2s0o=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bull elephant getting clean water from source!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6EJJNTYpiAd2uaobakbmSgvKupW14a1i3vNayILotlrH0ZUbNn_pqtHbUNydE8K1sXdr8wz8a0y_M9O88m5RIUSgQ5idECO89NPKYmAwS2KMWjJEeI7VP6TSMmNYL9QRNDLdedwBvvhQ27j6nCxtdv2hRJOVeCv6ogKcExPrxNTj0aEVKbFC8WZH-=s782" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="782" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6EJJNTYpiAd2uaobakbmSgvKupW14a1i3vNayILotlrH0ZUbNn_pqtHbUNydE8K1sXdr8wz8a0y_M9O88m5RIUSgQ5idECO89NPKYmAwS2KMWjJEeI7VP6TSMmNYL9QRNDLdedwBvvhQ27j6nCxtdv2hRJOVeCv6ogKcExPrxNTj0aEVKbFC8WZH-=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goliath heron moving between pools<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguKYtjnFFIPbReNTH3HmAP9G9BAU0RMRVdWoqMCyoZS7385hPBIVPG950eDW2FEsFVTYe6HCeUIA0QvdI2I64JbGth74606g9Y5GMW-aLXBSFRCxw9Uh-dhAI0D1TOuvrVeOYfIa39vnLt0DGdrJbvEPndp2jdhVjEEHYClNhmNf7jAiBKGSGEREoZ=s952" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="952" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguKYtjnFFIPbReNTH3HmAP9G9BAU0RMRVdWoqMCyoZS7385hPBIVPG950eDW2FEsFVTYe6HCeUIA0QvdI2I64JbGth74606g9Y5GMW-aLXBSFRCxw9Uh-dhAI0D1TOuvrVeOYfIa39vnLt0DGdrJbvEPndp2jdhVjEEHYClNhmNf7jAiBKGSGEREoZ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I came across several small herds of buffalo, also looking for roadside green grass. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxDx52UtiCzd8rY6ud_SRUehaYJi2BDnFw4_gnxOM_4I9OZmMeuzR1qQRZAxB3KWYq5fSP2kZHAVDg1a8ZkS8xLKsQA4PKY6LWzo2Odu7iBfMB9X_32PoLUuWGLcVDSxIfvReIZZEUlLHmiongoSukD6mVHHhqHCghWhE7wh79i6I_oJIJQuzouYBF=s940" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="940" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxDx52UtiCzd8rY6ud_SRUehaYJi2BDnFw4_gnxOM_4I9OZmMeuzR1qQRZAxB3KWYq5fSP2kZHAVDg1a8ZkS8xLKsQA4PKY6LWzo2Odu7iBfMB9X_32PoLUuWGLcVDSxIfvReIZZEUlLHmiongoSukD6mVHHhqHCghWhE7wh79i6I_oJIJQuzouYBF=s320" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p> </p><p>What was interesting about this group were the dozens of Wattled starlings keeping close to snap up any disturbed insects.<br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Then after 2 days of slowly making my way north, I coast down Baobab Hill, with it's stunning view over the river floodplains and distant hills of Zimbabwe, and know I'm close to my base for the next week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSDFUqvWaCXDZ_qzj0Y9yQCpGCBKjo83BbCT9TMEZyuQw8WNX08T5vAt83Zorxy7u1pvrdXj57koDJidUvR0UOjPo13CTigwNZneVXbfuD7-6KT80ts7mVOx53B7EE7jnPsRs_Ay0VR_KmL8BJnPHVouS2h2FxSYlkJ7ZtbTdDqaRVpAmn3HicaeI9=s1007" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="1007" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSDFUqvWaCXDZ_qzj0Y9yQCpGCBKjo83BbCT9TMEZyuQw8WNX08T5vAt83Zorxy7u1pvrdXj57koDJidUvR0UOjPo13CTigwNZneVXbfuD7-6KT80ts7mVOx53B7EE7jnPsRs_Ay0VR_KmL8BJnPHVouS2h2FxSYlkJ7ZtbTdDqaRVpAmn3HicaeI9=w640-h316" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Rather than making this a very long post, I've broken it up into 3 parts.</p><p>Click on this link to see the next post:- <a href="https://coralwild.blogspot.com/2020/12/escaping-to-kruger-2-birding-in-parfuri.html" target="_blank">Escaping to Kruger (2) - Birding in the Parfuri</a><br /></p><p><br /></p>Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-3338927431179605292020-10-01T12:30:00.002+02:002021-12-11T13:00:26.398+02:00Lockdown on an African Game Farm<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZwagJuZbCMqBHVudBUHKoSroYsYbsIsoJy70wEzE1LbnoRmzqbpfZMywhAFgVzpEnBcoxsBBFRUW9pdTVu7LtMoT79rDXyb7GSTzoPrVIUuQNrGcd5EPJo2E-6b2I_vby8VegaYMxpUNl7foYBFA7unF9SQ8gL3AN7DT5-YkPQ2-fEyrNaNMkMp2r=s766" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="766" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZwagJuZbCMqBHVudBUHKoSroYsYbsIsoJy70wEzE1LbnoRmzqbpfZMywhAFgVzpEnBcoxsBBFRUW9pdTVu7LtMoT79rDXyb7GSTzoPrVIUuQNrGcd5EPJo2E-6b2I_vby8VegaYMxpUNl7foYBFA7unF9SQ8gL3AN7DT5-YkPQ2-fEyrNaNMkMp2r=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>When South Africa's initial hard pandemic lockdown eased slightly in
May 2020, to allow travel for workers in an expanded list of essential
sectors, my cousins were allowed to take occupancy of their game farm,
and a few weeks later I joined them to help them start transition from a
private game farm to a semi-luxury bush and wildlife destination.</p><p>So
in the mild mid-winter of the north-eastern lowveld of South Africa I
spent hours every day walking the roads and trails of this beautiful
piece of Africa.</p><p>My "work" consisted of:- noting the mammals and
birds I saw, heard and/or tracked; identifying and noting interesting
trees and plants; naming roads, trails, and places of interest etc. etc.</p><p>This relatively short break from the city kept me mostly sane during the insanity of 2020.</p><p> Here are some of my pics..... </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8ZxnF1Q3trDoduCTeCOOnAAXQlZE1N-2PTYT4TUapt8D52MMdL8K73bXHX7MjmbfPIkJKltEd_HWz80r6VueeSywuxBLgOlim3Qj8pC1XQ1xHmB5jCVOvPx66qp7FIoelgfESaFGhJNocXNINSuNxRbOgZLIQPVM0ShezFO1_zYI_lR3DAOciSLg1=s547" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="547" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8ZxnF1Q3trDoduCTeCOOnAAXQlZE1N-2PTYT4TUapt8D52MMdL8K73bXHX7MjmbfPIkJKltEd_HWz80r6VueeSywuxBLgOlim3Qj8pC1XQ1xHmB5jCVOvPx66qp7FIoelgfESaFGhJNocXNINSuNxRbOgZLIQPVM0ShezFO1_zYI_lR3DAOciSLg1=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking on the farm<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGsQcJRwwd44tP2jV8Tqs_dxIEgpb4vaH9X0N_ASyDXa5oancpmpBHia4c-4WxpTe_NQJ3p9V0cmjghVPHxQL3Tx-jfxR6wcWJTI5UHSNYZGqzraM8hm1s79j90tzpOxrs6l1HNRms-CwPSGuIARyM5-ANXiAl0puyNDUGETnU9BK_evLA3tMB7hyq=s657" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="657" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGsQcJRwwd44tP2jV8Tqs_dxIEgpb4vaH9X0N_ASyDXa5oancpmpBHia4c-4WxpTe_NQJ3p9V0cmjghVPHxQL3Tx-jfxR6wcWJTI5UHSNYZGqzraM8hm1s79j90tzpOxrs6l1HNRms-CwPSGuIARyM5-ANXiAl0puyNDUGETnU9BK_evLA3tMB7hyq=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a lunch break<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2yeKKeEyQjX798-3ewg4r6Ru6oUoblXfYlVwRk-7Z6e0kffMnbZXjWAfpDHYMRbLBp355OIFR7AJBOxuHWMneTqa-zmv3Zy4SvoOwOMOjAFTnxOzdUUPDeSc1nTor5O-rs197MhV73lNTbAQh_u_uvL3qDSX04Z-nVArzEkM8hVDcvFwdhrTIxDGc=s548" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="548" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2yeKKeEyQjX798-3ewg4r6Ru6oUoblXfYlVwRk-7Z6e0kffMnbZXjWAfpDHYMRbLBp355OIFR7AJBOxuHWMneTqa-zmv3Zy4SvoOwOMOjAFTnxOzdUUPDeSc1nTor5O-rs197MhV73lNTbAQh_u_uvL3qDSX04Z-nVArzEkM8hVDcvFwdhrTIxDGc=w400-h246" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interesting collection of spoor<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p>Some of the wildlife on the farm. There are also zebra, wildebeest, impala, duiker, mongoose, snakes, squirrels.............<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOgQNKCwLqBvA0qkmH-vZZZh9tUtPb-7B2NLJ-V6wR-hthQpGg4DSQxehvs9CvbKJYf3Zh7Bpm01qo3aUIOUqNQ_LPcHdRznZ8wIpjcXvLmIKjgmviUBwQUgE4eoPJeU-GBYAIPtWUcPEcYAX6aHT0wh1uqV_g10f06vEO3dA-YcBKMvAtD4O6rKyC=s619" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="619" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOgQNKCwLqBvA0qkmH-vZZZh9tUtPb-7B2NLJ-V6wR-hthQpGg4DSQxehvs9CvbKJYf3Zh7Bpm01qo3aUIOUqNQ_LPcHdRznZ8wIpjcXvLmIKjgmviUBwQUgE4eoPJeU-GBYAIPtWUcPEcYAX6aHT0wh1uqV_g10f06vEO3dA-YcBKMvAtD4O6rKyC=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4ZZbbaVb-2glP0jcCBZCM7Rf_zFYTvj8giUWs4JuN7qe62nni_mVKhGuJVGz5KoSgA1xLvlwUdiWXB62PQJz5sIe6fa_gXajBetDL4vfG_0izQKKgMPHzBCXfVhp_N7JtrOAsh8s5ikJlEW5fu9XcHojFbwMxflQp66iUopvX5Kt8eG0x_H0xlNT3=s562" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="562" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4ZZbbaVb-2glP0jcCBZCM7Rf_zFYTvj8giUWs4JuN7qe62nni_mVKhGuJVGz5KoSgA1xLvlwUdiWXB62PQJz5sIe6fa_gXajBetDL4vfG_0izQKKgMPHzBCXfVhp_N7JtrOAsh8s5ikJlEW5fu9XcHojFbwMxflQp66iUopvX5Kt8eG0x_H0xlNT3=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgghOvRw_MHXHNQzsumIeHZhoWGaIwn9234nceBS25-FMsP4dF0gRi4ZhsyquLzJmCuzX7u5MnLeeD4FmzUGTTHcZ5WOGC_2udT7XQXX4KPzWq85pkTdN-oOKjpRLk-sj8t0ibj9wqUGuXyBjOBC2j4rlv7jOCaC9Yuu0lUk9SaOzWAJN-5kRsy-r9-=s602" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="602" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgghOvRw_MHXHNQzsumIeHZhoWGaIwn9234nceBS25-FMsP4dF0gRi4ZhsyquLzJmCuzX7u5MnLeeD4FmzUGTTHcZ5WOGC_2udT7XQXX4KPzWq85pkTdN-oOKjpRLk-sj8t0ibj9wqUGuXyBjOBC2j4rlv7jOCaC9Yuu0lUk9SaOzWAJN-5kRsy-r9-=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyala male<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihyKvh7C903JA179_mzqK6E3vO4ACuMsWeRqHSSmJsfhB8IEbYLwWKt3q3gcgCK7kD_mRa1HxuURR01asuXqtIXps-Q77ilAp2BYZVKhWJwVqSKmg-5V1R1cjR61k_wG3A1V88X_nBhyliZR6-yr8mL3tAsclr-_VIt9P_qbWXkyRJaY3oxE9T7rB5=s711" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="711" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihyKvh7C903JA179_mzqK6E3vO4ACuMsWeRqHSSmJsfhB8IEbYLwWKt3q3gcgCK7kD_mRa1HxuURR01asuXqtIXps-Q77ilAp2BYZVKhWJwVqSKmg-5V1R1cjR61k_wG3A1V88X_nBhyliZR6-yr8mL3tAsclr-_VIt9P_qbWXkyRJaY3oxE9T7rB5=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late afternoon from the viewing deck<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4OG2US30CeuGmfDIRTjfJL2CJI86C4lZt-XuG28DT6tDVlRZi01QGcbeHSpnRjbLOaMwQZJL9LshPKZSJQd9pMAKInMwyqFGmg58f9wFdn-ogrqrD0y0Mmve5IDOtvnx6pXf1jJOrtahuHKxWnTxpJi9aDGT3K63STCUhFOPUPhH42wimlD1vcBm5=s657" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="438" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4OG2US30CeuGmfDIRTjfJL2CJI86C4lZt-XuG28DT6tDVlRZi01QGcbeHSpnRjbLOaMwQZJL9LshPKZSJQd9pMAKInMwyqFGmg58f9wFdn-ogrqrD0y0Mmve5IDOtvnx6pXf1jJOrtahuHKxWnTxpJi9aDGT3K63STCUhFOPUPhH42wimlD1vcBm5=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Toffee" the friendly eland<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-54651981101452141472020-05-01T11:12:00.000+02:002020-05-01T11:12:08.427+02:00Another Kruger Animal Check List<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QM9P0ac12OQ/XqvbtheNgtI/AAAAAAAAGag/ps4J8mGvqWUY7rYSEq3AkozcmG0iLSZQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGS6086a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="636" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QM9P0ac12OQ/XqvbtheNgtI/AAAAAAAAGag/ps4J8mGvqWUY7rYSEq3AkozcmG0iLSZQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMGS6086a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Common Warthog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Just for fun, and to dilute the focus some of our international safari guests have on the Big 5 check list, we also have other animal check lists....... The Little 5, the Big 5 mammals, the Big 5 Birds and so on.<br />
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The one I enjoy trying to achieve is the <u><b>"Ugly" 5</b></u>.<br />
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It's a little insulting to call anything truly natural Ugly, but it's still fun to try and find. As with all the "lists" some of the animals are harder to find than others.<br />
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I'm not going to give you a lot more in the way of words, just some pictures for you to enjoy.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UsPKCi_fI4k/XqvdhiP3MaI/AAAAAAAAGas/0D3NImXz1QIgGwBMMiZn_jDWJ832HJzZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP0720a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="522" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UsPKCi_fI4k/XqvdhiP3MaI/AAAAAAAAGas/0D3NImXz1QIgGwBMMiZn_jDWJ832HJzZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMGP0720a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A fairly obvious contender for the "Ugly" list is the <u><b>Common Warthog</b></u>.<br />
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Not always easy to get close to, except where they have found a home in the camps and lodges.<br />
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Here they are not tame, but habituated to human presence.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvuLW9cyNVg/XqveHccO2NI/AAAAAAAAGa0/CGv5wAwJt84Vt2FSwPsWSzlzZlDaimYjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP6383b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="768" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvuLW9cyNVg/XqveHccO2NI/AAAAAAAAGa0/CGv5wAwJt84Vt2FSwPsWSzlzZlDaimYjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMGP6383b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The <u><b>Spotted Hyena</b></u> (which is one of my favourite predators) can be very ugly indeed, but also very cute!<br />
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We count ourselves lucky when we see them on safari.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkUgxAhk8uM/Xqvemb8v9FI/AAAAAAAAGbA/HUsxKk5foiQ2rXz_uDtgXVUg8-zMkhjhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP0963a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="585" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkUgxAhk8uM/Xqvemb8v9FI/AAAAAAAAGbA/HUsxKk5foiQ2rXz_uDtgXVUg8-zMkhjhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMGP0963a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've previously dedicated a whole post, with lots more pics, on this amazing animal.<br />
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Click on this link to see.....<br />
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<a href="https://coralwild.blogspot.com/2011/03/encounters-with-spotted-hyaena-crocuta.html" target="_blank">Encounters with The Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta)</a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkSjjtvljWk/Xqvf3Sj7aqI/AAAAAAAAGbM/Ap51uNZoxhM2Yji_t_y7NoVZ_En_sYfigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP0864b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="620" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkSjjtvljWk/Xqvf3Sj7aqI/AAAAAAAAGbM/Ap51uNZoxhM2Yji_t_y7NoVZ_En_sYfigCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMGP0864b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The <u><b>Lappet-faced Vulture</b></u> is probably the hardest of the Ugly 5 to find. This is the largest vulture in Kruger, and is generally uncommon.<br />
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It's a magnificent bird, and I'm always extra excited when we see one (or usually 2).<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvSoj8CB6N0/XqvgXAxcwbI/AAAAAAAAGbU/Nh2cVvh7Ua0m0J3Q6dCEhznKuXhG-7RewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGS1701a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="932" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvSoj8CB6N0/XqvgXAxcwbI/AAAAAAAAGbU/Nh2cVvh7Ua0m0J3Q6dCEhznKuXhG-7RewCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMGS1701a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then the other bird on the Ugly 5 list is the <u><b>Marabou Stork</b></u>. I will admit that I find it difficult to see any "beauty" in this bird.<br />
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Like the vultures it is mostly a scavenger so I suppose it's beauty is in it's critical function in nature.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UR_s23Il1hI/XqvhelKvsgI/AAAAAAAAGbg/MpG83hJnjuoWZ1AtOq1DkK0RGysI9M5nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGS0434a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="781" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UR_s23Il1hI/XqvhelKvsgI/AAAAAAAAGbg/MpG83hJnjuoWZ1AtOq1DkK0RGysI9M5nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMGS0434a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last, but definitely not least, of the Ugly 5, is the <u><b>Blue Wildebeest</b></u> (aka Brindled Gnu).<br />
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Not ugly to me, but rather "different" looking in many respects. I love their little eyes!<br />
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-7987280090806812012020-04-02T11:32:00.001+02:002020-04-02T16:34:50.178+02:00Animal Profiles - The "Big 5" - Rhino<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0pgX_su7RY/XoWZaLlOY2I/AAAAAAAAGYQ/JL2DuT-f_fYBArMJcaUaUCfT1lYDfx0IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP6459a-horz_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="620" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0pgX_su7RY/XoWZaLlOY2I/AAAAAAAAGYQ/JL2DuT-f_fYBArMJcaUaUCfT1lYDfx0IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP6459a-horz_s.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black (Hook-lipped) Rhino (l) and White (Square-lipped) Rhino (r)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Southern Africa has 2 rhino species that we may be really lucky to see whilst on safari in our national parks.</div>
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The original "Big 5", the term originating from the hunting community, listed the Black Rhino. </div>
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This was basically because the White Rhino was driven to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century and only existed in tiny numbers in 1 or 2 locations in southern Africa.</div>
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However, successful conservation and protection of that tiny population of White Rhino in Kwa-Zulu Natal ultimately led to significant numbers of White Rhino being trans-located and re-introduced into conservation areas in their former ranges (and outside those in some cases).</div>
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Increasing eco-tourism led to safari promoters using the term "Big 5" as a catch phrase for the quintessential African safari. And this list uses the White Rhino. </div>
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Basically because it is easier to find!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Rhino (top) and White Rhino (bottom)</td></tr>
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I can count on 2 hands the number of times I've seen black rhino on safari, whereas it's probably 3-4 out of every 5 safaris that we see white rhino.</div>
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<u><b>Black Rhino</b></u> browse (eating leaf & twigs) and therefore usually live in thick bush, are more often solitary, shy, aggressive and unpredictable.<br />
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As a result, they are hard to find and estimates of their numbers vary widely.<br />
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It's always a wonderful surprise to spot one.<br />
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Of course - they're not always in thick bush (or solitary) - it depends on the area.</div>
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These black rhino are in a semi-arid area - still browsing - but on the low level shrubby vegetation....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2eX5DBvSsk/XoWon4HUTmI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/oAh1sThqTeYM4JDkTcIUMsXDsvMYuPiKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP2182a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="664" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2eX5DBvSsk/XoWon4HUTmI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/oAh1sThqTeYM4JDkTcIUMsXDsvMYuPiKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMGP2182a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "crash" of white rhino</td></tr>
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<u><b>White Rhino</b></u> are grazers (eat grass) and are often found in more open savannah. However, as long as there is abundant grass one can also find them in thicker bush.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female white rhino and sub-adult calf</td></tr>
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In my experience, white rhino with the really long front horns are older females.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female white rhino and calf</td></tr>
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One of the theories behind this is that females don't compete (clash horns) for territory/dominance, don't regularly sharpen their horns, thereby wearing them down......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">white rhino calf</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">white rhino calf with oxpecker</td></tr>
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Of course, horn length can also be used as a very rough indication of age (in combination with body size of course!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VEbtsHW82hQ/XoWtGxw0U6I/AAAAAAAAGZk/1_5Dpxy-OFot1GbOk1vQBKNtjPhXmKfcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGS7685a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VEbtsHW82hQ/XoWtGxw0U6I/AAAAAAAAGZk/1_5Dpxy-OFot1GbOk1vQBKNtjPhXmKfcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMGS7685a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">young adult white rhino with oxpecker</td></tr>
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Otherwise, although adult, mature male white rhinos are the largest individuals (1.8m high at the shoulder) it is very difficult to tell the males & females apart.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9awKwKvmNO4/XoWunW830iI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/QqtStM_rJ1I38mSQHbik6zEhdajgSzW1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGP5638a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="705" height="427" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9awKwKvmNO4/XoWunW830iI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/QqtStM_rJ1I38mSQHbik6zEhdajgSzW1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMGP5638a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And that bird that you almost always see at least one of on a rhino..... ?<br />
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It's the red-billed ox-pecker, keeping itself fed on, and the rhino clean of, skin parasites like ticks. They also act as an alarm system, flying off and calling loudly when other large animals approach.<br />
