South Africa Birdlife Safari

Once over the bridge we were in Kruger and while Martin was signing us in some elephants wandered past! There was also a Southern Gray-headed Sparrow flying around.

Then we set off for Satara Rest Camp. Along the way, before stopping for lunch, we saw a big group of Impala, a Striped Kingfisher, some Zebras, a Warthog, some more Impala and some Wildebeest.

The lunch spot was a big area with shops and tables to eat at. It wasn't fenced but apparently its not an issue!

Here there was a Yellow-billed Hornbill posing nicely and lots of Cape Starlings cleaning up any scraps. We also saw a small Tree Squirrel scurry past. Also Laughing Doves were around.

At the shop we were able to buy the Kruger Park Map and Guide which had all sorts of useful information and the park, the birds and animals.

After we set off again we saw our first Lilac-breasted Roller which is a very colorful bird. As we drove along Martin chatted to other drivers and found out there was a pride of lions not too far out of our way that had made a kill and were relaxing after eating. So, we drove on toward that area stopping for pictures of Kudu, a Red-crested Bustard, elephants, a Brown Snake-Eagle, a Wattled Lapwing, Giraffes, and a Natal Spurfowl.

As we approached the area where the lions were, the trees were full of vultures waiting their turn at the carcass. There were Hooded Vultures and White-backed Vultures. The lions were snoozing and were well camouflaged in the grass, but we could see several adults and cubs. The adults were snoozing, but the cubs were tearing the flesh out of the buffalo/wildebeest (probably a Buffalo as the Wildebeest migration had not started. About a dozen vultures were perched in the trees and 6-8 more were circling overhead. So unfamiliar to this Aussie urban male, except in movies, very surreal.

After all that we had seen so far, we didn't really expect anything more, but Martin was keen to find a Klipspringer in the rock formations that were only in this area. After checking a few likely areas, we were about to leave when Robyn spotted a male standing very still in the shade and then we saw the female and juvenile fairly close by.

Further along we saw elephants and Water Buffalo, we stopped at a toilet area and saw an African Openbill fly into the trees nearby.

And the sightings just kept coming with a Kori Bustard, a Burchell's Coucal, more giraffes, a Spotted Hyena, Bataleurs (a type of Eagle), a Tawny Eagle, some cute baby hyenas, and a Verraux's Eagle-Owl. And that was just the drive into Kruger!!

We then had to hightail it to Satara to arrive before the gates shut at 5pm. The rest camps have strict opening hours adjusted by half an hour on the morning and evening each month, so they are only during daylight hours.Читать далее