Kruger Jan 2018: Birding and braaiing in the park

[Tdgraves]

Day 10, Evening drive Letaba, 6/2/18

 

As we had already had along day, we opted for a short drive. I saw that there was a bird hide on the map that we had never been to, so this would be our destination. It looked out over the river, but there were not many birds about...

 

 

However, it did show why you do not drive the little river loops in the afternoons...

 

 

as you may bump into these guys! (the road is on the right of the shot)

 

we had a close encounter with a nyala

 

 

 

and the sighting of the drive was a buffalo in the evening light

 

 

 

Dinner in the restaurant tonight as it had been a long day.

[Tdgraves]

Day 11, Morning drive Letaba, 7/2/18

 

It was very overcast and cloudy this morning. I had the 5D. We decided to take the gravel road south near to the river and see what happened. Our first sighting was a brief glimpse (and no photo) of a civet, a Kruger first! The river loops occupied by the eles yesterday afternoon were largely deserted, but we foudn two separate sets of fresh leopard tracks, following them as far as we could to no avail.

 

 

 

 

 

we were almost at Crocodile Bridge, when we came across these two bold male nyala in a dried up river bed, there were very obliging

 

 

 

 

 

We had a coffee break at Crocodile Bridge - the food that they were preparing looked very good, and then we set off back north up the tar road to camp. It was birds all the way...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time for breakfast!

[Tdgraves]

Day 11, Letaba, 7/2/18

 

I am combining birding around camp with the evening drive, as both were quiet. It was very hot, up to 35 degrees and sunny for a change

 

 

 

 

 

 

I shot from the drive, from the OH as nothing from my camera made it to the favourites list...

[Tdgraves]

Day 12, Morning drive Letaba, 8/2/18

 

Another quiet morning, made up for today by some birds and some sunshine! I had the 7D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Including a new one for us, greater painted snipe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had to go back to camp for a comfort break. This turned out to be a genius move, as who was having breakfast??

 

 

A black-headed oriole! We had seen more of them on this trip than ever before, but usually just flying over the road and I hadn't even attempted to get a photo of one. This guy was fixated on food, so I had lots of chances...

 

 

 

and there were other birds in camp too...

 

 

 

 

time to get back on the road

 

 

 

 

and we did finally see some mammals...

 

 

 

back to camp for breakfast...

[Towlersonsafari]

enjoying your report @Tdgraves  we are thinking of leteba as part of our next Kruger trip  going through Kruger on our way to Mashatu but have never been there (leteba) -can you kindly share your impressions?

[Tdgraves]

2 minutes ago, Towlersonsafari said:

enjoying your report @Tdgraves  we are thinking of leteba as part of our next Kruger trip  going through Kruger on our way to Mashatu but have never been there (leteba) -can you kindly share your impressions?

 

Hi @Towlersonsafari What a great idea! We drove through the Kruger on the way back from Mashatu, but I guess it depends on the rest of the plan. Letaba is a lovely camp situated on a bend in the Letaba river. the restaurant and huts look out over this. As it is in the central Kruger, there is less game than the south, although plenty of elephants. However, it is really good for birds. We have seen lions here before, but it tends to be the quietest camp that we stay at (see previous TRs). It is a good place to wind down and have a rest, which is what the majority of our neighbours seemed to be doing the last time we were there. Although it is quiet, we always go there, as it is well situated for the Phaloborwa gate. When we came back from Mashatu, we went in at the top of the park (Pafuri gate, about 3 hours drive I think) and drove right though, but the Phaloborwa gate would also be accessible from the N1. Be aware that the N1 is single carriageway from Polokwane northwards and so you cannot make as good progress on this part of the road compared to the southerly parts of it...

 

Let me know if I can help in any other way - when are you going?

[Towlersonsafari]

Thanks very much-it looks like a 2020 trip for my 60th and leteba does look nice-we think we are going to aim for pretoriskop, lower sabie, satara, leteba and one night at Punda maria, then mopane bush camp mashatu and then on the way back stay at Magoebaskloof (where we once saw a bat hawk)-your reports are a source of inspiration and was the reason we went back to the Kruger-and had such a great time-in 2017 @Tdgraves

[Tdgraves]

59 minutes ago, Towlersonsafari said:

Thanks very much-it looks like a 2020 trip for my 60th and leteba does look nice-we think we are going to aim for pretoriskop, lower sabie, satara, leteba and one night at Punda maria, then mopane bush camp mashatu and then on the way back stay at Magoebaskloof (where we once saw a bat hawk)-your reports are a source of inspiration and was the reason we went back to the Kruger-and had such a great time-in 2017 @Tdgraves

 

@Towlersonsafari Glad to know I inspire someone! it would make more sense to go to mopane before punda maria, as it is further south, but sounds like a great itinerary otherwise. Have you thought of adding Pafuri border camp for your last night, to experience the Limpopo? This would also shorten your drive to Mashatu.

