Kruger - The postman delivers

[Hads]

Hi @ElenaH, I think you are correct, Caspar is not Albino but more Leucitic.

The below link in the second paragraph seems to explain it quite well.

 

https://www.safaria.co.za/casper-the-white-lion-of-kruger-national-park/

[Hads]

Thanks for following along @Peter Connan, @PeterHG, @ElenaHand @Atravelynn.

@PeterHGthanks for correcting me on the Heron, I do get birds mixed up at times  . @Peter Connanwe had our wonderful sightings and it continued for the remainder of the trip. @AtravelynnI was abit naughty letting my boy take a photo of some birds out the sunroof.

 

[Hads]

@ElenaH, another good sight to check out the Birmingham pride which is located in Kruger, they currently have white lions with Cubs.

They seem to roam between Kruger  Orpen Gate region and Greater Kruger, Ngala private reserve.

https://www.facebook.com/Birminghamprideoflions/

 

[Hads]

Okay, let's move this report on again......

Day 7 Morning drive.

After seeing the lion pride last evening we decided to drive the S50 and the first open plains section of the S143 and then head north and have brunch at Shingwedzi camp as we have never been there before.

This morning I had my 2 boys with me and one of my BIL's (brother in laws).

Driving along the S50 Nshawu Marsh area this young lady captured my eye.

We followed her for a good 30 minutes

 

 

 

 

We were the only car at this stage as Mopani region has alot less traffic.

However as we were watching her another vehicle arrived and said did you see the cubs???

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

The lion cubs we saw last night were on the other side of the road.

We then spent the next 2 hours enjoying there company with only a couple of other cars with plenty of open space.

From memory there was 7 cubs.

 

 

 

Getting playful

 

 

 

 

They really stand out in the green grass.

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

Some more playfighting continued  

 

Big paws for small cubs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

Last lot of photo's of these guys I promise.

They slowly started moving across the road towards the Marsh and no doubt to where mum and the other lioness were hiding.

 

 

My boys loved "Mr Floppy ear"

Time to get moving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Floppy Ear  

I love this photo

 

Into the Marsh they go.

After a wonderful couple of hours with them we headed northwards towards Shingwedzi for Brunch.

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

A few photo's of the general game for the morning drive.

Just south of Shingwedzi along the river was a very beautiful drive with lots of stunning tree's.

 

 

 

This guy was not in a hurry.

 

 

Always nice to see the ground hornbill.

 

African Hoopee

 

 

Plenty of young one's about.

 

Crocodiles on the remainder of a old kill.

 

After a nice break for brunch we took the S52 red rocks road and then the main H1-6 road back to Mopani - it had been a wonderful morning drive, we got back to camp around 1pm.

It was time for a swim and relax before a shortened afternoon drive.

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

My wife and her family also had a very nice morning drive.

A couple of photo's to share.

The 2 male's to the pride we saw, we missed these guys earlier in the morning.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

The Postman does not stop..............

After a swim and lazy couple of hours it was time for our afternoon drive.

The 4 vehicle's left a few minutes apart, it was agreed that we would meet at the Mooiplaas picnic site.

My wife and her parents and sister and BIL left a few minutes earlier than us.

Each car carried UHF hand held radio's which if we were lucky had 2-3km range.

A couple arrived at Mooiplas and no one was there.

Luckily we just had range on the radio's, they had taken a detour on the Tsendze river loop and spotted a young leopard .

 

A young female leopard had climbed into a tree and was trying to steal a chick or egg from a nest.

My wife took these photo's.

We all sat and watched her for about 20 minutes or so until the branch she was on snapped and the young leopard fell out of the tree.

 

 

A few moments later the branch had snapped , luckily she did not get hurt.

More pride damage than anything.

She quickly took off and we did not see her again - but wow what excitement  

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

After the flying leopard left us we headed back towards the S50 marsh area and open plains off the Capricorn loop.

We found the pride males on Patrol  

Shawu # 3 Water hole had a large herd of water buck.

Plus a great big Tusker

We got a glimpse of the pride lioness and cubs in the deep grass quite a distance off.

Pride males about 3-4 km's away on the S143 Capricorn loop.

 

 

5 cars in total - 4 were my family  

 

Stunning specimen

 

 

 

What a sensational end to an amazing day in Kruger park.

