Living My Dream Day 205 (LSabie Day 2)
Good Morning again! I had such a great day and eve yesterday that I could not wait to tell and show you all about it….I only arrived back at camp about 6min after gate closing time! Then had visitors, only then looked at the pics and by the time I had chosen and uploaded to the blog it was almost 2:30am!
First a very Happy Birthday to John (the Supervisor), I hope you had a nice day and enjoyed your meal out last night! Engel Im sure you are just so busy with the moving today..I will be thinking about you and hope all goes well and you dont stress too much! Wish I was there to help you! I will once again post my email address at the bottom of this post…Inyati, the Sabie river is flowing strong and Mlondozi dam has got some water, I will take a drive to the others tomorrow to see how full they all are! Elsa and Secretarybird, thanks for the correction and ID on the birds..Steve and Mandy, sorry I sometimes forget that not all reading the blog understands Afrikaans…a Gogga is an insect..a creepy crawly..back to nature..camps I enjoyed and had good sightings were so far…Satara, BnDal and now LSabie. I think the facilities at these are above average..Madeleine I will certainly have a quiet moment for your mom..please accept my sincere condolences!
All others reading and commenting, Thank you very much!
Left camp just before 6am yesterday and yes, took the road to the cub. Only 2 cars there…but the mother and the cub were out..and did they give us a show! The mother came walking down the hill and sat down calling the cub closer…
the cub came running down and started drinking.;…wow, just an experience to see..
The cub finished and walked off..then the mother followed….I thought they were going inside the den for a snooze, but did not! The mother came walking up a rock in full view for all to see and the cub joined her.. so much love between these 2 and I was just so happy to see and was just clicking away!
Both climbed down and dissapeared into the bush! I will never get tired of watching this mother and cub and certainly hope they stay around until jaycee comes next week Monday! I left and took the road to Nkuhlu..VVSG and SO brought me a raincoat and I forgot to take it, so they left it with wacktazz. Lots of Buffs and Elephants on the road…also Impala, but I could not see any babies..until I just before Nkuhlu when they all of a sudden started popping up! This mother was again so obliging in posing for a pic with her lamb!
I had a cuppucino with wacktazz and then it was time to return…more buffs and Elephants and this Starling that caught a worm of some kind!
Back at camp and finished all my unpacking, got to some emails I have not had time for yet…and while sitting here I had another visitor! A little monitor lizard came strolling by the front of the tent..now Im sitting with the tablecloth folded up so I can see what crawls underneath! Had a snooze and 3:30 was on the road for my afternoon drive. I did not go back to the cub, but took the Mlondozi loop…well wanted to do the loop and back on the tar road, but an Elephant decided he was not going to let me pass, so I turned around! What a good thing that was!
A few km on the road back, a snake on the side of the road! I first thought it was a Black Mamba…
but then saw it was a Mocambique Spitting Cobra…when it raised its head I knew it was time to reverse…so glad I found this one to show Engel…sorry you did not see it in real life while you were here!
as I got to the low water bridge, Painter came from the front and told me about a sighting just up the road…she said about a km or so down the CBridge road…almost 6pm and that is where I went…Can you believe another Leopard with a cub! This was the first view I had of the 2 sleeping on a log!
she then climbed down and dissapeared…and the cub sat up and gave a bit of a show! In this pic you can see that this one is older than the other cub..not sure how old it is!
It was time to go and I wanted to stay, but could not! As said I arrived about 5min late for the gate, but luckily it was ok! As I stopped 4 young ppl, who are my neighbours, stopped and started talking..it turns out they, Jeff and Tracy (and Jeff’s dad) read the blog! I also believe that Im on stand no. 12, and not 9 as mentioned yesterday! Also Wayne and Lauren (I think) who are from Scotland are with them. These 2 ppl are doing a Year Trip through Africa! How exciting! Nice to see others are also Living their dreams!
I decided to make a pasta bake and invited them for dinner…they made a potbread and must say all food was very nice and I really enjoyed their company! Thanks for coming by and offcourse for reading the blog!
