Sunday 1 September 2013

Kruger: December 2009 (Part 5)

Let's carry on, shall we??

During our time of rest in the Shingwedzi camp, I photographed this woodpecker around our chalet...



We were going on an official Sanparks sunset drive that afternoon, and it proved to be an afternoon for the birds. As we left on our drive we saw this endangered Saddle-billed Stork...


...as well as this migrant Broad-billed Roller...



How about this Verreaux's Eagle Owl?


And this Woodland Kingfisher?


All these lovely birds were seen on the short 3km drive from Shingwedzi camp to the main link road between the central and northern parts of Kruger...

We headed north to the Mphongolo river road, and had a beautiful yet quiet drive. This Sharpe's Grysbok was a highlight.



We also came across some Open-billed Storks in a muddy pan...


As it got dark and we were on our way back to camp, we came across this cute Flap-necked Chameleon...


We got home, made haste to get our meat on the "braai" (grill) and get into bed for another early morning drive.

The next morning we got up to an overcast sky and a light drizzle in the air. Needless to say the temptation was great to have a late snooze in...but we resisted it and braved the gloomy weather by heading out of the gate. It seemed that everyone else in camp was doing the "lying low" thing we were tempted by. We would be so glad we went out, though!!

We headed north - I wanted to drive the lovely Mphongolo loop again as it wound through the lush riverine forest along hte Mphongolo river.

First up - the resident baboon troop.





Some mean-looking Buffalo boys...




As we turned onto the Mphongolo loop we saw a Brown Snake Eagle...




We moved on and the road was quiet from here on in...until we passed the first link back to the main road, that is...

...watch this space!


Morkel Erasmus

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