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Following a successful Dec 10 trip as well as a wonderful April 11 trip to the Kruger, Its time to share the memories of the "motherload" experienced in December 2011.

The gang has all reported for driving and sighting duty, shopping is done and car is packed. off we go into the wild blue yonder for 8 nights at Skukuza - YIPPEE!

Blind Bat has been assigned middle back again for obvious reasons.......

Ok - off we set at 04:30 to Croc Bridge - we want to travel the S28 in search of the elusive Cheetah. Smooth trip up with a brekie at Halls, loaded babelas wors and in an hour we get to Croc Bridge.

Our first sighting... piggies on patrol



The S 28 yielded Rhino and Buffalo all in the distance, so no photo ops. After a brief stop as LS, we pushed on to Sunset dam...

Basking in his own glory



And these fellow having a bath



Wait for me



Let me tuck my head in



Hey Boet - nice surfing dude..



I spy with my little eye



If i lie here will anyone notice me?



TBC

Ok - got to Skukuza at 1pm, and yes our room was ready. Time to unpack and get ready for a short pm drive.

Off to Renosterkoppies Dam to visit my dad who had been scattered there a couple of years ago.

Saw these two fellows following mom across the road. Brief stay, so took the pictures i could..

Hey mom - Wait for me



Wait for me Boetie




All quite at Renosterkoppies, so we had a drink with Dad before moving onto Transport.

The usual suspects on the rock.



Never made it to Transport, a leopard was seen deep in the bush, sorry no photo's .... YET!

So, Big 5 on the first day. WOW

Back to camp for a G&T, steaks and Coffee with booze. See you tomorrow.

Thanks Anri and Radman.

Day 2 and we are off towards LS in search of Cheetah.

Eloff street always yields a brown spotted beast or two..



Hold on tight to your mom....



Beautiful in the morning



Bollocks to that



Mmmmm some lovely chewy bits here maybe?



Piggie on patrol



Sunset Dam alwyas alive









A brief stop at LS and then off to Molondzi for.............

TBC

Ok - after a brief stop at LS, we are of to Mlondzi in search of.. not you Cheetah2111, but your namesake.

Nothing much over the bridge, so we take the dirt road and what do we see peering out..



Patience is a virtue - we sat for 45 mins for this to happen





and then...





And some more...



Im tired mom - can we go now?



All in all there were 4 cubs, and i was in awe of this mom who had managed to raise 4 cubs - WOW

TBC

Ok - so after spending an hour with the Cheetah, it was time to start heading back to camp.



If I hide my food here do you think anyone wil notice?



Grubs up...



I'm going as quickly as I can dammit!



Me too...



A rare sighting for us - BEAUTIFUL!



As we were braaing that night, this fellow came to vist us. I nearly shat myself at first!



TBC

OK, so day three we head down to Malelane to do some shopping. Met a couple of the owners of the bollocks...



You looking at me?



Sad sight - obviously a missed attempted kill. Back leg looked sore!



Head shot before....



Hey - who stole my ear???



And then, just 500m from the gate....



An hour later - on our return from town...



Left and drove around the corner, and another Leopard ran in front of us - toooooo quick for a pic though

TBC

VVV - must have been a near miss on the Zebra, and you have not seen "nothing yet" with a herd of Buffalo's!

Ok so the rest of the day was quite, but I will share some of the photo's.

Calling calling on the 19...



OK, so Ill fluff out my tail feathers...



My favorite raptor....

Thanks MM - love the sound the Korhaan makes.

Radman and Anri - yip the best is yet to come.

Ok, so day 4 duly arrived..

I spy with my little eye..



Group sleeping..



Lets carbo load..



Come and join me - its GREAT!



Im going as quick as I can dammit!



When im feeling blue all I have to do..



Catching a breather



TBC

Ok, so in the afternoon we went off tp Renosterkoppies to see what was happening at Dads resting place..



Tortoise being eaten - watch your teeth!



Dont mind if you eat while I do my business!



Dad came to visit us...



Hey check me out..



What's going on here...



That was YUMMY...



TBC

Judging by your and my Trip Reports, the tortoises in the South are certainly on the menu lately

Ok, so day 5 arrived, and we decided to go looking for Cheetah again.

Apart from Bushbuck and Baboons, our sighting of the morning was.........



Hey - help!! I'm up to my knees in water..



And the ever present Goliath at Sabie river crossing.



They are sooooo cute!



The gentle giant..



and then...........OMG



and...............

Thanks Lion Queen, Hilda, Meandering Mouse, Anri and Vlakvarkvrou for your comments.

The and..... was because this was the "mother" of all herds. The first photo was at the edge of the herd, and i snapped from right to left (which follows) the herd must have been 800+ strong!!!










OMG

With so many Buffs, no cheetahs were to be found, so we soldiered on..

Ok, so what would "Old years Eve" bring us?????

Mmmm what is that in the tree...

Quick shot

Off to Transport Dam - almost shat myself when he showed up!




And then...