I also said that I was going to sleep until I wake up..cannot do with only 2 hrs sleep…and that I did, woke up just after 7 and started blogging..sorry I kept you all waiting! With that I hope you enjoyed the pics and the stories..
Until tonight
Martie
stayinginkruger4-1year@hotmail.com
Like
November 24th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Fantastic picture Martie!! thank you.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Wow..!
I miss the park and South-Africa..!
November 24th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Oh Martie what a wonderful blog, it was well worth waiting for. I just want to pack my car and head back to Kruger for those darling little Leopards. Also the cute little Impala babies. Thank you so much for sharing with us what we cannot experience ourselves. Not so sure I would like to be so close to the cobra or the elephant, good on you turning around! I hope you have another wonderful day. So glad that you have such good neighbours at LS - I wondered how you would enjoy not being able to park that you look into the bush. My condolances to Madeleine too - I read her beautiful comment while looking for your blog. God Bless.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Thank you for all your trouble Martie. So many wonderful sightings.You are the best.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Hi there lucky leopard lady. Ahhh Martie, this is so special!! Watching this special little cub and Mom nearly every day!! You are really bringing us all something so fantastic. Thank you. Where exactly is the first cub and Mom? Cant believe you saw two sighting of leopards with cubs in one day!!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Martie you are one lucky lady when it comes to leopards!!!
Enjoy the remaining odd 140 days because they will fly past.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Hallo Martie
Rather late than never. I think we should rather go in summer time to the Kruger, it seems there are more to see. I do enjouy snakes, but not the big and dangerous one’s. They will give me sleepless nights. Thank you for the blog. I can’t get enough of it.
Have a fabulous day in the park and drive save.
Regards
Thea
November 24th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Hi Martie,
I am now hooked on your blog, sooo look forward to opening it daily. We left the Kruger only last week, the day the heaven’s opened! We had been watching with dismay how the water holes were drying up, particularly the one near Satara where the Barbel were dying. Do you know the one and if so what does it look like now? We watched a pride of 11 lion with a giraffe kill at a little manmade waterhole there on our last morning, what a sighting! I would give anything to see that waterhole now with all the rain, the Barbel must surely have made it? We also had some superb sightings at L Sabie, Crocodile and Orpen but the leopard was elusive. We did however see 2 cheetah whilst at Orpen, in fact one had an injured foot and we reported it to the ranger at Orpen - hope they did something as they are endangered - only 200 left in park! Also saw the “resident” male lion, never have I seen such an enormous male, what a specimen!.
Take care in the rain.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Hi Martie
Thank you so much for the advice. It always helps to stay somewhere that someone recommends. Wow I could never get sick of seeing leopard pictures, they are just so beautiful.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Hi Martie,
I think we should call you “Leopard Lady”. What beautiful sightings of leopards. I agree, I could watch them all day long. Glad you have settled in L Sabie and are enjoying it - it is a very nice camp, especially the deck restaurant. Don’t miss you blog, and read it every morning - one of the highlights of my day. Thank you!
Jean
November 24th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Hi Martie
Thank you so much for the lovely leopard photo’s. Really makes a person long to be back in the Park! Snakes are also not my favourite companions. Glad to hear the park has got some well needed rain. Hopefully up north got some too, hear it very dry there. Enjoy your sightings today. Has it stopped raining yet? Glad to see the sun again here in Pretoria and to be able to wear summer things instead of last weeks winter wollies.
Angie
November 24th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Hi Martie
Could have stayed there forever. I think if it wasn’t for all those bugs I would have!
From the Big Five to my office
So glad you liked the T-shirt and it was really nice to meet you.
I didn’t realise that the same place we stopped at on Saturday was where the leopard and her cub were! It was only now that I recognised the rocks and that it was on a bridge. We stopped there as there were a couple of cars and we were told that there was a leopard there. We could not see anything so we left. If I had known it was the leopard with her cub we would have waited there all day!
