South Africa 2013 - Pt 8

Kruger Park, Satara Rest Camp and surrounding areas:

The terrain changed a little now, flatter with less dense bush but well scattered with thickets amongst the long grasses........ of course this sounds like cat country!
 

This Kori Bustard shows off the habitat that I try to describe.
These are huge birds, but even the longest of grass cant completely hide them. We had a pair together and another lone individual.

 

 

although this Crested Francolin made viewing a little easier along the roadside.

 

 

 

Again the very large raptors evaded us, we did get more views of Tawny Eagle and Bateleur.

The Hornbill species now started to change from the more southern based Red Billed and Yellow Billed to the more predominant African Grey Hornbill and I was lucky enough to get a single but brief sighting of a Trumpeter Hornbill
We were to still getting regular sightings of the impressive Southern Ground Hornbill

 

Around the Satara Rest Camp Red Billed Buffalo Weaver were keen to feed on any barbecue spillages from the night before, this one is trying its luck outside our Rondaval.

 

but they had to compete with the Grey Headed Sparrows a species that I only saw at this one location while in SA.

 

 

some of the other birds around the camp were Black Headed Oriole, Ground Scraper Thrush, Bearded Woodpecker

and this Brown Hooded Kingfisher

 

 

 

 The river nr Shishangani gave me good views of a pair of  Pied Kingfisher

 

and not so good views of the impressive

White Crowned Lapwing

 (you will have to click on the image to get anything like an idea of what this fella looks like)

 

 

While closer to the car park were Chin spot Batis and a group of very noisy and aptly named

Arrow Marked Babblers

 

 

 

Meanwhile back in camp we were fortunate to have an African Wildcat roaming around the camp. Matty and myself were sat outside on the patio when we heard a meow........ it took a few seconds to sink in that there are no domestic cats in Kruger and yet just a few feet away in the lamp light was a Wild Cat. It didn't give me chance for a photo as it skirted the other rondavals, but what a nice neighbour to have around. Somewhere in camp a Honey Badger had been seen, but try as we might we never located it. I was fortunate though to see a large group of Banded Mongoose one morning.
 

More bird species from around the camp where African Scops Owl, Pearl Spotted Owlets
Brown Headed Parrot

Kurrichane Thrush

 

African Hoopoe

 

 

 Around the roads and tracks of Satara were lots of Pipits and Larks. I had already decided to steer away from IDing them, I would end up confused and didn't have enough literature with me although I know I saw African Pipit

Of the mammals we were now seeing plenty of Steenbok (smallest antelope species of Kruger)

 

 

female Kudu

 

 

The impressive African Fish eagle

 

while later on in the day one thankfully came and perched a little nearer

 

 

 

Bateleur (Juvenile)

 

 

Brown Snake Eagle

 

 

 

Yet more species from around Satara Rest Camp, with early mornings being very productive
Orange breasted Bushshrike

 

 

Red Capped Robin Chat

 

 

Blue Mantled Crested Flycatcher, Pale Flycatcher and this

Collared Sunbird

 

East of Satara is the N`Wantesi Picnic site which is situated close to the Mozambique Border, it was quiet with only Green Backed Heron and Crocodile on the waters edge, but the picnic area was a little more lively with  BruBru; African Pied Wagtail, Spectacled Weaver

and Mocking Cliff Chat

 

 

 

 

Red Billed Firefinch

 

 

Dusky Indigo Bird (in non breeding plumage)

Green Winged Pytillia

 

Blue Waxbill

 

White Browed Scrub-Robin

 

 

We booked onto a guided night drive. 3 Black Backed Jackel, Genet, Hyena and a Porcupine were all seen. Then the stars of the trip appeared.....firstly a stunning close up view of a perched Verreauxs Eagle-Owl. It  put up with us for a minute or two before flying off. The largest Owl in the world...... a breath-taking moment.

Then for the next 45 minutes we were royally entertained by 3 Lionesses with 3 cubs, all of them down to about 10 meters or less. Our driver pulled out all the stops to find us a major highlight, he asked if he could keep driving for another hour, needless to say none of us minded at all. He took a different route now and headed off the main tracks, after a mile or so I saw the driver raise his hands to the sky in a thank you to someone up there..... as he pulled over next to the Lionesses and cubs. We kept them in a subdued spotlight while the cubs fed from one of the females, the other two females yawned, rolled over and went back to sleep. Our guide radioed his colleagues on another tour who promptly made their way over to watch this spectacle.  This hours watching was certainly one of the highlights of our South African trip.

Not to rest on our laurels we still had tomorrow to rack up yet more wonderful bird and mammal species........

Swainsons Spurfowl

 

 

Red Crested Korhaan

 

 

Crowned Lapwing and chick

 

 

I cant remember where this was but what a great sight
Hammerkop on hippo

 

and mum and youngster

 

We had watched this old lady as she eyed up a waterhole that had Impala and Warthogs feeding on the edges, she waited and waited, the impala and Warthogs slowly moved away over the small brow and just out of sight, she got up and passed in front of our car ........ and  then the chase, although it was short lived, as before the dust had even settled she gave up.
Great viewing (from the safety of our car)
Lioness

 

 

the chase

 

 

 

This young Warthog has got into a fight with a Porcupine

 

Waterbuck

 

Giraffe

Impala

 

Zebra

 

 

 

Dwarf Mongoose

 

  

We move a little further north for a very short stay at Olifants and the last night in Kruger Park and the end of our South African adventure........ the last post awaits!