[Towlersonsafari]

Sorry meant to type mopane bush lodge a private reserve we keep looking at so not the Kruger rest camp.its opposite pont drift.thanks for your comments and looking forward to the rest of your report @Tdgraves

[Hads]

Thanks for a wonderful TR @Tdgraves.

The photo of the buffalo in the evening light is stunning.

I am off to Kruger in January for 8 nights with my father in law again - 2 nights Shimuwini, 4 Satara and 2 nights Biyamati. Also trying to get a family trip to Madikwe if we can squeeze it in.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Hads your rip sounds great

[Tdgraves]

Day 12, Evening drive Letaba, 8/2/18

 

It was hot and sunny and we did a different loop, but with pretty much the same results, it was quiet...

 

 

 

 

Back to camp for our final braai 

[Peter Connan]

@Tdgraves, what's the second bird in this last post? Immature cut-throat Finch?

 

Lovely roller portrait!

Edited August 20, 2018 by Peter Connan

[Tdgraves]

3 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

@Tdgraves, what's the second bird in this last post? Immature cut-throat Finch?

 

Lovely roller portrait!

 

@Peter Connan female cut-throat finch

thanks!

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Tdgraves.

[Big_Dog]

Fantastic trip you had @Tdgraves !
And yes indeed I enjoyed those pics. Wonderful eye-level capture of a wonderful event, pool party hyaenas is a sighting I'd love!

[Tdgraves]

Day 13, morning walk, Letaba, 9/2/18

 

Given that we had to drive all the way back to Joburg today, we did what we had never before attempted on safari - we had a lie in! I was sceptical that we would be able to sleep through and was woken by the woodland kingfishers, but easily went back to sleep. As the birding around camp at about 8am the previous day had been so good, the plan was to do a walk around camp, have breakfast and then leave, which would incorporate about an hours drive to the gate. Of course, when you try and repeat things, they are never quite as good the second time around...

 

 

 

 

 

 

we packed up and were off. Not far out of camp we spotted another Levaillant's cuckoo

 

 

and this slow moving creature

 

 

 

 

We had a break at the Phaloborwa gate, where we were surprised to see a red-headed weaver - I didn't realise that they lived in the Kruger

 

 

 

 

 

We had an uneventful drive back to Joburg and spent the night for the last time in our friend's house, before they retire to the Cape. A day of lounging around and watching cricket and we were off to the airport.

 

Sorry it has taken so long to finish this TR, I'll try harder next time!

[Hads]

Thanks for a wonderful TR @Tdgraves

[Peter Connan]

Lovely trip!

 

Thanks for completing it.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Peter Connan and @Hads

[xelas]

It always took longer to post a trip report then the actual trip! But thank you for very detailed one, filled with excellent photos. It surely will be repeated, January or February looks like good months for both birds and mammals.

How was the crowd factor during your trip? And, how early in advance you have had to book the accommodations?

[Tdgraves]

38 minutes ago, xelas said:

It always took longer to post a trip report then the actual trip! But thank you for very detailed one, filled with excellent photos. It surely will be repeated, January or February looks like good months for both birds and mammals.

How was the crowd factor during your trip? And, how early in advance you have had to book the accommodations?

 

Thanks @xelas it is always busier in the south of the park, but we have never felt crowded, as there are just too many roads to choose between. We usually book in around October for jan, but sometimes that means not having your first choice of camps (but there are plenty of alternatives). E.g. last Year couldn’t get into skukuza due to a conference, in the past not been able to get into lower Sabie. I guess if you are flexible with dates and camps, you could probably book a month in advance (as long as you go asfter the South African school holidays).  If you have a particular wilderness camp in mind, then I suppose book as early as possible. As the camps are so much larger and more numerous than KTP, I imagine that you would always be able to find somewhere to sleep!

[Ritsgaai]

Thank you for a most enjoyable TR and taking the time to place so many photos, @Tdgraves.

[Towlersonsafari]

hurrah! another fine trip report @Tdgraves have fun in the KTP

[Tdgraves]

thanks @Ritsgaai and @Towlersonsafari

counting down the days....