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

Day 8 - Well the Postman kept handing out the deliveries.

We were leaving this morning - the plan was to leave Mopani around 8am.

I was on my own first up as I decided to do a quick drive back to the Capricorn loop to see what I could find.

 

Well you guessed it  - there was a nice sighting of a different young pride of 4 male lions who had killed a Wildebeest.

This was at the Tihongonyeni waterhole.

They had plenty of company around the kill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The early bird does catch the worm  

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

I got back to camp very excited to what I had seen.

But it was time to go, we had a long drive south to our last stop at Lower Sabie for 2 nights.

The sightings kept coming.

Just near Tsendze camp we saw these Wild dog, they had just lost there kill to a lone Hyena.

 

 

 

 

The Hyena did have a couple of battle scars were the dogs bit him though.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

Heading further South just north of Satara.

More dogs, these guys were quite relaxed and sleepy.

 

 

 

One was collared.

Yellow billed kite with a kill?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Hads]

We arrived at Lower Sabie around 2.30pm.

Enough time to check in and unpack and relax.

Not everyone went for an afternoon drive.

A couple of cars took a short drive south down to the S137 and S28 and bird hide and back.

This route was a good choice.

Just south of Lower Sabie was a road block, a leopard was hiding in a sausage tree. Too many cars so we left.

 

 

 

Driving along the north section of the S28 my eldest boy spotted this beautiful big male leopard lazing in the grass. - "STOP DAD - LEOPARD"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Lower Sabie...........

Edited March 12 by Hads

[Peter Connan]

I want to hire your postman!

 

Even a Nightjar in a tree! Never seen that, nor have I seen that many Black Storks congregated in one spot.

[Hads]

Thanks @Peter Connan, the postman was very kind this trip.

Lots of predator sightings and unique sightings.

Self driving in Kruger is always fun.

[Atravelynn]

The look on the "flying leopard's" face when it hit the ground is pure disdain for the unsound branch.  Anyone who knows cats, knows that look.

 

Great leopard spotting by your son, giving the postman a little help!

[PeterHG]

On 3/12/2024 at 8:54 AM, Peter Connan said:

want to hire your postman!

Both your postman and your son, I think! Incredible sightings and photos!

[Towlersonsafari]

what a splendid trip so far  @Hads- a nightjar, your own personal traffic jam and lots of predator  sightings!

[offshorebirder]

Very enjoyable trip report @Hads - I would like to get that Postman's name and schedule a delivery!

 

[Hads]

Thanks very much to all for following along, @Peter Connan, @PeterHG, @Atravelynn, @offshorebirderand @Towlersonsafari.

The postman's name is Mr Kruger  . He is open to deliveries 365 days per year, 24 hrs per day.

Having multiple people in the car helps find animals, and my boys were with me on nearly all the drives bar a couple of mornings.

The Nightjar was taken by my wife.

She also took the photo of the leopardess when it hit the ground.

[Hads]

Day 9 -  a long drive......

We headed off early this morning in 2 cars at approximately 5am.

We headed south along the S28 towards croc bridge, the plan was to get a hot chocolate there.

It was a pleasant drive but in general pretty quiet compared to what we have been blessed with, still fantastic though.

 

 

You should really start to wash more ...........

 

Detour past Sunset dam on the way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 15 by Hads

[Hads]

Leaving Croc bridge we headed west along a badly corrugated S25 gravel road.

2 young males quite a distance from the road.

 

 

Biyamati river low water bridge.

 

 

This is the only time in 10 days we got to see these amazing creature's  

 

 

Lone lioness

On the S114 there was 4-5 lazy wild dogs.

 

 

 

Eagle ID please - Martial ??

 

My youngest son took these piccies.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 15 by Hads

[Hads]

Around 1pm I went filled the car up at the Lower Sabie fuel station.

I had my youngest boy with me.

I said let's take a quick at the Sunset dam and try to get a photo or 2 of some pied kingfishers, as it was very hot we didnt expect much ......

We were pleasantly surprised with what was out and about.

Nice bull ele.

I,m watching you buddy.

 

On the dead tree in the dam there was quite a commotion as a Goshawk was doing it's best to raid the weaver nests

 

 

 

 

As we were watching the Goshawk a female lioness appeared for a quick drink  

 

 

 

 How good is Kruger.

Edited March 15 by Hads