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Published: June 17th 2017
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01 Predator
One of the park's predators - a Black Backed Jackal. Geo: -25.2605, 27.1004
Just like the previous mornings, this morning was also an early start. I do understand the reasoning, as it is when the animals are more active and it's also a chance to see the nocturnal animals. This morning sightings included a pair of Black Backed Jackals, wildebeest, zebra, red hartebeest, springbok and giraffe. There was also plenty of elephant poo on the road.
We stopped to look a quite a few bird species. A favourite of mine was the Crimson Breasted Shrike, with its vibrant red chest. This morning the weather was quite miserable, but we were better off on a game drive than sitting around the campsite.
Our first stop for the drive was the Mankwe Hide. From the hide we saw many bird species. The hi-light here was seeing a Pied Kingfisher catch and eat a fish. We then witnessed a kill! A Cape Glossy Starling brought a bug into the hide and killed it/pulled it apart right in front of us.
Paul then drove us to Makorwane Hide. I was half asleep and stayed in the car. A minute later he ran back and told me to come with my camera. There was a crocodile on the side
02 Grazing
Wildebeest grazing along the road. of the dam. In its mouth there was a terrapin. The crocodile opened his mouth, tossed it up a short distance and then crunched. It repeated this action a few times. After each crunch/bite the terrapin started to fall apart. Then finally he was able to swallow it. Geez that was something interesting and a bit gruesome to witness from a distance of only 5 metres.
Back on the road, we stopped to watch warthogs and their piglets, male kudus with their slightly twisted horns, a pair of shy white rhinos, wildebeest, giraffe, bachelor herd of impalas and more warthogs on their knees digging for food.
We now drove in the direction of the campsite. Just by the side of the road was a dazzle of zebras and some very young ones – so cute! We were lucky enough to see it drink milk from its mother. Then the area literally became a zebra crossing, as the zebras walked all over the road and cars had to stop and wait.
Just before we left the park, we saw a giraffe sitting. To me this was an odd sight, as I have never seen one sit. We arrived back at camp just before
03 Zebra
Zebra among the burnt out bush. 1pm, had lunch and then relaxed for a few hours before our afternoon game drive.
At 3:30pm we were all back in the car and on our afternoon game drive. The first animals we came across were a pair of white rhinos. A few minutes later we spotted the same pride of 4 lions from yesterday's drive. They were resting near some wildebeest who were not fazed at all by their presence. The lions must have recently eaten.
Then we came across a tree full of baboons sitting on the branches. A little while later we saw a young rhino resting near its mother who was eating. The young rhino had a few Red Billed Oxpeckers sitting on it. Its horn was only a few centimetres long. It then got up and walked to its mother. The cutest thing was when it looked directly at us.
Further along on our drive we saw a small breeding herd of elephants. Close by there was a crash of three white rhinos. I am learning of how special these animals are and hoping that in the future their existence won't be so much at risk.
For the rest of the drive we saw a
04 Road Ahead
The animal free road ahead of us. tortoise walking alongside the road, a bull elephant in the distance, a large herd of wildebeest crossing the road ahead of us, zebras crossing and impalas eating. Our last sighting for the day was at a dam. When we looked closer with the binoculars we noticed a small pod of hippos. It was actually an adult hippo and two babies splashing about in the water. After this sighting it was time to head back to camp.
Tomorrow once we woke and had packed up we were heading back to Johannesburg and dropping Kath off at her friend's place. I had really enjoyed our stay here and we have such great sightings. We will have to return one day!
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