In and around Letaba

On Friday 22 May Kim and I went on another walk in the Letaba area, same routine, left at 05h15 and drove to the walking area about 12Km from Letaba, same briefing, absolute silence, single file, don't run. this time there were only 3 of us on the walk with 2 armed guides. As we waited for the light to improve to start walking a Lion roared very close by, we all looked at each other and stood closer together, we waited for the Lion to roar again to get a directional fix on him and set off in that direction. Fortunately or unfortunately we did not bump into the Lion, we walked for about 2 hours before stopping on a Koppie where there was a Hyaena den, we had some juice and snacks. on the walk we saw Hyaena, Klipspringer, Impala, scrubs hare and Springhaas. This walk was not as interesting as the Lower Sabie one but then it was in Mopanie veld.

Searching for the lesser Honey guide which was trying to attract our attention

On the Koppie at half way

Walking just behind the guides

On Saturday we took a long drive along the Letaba River towards Olifants, onto Baluli and down the Timbavati to the picnic spot where we had a late brunch. We saw lots of game unfortunately no cats or dogs but still a great drive. Returned to camp for sundowners and a great braai while watching the Rugby on DSTV. go Stormers.

Watching us braai and laughing at the Cheetahs

Contemplating the Stomers win

The Boabab at Timbavati

A most unusual sighting a Car Wash at the Goedgegun waterhole on the Timbavati. This is the waterhole that supplies the Rangers Post about 2 Km away.

Sunday morning we went for a short drive before coming back to camp. We went to the Letaba Mug&Bean for breakfast. Took a leisurely drive to Phalaborwa gate to drop Kim at the airport.

Great 4 days with our daughter.

We have secured an extra 2 nights at Letaba so we only move to Shingwedzi on Wednesday morning. 

Lions at Last

This is the first time that we have gone more than 2 weeks without seeing Lion, not one Lion sighting at Satara during our entire stay there this is as rare as Roan or Sable sightings.

Kim arrived yesterday fetched her at Phalaborwa airport, we took the opportunity to stock up on groceries from Pick and Pay. We had a great braai and note Peter that Kim insisted that it should be wood and not charcoal. Played Rummy while watching the Hyaenas patrol the fence, Andrew won of course.

It was Kim's prerogative to choose the road, she wanted to go north from Letaba, not expecting to see much as little had been sighted north of Letaba. How wrong I was we had an amazing drive up to Mooiplaas where we had Breakfast. We came across a mating pair of Lions on the tar road H1-6 where the northern end of the Tzendze Loop S48 meets the tar.

We returned via Nshawu where we saw Tsessebe and Tzendze loop S48 where we saw plenty buffalo and Elephant.

 

Painted white dots under the eye...

Letaba

Set up camp on a great site next to the fence, shady and private, thanks to Archie and Judy who held it for us until we arrived and before they moved to Tsendze.

Paul and Pat are at Letaba for 3 nights, we had a great braai and good wine together.

Also did a game drive together this morning.

Our Site.

 Kim note add-a-room up and ready for you

Braai boma up

Note DSTV dish up and ready for this weekends Rugby

Lettie preparing lunch.

Add caption

Sunrise this morning over the Letaba River








Buffalo on the S47 to the Mingerhout Dam

This is about all we saw other than Impala and Waterbuck. lots of birds which Pat enjoyed.

Spotted a Common Greenshank not sure why it is common as it is a first for us

Last Day at Satara until we return 6 June

Packed and ready to go at 06h00 Monday. Letaba here we come. Moving onto a site which Archie and Judy are holding for us before they move to Tsendze. Thanks guys for keeping such a great site.

Meeting up with Paul and Pat at Letaba who flew in from Cape Town on Sunday.

Also Kim is arriving for a 4 night stay with us at Letaba, so the add-a-room wil have to go up.

Tagged Hooded Vulture seen on the H7 Orpen Satara Road at the Nsemani Dam +- 7 km west of Satara

Yellow tag A229

Elephant at Nsemani dam

Huge herd of Buffalo at Ngotso Dam

We have seen this Bull Elephant often around Satara, he has huge tusks and a floppy ear.

Can anybody help with an ID on this raptor.
seen in rivereen along the Nwanetsi river. could be a juvenile.

Malachite Kingfisher seen near Baluli

This is not what you do in the Kruger National park.

Sent this picture to Sanparks and the "Shame List" number plate clearly visible.

Saw this Lion on a river bank with a herd of Elephant grazing nearby. The image in front is an eye of an Elephant

In and around Satara

The last few days have been quite hectic trying to find cats, normally around Satara they are as numerous as Impala, but not this year.  Nevertheless we have had awesome game drives with Johann and Lala, also some tasty sun downers and braai’s at our great private site. Good to see them again and catch up on all the news and updates on the children and grand children.

The resident Honey Badger has been busy around camp named him or her "Stoffel" 

There is also an African Wild cat visiting the sites in search of scraps.

Not much to add to the blog and not any really good photo’s to post, but here are a few.

Pearl Spotted Owl the photo makes it look big but it is only 20cm
 weighs 60 to 100 gm fitting easy into a beer mug.

Spotted Hyaena at Gudzani East

 Southern Ground Hornbill sitting above its nest at the same spot where we saw them last year. see last years blog.

2 Black Rhino browsing

BBJ chasing a francolin

Gudzani East Waterhole

Last Photos from Lower Sabie

Night visitor to our site Small Spotted Genet

Wild Dog 10 km from Lower Sabie 2

Sleeping on the road

Lettie at Ntandanyathi Hide

Satara Camp Site for 7 nights

Packed up yesterday (Mother’s day) at Lower Sabie cleaned and turned the caravan for an early start to Satara. Went to Mug and Bean for Mother’s Day dinner as all the paraphernalia had been packed away. Mom says thanks for all the Mother’s day wishes.

Ready to go, just sleep and early start.

Thank goodness we packed up early because just after 8 there was an enormous electrical storm with lightning and thunder like I have long since experienced, fortunately everything was stowed and kept dry.

We were at the gates at 06h00 on our way to Satara, no stopping for anything other than a huge herd of Buffalo the biggest I have seen in Kruger which were all over the road as we nudged our way through.

Arrived at Satara at 08h00 eagerly heading for our favourite corner hoping for a vacant site against the fence, nothing…. @#%* &$ drove around and stopped on the best available next to the ablutions but far from the fence.. before unhooking I went for a walk and looked at some sites no shade, no plug points. I went to the people occupying the best sites and enquired when they were leaving. I bumped into the couple who were our neighbours 2 years ago, we exchanged pleasantries and I told him that I was battling to find a site. He had difficulty remembering me until I reminded him that I lent him my car Fridge when his caravan fridge broke that broke the Ice so to speak, he said hang on I owe you one, he made one phone call to the owner of the private site which is reserved for him exclusively as he built and donated the Ablutions, camp kitchen and laundry. No problem there we had the best site at Satara, shady, private and quite, right on the fence all to ourselves, even with its own satellite dish all I had to do was connect.

So there you have it. It pays to do favors, one day it will come back to you with interest.

View of our site from fence

View of our site to wards fence.

Johann and Lala arrive 12 June staying in the bungalows for 3 nights, we will be doing all the Braaing and sundowners at our Site.

Great news we have internet connection here after being down at Lower Sabie for days at a time. The posts will be more regular now.