A return to the Cape - November 2023

[xelas]

Our second full day at Amakhala was a very busy one. Another pre-sunrise wake-up call give me the chance to try a moon-above-the-tree shot, which failed miserably. At least you can see the photographer ...

 

 

Same goes for the rising sun photo; I really need some clouds to cooperate.

 

 

 

Anyway the target of the day were the "silent giants". We have found a sizeable herd and have followed them for the better part of the morning drive. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

The elephants kept themselves inside the gully while the road started to climb, thus giving us another vantage point for even more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one looked quite old, all wrinkled and with broken tusk. 

 

 

Edited February 16 by xelas

[xelas]

After each morning drive it was time for the breakfast.

 

 

 

 

A solitary young elephant, not part of the herd (anymore) came to quench the thirst in the small waterhole near the camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was not much time for birding while constantly moving so only one small Neddicky finds its way into this post.

 

[xelas]

The afternoon drive was equally busy, just less driving and more photography was involved. First Greg has found the mom; she must have enjoyed a healthy late lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

And next we have witnessed a meet-up with two youngsters, full of affection and love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

More rhinos, a Black-backed jackal and a Karoo Scrub Robin ended the second full day and our 5th game drive, which was also the last one for Martin and his group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

While Martin, Rena and Pat departed early, we have had one more game drive, and Greg and the vehicle just for the two of us. This game drive turned into a proper birding Stop'n'Go. During our 3 days at Amakhala our total count was 59 species. 

 

Bokmakierie

 

Southern Boubou

 

Spotted Thick-knee

 

Cape Sparrow

 

Black-headed Heron

 

 

[xelas]

However there was one more animal that we have had to see ... the King himself ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

... and the Prince

 

 

 

 

 

That was an excellent sighting to end our visit to Amakhala Game Reserve.

[Peter Connan]

Seems like you had a great time at Amakhala!

[xelas]

9 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Seems like you had a great time at Amakhala!

 

Indeed so, Peter. Only downside was too much food ; I just don't have any self-control  unfortunately.

[xelas]

MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NATIONAL PARK

 

 

There are only 250 kms between Amakhala and our next stop, an easy while not so scenic drive of 3 hours. However, this was the hottest day of our trip; thermometer quickly rose above 40 degrees Celsius. We have made one stop, and exiting the car was like stepping into a furnace. Luckily, closer to the park we were the temperatures slowly dropped, and in the camp, outside was already bearable. The wether report indicated fresh night and normal temperatures during the day.

 

Why Mountain Zebra NP? Because it was in the vicinity, we have not been there, and based on the photos, it looks like a scenic park, with decent birdlife. Booking of the cottage (#27) was easy through Sanparks website. The camp has several cottages and a campsite. There is a restaurant for those that don't want to cook or braai, and a nice pool with splendid views. Don't ask me about the water, I have only put my hand into the pool.

 

Entry to the park is very close to the main road. From there it is some distance to the camp itself. 

 

 

The first animal we have seen in the park!

 

 

The layout of the camp, and how it looks from a viewing point.

 

 

 

 

The cottage was very comfortable, modern, and to my delight, also here they had a SatTV with PL games! One distinct feature of this cottage is a double-side fire place between the living room and the bedroom. Of course, there is a braai area outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the camp leads two hiking trails. Both started near the fenced pool area; one is shorter and goes along the wooded gully (did this one and was good for birding) and the other goes up the hill.

 

 

 

 

 

There are two more fenced resting areas within the park, both close to the camp. One has a large pool that is obviously popular with visitors (and monkeys) while the other is more on the wild side, less visited and better for birding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Mountain Zebra is 2/3 plains and 1/3 mountains as per below map. For more adventure riders there are 4x4 trails (red on the map), and for others there are normal gravel roads. The two loops: Rooiplaat Loop and Kranskop Loop are in the hilly area while in the plains there is Ubejane Loop, Link Road and Main Road. We have not tried any of the 4x4 trails yet we have drove all of the other roads and loops, some of them twice, for the change in the sun position.