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Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-90517803053399966712020-03-17T10:50:00.000+02:002020-04-02T16:35:20.140+02:00On Holiday in Kruger<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MllsZH2ZsoY/XmND6XFxVdI/AAAAAAAAGUM/CA1wK6WZwcIdF0fJH6tNV5934U_gbLaYACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMGS8291a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="797" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MllsZH2ZsoY/XmND6XFxVdI/AAAAAAAAGUM/CA1wK6WZwcIdF0fJH6tNV5934U_gbLaYACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMGS8291a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first elephant at Sable Dam</td></tr>
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I've only been "on holiday" in Kruger National Park a couple of times in the last decade, although I have racked up well over a 1,000 days working in or close to the park, so it was a real pleasure to organise an 8 day trip for an old and dear friend of mine who desperately needed her "bush fix" after 8 months in chilly Canada.<br />
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Going on safari late summer is always a chancy affair and the weather forecast was quite gloomy, with lots of rain due for at least the first half of the week.<br />
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Nevertheless, we set off on a cool, wet morning for the long drive to Letaba Rest Camp in the northern half of Kruger.<br />
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We were lucky for the first 24 hours inside Kruger, just scattered thunder showers with hot steamy sunshine in between. We saw the full moon rise over the Letaba River and enjoyed red wine from our verandah. We couldn't afford to stay up too late as we were joining the morning Bush Walk at 5am the next day.<br />
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We were treated to a spectacular sunrise on the drive to the walking area - and the old saying "red in the morning, shepherd's warning" proved to be right on the nail later that day......... <br />
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Our walk was significantly more rugged than normal as the surrounding area had had masses of rain in the previous 24 hours and the basalt plains around Letaba were sticky mud. Instead we walked in the sandstone ridges west of the camp and had to ford this stream (usually dry) twice. Both C and I had an unexpected dip in the river on the first crossing! Fortunately no pictures ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-fronted bee eater panting in the heat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape buffalo in thick mopani bush</td></tr>
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Game drives later in the day, were very, very hot, turning into lowering grey skies and we didn't see a large number of animals.<br />
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The bird life close to the river was entertaining though, and we were lucky to find a herd of buffalo in the thick mopani bush heading north.<br />
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We managed to get back to camp before the skies opened and a massive storm battered the camp for an hour or more.<br />
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Later that night we were woken by another storm with thunder and an absolute deluge of rain.....<br />
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We heard the next day that the central/northern lowveld had between 150 and 200mm of rain overnight.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kfD7yPoCeH0/XmNM4Xv1Q6I/AAAAAAAAGVA/MfFFPgGTUBMILclEpK1jhT9XIHosG0mTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0914a-vert_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="626" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kfD7yPoCeH0/XmNM4Xv1Q6I/AAAAAAAAGVA/MfFFPgGTUBMILclEpK1jhT9XIHosG0mTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_0914a-vert_s.jpg" width="298" /></a><br />
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It took us a while the next morning, as we were packing up to leave, to realise that the Letaba River was in full flood. The visuals and sound of the surging waters were stunning.<br />
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Before we headed south we took more pictures from the high-level bridge over the river, and you can see for yourself what 12 hours and some heavy rain can do to a typical Kruger river......<br />
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Satara was our next stop for 2 nights and although the rain let up for a few brief spells, it was WET.<br />
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That didn't stop us going out looking for wildlife, and exclaiming over more flooding rivers and waterholes that had burst their banks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brief respite from rain on the central eastern plains of Kruger</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nsemani Dam - overflowing it's banks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildebeest calves frolicking in the drizzle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Vulture trying to dry it's feathers</td></tr>
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As we headed south to Lower Sabie Rest camp, the weather outlook was brightening, with the temperatures starting to soar again.<br />
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The long drive was relatively quiet overall, but we still had some exceptional sightings, including our first leopard - a youngster trying to ignore the excited sightseers and sleep in an Apple-leaf tree.......<br />
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As always on safari, we were up before dawn the next morning so that we could cover as much ground as possible in the wildlife-rich south eastern Kruger. The forecast was for a very hot day so we knew game sightings would fall off dramatically from 8am onwards.<br />
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A quick detour to view the dawn over the Sabie River.<br />
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We followed this pack of African Wild Dog for quite some way. That giraffe in the distance was rather concerned, but ultimately the Wild Dog ignored it.<br />
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After a quick picnic breakfast at Crocodile Bridge we headed back to camp, and with the heat we saw few animals apart from elephant, impala and zebra. The clearing, blue skies with sunshine on the lush green/gold grass made the drive a delight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great White Egret</td></tr>
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Bird action at Sunset Dam<br />
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We were scheduled on the 8pm Night Drive, and after a much needed siesta, and with the weather so beautiful we had our first braai overlooking the Sabie River.<br />
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Over the whole trip I think we saw just 2 lion, one sleepy in the grass near Satara, and a young male lion walking ahead of us on the night drive. This time of the year is really not the best time to look for lion!!<br />
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So, on to our second last day in Kruger. We moved from Lower Sabie to Skukuza Rest Camp for the last night, and we were starting to get a little tired after 6 days of driving and looking for animals.<br />
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A sleepy mother baboon, with active babies (not all hers) on the river road....<br />
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A big plus in our hot, wet summers are all the reptiles we get to see.....<br />
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We were still to have some of our best sightings
of the whole trip:- rhino, hyena, leopard and cheetah in the last 24 hours.........<br />
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Sunrise on our last morning.... and an active clan of Spotted Hyena making their way back to their den.<br />
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We we lucky enough to have all 3 of the largest spotted predators that we saw on that last game drive, walk close past our car!!<br />
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So that was our Kruger holiday, and a really great break before the current crisis.<br />
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Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-77580613334230050872019-12-12T06:16:00.000+02:002019-12-12T06:16:09.221+02:00Transport Dam on a hot, hot summer morningRecently I had the rare privilege of having the morning in Kruger all to myself and I took off to explore for a little while.<br />
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It was steamy hot, already 30 degrees by 8.00 am, but after decent rains the week before, followed by a few days of sunshine, the bush had exploded with vibrant spring greens, yellows and reds.<br />
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After already having some amazing elephant encounters, I paused for a little while at Transport Dam to see what might happen.<br />
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It was very quiet, a few birds and the resident pod of hippo keeping a low profile.<br />
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Movement in the bushes at the distant top end of the dam alerted me to elephants approaching.<br />
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For the next 20 minutes, these three elephant bulls, who came in for a drink and then "cool-off" kept us all totally entertained.<br />
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The following pictures don't need much further explanation!<br />
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-89987734144345596092019-05-03T11:58:00.000+02:002019-05-03T11:58:44.561+02:00Looking out for Lion (2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week on safari we looked everywhere, high and low, in the river beds, on the koppies, along the roads and tracks, at sunrise, midday and sunset, and we didn't find a single lion.........<br />
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And we weren't alone in the fruitless search. Anxious consultations with safari colleagues from other tour companies gave zero information - we were all searching and mostly unsuccessful.<br />
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A handful of lion had been seen, but all very early morning and fleetingly. <br />
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With the hot sun and long, long grass of late summer the lion were sleeping their days away, hidden from tourist eyes, deep in the thick bush.<br />
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Looking back over 11 years of photos taken on safari in mid to late summer, it is quite obvious that even if we did find those elusive lion, they were hard to see. Unless we had incredible timing and actually found them while they were still on or next to the road.<br />
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So I thought that a good theme for this posting would be to show you what the majority of our lion sightings in the first 4 months of the year typically tend to be.<br />
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To start, here are the wonderful road/roadside sightings we can get, if incredibly lucky........<br />
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On patrol<br />
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Watching the vultures from the shade<br />
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Taking a break <br />
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We can also be very lucky if they are hanging out in an open area in the cool of an early morning or cloudy day, or close to a kill.........<br />
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But much more frequently they are only partially visible through the thick bush:-<br />
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Or the fresh green grass of mid-summer:-<br />
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The river beds can also be a good place to look for lion - open, shady and cool sand. But it's long distance viewing through binoculars or telephoto lenses..........<br />
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So, yes, it is challenging finding lion in summer, but even surrounded by grass and bushes, I can still occasionally capture a great shot!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please note that:- </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1) some of these photos I've published previously on this blog,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2) they have all been taken in the months January through to mid-April from 2009 to 2019</span>Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-4844119676433831822019-03-15T13:35:00.000+02:002020-04-02T16:36:10.884+02:00An Incredible Kruger Summer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bHSRZXNFbMU/XItrQkBJscI/AAAAAAAAGHY/_EFq0j9rw0QAsE4wfWMHwH80XFeDoVZkQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6268a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="746" height="327" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bHSRZXNFbMU/XItrQkBJscI/AAAAAAAAGHY/_EFq0j9rw0QAsE4wfWMHwH80XFeDoVZkQCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6268a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Hyena warming up in the early morning sunshine, & startled by a loud Hadeda Ibis.....</td></tr>
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In the south, Kruger National Park is looking lush and green after 2+ months of heavy rain and intervals of scorching sunshine.<br />
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Previous summers have proved challenging when looking for the larger mammals in the thick bush, especially the "big 5", but this year we have had amazing safari after amazing safari........<br />
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It's been difficult to decide which of my many, many photos to publish in this post, so I hope you enjoy this selection of my favourites.<br />
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There were 2 large male lion keeping a close eye on their wildebeest kill, whilst trying to keep cool in the limited shade on a sizzlingly hot morning.....<br />
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Months can go between African Wild Dog sightings, and then suddenly we see them day after day for a week or so. I reckon that the thick bush of summer keeps them close to the open space of the roads, as they hunt by sight.....<br />
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Birding is always at it's best in summer, and in addition to all the migrants we had some great encounters with the raptors.<br />
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This pair of African Fish Eagles were performing their breathtaking courtship flight before taking a break in this tree.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F90ybEwF6Hw/XItw7zg5OhI/AAAAAAAAGIE/PORYygIdwiM0jh7Q42WUNwoGL3ohp7BOACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6352a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="755" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F90ybEwF6Hw/XItw7zg5OhI/AAAAAAAAGIE/PORYygIdwiM0jh7Q42WUNwoGL3ohp7BOACLcBGAs/s400/IMGS6352a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I was so excited that my guests spotted this rare vulture in a roadside tree. It's an immature White-headed vulture. Not quite as handsome as the mature bird but still very good looking with that pink & blue face <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RI4dBjhagmQ/XItw8zByX3I/AAAAAAAAGII/pSy1uwDnnV8AjRECJpns2CUBNrYVE_AewCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6401a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1186" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RI4dBjhagmQ/XItw8zByX3I/AAAAAAAAGII/pSy1uwDnnV8AjRECJpns2CUBNrYVE_AewCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6401a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-backed Vulture</td></tr>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDK3v4J23yg/XItz3BeckJI/AAAAAAAAGIY/6qJuSVXgcuInZHJJmFPoHjZay6HTZh_QgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5877a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="659" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDK3v4J23yg/XItz3BeckJI/AAAAAAAAGIY/6qJuSVXgcuInZHJJmFPoHjZay6HTZh_QgCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5877a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a>It took me a while to see what this African Jacana was focused on. A partly cloudy morning at the Lake Panic Bird Hide, and when the sun disappeared the Jacana would frantically forage around the lily pads only to return to this spot every time the sun reappeared. If you look carefully on the vegetation below it's breast you can see it's green/black marbled egg. The Jacana is about to shade the egg with it's body & wings !!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvEssIlHDXk/XIuBbPsn1vI/AAAAAAAAGIk/Nt2mo-UoMM8IBT23T_hsvd4oqaH8rrklwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5752a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="790" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvEssIlHDXk/XIuBbPsn1vI/AAAAAAAAGIk/Nt2mo-UoMM8IBT23T_hsvd4oqaH8rrklwCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS5752a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plains Zebra</td></tr>
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And of course, there's all the youngsters.....<br />
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Mid to late summer they are all getting bigger and more playful<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uH2DjhAnlLQ/XIuBdCX_9iI/AAAAAAAAGIs/0go98t0G3wQSY2ClrcUe9LRkjInV2xH7ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6281a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="706" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uH2DjhAnlLQ/XIuBdCX_9iI/AAAAAAAAGIs/0go98t0G3wQSY2ClrcUe9LRkjInV2xH7ACLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6281a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impala</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i216Wl_I43E/XIuBctZBhKI/AAAAAAAAGIo/vmiojjuowtw8BPlY_99NPiud90Ykm5vOQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6293a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="662" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i216Wl_I43E/XIuBctZBhKI/AAAAAAAAGIo/vmiojjuowtw8BPlY_99NPiud90Ykm5vOQCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS6293a_s.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "creche" of impala</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTqhXo6qBt4/XIuBeMQNK0I/AAAAAAAAGIw/5OIROXSsmsAf_naZXkSZwHjhuu0l9sROACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6424a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="572" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTqhXo6qBt4/XIuBeMQNK0I/AAAAAAAAGIw/5OIROXSsmsAf_naZXkSZwHjhuu0l9sROACLcBGAs/s400/IMGS6424a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Savannah baboon</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibCw7roorJs/XIuChynNk0I/AAAAAAAAGJE/qtZAZimBCl4qBCj5Ut1lNKR_D-hsB-mIACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5710a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="681" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibCw7roorJs/XIuChynNk0I/AAAAAAAAGJE/qtZAZimBCl4qBCj5Ut1lNKR_D-hsB-mIACLcBGAs/s400/IMGS5710a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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It was fascinating to see how fast wildebeest calves grow over the short wet season......<br />
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Early January, a distinctly pregnant wildebeest crossing to the greener grass..<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ju_qyg9lLkA/XIuCjokdDlI/AAAAAAAAGJM/_yQ3SMrW5loyqQDazIlWr5DoBGMvWKSugCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMGS5920a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="651" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ju_qyg9lLkA/XIuCjokdDlI/AAAAAAAAGJM/_yQ3SMrW5loyqQDazIlWr5DoBGMvWKSugCEwYBhgL/s400/IMGS5920a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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3 weeks later and the very young calves have arrived and are out in the open..<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCEMk9uie-E/XIuCjQ30QrI/AAAAAAAAGJI/ErKmQFLHIKMwp4U0B1tLVAxGjuYih3uwACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6491a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="787" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCEMk9uie-E/XIuCjQ30QrI/AAAAAAAAGJI/ErKmQFLHIKMwp4U0B1tLVAxGjuYih3uwACLcBGAs/s400/IMGS6491a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Early March and the wildebeest calves have visible horns and darkened coats..<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ftFU3jbrbsw/XIuFzyXwGCI/AAAAAAAAGJo/yYTOC5EVx746usexTUzpnhXbtqIOcBkuQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMGS5830a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="682" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ftFU3jbrbsw/XIuFzyXwGCI/AAAAAAAAGJo/yYTOC5EVx746usexTUzpnhXbtqIOcBkuQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMGS5830a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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What safari to Kruger is complete (or blog posting) without a sighting of elephant?<br />
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There's water everywhere at this time of the year, but elephants do like their drinking water to be clean.<br />
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This low-walled reservoir at the Waterkant waterhole is a favourite destination for the eles in the area.<br />
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As soon as the drink is done, the herd hustles off to the safety of the thick bush....<br />
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In addition to multiple breeding herds we also saw many solitary bull elephant......<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zBtlEzx8u2c/XIuF1QybodI/AAAAAAAAGJw/oXp_kNefuxoqzwzNdpTyfemAxHIkd9y9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMGS5984a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="914" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zBtlEzx8u2c/XIuF1QybodI/AAAAAAAAGJw/oXp_kNefuxoqzwzNdpTyfemAxHIkd9y9gCEwYBhgL/s640/IMGS5984a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
out on the Eastern plains,<br />
