We left Hazyview at about 5.30 a.m and travelled through the Shangaan tribal lands to the Paul Kruger Gate. We entered the Park around 6 a.m. just as it was getting light.
Our first sighting was of a hyena, which walked across the road and went into its burrow in a culvert under the road.
Spotted Hyena - Crocuta crocutaThe next animals seen were a group of Burchell’s Zebra. These zebra clearly showed the shadowing of the stripes, which is typical of this species.
Burchell's Zebra - Equus burchelliI then spotted a White Rhino (Big 5 – No.1) lying in the scrub. Our guide stopped and reversed the truck for some decent views.
White Rhinoceros - Ceratotherium simum
There were a few Giraffe on both sides of the road, eating the leaves from the tops of the bushes. Both Red-Billed and Yellow-Billed Oxpeckers were feeding on them (you won’t see that at Woburn!).
Giraffe - Giraffa camelopardalis
Red-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus erythrorhynchusA family of Crested Francolin were walking along the road.
Crested Francolin - Francolinus sephaenaOur first pride of Lions (Big 5 – No.2). The Male was staying well hidden within the bushes. The females and cubs were more visible and active.
Lion - Panthera leoLioness with cubs
Play time!
Dad taking it easy in the shade!Here, whilst watching the lions, I spotted the first of many European Rollers, which were unfortunately difficult to photograph.
European Roller - Coracias garrulusA number of Impala and a male Kudu were seen along the way, before we got these excellent views of a herd of Impala. Impala are the commonest antelopes in the Park. What lovely animals they are!
Impala - Aepyceros melampus
A young bull Elephant (Big 5 – No.3) was then spotted. He was on his own.
African elephant - Loxodonta africanaThe area of the park we visited was the typical bushveld terrain of mainly scrub with a few taller trees. The grasslands are best visited in the dry season when the grasses are shorter
Bushveld
The next sightings were of 2 female Kudus. Apparently affectionately referred to as Prince Charles Antelopes – for obvious reasons.
Kudu - Tragelaphus strepsicerosSo much to see already and we haven’t even had breakfast yet. A stop was made at the Skukuza rest area. Obviously it is not safe (and it's illegal) to get out of the vehicle in the Park – so the appointed rest areas, surrounded by high electric fences are the only places to take a break. On the way in we saw a Sausage Tree – the fruits weigh up to 15kg.
The 1 hour breakfast stop was by no means a break from the wildlife. In the Sabie River there were Hippos;
Hippopotamus - Hippopotamus amphibusThis gecko was well camouflaged on a tree;
Fruit Bats were roosting under the thatched roof of the picnic area.
Birds here included – Green Pigeon, Speckled Mousebird, Glossy Starling, Laughing Dove, Egyptian Geese and Hadaba Ibis. I also got a brief glimpse of a Malachite Kingfisher dashing along the river.
African green pigeon - Treron calvaAs we left the rest area there was a group of about 10 Warthogs trotting along the road, including 1 male and some young.
Warthog - Phacochoerus africanusWhen Warthogs run they have their tail sticking up in the air.
A second pride of Lions was seen from a distance, lying on the bank of a dam.
Here some Wildebeest were standing in the shade at the edge of the road.
Wildebeest - Connochaetes taurinusOur guide received a report of a leopard in a tree several km away – so it was decided that we would try to get there, however we soon received a disappointing update that it had now left. Our consolation was a Leopard Tortoise slowly ambling across the road.
Leopard Tortiose - Geochelone pardalis
A Vervet Monkey dashed across the road and disappeared into the bushes, before I could take a picture. (Never mind plenty in Zambia!)
A few eagles were seen during the day, soaring above the Park including Bateleurs Eagles (Terathopius ecaudatus).
The news over the ranger's radio was that the Leopard had reappeared so the chase was on again. A brief stop was made for a group a Guinea Fowl.
When we arrived at the spot where the Leopard had been sighted there was unfortunately no sign of it. A few Impala were grazing in the bushes though. Suddenly the Leopard (Big 5 - No.4)was spotted through the undergrowth, apparantly stalking the Impala. After a couple of minutes trying to get some good views of the Leopard it re-appeared in the tree. We were treated to some excellent views of this rarely seen big cat.
Leopard - Panthera pardusOn the lookout
Gracefully moving around the tree
Just taking it easy!The Leopard obviously had the right idea, the temparature was well into the high 30's. Even in the open safari truck it was very hot.
On the way to lunch stop at Skukuza we saw these 2 Hammerkop.
Hammerkop - Scopus umbrettaThe rest area again produced some good birdlife and some clearer views of the Hippos. A Purple Heron was standing in the middle of the river. I decided to walk along the river bank to get a closer view of the Heron. Unfortunately the reedbeds were too high to see the bird clearly, however we were rewarding with an African Buffalo (Big 5 - No.5) lying at the edge on the river on the opposite bank.
African Buffalo - Syncerus cafferI shared the news with another group in our party, unfortunately an Australian couple who were with us, were not around so they missed out on the chance to complete the Big 5.
After lunch we visited the dam on the Sabie River and saw this crocodile.
Nile Crocodile - Crocodylus niloticusWe then had some excellent views of a group of 3 elephants and another single a few metres down the road.
African elephant - Loxodonta africanaAs ever there were several more sightings of Impala.
This male Kudu was well camouflaged in the bushes. The females seen earlier did not have these impressive horns.
Kudu - Tragelaphus strepsicerosNot all the wildlife was on a grand scale. Although this Golden Orb Spider had a web several metres in diameter.
Golden Orb Spider A visit to a lake produced several Cattle Egrets and some Blacksmith Plovers. There were also good views of Hippos.
Hippopotamus - Hippopotamus amphibusCattle egrets - Bubulcus ibis
Although the afternoon was much quieter than the morning, all in all a thoroghly enjoyable and memorable day was had. Not everyone gets to see Lions when they visit the park and many visitors leave without spotting (pardon the pun) a Leopard - so we were very fortunate to see all of the Big 5.
