SANParks.org Forums

Hi David,

It was lovely to meet you and Mel, and it is a delight to have your comments on her report and to "see" things from your point of view. You are like a couple of kids in a candy shop with your delight at everything you have seen.

Thank you for brightening my day every time I get a new instalment of the story, or a comment.

Hello everyone!

Meandering Mouse, hilda, Lionspoon, lion queen, Meerkitty, Heksie, Magic Guarri, chirinda, vinkie, Pumbaa, saraf, Sharifa, Crested Val, VicRob, RonnieL, Bushbuddies, PJL and Melrockson

Thank you all so much for your support and kind words

And hello again my Dad
I completely forgot that you saw a black mamba that morning as well!!
Hopefully I will get the insomnia sorted out for our next trip
And even if I don't, I'm NEVER sleeping in again!!

Now on with the drive

Lower Sabie to Berg-en-Dal continued….

On the way to Croc Bridge for brekkie we saw some lovely birds

A wood hoopoe having a scratch (oops, I mean African hoopoe - thanks chirinda! )


And a pin-tailed whydah, forgaging about on the ground


On our arrival at Croc Bridge, Dad went to get petrol while I went in to order breakfast. When I found Dad again he told me he had bumped into some forumites. He pointed out their car so I went over to say g’day. And I was delighted to meet Mellory and Holligan!!!

They too had seen a leopard that morning and had been at the same waterhole as Dad watching the hyenas.

“It was so fantastic” they kept saying… “What a sighting!"
"Where were you Mel? Sleeping in? It never pays to sleep in while at Kruger"
I know, I know…..
It seemed that everyone we met that morning had seen lion, leopard and hyenas, except me

Unfortunately there was only time for a short chat, but before we left we bought some anti-rhino poaching caps to help support the efforts of the Honorary Rangers

Mellory and Holligan also told us that the road we'd intended to take to Berg-en-Dal (S25) was washed away. So then we went back up the H4-2 and onto the H5 where we encountered some lovely animals.

One of my favourite road blocks


Our second leopard tortoise of the day


Followed by a cute little ellie in the road


Next we came upon a Kruger jam. We drove up slowly and asked a fellow what was there. Doh again!!
We had arrived just too late to see a whole pride of lion, with cubs, wandering along the road

The pride were now far into the bush sleeping. We strained with our binoculars and could just make out lion shapes in the shadows. Then all of a sudden a lioness walked out from some bushes closer to us. I didn't have time to pick up the camera and turn it on so I just watched her through the binocs. She was only visible in a small clearing for a few seconds before she too disappeared.

But then some more movement caught my eye. Oh my word!!! 1….2….3….4 little cubs went scampering after mum.
I was ecstatic

Even though I only saw them for a few seconds, I had so wanted to see lion cubs
It was a dream come true and really helped lift my mood

After that we had a lovely run of sightings. This rhino was my 4th Big 5


Next up our Impala Pic of the Day


Followed by a very handsome young kudu lad


And I’m not sure if this is a dark or pale chanting goshawk, but Dad and I were thrilled either way

Beautiful sightings Melph68! The baby Ellie is so cute, all on his own in the road. I suppose the rest of the family was not too far away.

Stunning Rhinos, and I agree with the Impala pic of the day! Superb!

I would guess a Dark Chanted Goshawk, but let the real birders rather identify this one for you!

YAY Mel... LION CUBS!!! I'm green with envy!

That looks like a big bone next to those impies! But maybe I'm just seeing things - a bit like the "rock lions" I always see in Kruger

Great stuff Mel... got the all ready and waiting for more.

Oh PS: Lovely to see you on here again, Mel's Dad. It really is nice hearing your stories and tidbits, I bet you are hanging out for 2015!

Hi Mel!

I also go for dark chanting goshawk as I don't think the PCG does occur in KNP.

Lovely, lovely sightings and photos! The pin-tailed whyday is great and I also
like the itchy hoopoe!

Lovely sights Mel. That baby ellie is adorable

So glad you saw the lion cubs

Love the giraffe roadblock and impala pics.

Nice hoopoe and love the giraffe roadblock and the impala pics too.

Hi Mel,

at least you saw lion cubs

The giraffe road block is lovely and so are the pin-tailed whydah and the rest of what you saw

As already said please do not bother that you slept in - sometimes a girl had to do what a girl has to do

Lovely sightings again Mel

The rhino and ellie, two of the big 5 in one frame, is tops for me

Lovely young Kudu Bull and love the little Ellie ....you have had some nice sightings

Mel!

Nice installment, the giraffe are so unreal, yet there they are blocking your road

The bird shots are great too - birds are fascinating and everywhere all the time - well, until you are specifically looking for a particular one!

Thanks for sharing your trip, and I am for the next installement.

Oh, and NICE LEOPARD at Orpen yesterday (or the day before, depending on where one is on the planet )

Hailey

hilda, Melrockson, Lionspoon, Sharifa, chirinda, Pumbaa, RonnieL, vinkie and haileyidaho

You are so wonderful to continue following my TR

Thank you all for your lovely support and encouragement

I was very excited about arriving at Berg-en-Dal that afternoon, as we were to meet a very special mite...

Lower Sabie to Berg-en-Dal: the final stretch

On the way we were thrilled to see a steenbok, despite not being able to get a clear pic


This little squirrel posed quite nicely for us though


Then a big waterbuck surprised us when he walked out onto the road



And a family of warthogs gave us some great bum shots
Mum, Dad and the 2 kids




Just before BnD we saw some maribous enjoying the last of the afternoon sun



And then there they were - the Berg-en-Dal gates!!


We checked into Bungalow #32 and went to the shop to get something for dinner.
Oh no, they were out of meat
What were we going to take to the braai with Magic Guarri's family tonight?
We bought some bacon and eggs…

Had a quick shower and then went over to #31 to finally meet Karin in person, after knowing her on the forum for years

We all had such a wonderful evening together, chatting and laughing away like old friends


Karin, Stef and Maxi had stocked up on food outside Kruger so Dad and I were thoroughly spoiled by their generosity
Dad and I hadn't had such a good feed for weeks!!
Oh, and we hadn't had so much beer for weeks either
Plus somehow we got talked into schnapps before bed

Oh dear, we had to get up early for the 5.30am morning walk....

You're doing well on your bumshots!

Little Satara has grown - wow!
I'm sure you enjoyed the meet.
Glad that you met some Germans before us -
gave you a good training session on beer drinking.