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and diligently searching for fruit under stately Marula trees in the west.<br />
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We didn't see rhino on every safari, but the sightings we did have were excellent.<br />
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This male had been fighting with another one right in the middle of the road.....<br />
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Two old male African buffalo cooling off in the mid-day heat.<br />
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The early morning game drives are a lot more pleasant (warmer) in summer, although most of my guests find it quite difficult to manage the 5am start :) But this year they have definitely produced the predators we were seeking.<br />
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Other advantages of the early morning are seeing the sunrise over the river and baboons on the river road.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sabi River</td></tr>
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I'm going out on safari again tomorrow, next weekend and mid-April. There may be more trips in between.<br />
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So the summer is not over yet, and I'm going to be seeing so much more. Just can't wait!<br />
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-31872778248322138772019-02-19T14:48:00.000+02:002019-02-19T14:48:13.126+02:00Birding in the Rain at Marievale<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEWkeSSSolI/XGvtIpHzPAI/AAAAAAAAGFE/vY-R4MUsPK4f5ifWEv_ew0H9zCoYwr0yQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6050a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="1310" height="254" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xEWkeSSSolI/XGvtIpHzPAI/AAAAAAAAGFE/vY-R4MUsPK4f5ifWEv_ew0H9zCoYwr0yQCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6050a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Swallows</td></tr>
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Last week we had enough rain to make up for all the hot, dry weeks and months that have consisted our wet season this year so far...... But that didn't discourage me and my visiting friends from Germany.<br />
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On an extremely wet Thursday morning we squelched our way through the East Rand to visit the Marievale Nature Reserve just outside Nigel, which is renowned for it's water birds, and what an amazing day it turned out to be.<br />
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I'm just showcasing my best photographs in this blog posting, but we saw so many birds I didn't bother to really keep count after the first hour or so.<br />
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As an excellent opening we started with Greater Flamingo, followed by the ducks.... South African Shelduck, Southern Pochard, Yellow-billed, Cape Shoveler, Red-billed Teal......<br />
And so many Red-knobbed Coot! Some of the others:- Common Moorhen, a juvenile Black Crake, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe (Dabchick); White-breasted and Reed Cormorants, Hadeda, Glossy and Sacred Ibis. An abundance of heron:- Goliath, Purple, Black-headed, Black, Squacco.....<br />
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And the list goes on! It was extremely difficult to drag ourselves away and a planned morning turned into a full day excursion. I will definitely not leave it for another 7 years before I visit again.<br />
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So here are my best pics, I hope you enjoy them!<br />
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From 2 of the bird-hides we had excellent views of the White-throated swallow. They kept us entertained, and challenged, as we tried to get decent photos of them flying.<br />
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Dirk, my friend, had much better success at this.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-crowned Bishop</td></tr>
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The reeds around the pans were alive with Red and Golden Bishops amongst the other weaver birds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-billed Teal</td></tr>
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It was fascinating to watch the rain bounce off the backs of the various ducks, or just sit in shiny droplets on top of their feathers....... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3O0AM3rsrK4/XGv2LkbRyPI/AAAAAAAAGF0/m26X9tNxoYkZEC_KL2swief3KcIoYRYkACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6140a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="828" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3O0AM3rsrK4/XGv2LkbRyPI/AAAAAAAAGF0/m26X9tNxoYkZEC_KL2swief3KcIoYRYkACLcBGAs/s400/IMGS6140a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-billed Duck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Cormorant</td></tr>
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This Reed Cormorant had to keep fluffing itself to shake off the rain......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malachite Kingfisher</td></tr>
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I couldn't believe my eyes when we spotted this tiny, brilliant kingfisher, perching on the fence to fish the puddles in the adjacent grassland.......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eD-sOzoG5q8/XGv3uaaiEgI/AAAAAAAAGGM/xe6HfGxrFecJ9S0PeBRqojgvIjg0dtuSQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6186a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="812" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eD-sOzoG5q8/XGv3uaaiEgI/AAAAAAAAGGM/xe6HfGxrFecJ9S0PeBRqojgvIjg0dtuSQCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6186a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Heron</td></tr>
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A common sight in the grasslands, but looking stately among the summer flowers......<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bt67tlKxWg/XGv4zqCGmPI/AAAAAAAAGGg/kBsFQ3QODbk2THtDbMQtFVENNmtoWU0NwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6189a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="853" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Bt67tlKxWg/XGv4zqCGmPI/AAAAAAAAGGg/kBsFQ3QODbk2THtDbMQtFVENNmtoWU0NwCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS6189a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This fresh-water crab was totally unexpected and I almost ran it over.<br />
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The very handsome Squacco heron.<br />
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Mid-afternoon the skies started to lighten up a little!</div>
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And a last view of the Greater Flamingo on our way out.......<br />
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-81660644053994920912019-01-04T18:38:00.000+02:002020-04-02T16:36:39.584+02:00October to January, Dry Season to Wet Season - A dramatic contrast<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJlW9OliEXY/XC995CZzuDI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/x6r7zNLbJscnzthvQYh97qj0LYCKjsGNACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5152a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1384" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJlW9OliEXY/XC995CZzuDI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/x6r7zNLbJscnzthvQYh97qj0LYCKjsGNACLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5152a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the Great Escarpment and the Valley of the Olifants</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Since October I've been fortunate enough to have been back on safari to Kruger several times.<br />
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It's been a really good re-introduction to safari life and a great reminder of why I love this work so much.<br />
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Looking over my photos from the last 3 months I also realised how quickly and dramatically the bush changes from the scorched earth of spring and the drawn out end of the dry season, to the lush green vegetation that seems to appear so abruptly once the rains arrive.<br />
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This year, the rains delayed and delayed, but since arriving in late December, they have made up for lost time with endless grey, drizzly days interspersed by frequent deluges.<br />
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These photos are some of my favourites of the last 3 months and also show quite clearly the transition from dry to wet..........<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mid October </span></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MzyMr2odEi8/XC-Ak5YqMEI/AAAAAAAAGBg/KY2xLF2BWjsvx3WSBZz0asn5qcAhbAdRACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4987a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="675" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MzyMr2odEi8/XC-Ak5YqMEI/AAAAAAAAGBg/KY2xLF2BWjsvx3WSBZz0asn5qcAhbAdRACLcBGAs/s400/IMGS4987a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
When we went out on our first afternoon game drive in the Balule, these lions were still chewing on a baby giraffe they had killed much earlier that day.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR1uE5lgM04/XC-AkEzzCHI/AAAAAAAAGBc/MKs1X5HWrJARm41Pg7c70tM7AUeNUIaVwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5174a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="863" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR1uE5lgM04/XC-AkEzzCHI/AAAAAAAAGBc/MKs1X5HWrJARm41Pg7c70tM7AUeNUIaVwCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS5174a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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After dark the cubs were allowed onto the carcase, and once their bellies were full they thirstily gulped water from the nearby waterhole.<br />
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Other highlights from our October safari......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rare Black Rhino - not much nourishing green in that mouthful</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Displaying a little aggression on approaching the lodge waterhole</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My best photo ever of a Steenbok</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-backed Jackal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stately Waterbuck</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">November</span></span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0XxdnafD2g/XC-Ft7lu3nI/AAAAAAAAGCg/ObfFEQ2v1EE5mvLCsuBJzmBEkq5KDKurwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5539a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1083" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0XxdnafD2g/XC-Ft7lu3nI/AAAAAAAAGCg/ObfFEQ2v1EE5mvLCsuBJzmBEkq5KDKurwCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5539a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Kingfisher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgRmpqsXRdo/XC-FuQ7Zj8I/AAAAAAAAGCk/aOjC54AsSxwTtxeWh2xAEUtIdr6RtL7AgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5572a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="662" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgRmpqsXRdo/XC-FuQ7Zj8I/AAAAAAAAGCk/aOjC54AsSxwTtxeWh2xAEUtIdr6RtL7AgCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5572a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An amazingly close encounter with a Verreaux Eagle-Owl</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Kruger does have some evergreen vegetation, trees that grow on the riverbanks or in wetter areas, giving these birds that lovely green backdrop.</div>
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By the end of the dry season one can see the river courses from quite a distance away, the only green visible in thousands of square kilometres.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAW_jAH2VdE/XC-FsIM6KsI/AAAAAAAAGCc/mP9yeLxE5pEqbhz_mYCAxHQlT_dZm-jRQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5618a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="722" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAW_jAH2VdE/XC-FsIM6KsI/AAAAAAAAGCc/mP9yeLxE5pEqbhz_mYCAxHQlT_dZm-jRQCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5618a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a>Much to the relief of the browsers (giraffe, kudu etc.) Kruger's acacia trees start coming out in their spring leaf well before the rains arrive. </div>
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For me it's always a slightly bizarre sight - dry, sun-bleached veld dotted with the vibrant spring green of the acacias.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A multitude of different animals at Transport Dam</td></tr>
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By the end of November there had been a few days with scattered thunder showers - just enough to get a sprinkling of green grass in some areas, but the large waterholes were still the only places the wildlife could drink. (there were also buffalo and rhino at this waterhole)</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">January</span></span></i></div>
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And after just a couple of weeks of rain...........</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGzy03tFBzk/XC-H96LdceI/AAAAAAAAGC8/EoaXn-jeLXsvG_ssKOv43Kfm1UxxGdbEQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5645a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="602" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGzy03tFBzk/XC-H96LdceI/AAAAAAAAGC8/EoaXn-jeLXsvG_ssKOv43Kfm1UxxGdbEQCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5645a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of babies around by mid-summer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktGt5V6idrQ/XC-H_8Q_6AI/AAAAAAAAGDE/I7KwGn0tFLYxnXBog9cq0l4fmfHtS3SPgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5664a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="664" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktGt5V6idrQ/XC-H_8Q_6AI/AAAAAAAAGDE/I7KwGn0tFLYxnXBog9cq0l4fmfHtS3SPgCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5664a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bull elephant was enjoying the lush green grass around & under the bushes</td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQsfPxw_eeU/XC-H_dqBKDI/AAAAAAAAGDA/sxCdM8FQWqMtfKVeMwPeZSgi70cN9UQJwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS5678a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="742" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQsfPxw_eeU/XC-H_dqBKDI/AAAAAAAAGDA/sxCdM8FQWqMtfKVeMwPeZSgi70cN9UQJwCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS5678a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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After a night of exceptionally heavy rain, this leopard mother had just caught an impala and was watching her cub enjoy it's meal.</div>
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-68152122767763690832018-08-12T16:37:00.000+02:002021-10-18T07:08:37.183+02:00An August Safari to Kruger<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDNdaJBDj1U/W2_fhYJWxOI/AAAAAAAAF7c/rMlukGT7mPYz6_88BBNiEWFyuVFpErcmgCLcBGAs/s1600/11904535_938333992888875_8185808560851406871_n_s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="792" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDNdaJBDj1U/W2_fhYJWxOI/AAAAAAAAF7c/rMlukGT7mPYz6_88BBNiEWFyuVFpErcmgCLcBGAs/s640/11904535_938333992888875_8185808560851406871_n_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the clients seats.......</td></tr>
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It's hard to believe that it's 3 years ago this week that repeat clients Michelle & Brian, along with Alex & Gloria, asked me to take them on safari again to Kruger National Park.<br />
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With great wildlife encounters and hilarious company it was one of the most fun safaris I've had.<br />
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So the fact that I've hardly even looked at the photos I took during the 6 days, let alone published any, can only be put down to how busy I was that year with Garden Route/Cape Town tours and the occasional Kruger safari in between.......<br />
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So here are a few of my favourite encounters - enjoy!<br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Mid-day at De Laporte waterhole </b></u></span></span><br />
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We spent over half an hour quietly watching these giraffe enjoy a mid-day drink, and trying to capture that moment when they snap their heads back up with a fountain of water...... (I didn't succeed!)<br />
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In a cloud of dust, with excited squeals and trumpets, the elephant herd charged in, chasing off both impala and giraffe....<br />
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From start to finish, the elephant took less than 10 minutes to totally disrupt the quiet waterhole, have a quick drink, turn the small puddle into a mud wallow and then vanish into the bushes again far more silently than they had arrived........<br />
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The last family unit, enjoying their drink without the hustle & bustle of the main herd.......<br />
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<u><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The Birds</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">August is not the best time of the year for birding, but during our safari I was pleased to get some of my best captures of Helmeted Guinea Fowl, the Lilac-breasted Roller, Crested Barbet and Red-billed Oxpeckers.</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><u><b>Kruger at it's finest....</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the 3 days we were in Kruger we saw an amazing number of animals and here is just a very small selection of my favourite photos.....</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8k6qooM09Y/W2_rTOp5SEI/AAAAAAAAF88/gHQ_026wP1QNYPtl4eROb1C1A7cXBJxgQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6629b_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8k6qooM09Y/W2_rTOp5SEI/AAAAAAAAF88/gHQ_026wP1QNYPtl4eROb1C1A7cXBJxgQCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6629b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Baboons warily watching a lioness</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Such a handsome Nyala bull</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8rKiAtGWJQ/W2_rUdINztI/AAAAAAAAF9A/_fwGWJf1s7MpDZsmXCElJbfkUjjg2YIXwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6673a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="602" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8rKiAtGWJQ/W2_rUdINztI/AAAAAAAAF9A/_fwGWJf1s7MpDZsmXCElJbfkUjjg2YIXwCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6673a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> A young Baboon</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abNFfECQNtA/W2_rW5l-YdI/AAAAAAAAF9M/JQXQrMrM6UgicgB8tUZXFQXGkTQJ8_WWwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6679a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="629" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abNFfECQNtA/W2_rW5l-YdI/AAAAAAAAF9M/JQXQrMrM6UgicgB8tUZXFQXGkTQJ8_WWwCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS6679a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">White Rhino calf</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Sunrise over the Sabie River following an early start on the road north through Kruger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><u><b>Karongwe Private Game Reserve</b></u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last 2 nights of our safari was spent in one of the northern Private Game Reserves - the Karongwe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> We were close enough to this giraffe for me to capture the water-spray!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idujZeOqECM/W2_uab2cn2I/AAAAAAAAF98/bUihcMrkb2k6JGR8C8GpRA6pdy2uaUcXwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS6832a_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="677" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idujZeOqECM/W2_uab2cn2I/AAAAAAAAF98/bUihcMrkb2k6JGR8C8GpRA6pdy2uaUcXwCLcBGAs/s640/IMGS6832a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> We had many lion sightings during this safari, both in Kruger and the Karongwe - but this was my favourite, an alert young male.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The ultimate last encounter......... a pair of mating leopard!! This was the male taking a breather.</span></div>
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Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-1471050346883951262018-06-02T10:50:00.000+02:002018-06-02T10:50:42.075+02:00On Safari in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Part 1 - the far north<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zebra, Itala Game Reserve</td></tr>
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Some time back, I guided a safari to the game reserves of northern Kwa-Zulu Natal (aka Maputaland and/or Zululand) for my good friends and clients, Dave & Jean. </div>
Here's the link to the post on that safari:- <a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.com/2012/10/zululand-from-rhinos-to-whales-owls-to.html" target="_blank">Zululand – from Zebras to Whales, Owls to Twinspots</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal</td></tr>
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I've longed to return ever since and when my cousins Simon & Diana asked me to put together another safari for their second visit to South Africa, I planned it following the same itinerary but with a few more days.<br />
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So, after much anticipation, we set off from Johannesburg in mid-February, for our 12 day extended safari of Zululand. <br />
