The Gem in a Volcano - A Short Photo Report

[Ritsgaai]

Every now and again, when we need a nature re-charge, we take a few days off to visit the Pilansberg National Park situated only 2.5 hours drive from Johannesburg.

 

 

Geologists described the area as the Pilansberg Alkaline Ring Complex and one of only 3 alkaline volcanoes in the world. The varied habitats and panoramas always delight us and the topography is a feast for the eye. 

 

 

The beauty of Pilansberg is reflected in a large central lake, the Mankwe Dam that is always teeming with birds and wildlife. The surrounding spectacular landscape with rocky outcrops, open grasslands and wooded valleys homes virtually every mammal of southern Africa, including the Big Five.

 

Over the past weekend we spent 3 days camping at Bakgatla Resort situated next to one of the entrances to the park and had a most enjoyable few days driving around this beautiful area "packed to the rafters". 

 

 

I will share more photos over the next few days and hope you will enjoy it...

 

 

 

 

[Ritsgaai]

This time of year, after good rains, the park is lush and green and in some areas the grass is very tall. 

 

 

It is always a great joy to find rhino and in this park we encountered plenty with lovely horns every single day - 16 on the one day and 14 the other - all of them white rhino. It is good to know that there are still some parks were our rhino are safe (relatively speaking I suppose).

 

Taking an afternoon nap...

 

Taking a stroll by the pool...

 

A splash with family...

 

Watching the baby...

 

having a ball of a time... 

 

and just chilling...

 

Seeing so many rhino on 1 day was pure delight!

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Absolutely amazing to see so many rhinos, and with their horns intact !! Looking forward to read more about Pilansberg.

[Marks]

The area looks really beautiful, and the rhinos are indeed impressive!

Do you have any photos of Bakgatla?

[Ritsgaai]

Thank you @xelas and @Marks.

Unfortunately I only have a photo of our camp. The resort has a lot of potential but needs serious attention. We prefer it for camping when visiting Pilansberg, as the other resort close to the park, Manyane, can be very noisy over weekends being close to a village. Bakgatla has a very small tuckshop, restaurant, spa and massive pool, which was very clean. Our ablution block was also very clean and spotless. Both these resorts, Bakgatla and Manyane are run by Golden Leopard Resorts and accommodation in the chalets is also available through RCI.

 

[Ritsgaai]

During the afternoon we stopped at the Pilansberg Centre for Coffee Shakes. The centre is situated more or less in the middle of the park and the Mankwe Dam.There was a lot of action in front of the coffee shop deck with a fresh salt lick and the waterhole as the main attraction.

 

 

The zebras put up a great show.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Ritsgaai]

We were delighted to find a herd of buffalo one afternoon, as we have not seen them for many years. Unfortunately they were some distance away from the road.

 

 

 

4 Lionesses were taking an afternoon nap and seemed to have no intentions to make any move soon.

 

These kudu peered curiously through the trees.

 

 

 

The following morning was cloudy and we decided to leave camp later. We relaxed in camp and were entertained by various birds.

 

Yellow-billed Hornbill

 

 

Fork-tailed Drongo

 

 

Bearded Woodpecker

 

 

 

Village Weaver

 

Please help with ID. 

 

 

Arrow-marked Babbler

 

Blue waxbill

 

The next morning this very energetic Pin-tailed Whydah kept us entertained with his efforts to chase other birds away coming too close for his liking.

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

With that orange eye-ring it looks like a Kurrichane Thrush to me.

[Peter Connan]

Yes, Kurrichane Thrush.

[Ritsgaai]

Thank you @xelas and @Peter Connan. 

Edited March 17, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Julian]

Looks a really nice location, love the rhino photos, must be great to have a place like that relatively local.

[Ritsgaai]

Thank you, @Julian. Yes... we are really privileged to live close to this park. 

[Ritsgaai]

On the last full day it was overcast and looked like rain (which never came). Even with the cooler weather the park did not disappoint us with many exciting sightings and surprises. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mankwe Dam Hide

 

 

 

White-faced Duck

 

Squacco Heron

 

 

 

Can you spot the Fish-Eagle?

