South Africa 2013 - Pt 9

Kruger NP, Olifants and Surround Areas:

The last day in Kruger Park and we were eventually forced indoors by our first thunder storms, the afternoon blue skies turned completely dark and with it came torrential rain which wrote off the last afternoon. It was obviously a little disappointing but on reflection the whole stay up to that point had been mostly bathed in sunshine apart from a little early morning mist.

However our journey had brought us only a few kilometres outside the gates to Olifants Rest Camp where we had this Leopard run across the road immediately in front of us.

 

It was certainly on a mission and quickly went out of sight as it went deeper into the bush.

 

a returning early summer migrant is this Yellow Billed Kite perched alongside the main H1-4 road

 

Now inside the camp our rondaval perched high above the Olifants river gave stunning views and true to its name this was our first sight...... Elephants crossing the Elephant River

 

even with the low water levels the infants are virtually submerged

 

over to the feeding grounds on the other side

 

We were high up over looking this stretch of the river so the bird species using the river were all a little distant, however there is no doubting the quality of those birds even if the images are a little ropey.

 

Saddle-billed Stork

 

 

and one in flight



 

Great White Egret, Little Egret and a lone Yellow Billed Stork

 

 

the impressive and worlds biggest heron species.......Goliath Heron

 

 

African Fish Eagle, Green Backed Heron, African Jacana, Black Winged Stilt, Yellow Billed Duck and the inevitable Egyptian Geese took advantage of the expansive river.

From the comfort of my patio a few nice species showed well, that was until the rains sent everything diving under cover.

Dwarf Mongoose

Southern Black Tit

 

Long Billed Crombec

Black Headed Oriole

and most surprising of all a Red Billed Oxpecker

as I had only seen them feeding on mammals

 

I think the highlights of this location were these Giant Kingfishers

 

 

closely followed by this African Harrier Hawk

 



Other species in and around the camp were Malachite Kingfisher, White Browed Robin Chat, Crested Barbet, Chin spot Batis,  Burchells Coucal, African Hawk Eagle, Brown Crowned Tchagra and Lesser Masked Weaver.

Waterbuck

 

 

 and the female looking a little startled

 

 

Nyala

 

 



After listening to the nights heavy rain and lightening we had an early start to make the long journey back to Nelspruit airport and then onto Jo`borg and eventually home, the early start did give me the chance to see an African Wood Owl close to the exit gate at Phalaborwa.

Although a three hour wait for the connecting flight enabled me to get four new life birds and the last of  this South African holiday, a large flock of Bronze Manakin, Nedicky, Buffy Pipit and a Yellow Crowned Bishop.