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Our itinerary took us to 1. <u>Itala </u>GR (2 nights) nestled in the dramatic foothills of the Great Escarpment, 2. north-east to the floodplains of the Maputo and Pongolo Rivers (<u>Ndumo </u>GR, 1 night), then south to the beautiful open plains, dense sand forests and wetlands east of the Lebombo Mountains, 3. <u>Mkuze </u>GR (2 nights), south again to the steep hills and deep valleys of the 4. Hluhluwe & iMfolozi Rivers (1 night at <u>Hilltop</u>, 2 nights at <u>Mpila</u>), and finally 3 nights on our stunning Indian Ocean coastline, at 5. <u>Cape Vidal</u>. On the way south to Durban, we also popped in to the Dlinza Forest aerial boardwalk in Eshowe.<br />
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Due to the number of photos I'd like to show you I've split the post about this safari into 2 and I will just cover Itala, Ndumo, Mkuze and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi in this first part. At the bottom of this post you will find the link to the 2nd part.......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5p_NwQIJrME/WxEq9NN9r8I/AAAAAAAAFwo/-CBVNv_SrZAZUTNJY9it54aYFS1EM-oCgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4556a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="662" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5p_NwQIJrME/WxEq9NN9r8I/AAAAAAAAFwo/-CBVNv_SrZAZUTNJY9it54aYFS1EM-oCgCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS4556a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impala, Itala</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>1. Ithala Game Reserve</b></u></span><br />
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With masses of plains game and fantastic birding (being a transition zone between high altitude wet grasslands and the lower, sub-tropical zones of KZN), there's always lots to see at Itala.<br />
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Their elephant, however, are very shy & generally hide in the Pongolo River hills.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down towards the Pongolo River valley</td></tr>
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Late summer in this part of South Africa tends to be warm and humid with long grass and lush vegetation. So although we saw a lot of animal life, good photographic opportunities were thin on the ground (not like the grass ;)).<br />
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I didn't mind that at all, as I so enjoyed just sitting back and watching everything going on...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQTlrIIzs_Y/WxFESa-TPJI/AAAAAAAAFxo/gUFqvlSRJt0hNtCMov1jtJoXwCYya8srgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMGP8604a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="389" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQTlrIIzs_Y/WxFESa-TPJI/AAAAAAAAFxo/gUFqvlSRJt0hNtCMov1jtJoXwCYya8srgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMGP8604a_s.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffe on the way into Ndumo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>2. Ndumo Game Reserve</b></u></span></div>
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The main purpose of our 1 night at Ndumo was to do a morning birding walk and visit Nyamithi Pan.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAwl5x8ucro/WxFD06wJT-I/AAAAAAAAFxg/87-u-vGlTfI5b7Td_yNdoU1JLMgCMDDGgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC_0043a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="575" height="195" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAwl5x8ucro/WxFD06wJT-I/AAAAAAAAFxg/87-u-vGlTfI5b7Td_yNdoU1JLMgCMDDGgCEwYBhgL/s320/DSC_0043a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ndumo Rest Camp</td></tr>
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Sadly for us, although always good for the bush, the whole region
received over 6 inches of rain just a few days before we got there, so
in all the reserves we visited, the guided bush walks had been cancelled
due to the sogginess of the ground or localised flooding.</div>
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Never
the less we had an absolutely amazing morning at the bird-hide on the
Pan, with hundreds of Yellow-billed stork perched in the trees on the
far bank, dozens of pink-backed pelican and many other water birds.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCyO_EHMYT4/WxFGLisPi1I/AAAAAAAAFxw/fgerr9FcRs0MFraWr-v4j6OcdTit-QA1wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6335a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="937" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCyO_EHMYT4/WxFGLisPi1I/AAAAAAAAFxw/fgerr9FcRs0MFraWr-v4j6OcdTit-QA1wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_6335a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyamithi Pan</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QKofOLTptwo/WxFDpbHuvNI/AAAAAAAAFxM/wpLNdQrKBykNKr47HobYgBSkpB96JUUkACLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4626b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="850" height="346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QKofOLTptwo/WxFDpbHuvNI/AAAAAAAAFxM/wpLNdQrKBykNKr47HobYgBSkpB96JUUkACLcBGAs/s640/IMGS4626b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink-backed Pelican</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzthPPGCeUo/WxFDwKECvOI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/862yFhTg2QsEDZ35aTWrj9GFCCl_yLIAACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6339b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="685" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzthPPGCeUo/WxFDwKECvOI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/862yFhTg2QsEDZ35aTWrj9GFCCl_yLIAACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6339b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an interesting spider</td></tr>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. uMkhuze Game Reserve (iSimangaliso Wetland Park)</span></b></u></div>
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Next stop was uMkhuze. The western gate into the reserve is nestled in a valley at the foot of the Lebombo's and the road cris-crosses the river, by low level bridges(fords), many times before hitting the open plains. After all the weekend's rain, it was quite nerve-wracking to ease our way through the fast flowing water over each bridge.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCoP4EaldK8/WxFl_IybrzI/AAAAAAAAFyM/Qd0da0qgq1olryZYsPW6VriOdBcasjwGQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4666a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="812" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCoP4EaldK8/WxFl_IybrzI/AAAAAAAAFyM/Qd0da0qgq1olryZYsPW6VriOdBcasjwGQCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS4666a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a> Our game drives the next day were most notable for the birds that we saw. Firstly this Southern-masked weaver busy building his next right next to the bird-hide, and then the 30 minutes plus we spent in the middle of a massive Red-billed Quelea nesting colony with thousands of Quelea's building nests, feeding young and flying over and around us continuously. The racket was quite incredible and impossible to describe. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lZYCIVBWW0/WxFmTAWYmFI/AAAAAAAAFyU/Yehq_eTwp4AyQtH97FHiWrAAQFMsvT5bgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4728a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="680" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lZYCIVBWW0/WxFmTAWYmFI/AAAAAAAAFyU/Yehq_eTwp4AyQtH97FHiWrAAQFMsvT5bgCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS4728a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-billed Quelea</td></tr>
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After a mostly wet & cloudy day, our last morning at uMkhuze dawned clear and turned into a stinking hot day..... The giraffe, zebra & other plains game gave us a really good showing on our way out.....</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ku33F1Gj-ak/WxFoC1UDgzI/AAAAAAAAFyg/mcyg6DsG9zgy7M0J-WCqNQrv4z6sqdofQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6363a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="688" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ku33F1Gj-ak/WxFoC1UDgzI/AAAAAAAAFyg/mcyg6DsG9zgy7M0J-WCqNQrv4z6sqdofQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6363a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mHkM3qn1u6g/WxFoFw4MvgI/AAAAAAAAFyk/oOr1KER3lEM2KiLOcWmef_D64KyO6naRgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4799a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="686" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mHkM3qn1u6g/WxFoFw4MvgI/AAAAAAAAFyk/oOr1KER3lEM2KiLOcWmef_D64KyO6naRgCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS4799a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>4. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve</b></u></span><br />
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This is Kwa-Zulu Natal's flagship "big 5" destination and our first afternoon in Hluhluwe lived up to it's reputation despite the scorching heat.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VuIrN8e2dHo/WxFpBY7yzGI/AAAAAAAAFyw/AzZWJEdVXmYXEf3Rp2ujsdC3_KC_mlI1QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6375a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="619" height="257" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VuIrN8e2dHo/WxFpBY7yzGI/AAAAAAAAFyw/AzZWJEdVXmYXEf3Rp2ujsdC3_KC_mlI1QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6375a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zhSSztz-Ew/WxFpEnptQEI/AAAAAAAAFy0/zsTip21Vb8IZo_jeSL9w3jZB0ouEXM5DwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0124a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="692" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zhSSztz-Ew/WxFpEnptQEI/AAAAAAAAFy0/zsTip21Vb8IZo_jeSL9w3jZB0ouEXM5DwCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0124a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wntagO24dmI/WxFpbWY_MAI/AAAAAAAAFzA/vxY-UPMX0VkcZk0ir75V1T5U3whZWCb6QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6385_stitcha_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="1349" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wntagO24dmI/WxFpbWY_MAI/AAAAAAAAFzA/vxY-UPMX0VkcZk0ir75V1T5U3whZWCb6QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_6385_stitcha_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Hilltop Camp</td></tr>
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After a long, hot day game viewing in both uMkhuze and Hluhluwe, the view from our bungalow at Hilltop Camp, whilst sipping on our gin & tonics, was "the best" ever!!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUqkDKIYRss/WxIwuFjjE-I/AAAAAAAAFzM/ogYsvFnvNB0ZEHAYCI3luQmHVpkd0FvRQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4828a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="541" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUqkDKIYRss/WxIwuFjjE-I/AAAAAAAAFzM/ogYsvFnvNB0ZEHAYCI3luQmHVpkd0FvRQCLcBGAs/s320/IMGS4828a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The next morning we spent a while on the trail around the inside edge of the camp, enjoying the views, birds, red duiker and Samango monkeys. A late breakfast & then we headed south to Mpila camp. The day was once again searingly hot and all the animals had disappeared into the shady thickets.<br />
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So we were very grateful to arrive in camp (Mpila) and spend what remained of the afternoon enjoying the Vervet monkeys, warthog and impala that grazed, rooted and scavenged around our chalet in a never-ending cycle..... whilst sipping on our G&T's of course!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri3sJcr6tyk/WxIx0KFjD1I/AAAAAAAAFzY/5QszWG9dpoQwigqYN2vD8DADbDR0LALlQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGS4832a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="674" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri3sJcr6tyk/WxIx0KFjD1I/AAAAAAAAFzY/5QszWG9dpoQwigqYN2vD8DADbDR0LALlQCLcBGAs/s400/IMGS4832a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vervet monkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Please click on this link to get to Part 2 of our amazing KZN safari...... <a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.com/2018/06/on-safari-in-kwa-zulu-natal-part-2-from.html" target="_blank">On safari in Kwa-Zulu Natal - Part 2 From hilltop to beach</a><br />
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-38981900446277579522018-06-02T10:48:00.000+02:002020-04-02T16:37:35.241+02:00On Safari in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Part 2 - from hilltop to beach<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ayxCVJqFVUo/WxI1xZE5l2I/AAAAAAAAFzs/vO7t533fMroFW9TDrUwWmrFXW6dP0j2mgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6390a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="958" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ayxCVJqFVUo/WxI1xZE5l2I/AAAAAAAAFzs/vO7t533fMroFW9TDrUwWmrFXW6dP0j2mgCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_6390a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-backed Vulture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKPN1dhil5A/WxI1_5K08aI/AAAAAAAAFzw/Dkjl1MFZxf8u8syvEyyyudMaZDYu_j0aQCEwYBhgL/s1600/st-lucia-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKPN1dhil5A/WxI1_5K08aI/AAAAAAAAFzw/Dkjl1MFZxf8u8syvEyyyudMaZDYu_j0aQCEwYBhgL/s320/st-lucia-map.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, Part 2</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">for Part 1 of this safari please click on this link:- <a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.com/2018/06/on-safari-in-kwa-zulu-natal-part-1-far.html" target="_blank">On safari in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Part 1</a></span><br />
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After 2 days of extreme heat, the expected frontal system arrived and we had a gloomy, damp day for our game drive in the iMfolozi section of this reserve.<br />
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The riverside loop, which usually has the best wildlife, was unfortunately closed due to flood damage, so we were restricted to the hills.<br />
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Not much wildlife showed up but we did have a great view of this vulture and wildebeest!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCo1NwsDWNU/WxI6tzxElVI/AAAAAAAAFz8/mmGxrGC7l-UYqIU7qxva8Hp2H93uC7nAACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6397a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="629" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCo1NwsDWNU/WxI6tzxElVI/AAAAAAAAFz8/mmGxrGC7l-UYqIU7qxva8Hp2H93uC7nAACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_6397a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Wildebeest</td></tr>
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It was a welcome break from being in the car to spend the afternoon enjoying the wildlife around our chalet.<br />
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The next morning we left the hills of the Zululand interior and headed for the coast......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16jikb-p2CI/WxI_sjIghZI/AAAAAAAAF0E/nireG3YD7FEdXmsmGU6481q8yRd-DcM7QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6401_stitcha_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="1152" height="226" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16jikb-p2CI/WxI_sjIghZI/AAAAAAAAF0E/nireG3YD7FEdXmsmGU6481q8yRd-DcM7QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_6401_stitcha_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iMfolozi Game Reserve</td></tr>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5. Eastern Shores & Cape Vidal (iSimangaliso Wetland Park)</span></b></u><br />
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No trip to Kwa-Zulu Natal is complete without spending time on our magnificent Indian Ocean coast. Cape Vidal, our destination, is part of South Africa's first World Heritage Site, iSimangaliso. I can't describe it better than this quote from the iSimangaliso website:-<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-rHK9e--Jk/WxJE-xI1kJI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/aF6d-fzjvl0yjp7gA-0Cn8CX5LzX3YnZQCLcBGAs/s1600/cape_vidal_Coastal-View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-rHK9e--Jk/WxJE-xI1kJI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/aF6d-fzjvl0yjp7gA-0Cn8CX5LzX3YnZQCLcBGAs/s320/cape_vidal_Coastal-View.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Vidal</td></tr>
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"<i>The 332,000 hectare Park contains three major lake systems, eight
interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South
Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526
bird species and 25,000 year-old coastal dunes – among the highest in
the world. The name iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly
describes this unique place.</i><br />
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</i><i>Come and experience the diverse experiences in the 10 Jewels that
make up the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Enjoy the endless beaches that
stretch 220 kilometers from Maphelane in the south to Kosi Bay on the
Mozambique border, view game on self-guided or guided trails and routes
on the foothills of the Lubombo mountains in uMkhuze or in the coastal
forests and rolling grasslands of Lake St Lucia’s Eastern Shores. See
the spectacular coral reefs and colourful underwater life whilst diving
or snorkelling or embark on adventures ranging from kayak trips to horse
rides.</i>"<br />
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We spent 3 nights at Cape Vidal and made the most of the beach, snorkelling in the small lagoon, game viewing in the Lake St. Lucia Eastern Shores and doing an estuarine boat cruise.<br />
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This destination really has almost everything one would want to experience on a South African holiday, and our chalet was just behind the sand dune from the beach.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vervet Monkeys on my car</td></tr>
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In camp......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kudu bulls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kudu females</td></tr>
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Game viewing......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African buffalo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over the Indian Ocean</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early launching for the sports fishermen</td></tr>
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On the beach.....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing after a snorkel...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippo in the mangroves</td></tr>
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and on the boat cruise......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nile crocodile</td></tr>
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The last day of our safari arrived, and probably just in time as my cousin, obviously bitten by a tick at Ithala, was now suffering from relatively mild (luckily) tick-bite fever.<br />
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So it was time to head south to Durban, a doctor, and a weekend spent with family, and the end of our amazing Kwa-Zulu Natal trip.<br />
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On the way, we diverted inland to the Dlinza Forest, hidden in the town of Eshowe.<br />
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Here, there is an aerial boardwalk which gives impressive views of the canopy forest.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>6. Durban</b></u></span><br />
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After breakfast, a morning walk on one of Durban's beaches.........<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our table at the entrance to Durban harbour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-bottle or Portuguese Man-o-War</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Durban</td></tr>
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Kwa-Zulu Natal is often overlooked by first time visitors to South Africa, who tend to naturally focus on Cape Town and Kruger National Park.<br />
<br />
But once you have fallen in love with this amazing country, and can manage to visit again, then this province should definitely be in your plans.Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-16015462464376193502016-10-30T09:57:00.000+02:002016-10-30T11:06:17.218+02:00The Astonishing Giraffe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBfE2BClpjk/WBWdzv8iZRI/AAAAAAAAFPU/8G0Wpo_3fzg_3f_63Kxlav2w1KmGPfTFwCLcB/s1600/IMGP7568_combine-horz_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBfE2BClpjk/WBWdzv8iZRI/AAAAAAAAFPU/8G0Wpo_3fzg_3f_63Kxlav2w1KmGPfTFwCLcB/s640/IMGP7568_combine-horz_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Are we going to see a
giraffe?? One of the more common "first"questions I get
when going to Kruger with international guests.</div>
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This quirky African
herbivore catches the imagination like few other large mammals.</div>
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Yet according to a
published scientific paper (in the journal <i>Current Biology</i>) of
8th September 2016, one reason no-one has identified previously that
there are actually 4 different species (and 5 sub-species) of
giraffe, is that they haven't been studied enough!</div>
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(Note:- all these
pictures are of the Southern Giraffe (<i>Giraffa giraffa</i>), South
African sub-species, with one exception - the last Etosha photo shows
giraffe of the Angola sub-species).</div>
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So, moving on from
the science of giraffe, I thought it high time I shared with you, on
this blog, a bit more about this striking animal and my experiences
with it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bachelor herd, ranging in age</td></tr>
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One of the coolest
collective names in the animal kingdom is for the giraffe. A "tower"
describes the giraffe in these photos rather well doesn't it?