 

 

Pied Kingfisher

 

 

 

 

Little Egret

 

 

 

 

 

And the biggest surprise of the day was these 3 Wilddogs resting close to Bakubung gate in the thickets. 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Wild dogs are so cute!

Edited March 18, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

Hmm, something is not right. There should be two posts, one about the heron being a Green-backed (Striated) Heron IMO.

Edited March 18, 2018 by xelas

[Ritsgaai]

The hour spent at Ratlhogo Waterhole hide was insane!

 

As we approached the hide, we heard a lot of water splashing. There was a huge herd of elephant drinking, bathing and playing in the water and mud.

 

 

 

 

 

As they were leaving the zebra arrived.

 

 

 

 

What is the commotion over there?

 

 

Oh, just those two again...

 

 

 

A jackal was drinking in a ditch showing his back to us.

 

 

This Impala was not taking any notice of the restless Zebra.

 

 

 

 

The next minute these 4 walked in onto the scene...

 

 

 

 

 

and shortly thereafter this mother and baby.

 

 

 

 

Next up was the Blue Wildebeest...

 

 

and then this lone Elephant bull and 14 very careful Giraffe approached.

 

 

 

 

While all this action was taking place, this family of Warthogs enjoyed themselves thoroughly...

 

 

and a Grey Heron was quietly standing on a branch in the middle of the waterhole.

 

The only permanent resident...

 

was getting bored with all the visitors disturbing his peaceful morning.

 

 

With all this happening non-stop, we expected a few lions and a leopard to give us a grand finale! 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Ritsgaai]

@xelas, you are absolutely right. I agree it is a Green-backed Heron.

Thank you.

[Marks]

I'm growing more and more impressed with the look of Pilansberg.

The shot of the ele bull with giraffe and zebra in the background is particularly nice.

[Kitsafari]

1 hour ago, Marks said:

The shot of the ele bull with giraffe and zebra in the background is particularly nice.

 

x2

 

what a busy waterhole that is!

Wild dogs - wow! how often do you get to see wild dogs and are lions very often sighted in Pilansberg @Ritsgaai? 

 

[Peter Connan]

What a show! Rathlogo is a great waterhole, and when we went to Pilanesberg, I would always go there as my last stop of the day, but I never got a show like that!

[ForWildlife]

I think lions are seen fairly regularly. I think on the photo there are 2 young males, not lionesses

I wonder about the drongo. The eye looks black, not dark-red, which indicates it might be a black fly-catcher.

 

[Ritsgaai]

18 hours ago, Marks said:

I'm growing more and more impressed with the look of Pilansberg.

The shot of the ele bull with giraffe and zebra in the background is particularly nice.

Thank you.

Lots of international visitors to RSA visit Pilansberg by staying at Sun City which has various accommodation possibilities.  So it is actually easy to include on a tour plan. Hope you will be able to visit soon. 

[Ritsgaai]

17 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

 

Wild dogs - wow! how often do you get to see wild dogs and are lions very often sighted in Pilansberg @Ritsgaai? 

 

It was our first time to see the wild dogs, but we heard of others who also saw them previously. Surely they are around. 

We have seen lions often over the years.

Also leopard and cheetah on previous visits.

[Ritsgaai]

16 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

What a show! Rathlogo is a great waterhole, and when we went to Pilanesberg, I would always go there as my last stop of the day, but I never got a show like that!

We had a late start this particular morning and only got to the waterhole round about 9h30. We didn't expect much as it was overcast and cool. But it goes to show... expect the unexpected when in nature. 

Do you also normally camp at Bakgatla? 

[Ritsgaai]

11 hours ago, ForWildlife said:

I think lions are seen fairly regularly. I think on the photo there are 2 young males, not lionesses.

 

Thank you for pointing this out to me @ForWildlife.

 

11 hours ago, ForWildlife said:

I wonder about the drongo. The eye looks black, not dark-red, which indicates it might be a black fly-catcher.

 

Please excuse the wrong identification. . I see that it is a Black Flycatcher. I really learn a lot on this forum and loving it!