 

For birding best is to drive counter-clockwise on the Kranskoop Loop. The section before joining the Rooiplaat Loop was filled with birds on both the afternoon and the morning drives. The Rooiplaat Loop is very scenic, with great views either towards the plains (to the north) or towards the hills (to the south). During our visit the traffic was almost non-existent; during all of our drives we have only encountered 2 vehicles driving in the opposite direction. Which is a good thing as the roads that makes the two hillside loops are narrow.

 

Topographic map

 

Park map

 

The 4x4 beast

 

Our trusty SUV

[xelas]

On the arrival day it was still hot down in the plains so it was decided to try the Kranskoop Loop. The road follows the northern side of the hill thus the driver has better views (if driving counter-clockwise) in the beggining yet later the road drives on the top of the crest and offers great views to both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

On 2/17/2024 at 3:26 PM, xelas said:

the King himself ...

 

a king and a prince

[xelas]

There was this sign at one of the viewpoints but I have little faith in seeing one. The birding was very good though. And scenery amazing!

 

 

Mountain Wheatear

 

Southern rock agama

 

African Stonechat

 

Familiar Chat

 

This road is part of the Rooiplaat Loop

 

 

Edited February 20 by xelas

[xelas]

On the far side of the Kranskoop Loop the road goes down and crosses this small stream; I was surprised by how much flowing water can be seen in this park. Down the hill we have also encountered mammals, but mostly solitary animals. And more birds.

 

 

 

Grey rhebok

 

Warthog

 

Ground agama

 

Karoo Scrub Robin

 

Bokmakierie

 

 

 

 

Edited February 20 by xelas

[xelas]

We have started the loop at 15:30 and ended it at 18:00. While the speed limit is 40 km/h, best is to keep the driving speed around 20 km/h, both for birding, for viewing and for safety. A few more sights and we were back to our cottage, ready for a healthy dinner!

 

 

Vervet monkey

 

Red hartebeest

 

African Pied Starling

 

Dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Towlersonsafari]

We have been to Mountain Zebra a couple of times now and found it a beautiful place  @xelasyour photo's do it justice. We also have a photo of Jane next to the "beware of lions2 sign!

[xelas]

18 hours ago, Towlersonsafari said:

We also have a photo of Jane next to the "beware of lions2 sign!

And were you lucky to spot a lion?

 

Thanks for your kind words. Mountain Zebra"s scenery is indeed very attractive. 

[xelas]

We only have 2 nights in the park, thus we wanted to make our only full day as full as it gets, with different birds and mammals. Our plan was to explore both the lowlands and the highlands of the park.

 

 

We have started early, starting the birding right outside our cottage.

 

Greater Stripped Swallow

 

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

 

African Hoopoe

 

 

and a curious Kudu lady observing the road at close distance (photo is not cropped).

 

[xelas]

On the Kranskoop Loop we were met by a large troupe of baboons, but the theme of this uphill drive was birding. Mainly smaller song birds.

 

 

 

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

 

Cape Bunting

 

Piping Cisticola aka Neddicky

 

Red-headed (Grey-backed) Cisticola

 

Rufous-eared Warbler

[xelas]

Once on the ridge both the scenery and the wildlife has changed.

 

Common Ostrich

 

Mountain Zebra

 

 

Eland

 

 

 

[xelas]

This time we have taken the right turn down the 9.2 km long Link Road that connects the Rooiplaast Loop and the Ubejane Loop. The density of the grazers started to increase both in numbers and in species.

 

Springbok

 

 

Mountain zebra

 

 

Our first Black Wildebeest sighting of the trip

 

And a distant view of a blesbok herd

 

 

[xelas]

From the northern direction a dark grey clouds started to arrive, but the light was still good for a few more photos.

 

 

Spike-heeled Lark

 

 

 

Wing-snapping Cisticola

 

 

 

Clouds on the sky always add a touch of drama to the photos

[Soukous]

A productive visit. I've never seen a Rufous-eared Warbler so that is my favourite.

[xelas]

45 minutes ago, Soukous said:

A productive visit.

And that was only the first quarter!!