Less used collective names are also "corps" and "journey".</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grouping closely together to cross an open area/river bed</td></tr>
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Strangely enough,
although we commonly see giraffe in towers, their social organisation,
as described by Estes, is gregarious but loose, open, casual and
non-lasting. Sorry, I'm taking big liberties with his original text,
but you get my drift?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffe only feed close together when all on the same tree</td></tr>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The longest, and best
established bonds are between females and their calves (until they
grow up that is.....)</div>
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<br /></div>
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As a guide I really
shouldn't use the term "cute"but is there any better term
for a giraffe calf??</div>
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The amazing thing about
giraffe calves, is that they are already 2 metres (6 feet) tall when
they are born, and the 25 - 50% of calves lucky enough to survive the
lions and hyena in their first vulnerable month, grow another metre
by 6 months, and almost double in height by the time they are 12
months old!</div>
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A survival necessity!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asuxap9ndcA/WBWhfnZtbCI/AAAAAAAAFP0/sQzLDWPscX0bdA0272h9cuHCECytCAIxQCLcB/s1600/IMGP1772b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asuxap9ndcA/WBWhfnZtbCI/AAAAAAAAFP0/sQzLDWPscX0bdA0272h9cuHCECytCAIxQCLcB/s320/IMGP1772b_s.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Talking of predators,
across Africa adult giraffe are largely invulnerable to most, due to
their size, excellent eye-sight and dangerous hooves. </div>
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With the
exception of lion. In Kruger, it is not uncommon to find lion on a
giraffe kill.</div>
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Of course, a giraffe's
great size, extra long legs and neck does make them awkward and
vulnerable when they need to drink. As a result they are extra
cautious when approaching water holes and drink as quickly as they
can. Fortunately for them they can survive for many days without
water, as they can get enough from the green leaves they eat, and/or
dew on those leaves (during the wet season).</div>
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During winter (our dry
season) you can see they are very challenged to find sufficient leaf
to eat!</div>
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Just look at that
tongue!! It's one of the longest in the animal kingdom - up to 45cm
long!!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRFTadzQxZE/WBWjynxbn8I/AAAAAAAAFQY/d814JOUfss85cFslBn2oXEYcW1ZWLg2ewCLcB/s1600/IMGP8147a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRFTadzQxZE/WBWjynxbn8I/AAAAAAAAFQY/d814JOUfss85cFslBn2oXEYcW1ZWLg2ewCLcB/s320/IMGP8147a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Giraffe are browsers (I
have been asked before what animals they hunt!!!!) and their
favourite leaves/browse are from acacia trees. But they will feed,
when times are hard from almost any tree that's got leaf - or flowers
as you can see.</div>
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A mature male giraffe
can reach up to 5.8 metres, and so tend to browse from the taller trees.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyLL33hohG0/WBWkUveRcQI/AAAAAAAAFQg/mFerZ6BQt5c0GH3ObXox5SFda51FLIssgCLcB/s1600/IMGP0586a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyLL33hohG0/WBWkUveRcQI/AAAAAAAAFQg/mFerZ6BQt5c0GH3ObXox5SFda51FLIssgCLcB/s320/IMGP0586a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Female giraffe tend to
more commonly browse lower trees and bushes.....</div>
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So what do you think
this particular giraffe is doing??! There's no water to be seen!?</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRTgZ_U7GWc/WBWk6xJSkdI/AAAAAAAAFQs/-P7oJ4oHvSob9Ir8ttjoi7KhAPGm-2hUgCLcB/s1600/IMGP9585a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRTgZ_U7GWc/WBWk6xJSkdI/AAAAAAAAFQs/-P7oJ4oHvSob9Ir8ttjoi7KhAPGm-2hUgCLcB/s400/IMGP9585a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, it's licking at
mineral-rich soil. I've even seen giraffe suck on old bones. This is
to get extra minerals, especially calcium, into their diet to help
keep their bones strong.</div>
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A much more common
sight with giraffe are the ubiquitous oxpeckers. I'm actually
astounded that the pictures above show hardly any sign of an
oxpecker (see if you can spot the one exception!)</div>
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So here are a couple of
pics with red-billed oxpeckers, one perched in a typical position and
the other "grazing"on the giraffe's skin.</div>
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Despite their long
necks and short bodies, giraffe find it very difficult to groom the
parasites off their skin, so the ox-peckers play a vital role here.</div>
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As persistent as the
oxpeckers can be, even they cannot hold on when male giraffe decide
to spar for dominance.</div>
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I haven't often
witnessed a serious, high-intensity contest between 2 males, but it
is an impressive, graceful though brutal, slow-motion affair.....
(I've blogged about this before.... to see more pictures click on
<a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.co.za/2012/04/battling-giraffe.html" target="_blank">Battling Giraffe</a>)</div>
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These 2 males are lined
up ready to resume a contest.</div>
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Low-intensity contests
can just be a matter of leaning and shoving each other, but
occasionally they escalate to the neck-swinging, head-thudding
stage.....</div>
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No known deaths have
occurred during these challenges as it makes much more sense for the
loser to concede the battle and live to try again.</div>
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Well, it's time to wind
up this extra long, and informative posting.</div>
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Worth it
considering the striking subject?</div>
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Here's a last picture,
a favourite landscape from the wide-open spaces of Etosha, Namibia.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1TCuBRkCsA/WBWnJNNBeBI/AAAAAAAAFRM/FkTfzf5NHAM9MzRTvE9e37Fj2b-ZjRo8ACLcB/s1600/IMGP1472c_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1TCuBRkCsA/WBWnJNNBeBI/AAAAAAAAFRM/FkTfzf5NHAM9MzRTvE9e37Fj2b-ZjRo8ACLcB/s640/IMGP1472c_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><u>References:- </u></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Estes - The Behavior Guide to African Mammals</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Carnaby - Beat About the Bush - Mammals</i></span></div>
Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-43321820351118724782016-09-29T12:52:00.000+02:002016-09-29T12:52:15.060+02:00The Dazzling Zebra of Etosha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Five years ago, some friends & I spent an unforgettable week in Etosha National Park, Namibia.<br />
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Beneath wide, open, endlessly blue skies, across white, dusty flats and in thick green mopani shrub we found zebra at every possible waterhole...........</div>
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They stood stoically out under the blazing sun...........</div>
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nervously drank from predator-haunted pools.........<br />
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enjoyed a moment of time standing hock-deep in the cool water.......</div>
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or just rested from their endless quest for grass.................</div>
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For other postings on Etosha and zebra, try these links........</div>
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<a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.co.za/2012/02/60-minutes-at-etosha-waterhole.html" target="_blank">60 Minutes at an Etosha Waterhole</a></div>
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<a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.co.za/2011/11/overland-adventure-part-1.html" target="_blank">An Overland Adventure - Part 1</a></div>
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<a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.co.za/2011/09/dazzled-by-zebra.html" target="_blank">Dazzled by Zebra</a></div>
Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-86174940594000083892016-09-07T15:36:00.002+02:002020-04-02T16:38:21.493+02:00On safari - Kruger National Park, August 2016<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Klipspringer, near the Olifants River</td></tr>
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Three great safaris in 3 weeks - what more could a safari guide wish for?<br />
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Spring's hot, scorching days arriving a month early, combined with the gusty winds of August made the first week or two a little more unpredictable than usual.<br />
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Lion and leopard active on a mid-day game drive; thick fog early one morning; a couple of hours spent south of Skukuza, with absolutely ZERO other vehicles, on leopard, wild dog, rhino and hyena sightings....... and the list goes on.<br />
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Each safari produced totally different experiences - this is nothing especially out of the ordinary for Kruger safaris perhaps, but maybe I just appreciated it more since it's been six long months since I was last here.<br />
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On some of the best sightings I couldn't get the camera up as I needed to concentrate on positioning the vehicle in the best possible place.....<br />
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But despite that, this posting is going to be chock full of photos, so I hope you have the patience to scroll through them right to the end. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(some I've already posted on Facebook, but there's also a lot more!)</span><br />
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As always, with late winter/spring, the focus, in this driest part of the dry season is the waterholes and rivers.<br />
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There were about 10 lion scattered around this waterhole, and although they weren't in "hunt mode"this lioness wasn't going to pass up a tasty warthog snack, if they had got close enough (the hogs look a lot closer than they actually were).<br />
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The "prey"animals are totally aware of this of course and are particularly wary and nervous when coming down to drink.<br />
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We couldn't see any predators around at this small waterhole, but that didn't stop the zebra scattering in panic a couple of times in between quick sips...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Croc at Lake Panic</td></tr>
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We spent a lot of time along the Sabie River and weren't disappointed by the lion, leopard, hippo, buffalo and assorted antelope sightings..... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kudu in the tamboti</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo crossing the Sabie River</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malachite Kingfisher</td></tr>
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The smaller, more colourful birds were also close to water.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-breasted swallow<u><br /></u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser-striped swallow</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant at Mohlabetsi Lodge</td></tr>
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But when we ventured away from the rivers and larger waterholes we also had some great experiences........<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant, backdropped by the spring colours of the mopani veld</td></tr>
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Including this very special encounter with two cheetah, early one morning, north of Satara.<br />
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As mentioned earlier in this posting we had an amazing morning drive south of Skukuza. The main target for the drive was to find rhino, which we did, but also leopard, wild dog and hyaena (and lot's more) - all on roads empty of other vehicles.<br />
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This hyena mother and cub were very alert, and heard the rhino well before we saw them. Needless to say the rhino could obviously scent the hyena and were also very alert as they crossed through the open area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">relaxing again......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hd7o8RGFsw/V9AWICxtg8I/AAAAAAAAFNQ/RsU3Sm1neSYyjuC84VPu3fOWdKx_ZbMmACLcB/s1600/IMGS2832a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hd7o8RGFsw/V9AWICxtg8I/AAAAAAAAFNQ/RsU3Sm1neSYyjuC84VPu3fOWdKx_ZbMmACLcB/s320/IMGS2832a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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We had strong gusty winds for much of the month but the weather's defining feature were the hot, parched days.<br />
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Whether the mornings started with thick fog, or gloriously clear blue skies, by 11 am every visible animal was huddled under the limited shade......<br />
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But, that's spring in Kruger.<br />
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Extremes of everything!<br />
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-32535196600584935722016-08-12T09:32:00.000+02:002020-04-02T16:38:45.377+02:00Back to Kruger<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1ohGDMD740/V61v5Au7UqI/AAAAAAAAFIw/GeQ8lP0TqHYmyjHHhbRTA3qvcfrMG8_DACLcB/s1600/IMGP4619b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1ohGDMD740/V61v5Au7UqI/AAAAAAAAFIw/GeQ8lP0TqHYmyjHHhbRTA3qvcfrMG8_DACLcB/s400/IMGP4619b_s.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Ground Hornbill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's been six months, and a much needed break!<br />
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But I'll be back in Kruger National Park on Monday, and I can't wait!<br />
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By all accounts, the Park is looking very barren right now.<br />
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August is not typically the best month for admiring the flora and landscapes of Kruger, but after the severe drought of this last summer, it's looking even more desolate than usual.<br />
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Of course the "upside" of a leafless, grassless wilderness is that the animals are so much easier to find. Add in the fact that there's been no significant rain for 5 months..... so we get an amazing variety and number of animals at the few surviving waterholes.<br />
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All the photos in this posting were taken in November 2009, after another long, harsh and dry winter/spring, just before the summer rains started.<br />
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They'll give you an excellent idea of what we hope to see next week!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC3CTfdQ_bo/V61zEt0p3QI/AAAAAAAAFJA/GCKd5jhZ-HAss6E57zCQ9TjxSZRZ_Y-IgCLcB/s1600/IMGP4610b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC3CTfdQ_bo/V61zEt0p3QI/AAAAAAAAFJA/GCKd5jhZ-HAss6E57zCQ9TjxSZRZ_Y-IgCLcB/s640/IMGP4610b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mid-morning drinking time at Girivana waterhole near Satara</td></tr>
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At this time of the year, all the action is around the waterholes, for the tourists, herbivores and the predators!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FJLIajNDR6Q/V610EsDEsGI/AAAAAAAAFJM/FJk0HnYpoo0hEbbLw12_a7oWg92p_W07wCLcB/s1600/IMGP4653a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FJLIajNDR6Q/V610EsDEsGI/AAAAAAAAFJM/FJk0HnYpoo0hEbbLw12_a7oWg92p_W07wCLcB/s400/IMGP4653a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young male lion observing the action at Sweni waterhole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The lion don't have to go far to find their next meal.<br />
