Shy Sable Sunday.

 

We set out on Sunday with no expectations. Cheetah and Wild Dog usually elude us, but we took a dirt road where the dogs have been spotted in recent times. The day was cold and cloudy and we were ready for what ever crossed our path.

We were finding plenty of general game but were lucky enough to spot a herd of 12 Sable well back in the bush. It was near impossible to get a clear photograph through the grass and trees.

We thought they were heading for a nearby water trough and drove the few hundred metres and sat waiting for them to arrive.

To our surprise a hyaena came loping past the water trough. She appeared to be searching for something and was continually sniffing the ground. She walked partway down the road and back past us and disappeared. A few minutes later she was off past us again and disappeared down the road.

The Sable still hadn’t arrived at the trough so we drove along to see how close they were. The were retracing their steps and not coming to the water trough. These two sightings were the highlight of our day.

We did have other sightings though…

LP

A Big 5 Day.

A little late today…out the gate at 6.10am. I was hoping to find the jackals.

A few ks down the road there was a line of traffic. What could we expect? As we stopped I could see the Leopard only 50 metres from the edge of the road. He then walked off and into the bush.

Further on near the spot where the lion was causing mayhem yesterday we found two Jackals.

Remember the eagle harassing the guinea fowl yesterday? Here it is a day later sitting under the same bush as the guinea fowl.

More Big Birds harassing one another.

Rhino

Find the baby ears…nr centre of pic

Big Daddy

Full Bellies

On the road to Skukuza.

We had passed the Kruger Tablets and were discussing the possibility of seeing the wild dogs that frequent the area. We considered turning down the dirt road but decided not too. We were then overtaken by a vehicle towing a caravan (on a blind curve…and a vehicle did appear at the crest of the hill). The caravan sped down the hill and was still in sight when the young fellow below stepped onto the side of the road and walked towards us. In their haste they missed a super sighting.

I managed to run out of space on my camera card,and I am sure when I play the film we took it will be me grumbling because I couldn’t quickly get the new card in my camera.

A three Leopard day was a first for us, and was also our first day of this trip to spot the big 5.

 

LP

Baboons etc cont…

 

This is not a good example to set.

On our return trip to Satara from Olifants we couldn't miss the traffic chaos ahead.

We fully expected it to be a lion sighting. We were lucky enough to witness a hunt in progress away from the roadblock. The eagle was terrorising a flock of guinea fowl and it was rather comical to watch. Lots of chasing running squawking and flying. More on this tomorrow.

Roadblock craziness

If you look carefully the centre of the attention was this lion. He is in the centre at the base of the dead tree.

We were stopped in this middle position long enough to get this shot

This fellow had now followers.

Taken outside our bungalow.

In the bush

Using your imagination…the shot below is the closest we got to a cat. The tail flowinf behind the retreating kitty

 

 

LP