Kruger January 2022: A return after the pandemic and to default Afrikaans

[Tdgraves]

Day 12: Letaba evening drive

 

The storm slowly passed and as the rain was lessening, we decided to go out anyway, not many others joined us

 

7T4A7871 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

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We decided to avoid the gravel roads and after driving in one direction for a bit on the tar, we seemed to be catching up with the storm, so we turned around and drove in the opposite direction. There was nothing to see and we decided to turn around and head back to camp. As we did a three point turn, we saw this...

 

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so we stayed for a bit

 

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Before going back to camp. We had yet another male ele encounter. We were the third car in a line behind a slow moving but well behaved ele going in the same direction as us. There was one car trying to go the other way. More and more traffic was approaching form behind and gate closing time was near. Eventually some staff had enough and floored it past, with radio blaring and banging vigorously on the car doors. This had the desired effect of scaring it off into the bush and we got past. However, it was now really angry and reappeared on the road to block those following behind. No wonder they are badly behaved. 

 

Back to camp for food in the very quiet restaurant.

[Dave Williams]

What an excellent an enviable Lion sighting you had, some good birds too. 

[Biko]

Beautiful pictures of the hyena and cubs

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Dave Williamsone of our better Kruger ones, although the light conditions were very challenging. These shots required the most processing of the trip, The fine rain was reflecting what little light there was, giving a weird effect, not something I have encountered before. 
 

thanks @Biko I find hyaena very good photographic subjects, if one bothers to stop (lots of people drive straight passed them) as they are very curious creatures.

[Zim Girl]

Fabulous action shots of the lions. I also love hyenas - great pictures!

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Zim Girl more hyaena to come...

[Tdgraves]

Day 13: Letaba morning drive

 

It had continued to rain throughout the night and the gravel roads were now all officially closed. It remained cloudy and there was more intermittent rain, 23 rising to 28 degrees. We did a large triangle on the tar roads, up to Mopani, across to the Phalborwa gate and back to camp. Made even longer as we missed the juntion onto the main road!

 

A couple of birds on the bridge...

 

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Then there was a lone hyaena, who had found an irresistible scent and kept running around in circles back to the same spot

 

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We moved on and then found some more pups...

 

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The rest of the loop was very long and yielded not much, but it was preferable to driving up and down the same road. At the picnic site near the gate, there were some klipspingers

 

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Back for lunch!

[Tdgraves]

Day 13: Letaba walk around camp

 

The sun had returned

 

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[Tdgraves]

Day 13: Letaba evening drive

 

It was sunny again, but following the rains, it was quiet. Given our long morning drive, we only did a small loop.

 

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Back for our last braai of the trip

[Tdgraves]

Day 14: Letaba morning drive

 

As we were leaving this day, it was only a short drive, but we did not see much

 

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from the OH

 

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We went back to camp to pack up and had brunch at the gate, where we saw our last few birds...

 

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And it was time to say goodbye to the park once again

[Tdgraves]

Day 15: Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve

 

We were again fortunate to meet up with @Peter Connanto have a morning in the reserve. The weather forecast was very bad, but we made the most of it and it didn't actually rain, which was a bonus. Peter graciously drove given the mud roads and the recent rains, as our car hadn't performed well on slightly wet mud roads in the park. We probably did not see the numbers of birds as on previous visits and the photographic opportunities were limited due to the cloud, but it is always nice to see Peter and extend the safari by another day!

 

We actually saw two new species - bokmakarie and wryneck

 

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as well as the usual suspects

 

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We had breakfast in the café and witnessed this..!

 

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some from the OH

 

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The bed and breakfast graciously allowed us to keep the room until 6pm at no extra charge and even cleaned it whilst we were out, so we could relax and pack before going to the airport for our overnight flight home.

 

Phew! Got it done before leaving for Kenya tomorrow morning!

[Dave Williams]

If you do half as well in Kenya it will be a success! Have a great holiday and safe journey.

 

oh, and really hide all your keys before you go. 

 

[Tdgraves]

34 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

If you do half as well in Kenya it will be a success! Have a great holiday and safe journey.

 

oh, and really hide all your keys before you go. 

 

thanks - my parents are housesitting and my car will be in the Heathrow car park! Glad I booked the freight seat - camera equipment (excluding tripod) is 28kg, so all of our hand luggage will take up our entire free allowance. We couldn't have managed without the extra space, even if I hadn't bought the 200-400mm lens...

Edited September 9, 2022 by Tdgraves
clarification

[TonyQ]

Some great photos to finish a really good trip report. I really like the hyenas, and you saw and photographed many beautiful birds.

 

Have a great time in Kenya. It is a good job you booked an extra seat - that is seriously heavy camera equipment! Enjoy the new lens, I am sure it will be fun in Kenya and will produce excellent photos for us to enjoy 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @TonyQ fingers crossed for all of the new East African birds...

[Peter Connan]

Wow, so many incredible sightings and photos!

The Lions play-fighting in the rain were the stars of the show for me, but there were so many others, like the Ground Hornbills in flight and the extreme close-ups of the rain-bird. And fhe Malachite with a fish almost as big as it! 

[Treepol]

Great photos from Rietvlei, I especially liked the ostrich amongst the pink flowers.

[Zim Girl]

Lovely end to the report!

Have a great time in Kenya.

[Towlersonsafari]

the lion sighting looks wonderful and your report nicely wets the appetite  for our long postponed November  Kruger  trip. thank you @Tdgraves

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Peter Connan @Treepol @Zim Girl and @Towlersonsafari

 

There is always something to see/photograph in the Kruger

 

just checked in to Meru after a fabulous start in Amboseli. the OH is sleeping off the travel sickness pills, then it is time for lunch!

[PeterHG]

I read through your trip report today and it certainly whetted our appetite for our upcoming trip to the Kruger park. Many excellent photos of birds and mammals, like the lion cubs, leopard, cheetah so much more! A joy to read and see.

[Tdgraves]

Glad to hear it @PeterHG - hope you have a good trip

[Hads]

Amazing photography thanks @Tdgraves. What camera and lens are you using?

This is some of the best photography I have seen on Safaritalk, absolutely stunning.

This is whetting my appetite for Kruger when I return with my family in January 2023, loving the report thankyou.

[Hads]

@TdgravesI loved the S100, S41, S90 route, I regularly do this drive when staying at Satara - what awesome lion sightings you had.

Photography is 20/10

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Hads canon 7d mark ii and 5d mark iv with 100-400 mark ii lens

 

i like that loop too, although it can be quiet! We are going to Kgalagadi in Jan instead this year