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They can just hang out close to the waterhole.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUUm5msgvBc/V610d5mbL4I/AAAAAAAAFJQ/uSJ8vrJbevwR5wCl18L7iTvv-QS5Xst2gCLcB/s1600/IMGP4680b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUUm5msgvBc/V610d5mbL4I/AAAAAAAAFJQ/uSJ8vrJbevwR5wCl18L7iTvv-QS5Xst2gCLcB/s640/IMGP4680b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant, buffalo and zebra at Silolweni Dam (it was emptied and closed in 2010)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BGij6MbX-4/V610eU8R_zI/AAAAAAAAFJU/4TOOM5RBSuQlbAx2wFUwSZlagZ9IU1BxACLcB/s1600/IMGP4692c_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BGij6MbX-4/V610eU8R_zI/AAAAAAAAFJU/4TOOM5RBSuQlbAx2wFUwSZlagZ9IU1BxACLcB/s400/IMGP4692c_s.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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It's highly unusual to see rhino at a waterhole in the day time, except during the hot, dry months of spring.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-backed Vulture</td></tr>
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At this time of the year the vultures perch close to the waterholes as well. Not just waiting for a predators next kill, but they also need to drink and bathe after feeding.<br />
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My favourite "water hole" is still Lake Panic, close to Skukuza. I've posted many photos from there before. Here are just a few from that November in 2009.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t-nzbiqyHew/V613gO-oVVI/AAAAAAAAFJw/-0okgJIU6nwnSO3j6N36iM1yTwx9y0eCgCLcB/s1600/IMGP4722b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t-nzbiqyHew/V613gO-oVVI/AAAAAAAAFJw/-0okgJIU6nwnSO3j6N36iM1yTwx9y0eCgCLcB/s400/IMGP4722b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goliath Heron</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hfNpz7gQc64/V613hvhrwrI/AAAAAAAAFJ4/BSgCk1JcEMQbO1F7gO_K7Ha0f5aKBORbQCLcB/s1600/IMGP4781b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hfNpz7gQc64/V613hvhrwrI/AAAAAAAAFJ4/BSgCk1JcEMQbO1F7gO_K7Ha0f5aKBORbQCLcB/s400/IMGP4781b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Jacana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFdNJor1Qcw/V613g7NwgiI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/z_Bg1ZjHVroV5fNmtpcq0PxzUt4qDqj2gCLcB/s1600/IMGP4879b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFdNJor1Qcw/V613g7NwgiI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/z_Bg1ZjHVroV5fNmtpcq0PxzUt4qDqj2gCLcB/s400/IMGP4879b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Crake and chick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The bush (the earth, animals and plants) seems to heave a huge sigh of relief when the first rains appear.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some of the animals may appear miserable in the rain, like these baboons.......<br />
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But others frolic in the cooler evenings and on the young green grass.....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-178hXisiFKs/V614fEscY4I/AAAAAAAAFKE/05s1TvLKgTMPa3VHIbk-d6x4ulhb8voLACLcB/s1600/IMGP5292b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-178hXisiFKs/V614fEscY4I/AAAAAAAAFKE/05s1TvLKgTMPa3VHIbk-d6x4ulhb8voLACLcB/s640/IMGP5292b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Buffalo in Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm looking forward to having more photos and experiences to share with you over the next few months, so watch this space!!<br />
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<br />Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-30056842199031972722016-07-26T10:52:00.000+02:002016-08-07T17:06:44.745+02:00My beloved Zimbabwe<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--F6RjLgtIsw/V5Yym992gUI/AAAAAAAAFGE/slxs7fOvMMII7Y-YnC80vdi2gkF1s3jhgCLcB/s1600/img8406_3_048a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--F6RjLgtIsw/V5Yym992gUI/AAAAAAAAFGE/slxs7fOvMMII7Y-YnC80vdi2gkF1s3jhgCLcB/s640/img8406_3_048a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">overlooking the Pungwe River Gorge, Eastern Highlands (1984)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The country of my birth, childhood and
early adult years has been much on my mind lately.
</div>
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The news reports have been depressing,
and a dearest Aunt who still lives in the small country town of
Chinhoyi is close to the end of her long and fulfilling life.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pF2_tI1Ucio/V5YyIFsxc1I/AAAAAAAAFGA/BLg5Qn8FlVYBqWhrMrihRKyDEPdcV9EewCLcB/s1600/img7706_1_007a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pF2_tI1Ucio/V5YyIFsxc1I/AAAAAAAAFGA/BLg5Qn8FlVYBqWhrMrihRKyDEPdcV9EewCLcB/s400/img7706_1_007a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on Gambuli Ranch (1977)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My Aunt and Uncle were largely
instrumental in introducing me, city born & raised, to the beauty
and wonder of the African bush. This was during the frequent school holidays
spent on their large cattle ranch where, starting at dawn, I shadowed my very patient
Uncle on all his daily rounds........</div>
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Being the wonderful and eternally
generous hosts that they are, we also accompanied them on many
excursions to Lake Kariba and other parts of Zimbabwe.</div>
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As I grew older and more independent,
those early influences guided me in where I chose to go on my own holidays.</div>
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Remembering both my home, and my family
still there, I thought I would share with you a few of my favourite
Zimbabwean spots.
</div>
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These pictures have been taken over the
course of the last 35 years, so please accept the quality
accordingly........</div>
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<h4>
<u><b>Lake Kariba</b></u></h4>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mh3BoMUFD3s/V5Y1K0MjD9I/AAAAAAAAFGU/V-Cs7QwCsgAw62B-gSyNZgUFS9dVkQHZACLcB/s1600/img9008_2_090a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mh3BoMUFD3s/V5Y1K0MjD9I/AAAAAAAAFGU/V-Cs7QwCsgAw62B-gSyNZgUFS9dVkQHZACLcB/s400/img9008_2_090a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Kariba - looking south - 1990</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've probably spent more time at Lake Kariba than anywhere else in Zim. Lying on our northern border with Zambia, it is a vast body of fresh water teeming with kapenta (fresh water sardines), bream and the fighting Tiger fish.<br />
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Lots and lots of crocodiles and hippo as well!<br />
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Scuba diving was the main reason for my frequent trips to the Lake, but fishing, drinking and wild life spotting also played an important part.......<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bp0gN8JiGrI/V5ZwET7Bq8I/AAAAAAAAFGk/qKoHxeEqFDMpeHGPa4g_MFCTWrhjmP7rACLcB/s1600/img8504_1_016a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bp0gN8JiGrI/V5ZwET7Bq8I/AAAAAAAAFGk/qKoHxeEqFDMpeHGPa4g_MFCTWrhjmP7rACLcB/s400/img8504_1_016a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter weekend at Kariba, 1985</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On our diving club trips we usually chartered one of the big ferries that operated up and down the lake. With their shallow draft they could be easily beached, and provided lots of room for all our equipment. Unless the island we beached on was full of wildlife, we usually slept on shore under the stars.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmmSfkPu3oE/V5ZwHIAtfTI/AAAAAAAAFGo/ZQ3kjkLvQqUb5rlhFBpN1ovhhweo6_iqgCLcB/s1600/img8408_4_032a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmmSfkPu3oE/V5ZwHIAtfTI/AAAAAAAAFGo/ZQ3kjkLvQqUb5rlhFBpN1ovhhweo6_iqgCLcB/s320/img8408_4_032a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raising a kapenta net, 1984</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A useful form of income for our club was locating and recovering kapenta fishing nets, which were often snagged in the submerged trees.<br />
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Over the years we also located and helped recover several boats that had sunk into the deceptively calm waters of Kariba.<br />
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The storms can be very nasty.......</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBNZdfekZw4/V5ZymDhupkI/AAAAAAAAFG8/FEic9XnhMBcGyWZVYOdKn5sHQPrHlyg9wCLcB/s1600/IMGS5418a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBNZdfekZw4/V5ZymDhupkI/AAAAAAAAFG8/FEic9XnhMBcGyWZVYOdKn5sHQPrHlyg9wCLcB/s640/IMGS5418a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kapenta fishing boats resting up during the day - 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnXD-__uHQo/V5ZwLih06ZI/AAAAAAAAFG0/3mfu_Q0W640xcaNTjzeTCgvqKZJ45lQ9wCEw/s1600/img8802_9_122a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnXD-__uHQo/V5ZwLih06ZI/AAAAAAAAFG0/3mfu_Q0W640xcaNTjzeTCgvqKZJ45lQ9wCEw/s400/img8802_9_122a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting cousins from the US - 1988</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Of course, it wasn't all work......<br />
<br />
Kariba is an ideal holiday destination. Steamy hot during the summer, but mild in the winter.<br />
<br />
And perfect water-skiing conditions when in the shelter of the Kariba hills.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3IZfyfeZpU/V5ZymSEO9iI/AAAAAAAAFHA/rjabfLJBz20XgLVTw4IuHwc7MduN2wkZgCLcB/s1600/IMGS5523a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3IZfyfeZpU/V5ZymSEO9iI/AAAAAAAAFHA/rjabfLJBz20XgLVTw4IuHwc7MduN2wkZgCLcB/s400/IMGS5523a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wildlife can still be spotted on the southern and eastern shores of Kariba, despite decades of poaching.....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdMBiWuLK0w/V5cT74ez7iI/AAAAAAAAFHg/6q9UlBRNN9oMJYY_NC6mPLeS5jrcaoI-gCLcB/s1600/IMGS5443a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdMBiWuLK0w/V5cT74ez7iI/AAAAAAAAFHg/6q9UlBRNN9oMJYY_NC6mPLeS5jrcaoI-gCLcB/s640/IMGS5443a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a signature Kariba sunset (2015)</td></tr>
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<h4>
<u>Mana Pools / Zambezi River Valley</u></h4>
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<h4>
</h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jJcull47sY/V5cRZbKiyVI/AAAAAAAAFHc/6kXGTbaOX-kAN0XN7sJpyfOyk5_iLiavACEw/s1600/img8409_8_054a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jJcull47sY/V5cRZbKiyVI/AAAAAAAAFHc/6kXGTbaOX-kAN0XN7sJpyfOyk5_iLiavACEw/s640/img8409_8_054a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The daily visit to the camp ground... (1984)</td></tr>
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Further down the Zambezi River, starting close to Chirundu is the Lower Zambezi River Valley. For centuries hostile to human settlement due to it's baking hot climate, malaria and tse-tse fly (sleeping sickness).<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSVHGHK2DYs/V5cRZ7F22gI/AAAAAAAAFHc/Zy7Z5tfng0UtQ4ar9st7ix8ZTHawTk29QCEw/s1600/img8409_8_045a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSVHGHK2DYs/V5cRZ7F22gI/AAAAAAAAFHc/Zy7Z5tfng0UtQ4ar9st7ix8ZTHawTk29QCEw/s400/img8409_8_045a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over Zambia - 1984</td></tr>
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Where few humans dare to settle, wildlife flourishes. This has, for over a century, made it the winter play ground for hunters and eco-tourists alike.<br />
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I've posted before on Mana Pools (<a href="http://coralwild.blogspot.co.za/2013/09/mana-pools-paradise-revisited.html" target="_blank">Paradise Revisited</a>), the National Park located in the valley, hunched between hunting areas on both sides. Once you have been to Mana you will always yearn to return.<br />
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And that's what I did every year from 1983 to 1993. Sometimes more than once a year. Apart from camping and walking in an unfenced wilderness, one can also do canoe trips down the river. I've done 5 of those, varying from 3 to 5 days, sleeping on sandbanks every night, or twice with luxury tents at each overnight stop......<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEoDDWKIb8M/V5caahLEnzI/AAAAAAAAFHw/pbDv_P7x9kU9YTZ_PFWQi4cvnK3og45fwCLcB/s1600/img8805_1_012a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEoDDWKIb8M/V5caahLEnzI/AAAAAAAAFHw/pbDv_P7x9kU9YTZ_PFWQi4cvnK3og45fwCLcB/s400/img8805_1_012a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first canoe trip - Chirundu to Mana 1988</td></tr>
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If it isn't already on your bucket list, and you enjoy my blogs, then I would urge you to add Mana Pools and a Zambezi River canoe trip to it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsT5Lq54Xd4/V5ccpfFH7mI/AAAAAAAAFH8/oY7enqqSq-EEly79iYeGlO8oQ4nrB84mACLcB/s1600/img8909_5_067a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tsT5Lq54Xd4/V5ccpfFH7mI/AAAAAAAAFH8/oY7enqqSq-EEly79iYeGlO8oQ4nrB84mACLcB/s400/img8909_5_067a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baboons down at one of the "pools" for their evening drink (1989)</td></tr>
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It's still wild and very, very special.<br />
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<h4>
<u>The Eastern Highlands</u></h4>
I'm going to wrap up this long posting with a last "favourite" spot. One wouldn't think that with annual Mana Pools trips and Kariba at least twice a year there would be time for more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXROuHgGBSE/V5cfwfLjSiI/AAAAAAAAFII/LnBCMOE34tssGuAqkv6UNxIjj-Qqo5dpACLcB/s1600/img9304_2_020a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXROuHgGBSE/V5cfwfLjSiI/AAAAAAAAFII/LnBCMOE34tssGuAqkv6UNxIjj-Qqo5dpACLcB/s640/img9304_2_020a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Susurumba Rock, Easter 1993</td></tr>
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However Zimbabwe's spectacular Eastern Highlands are only a short 3 hour trip from Harare and became a favourite weekend destination - I've even been there on a day trip with visitors!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9tcTfAmIbA/V5cf9EgMUYI/AAAAAAAAFIM/VC4LdcOo3dIq4PEz72PRY-AMxuXFlqqaQCLcB/s1600/img8505_2_015a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9tcTfAmIbA/V5cf9EgMUYI/AAAAAAAAFIM/VC4LdcOo3dIq4PEz72PRY-AMxuXFlqqaQCLcB/s400/img8505_2_015a_s.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at the top of Mtarazi Falls, 1985</td></tr>
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There's many places to spend time at, both north and south of the mountain town of Mutare.<br />
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The Nyanga area, however was my favourite.........<br />
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Well that's a short list of my most visited, and special Zimbabwean places.<br />
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There are obviously a lot more - Victoria Falls, Gona-re-Zhou, Hwange, the Bulawayo area.....<br />
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and the list goes on.<br />
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Despite the political and economic problems, Zimbabwe remains one of the most beautiful countries in Africa, and the people one of the friendliest.<br />
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Even though I am proud to be a South African now, and I love my new home country very much, there is still a large part of my heart and soul that is reserved for Zimbabwe.........<br />
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Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-8164716260440180572016-06-25T15:08:00.001+02:002020-04-02T16:39:14.340+02:00Special people, favourite places......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJi9YTITSFY/V25xJb38cQI/AAAAAAAAFAU/J3m-E2kYQe8gWnZkHDkbOpTlRLxz5R2EQCLcB/s1600/M0014144b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJi9YTITSFY/V25xJb38cQI/AAAAAAAAFAU/J3m-E2kYQe8gWnZkHDkbOpTlRLxz5R2EQCLcB/s200/M0014144b_s.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One of my most enthusiastic blog
followers, who never failed to ask when my next posting was due, left
this life last Monday.</div>
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John was a fellow adventurer,
scuba diver and lover of the wilderness, including Kruger National
Park. During trips to Truk Lagoon, Namibia & Botswana and many
other adventures in Southern Africa, John and Rose, often with their
kids Alex and Fran, were camp-fire companions, diving buddies and
good friends, sharing tall stories over many a glass of good wine.
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John will be sorely missed.</div>
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In remembering and celebrating John's
life I thought I would share with you some of the more memorable
places and animals in the Kruger National Park that we both loved.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Most of the following photos I've
published previously so for those of you that are regular followers
and/or regular Kruger visitors (like John was) I'll be giving you a
trip down memory lane as well!)</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The South-East</span></b></i></div>
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Stretching between
the Sabie River in the west and south and the Lebombo Ranges on the
eastern border are the open basalt plains so beloved by wildlife
photographers, game spotters and any tourist who revisits Kruger.
Exciting wildlife encounters are almost guaranteed in this region and
I've certainly seen cheetah here more often than anywhere else. This
is also where one can find the larger herds of “plains” game –
zebra, buffalo, wildebeest and even giraffe.....</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dm9Y4nL5UkE/V25y-tHaQyI/AAAAAAAAFAg/wb0pgxcz_tsPwi5WTcojl2kqeaqKSP24QCLcB/s1600/IMGP4704b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="379" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dm9Y4nL5UkE/V25y-tHaQyI/AAAAAAAAFAg/wb0pgxcz_tsPwi5WTcojl2kqeaqKSP24QCLcB/s640/IMGP4704b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking south on the H10 - Muntshe Hill in the distance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7hSEL65rmQ/V25z5oPacQI/AAAAAAAAFAs/GSXBp3BIyFwT5ItVuiRQtzCCa98XkyTTACLcB/s1600/IMGP1390c_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7hSEL65rmQ/V25z5oPacQI/AAAAAAAAFAs/GSXBp3BIyFwT5ItVuiRQtzCCa98XkyTTACLcB/s640/IMGP1390c_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheetah on the look-out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y64WMTsGzoM/V25z6UcSzAI/AAAAAAAAFAw/igTAw-z2kWUKvBDnnFlABv9_CJzHB5ubACLcB/s1600/IMGP4719a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y64WMTsGzoM/V25z6UcSzAI/AAAAAAAAFAw/igTAw-z2kWUKvBDnnFlABv9_CJzHB5ubACLcB/s640/IMGP4719a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffe coming down to drink</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LG3pW8GkmQ/V25z7JywR7I/AAAAAAAAFA0/rhGayQKmmVMvaNM5wjS2qqUqwWs_BRTpgCLcB/s1600/IMGS1771a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LG3pW8GkmQ/V25z7JywR7I/AAAAAAAAFA0/rhGayQKmmVMvaNM5wjS2qqUqwWs_BRTpgCLcB/s640/IMGS1771a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhino & buffalo uneasily sharing a small patch of scarce shade</td></tr>
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<i><b>Sunset Dam</b></i></div>
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Just outside Lower
Sabie Rest Camp and still in the South-East, this waterhole produces
great sightings summer or winter, early morning or in the heat of the
day.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd9fq7MdeFM/V2507tOiU3I/AAAAAAAAFBE/pCvP0Kt-PJocMBoyMj2e8UVPCR8B7jTjACLcB/s1600/IMGP5015a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd9fq7MdeFM/V2507tOiU3I/AAAAAAAAFBE/pCvP0Kt-PJocMBoyMj2e8UVPCR8B7jTjACLcB/s400/IMGP5015a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dozens of hippo and scores of crocodile appear to cohabit quite peacefully</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GercoQI5neo/V25088s0-WI/AAAAAAAAFBM/SlSh2kOsMOM7Wh2X4o9wnwJl1JCHyz2ewCLcB/s1600/IMGP6253a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GercoQI5neo/V25088s0-WI/AAAAAAAAFBM/SlSh2kOsMOM7Wh2X4o9wnwJl1JCHyz2ewCLcB/s640/IMGP6253a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dusty, dry end to the winter, and water is scarce.......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4fVierB0h4/V2508xQb3JI/AAAAAAAAFBQ/1r70xKfDHyYaGzruIEcperYS25YPIYHqwCLcB/s1600/IMGS0928a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4fVierB0h4/V2508xQb3JI/AAAAAAAAFBQ/1r70xKfDHyYaGzruIEcperYS25YPIYHqwCLcB/s400/IMGS0928a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-billed Stork and Nile Crocodile</td></tr>
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<i><b>The South-West</b></i></div>
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South-western
Kruger is a rolling landscape of prominent granite koppies, deep
drainage lines and tall grass growing thickly through the woodlands.
Animals abound here too, but are so much more difficult to spot and
photograph. So the best time to visit this part of the park is during
our dry winters.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L-wNcnvRr0I/V2514oE-erI/AAAAAAAAFBc/dRm_nlihMdEwG5_bn7pXKbmCHtfwVgJ5ACLcB/s1600/IMGP7892a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L-wNcnvRr0I/V2514oE-erI/AAAAAAAAFBc/dRm_nlihMdEwG5_bn7pXKbmCHtfwVgJ5ACLcB/s320/IMGP7892a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impala Lily at Malelane Gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AhCVnYLaC7k/V252Cue6XMI/AAAAAAAAFBo/y1ZcKPImrzc9saaw1Ejs_ENF6-7tf_NqwCLcB/s1600/IMGP0313a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AhCVnYLaC7k/V252Cue6XMI/AAAAAAAAFBo/y1ZcKPImrzc9saaw1Ejs_ENF6-7tf_NqwCLcB/s320/IMGP0313a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blacksmith Lapwing at Biyamiti Weir</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Buffalo and giraffe, both seen on Doispane Road........ during two totally different seasons........</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EkPsF93MD8o/V252-eM964I/AAAAAAAAFCE/bYR4ga06MwkrsP4yQrg9hIZxzhR5KZzagCLcB/s1600/IMGP0495a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EkPsF93MD8o/V252-eM964I/AAAAAAAAFCE/bYR4ga06MwkrsP4yQrg9hIZxzhR5KZzagCLcB/s400/IMGP0495a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are lots of lion in the south of Kruger, but they don't seem to be that fond of the long grass either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So we often see them relaxing on the cool sand of the drainage lines (dry river beds). </span></div>
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<i><b>Lake Panic Bird
Hide</b></i></div>
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Situated close to
both Skukuza Rest Camp and the Kruger Gate, this bird hide can become
uncomfortably busy, but very early in the morning, mid week, it's
almost guaranteed to be quiet with great sightings of all types of
animals – not just the birds.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGyUwCs1y7c/V2531MdUDpI/AAAAAAAAFCY/WNG-gdvB6JEHCr9s_gyT5BxXbC6_lpeZQCLcB/s1600/IMGP7962a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGyUwCs1y7c/V2531MdUDpI/AAAAAAAAFCY/WNG-gdvB6JEHCr9s_gyT5BxXbC6_lpeZQCLcB/s400/IMGP7962a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping a close eye on us......</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzz9N3Glviw/V2530b8LTdI/AAAAAAAAFCU/x335RUvvxlUEBRbPkHzJhQlHo3NmvCyiQCLcB/s1600/IMGP2782b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzz9N3Glviw/V2530b8LTdI/AAAAAAAAFCU/x335RUvvxlUEBRbPkHzJhQlHo3NmvCyiQCLcB/s400/IMGP2782b_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both birds &terrapin enjoy perching on hippo, but only whilst they're sleeping!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-boN5oLTcLYE/V2531eMoFQI/AAAAAAAAFCc/pbv8Uwmmlvo95uCRtrTQgrl7JPmDZwr8ACLcB/s1600/IMGP8300b_sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-boN5oLTcLYE/V2531eMoFQI/AAAAAAAAFCc/pbv8Uwmmlvo95uCRtrTQgrl7JPmDZwr8ACLcB/s400/IMGP8300b_sml.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon flies are very difficult to photograph!</td></tr>
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<i><b>Mazithi Dam</b></i></div>
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Located north of
Tshokwane Picnic site, on the main north-south road in Kruger,
day-visitors to the southern region rarely get to this waterhole.
However, during my early years guiding in Kruger, most of our safaris
involved staying in both Skukuza in the south and Letaba in the
north. On the day we travelled between those two camps we almost
always had great sightings at Mazithi Dam – including the best lion
kill sighting I've ever had.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OeHBsgSrfJo/V255eJ3huyI/AAAAAAAAFCs/dtgYx9RVDc8UGgY5KPDPtV8wu53odKHAACLcB/s1600/IMGP0489d_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="329" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OeHBsgSrfJo/V255eJ3huyI/AAAAAAAAFCs/dtgYx9RVDc8UGgY5KPDPtV8wu53odKHAACLcB/s640/IMGP0489d_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOOtlP-Xfxo/V255kUDzhkI/AAAAAAAAFC4/mx74ixpIgOIrjTnJZcbdIdmMpBZFDAO1QCLcB/s1600/IMGP0093a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOOtlP-Xfxo/V255kUDzhkI/AAAAAAAAFC4/mx74ixpIgOIrjTnJZcbdIdmMpBZFDAO1QCLcB/s400/IMGP0093a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During the dry season the waterholes teem with wildlife</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VKwyfjLYKo/V255j_8ojLI/AAAAAAAAFC0/q7rnI0pQ9VIeEfWSS3tbRA9KozXI8bzFQCLcB/s1600/IMGP0747a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VKwyfjLYKo/V255j_8ojLI/AAAAAAAAFC0/q7rnI0pQ9VIeEfWSS3tbRA9KozXI8bzFQCLcB/s640/IMGP0747a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and during the hot summers they are a great "swimming"pool</td></tr>
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<i><b>The Central Plains</b></i></div>
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I've heard South
African visitors compare this region of Kruger to a zoo. Which is not
exactly a compliment!! However, for frequent and great sightings of lion,
buffalo and other plains game, it's hard to beat this area located
around Satara Rest Camp.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iTrOwSItdgA/V256bH61LII/AAAAAAAAFDM/M7UAwxzAisgAnZGLzTsSoUhtgkXgj-gPwCKgB/s1600/IMGS2591a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iTrOwSItdgA/V256bH61LII/AAAAAAAAFDM/M7UAwxzAisgAnZGLzTsSoUhtgkXgj-gPwCKgB/s640/IMGS2591a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plains Zebra during a good summer/wet season</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDZxjesc84M/V256acCxYnI/AAAAAAAAFDI/DRfBFZWwpYoOLHoVSe0xZnLNDjUuFmsCwCKgB/s1600/IMGS0568a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDZxjesc84M/V256acCxYnI/AAAAAAAAFDI/DRfBFZWwpYoOLHoVSe0xZnLNDjUuFmsCwCKgB/s640/IMGS0568a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant & buffalo, during the winter/dry season</td></tr>
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<i><b>The Rivers</b></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7d04qxKXbBE/V257m_2ojHI/AAAAAAAAFDk/W_BNLMuj-i0oNquuh3iiHiXmrB4o4iF4QCLcB/s1600/IMGP4798a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7d04qxKXbBE/V257m_2ojHI/AAAAAAAAFDk/W_BNLMuj-i0oNquuh3iiHiXmrB4o4iF4QCLcB/s400/IMGP4798a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River reeds in the Sabie River are acceptable food during the dry season </td></tr>
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Kruger National
Park lies between the massive eastern escarpment of Southern Africa,
and the warm waters of the western Indian Ocean. So it's no surprise
that a half dozen of South Africa's infrequent perennial rivers flow
through the Park. Whether their banks are teeming with wildlife or
appear totally deserted, the rivers always trace richly green,
meandering lines through the mostly dry savannah.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3RjOvSPmkQ/V257mQjxyZI/AAAAAAAAFDg/bRe7ElhUQsk2nbQC0JGZOG_hWiDLDUgygCKgB/s1600/IMGP0251c_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3RjOvSPmkQ/V257mQjxyZI/AAAAAAAAFDg/bRe7ElhUQsk2nbQC0JGZOG_hWiDLDUgygCKgB/s320/IMGP0251c_s.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabie River, Feb 2009</td></tr>
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This bridge is designed for floods but for several years now we've had much bigger floods which also damage the high bridges, roads and rest camps........<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpa-TEePgfE/V259I1Mxl1I/AAAAAAAAFD0/RSrQDNXzcqoCHd1czkOaFALwOQvgBB18wCLcB/s1600/IMGP0047a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpa-TEePgfE/V259I1Mxl1I/AAAAAAAAFD0/RSrQDNXzcqoCHd1czkOaFALwOQvgBB18wCLcB/s640/IMGP0047a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant crossing the Letaba River (most favourite pic ever!!!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RvqofBiNI28/V259Je-CWmI/AAAAAAAAFD4/zzVPquQKDR48fTmoNZBLiXrHVkVzA7rjQCLcB/s1600/IMGP0403b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RvqofBiNI28/V259Je-CWmI/AAAAAAAAFD4/zzVPquQKDR48fTmoNZBLiXrHVkVzA7rjQCLcB/s640/IMGP0403b_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Olifants River - many of the big trees have been washed away in floods since 2008</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cD2LFpslk8g/V25-pi5gAcI/AAAAAAAAFEY/CrHV87YhuRE0UWgV-Lq7oqqwkj_DSLrywCLcB/s1600/IMGP3542a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cD2LFpslk8g/V25-pi5gAcI/AAAAAAAAFEY/CrHV87YhuRE0UWgV-Lq7oqqwkj_DSLrywCLcB/s400/IMGP3542a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boababs are a prominent part of the northern landscape</td></tr>
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<b></b></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b><br />
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<b><i>The North</i></b></div>
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Further from our
main population centres and mostly covered in semi-arid, mopani,
shrub savannah, the north of Kruger is much less visited by tourists,
including myself and John on his frequent forays into Kruger.</div>
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I would like to
spend a lot more time here, and in the past I have had some amazing
wildlife encounters too. The bird life during the wet, hot summer
months is also quite spectacular.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3LgMKGWuzY/V25-aKz9CUI/AAAAAAAAFEI/QS9t6VDMUnU96qw8Gm3uIleXvJ6uXGvtgCKgB/s1600/IMGP3157a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3LgMKGWuzY/V25-aKz9CUI/AAAAAAAAFEI/QS9t6VDMUnU96qw8Gm3uIleXvJ6uXGvtgCKgB/s640/IMGP3157a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The size of the buffalo herds in the north are legendary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoWHD46j0Bg/V25-bbWEDdI/AAAAAAAAFEM/20eud-q38TUYSPl-23vwM4SF-j4yuEg5ACKgB/s1600/IMGS0904a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoWHD46j0Bg/V25-bbWEDdI/AAAAAAAAFEM/20eud-q38TUYSPl-23vwM4SF-j4yuEg5ACKgB/s400/IMGS0904a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and where there's buffalo, there are also lion.......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<i><b>And to conclude this epic posting...........</b></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There are many, many more “favorite”
spots of mine in Kruger. Too many for a single posting. They can also
change from season to season, year to year.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But I've tried to focus this posting on
those areas that John would have also visited, and to remember him as
I do so.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Farewell John. Thank you for all the
great times we shared together. Those memories will always be
treasured.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-34191973765439466912016-04-03T09:29:00.000+02:002016-04-08T05:46:07.450+02:00Sunrise to Sunset, a day in the Free State<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9jjhBkl4BHA/Vv_CaE8oyKI/AAAAAAAAE8c/2AybqVPEYxUdE5IbFko0gYj2GrZlf9jpQ/s1600/IMGS1743a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9jjhBkl4BHA/Vv_CaE8oyKI/AAAAAAAAE8c/2AybqVPEYxUdE5IbFko0gYj2GrZlf9jpQ/s400/IMGS1743a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for sunrise, south of Villiers, Free State</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Late summer / early autumn in South
Africa and on the the rolling, high altitude grasslands of Mpumulanga
and the Free State it's peak <b>cosmos</b> time. Sprinkled across the
landscape are spectacular displays of the white, pink and cerise
flower, Cosmos bipinnata.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It's been quite a few years since I
last made an effort to photograph this floral wonder. So on Thursday
this last week I left home an hour and a half before dawn, to get
early to one of my favourite stretches of South African road, the
R103 between Villiers and Warden. I wanted to see the sun rise on the
cosmos.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROsBngNobfw/Vv_DqU0yUSI/AAAAAAAAE8s/LyyM5jfhEBkdBmilx_iq7Nut5qaFSjNiQ/s1600/IMGS1769a-horz_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROsBngNobfw/Vv_DqU0yUSI/AAAAAAAAE8s/LyyM5jfhEBkdBmilx_iq7Nut5qaFSjNiQ/s640/IMGS1769a-horz_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cosmos bipinnata, as the sun rose above the horizon.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jwysnc_4QgQ/Vv_CqUWWcnI/AAAAAAAAE8g/j87lzknKVusPjVj7P455l332ul2fQP9CQ/s1600/2779-0-0-0_2522936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jwysnc_4QgQ/Vv_CqUWWcnI/AAAAAAAAE8g/j87lzknKVusPjVj7P455l332ul2fQP9CQ/s1600/2779-0-0-0_2522936.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To orient you, here are 2 maps – the
first showing where the Free State Province fits in South Africa,</div>
and
second is a section showing the North and Eastern Free State, with a
rather wobbly red line and arrowheads sketching out my route.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqJOSD1FSps/Vv_C0lXnFTI/AAAAAAAAE8k/sKbDEraLelorn7j5wnQSIMY-_1atvt-Rg/s1600/free_state_map_eastern.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqJOSD1FSps/Vv_C0lXnFTI/AAAAAAAAE8k/sKbDEraLelorn7j5wnQSIMY-_1atvt-Rg/s320/free_state_map_eastern.gif" width="262" /></a></div>
<br />
You can
estimate the scale of the map if you understand that the distance I
covered, on the loop from Villiers down to Warden, Harrismith, and
then through Golden Gate to Clarens and north again to Villiers via
Bethlehem and Frankfort, was a distance of about 480 kilometres. It
took me just over 12 hours to do the loop – that included lots and
lots of stops for photos, and a lunch break........<br />
<br />
(and then I had the 140 km's to travel both ways in the dark, that morning and evening) <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Needless to say, by the time I got home
that night, I had a “numb bum”, locked-up knees and a very stiff
neck after all that time behind the steering wheel!!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But what a great day I had.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The weather was perfect, clear skies
and no wind in the early morning, and by the time I got to the
mountains there were scattered clouds to provide enough shadows to
make the midday landscapes a little more photogenic! It was hot, but a
cool wind played across the green/gold mountainsides.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I managed to take 530 photographs and
also cover enough territory to have enough material for up to three
blog postings!<br />
<br />
This is the first post .... (and a warning - it's turned out a whole lot longer than I planned)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADV18fEjuQk/Vv_I6nKfR-I/AAAAAAAAE9E/UwQjCkJBe7wQtgE6oZcKhfFLLQvEXVy0A/s1600/IMGS1863a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADV18fEjuQk/Vv_I6nKfR-I/AAAAAAAAE9E/UwQjCkJBe7wQtgE6oZcKhfFLLQvEXVy0A/s400/IMGS1863a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cqmwr0HIl4k/Vv_I6BXcrHI/AAAAAAAAE9A/YoTl5hBc9Pojj46AfxvnbkOXc7cRk85QQ/s1600/IMGS1867a_s-tile_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cqmwr0HIl4k/Vv_I6BXcrHI/AAAAAAAAE9A/YoTl5hBc9Pojj46AfxvnbkOXc7cRk85QQ/s400/IMGS1867a_s-tile_s.jpg" width="400" /></a>Interestingly enough, despite being
such an attraction, our cosmos is not native. It's considered an
exotic weed where it grows on the roadsides and in neglected farmland
or disturbed areas. I haven't been able to establish exactly where it
comes from in Central/South America, but most accounts appear to
agree that it's introduction to South Africa was via contamination of
horse feed brought from Argentina (and/or Mexico) by the British Army
during the Anglo-Boer War, 1899 to 1902!<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I took many, many photographs of the
cosmos and I will be using them for a long time to come. Here are
just a few. They give you a good idea of how beautiful the
countryside looks at this time of the year.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qI2pAaky_Kg/VwC16UiVODI/AAAAAAAAE-Y/WKINmsHbAsMjvK9y769czTBu5dWoWpLQQ/s1600/IMGS1890a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qI2pAaky_Kg/VwC16UiVODI/AAAAAAAAE-Y/WKINmsHbAsMjvK9y769czTBu5dWoWpLQQ/s320/IMGS1890a_s.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ln0MYn48OGM/VwC1-lSokNI/AAAAAAAAE-g/pejGgKZh1Q4FBr-6CmtYvXcp978uHujVg/s1600/IMGS1923b_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ln0MYn48OGM/VwC1-lSokNI/AAAAAAAAE-g/pejGgKZh1Q4FBr-6CmtYvXcp978uHujVg/s320/IMGS1923b_s.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rH-y0YlweQ/VwC196EmvKI/AAAAAAAAE-c/6Qc2XbsTQIwJrle1LtdunhLlfds2WhUww/s1600/IMGS1881a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rH-y0YlweQ/VwC196EmvKI/AAAAAAAAE-c/6Qc2XbsTQIwJrle1LtdunhLlfds2WhUww/s400/IMGS1881a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTqRJrUNeOY/Vv_SqusNpFI/AAAAAAAAE9s/UsjzjcQLVIUOznhb-DCCGTqRbE4MVK-8g/s1600/IMGS1850a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTqRJrUNeOY/Vv_SqusNpFI/AAAAAAAAE9s/UsjzjcQLVIUOznhb-DCCGTqRbE4MVK-8g/s320/IMGS1850a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
By 9.00 am, almost 3 hours after
sunrise it was getting too hot, too bright and having taken 200 pics
of cosmos, farms, grass and birds I needed to take a break from the
camera.<br />
<br />
I carried on southwards. Not always on
the R103, I took several side roads to explore the farmlands, and
then it was the highway to Harrismith. By which time my flask of
coffee and two granola bars for breakfast on the road seemed to be a very long
time ago! Over a Mugg&Bean coffee and muffin I decided to carry
on exploring and go west to Golden Gate Highlands National Park.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2Z0UyURR4I/Vv_ReI2OUZI/AAAAAAAAE9g/0UG9pocxtH8glXD2CJ5LUls5GoqLHTFhQ/s1600/IMGS1963a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2Z0UyURR4I/Vv_ReI2OUZI/AAAAAAAAE9g/0UG9pocxtH8glXD2CJ5LUls5GoqLHTFhQ/s400/IMGS1963a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DfGhpoKqKRA/Vv_RejJ0ATI/AAAAAAAAE9k/kdK49L817RMDOyUiE1CDOwwkJJGScQsfA/s1600/IMGS1983a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DfGhpoKqKRA/Vv_RejJ0ATI/AAAAAAAAE9k/kdK49L817RMDOyUiE1CDOwwkJJGScQsfA/s320/IMGS1983a_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the dirt track....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I've passed through
here once before, about 8 years ago, on a gloomy, cloudy afternoon –
not the best lighting to admire red, orange and gold sandstone
butresses.... Today was different, and the rock formations and park
itself will be the subject of a separate posting.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
On this day I just wanted to get off
the main through road, explore a little.... and have my sandwiches
for lunch! Soon enough I spotted a dirt track on the left. No sign
posts at all, definitely no No-Entry markers. For the next 2 hours I
tested my, and my car's, 4x4 capabilities, did a whole lot of
wildlife photography, and enjoyed my sandwiches high up a sandstone
and grass ridge in solitary splendour. I didn't see a single soul the whole time – just mountain views and wary blesbok,
wildebeest, zebra and sprinbok. Bliss.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9Rt5w3vzlo/Vv_a3x7I5SI/AAAAAAAAE98/JKe5Vug3lgcv8R77rncmlu44pa2YWNxeg/s1600/IMGS2006a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9Rt5w3vzlo/Vv_a3x7I5SI/AAAAAAAAE98/JKe5Vug3lgcv8R77rncmlu44pa2YWNxeg/s640/IMGS2006a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skittish Blesbok</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRqqFhiNQ8U/Vv_a4-q_YCI/AAAAAAAAE-A/2A9pO7FJAIIk7iUjVKnBjgRZUUDb0fK8A/s1600/IMGS2036a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRqqFhiNQ8U/Vv_a4-q_YCI/AAAAAAAAE-A/2A9pO7FJAIIk7iUjVKnBjgRZUUDb0fK8A/s400/IMGS2036a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lunch spot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65ZkuZS67co/Vv_bayaMpEI/AAAAAAAAE-E/5LdHb4ecJmEiYuhRrxkzVIWBrpehCqVZQ/s1600/IMGS2175a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65ZkuZS67co/Vv_bayaMpEI/AAAAAAAAE-E/5LdHb4ecJmEiYuhRrxkzVIWBrpehCqVZQ/s640/IMGS2175a_s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brandwag Buttress, or Sentinel - a landmark feature of Golden Gate NP.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I will post again about Golden Gate –
I have way too many photos of animals and rock formations to include in
this post, but I've put in the above photo as a teaser.... The
Brandwag Buttress is one of the iconic landmarks of the park. Magnificent isn't it?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was mid-afternoon by the time I hit
the road towards Clarens. The sun was still high, and hot, and I was
tired. With the exception of a couple of brief pit-stops I just
carried on driving and vaguely admiring the passing scenery.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JzxeNyGZzg/VwDAXiwBkII/AAAAAAAAE-0/Ni9IGPbpK0Em_Oo-qg8G_XJXwHeLedVNQ/s1600/IMGS2190a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JzxeNyGZzg/VwDAXiwBkII/AAAAAAAAE-0/Ni9IGPbpK0Em_Oo-qg8G_XJXwHeLedVNQ/s400/IMGS2190a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The first sunflowers I passed snapped
me out of that lethargy and I started paying attention again...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Free State is predominantly a
farming province. The goldfields in the north are, by far, the
largest employer, but the rest (those that are not in the cities and
towns) of it's relatively small population (2.8 million), are
sprinkled across it's vast farming landscape. This explains why I saw
hardly a soul all day......</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDcPEV-eOqo/VwDAlkbh_iI/AAAAAAAAE-8/QalNt8Jw6AY3whM44wJI-kuZPj92fjRRg/s1600/IMGS2197a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDcPEV-eOqo/VwDAlkbh_iI/AAAAAAAAE-8/QalNt8Jw6AY3whM44wJI-kuZPj92fjRRg/s400/IMGS2197a_s.jpg" width="265" /></a><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lots of mealies (maize/corn), soya,
sunflowers, cattle and sheep. And hay bales....... </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The eastern and northern parts of this
province, where the rainfall is relatively high, are natural
grasslands. Lots and lots of tall, lush grass, where it hasn't been
ploughed up for crops or grazed down by livestock. Due to our
extremely hard drought this summer, hay is in high demand. I saw
grass bales everywhere, even in the narrow strips between
crops.....
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CKky1oxmdXI/VwDAhzJgUxI/AAAAAAAAE-4/Gu_v7wLuAVEsswjHz80gK3lqlYEZZ5Dbw/s1600/IMGS2204a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CKky1oxmdXI/VwDAhzJgUxI/AAAAAAAAE-4/Gu_v7wLuAVEsswjHz80gK3lqlYEZZ5Dbw/s400/IMGS2204a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmer baling hay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zk8FyQGzAuA/VwDBD535LZI/AAAAAAAAE_E/bPwWBvD2u94wg7vdy2I9mOlualdj9G4ng/s1600/IMGS2210a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zk8FyQGzAuA/VwDBD535LZI/AAAAAAAAE_E/bPwWBvD2u94wg7vdy2I9mOlualdj9G4ng/s400/IMGS2210a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a last picture of the cosmos.......</td></tr>
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Fortunately, in this featureless
land, the bales provided a nice focal point for the sunset. The egrets flying past also helped :)</div>
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A long 12 hours since it was first
light enough to start taking pictures!</div>
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I hope you enjoyed this rather long and
wordy post. The whole day, and the post, turned out to be a lot
more than just pictures of the cosmos!!</div>
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As mentioned earlier, I'll dedicate a
post to Golden Gate and I have material for another short one. Watch
this space over the next month!</div>
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Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617446907686979652.post-23429880394631468302016-03-28T12:55:00.000+02:002016-03-28T12:55:39.648+02:00The Magnificent Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N8WcYoU-1Ks/VvkKBUV4zUI/AAAAAAAAE7M/29UFrIjSmLAd1j3JGR8VbSeQtOSK3CPVA/s1600/IMGP5433a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N8WcYoU-1Ks/VvkKBUV4zUI/AAAAAAAAE7M/29UFrIjSmLAd1j3JGR8VbSeQtOSK3CPVA/s320/IMGP5433a_s.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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As with all our big predators, Africa's
largest raptor, the Martial Eagle, is an uncommon and exciting find
when going on safari in Kruger National Park.</div>
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It prefers savannah and bushveld but
can be found in areas ranging from semi-desert to woodland, across
Africa, south of the Sahara. However it does not easily co-exist with
man, so is hardly ever seen outside the larger conservation areas.</div>
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Both it's common and scientific names
attest to it's aggressiveness and versatility as a hunter. I've
personally witnessed an immature bird chasing down, unsuccessfully, a
Steenbok antelope and there is at least one apocryphal story about
human (baby) remains being found in a Martial Eagle nest.</div>
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One of the many reasons we don't see it
very often is that it mostly hunts on the wing, soaring high above
the savannah, searching for prey up to 6 kilometres away. However,
occasionally we are lucky enough to find one perching, and even less
seldom, perching close enough to the road so I can get a reasonable
photograph!</div>
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This collection of photos are the only
ones, from eight years guiding in Kruger, that I feel happy enough
with publishing. Not a big choice – but enough I think, to portray
this magnificent predator of the sky.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdN957OWcFQ/VvkKtGzXsAI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/MsT7GvOsJL4M0eWDUQ5Vj6l54QP4twF2Q/s1600/IMGP8999a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdN957OWcFQ/VvkKtGzXsAI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/MsT7GvOsJL4M0eWDUQ5Vj6l54QP4twF2Q/s400/IMGP8999a_s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuWXXBZ4baQ/VvkLCRbs2uI/AAAAAAAAE7k/GsMFEV419MQgX-5z31DKROMqu6pdChkfQ/s1600/IMGP5038a_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuWXXBZ4baQ/VvkLCRbs2uI/AAAAAAAAE7k/GsMFEV419MQgX-5z31DKROMqu6pdChkfQ/s320/IMGP5038a_s.jpg" width="214" /></a>You'll notice quite a marked difference
in pattern and colouration of the plumage. The adult bird of both
sexes is the very dark brown above, white with dark brown spots
underneath and the bright yellow eyes. The mature females are larger,
more heavy than the males and apparently have more spots (now I know
that I must start looking for this when I next spot one of these
awesome birds!)</div>
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Juvenile/immature Martials are much
paler overall, but I find the give-away to identifying one, apart
from it's size, is the little plume on the back of their heads.</div>
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The next lot of pictures show just how
diverse their diet can be.</div>
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The absolute best sighting EVER I have
had of a Martial Eagle was this immature bird sitting on a Steenbok
kill only a couple of metres from the road. This was in August 2008
in Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. Whether it actually hunted the
steenbok itself or managed to steal it from another predator I don't
know. But it was so determined not to lose it's meal that despite
being very uneasy it allowed me to take photos for several minutes
before it tried to drag the carcase further from the road.</div>
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The prey preference of Martials does
vary across different regions, but in Kruger the most common prey we
see them with are reptiles. </div>
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This is not a particularly good
picture of the eagle but you can see the long tail of the monitor
lizard quite clearly.......... (February 2010, KNP)</div>
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During the Football World Cup (May
2010), our safari company was based up at Letaba Camp in the northern
half of Kruger. We had this really great view of an immature Martial
with what looked like a mongoose kill, along the banks of the Letaba
River.</div>
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Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if we
will have any increase in sightings in the foreseeable future. It's
conservation status has moved from being classified as
“near-threatened” in 2009, to “vulnerable” in 2013, and
apparently it may soon be up-listed to “endangered”.</div>
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Habitat loss (nesting and prey),
collisions with power lines and persecution by farmers are it's main
threats. These, unfortunately are not going to reverse themselves
easily.</div>
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If you would like to see more pictures
and news of Martial Eagle conservation efforts, there is a
interesting Facebook page - Martial Eagle Conservation - Kruger
National Park.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>References</u>:-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Raptor Guide of Southern Africa –
Oberprieler and Cillie</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wikipedia</span></div>
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</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Roberts Birds of Southern Africa</span></div>
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</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Beat About the Bush, Birds - Carnaby</span></div>
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Coral Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00263860317454600072noreply@blogger.com4