We didn’t see much on the way out, just elephant and rhino, but we can’t complain as we had some fabulous sightings over the weekend. I forgot to ask you about something that we saw and wondered if you maybe knew. On our way to the camp on Saturday we saw a lioness with a buffalo kill and for a good 30 minutes that we were there she kept digging in the ground around the kill, almost like she was digging a hole to bury the kill in! Not sure if you have seen this behaviour before? It’s our first sighting of a kill so we have no idea!
Monday morning we had the naughty troop of baboons at our bungalows, trashing the bins etc. Us along with everyone else were hiding inside and one of the rangers came to try and and chase them away and the troop leader tried to go for the ranger, I think he got a big fright! He called in another ranger, plus the “guys with the guns”. The baboons did eventually go back over the fence and the armed rangers followed them into the bush. Carmen was in tears because she thought they would shoot the baboons. I really hope they didn’t, but understand if they are a threat to people they don’t have a choice. But at the end of the day it’s not the baboons that are at fault but the people that feed them and encourage them back to camp. We saw hyenas walking the perimeter fence every night which proves that people are feeding them! I just wish people would realise the implications of their actions and abide by the rules!
Thanks for your blog and beautiful pictures of the leopard and her cub.
Look forward to your next blogs and picture and just so happy that thanks to you I can still have that “connection” to the KNP everyday!
Cheers
Jenette
November 24th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Martie thanks for the terrific photos, much appreciated.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Morning, I cannot wait to comment, I must do so while Imcan still get connection. What an amazing series of photos you got of the Leopardess and cub. You always seem to take the shot just at the right moment. The Impala ewe with her lamb was perfect, it would make a nice enlargement. Unfortunately the pictures of the Starling and the second Leopardess with cub did not download, maybe it will appear later. Good luck for sitings today. xxx
November 24th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Hi Martie,
Trust that you are better than well…must say that Kruger is displaying awesome creatures for you…I know you will always miss your family and SO….however Kruger is really keeping you so busy with the L.O.G/L.I.T with the Cubs…the Snake is an awesome specimen…looks very healthy…. Martie do take extra care with all the Creepy Crawlies…you might have moved aways from the Scorpions and Spiders…but they are bigger at Lower Sabie!!!!
Thank you once again for the Awesome Blog!!
Best Regards,
Pambere
Pretoria SA
November 24th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Wow Martie - The 1st cub and mom are so special - and being able to view them time after time after time - amazing!
You realy have alot of special moments!!!
Baba Impies are soooo special and I think really beautiful bokkies!
Have a great day Martie!
Ps: (after staying at LS where are you moving to next - will be at LS 5-8 Jan and although you will have moved on - was wondering if you will still be in the area)(sorry if i missed it somewhere mentioned before
)
Liezl swiss
November 24th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Hi Marti
I have been following your blog for ages and I love it!
I am absolutely dying to see this mother and cub that i am willing to drive down for a night.
Are you able to describe the exact location to me so that at least i stand a chance
November 24th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Hi Marrtie
I am the most dedicated fa of the Kruger anbd your wonderful blog and my animal happens to be the Leopard : )
So much so that i am willing to make the drive down for the night if i am able to get a glimpse of this mother and cub
Could you maybe tell me the exact whereabouts of these beautiful two so i could maybe stand a chance if i did come down : )
Thanks SO MUCH
November 24th, 2009 at 11:22 am
i realy want the muty that you put on the slug we are comming middel December please send your recipe
November 24th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Have anothersuper day
di
November 24th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Me again, I connected to the blog again and the Starling and the second Leopardess and cub appeared, hurrah, glad I did not miss them. Great pics again. xxx
November 24th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
martie
if you look closely at the first leopard mother it looks a bit injured on the back
please check it out and get back asap
November 24th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Hallo Martie ! Thank you for the great pictures. What a great week you had !! Did you notice that the one leopard ( the one that you have been seeing for a couple of days now ) has a mark on he’s back? I hope it is just a scratch.
Have a great day ! Cannot wait for our trip end January !!
November 24th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Hi Leopard Queen - you just keep seeing them all the time!! I love it! the cubs are so cute! Wow! Now as for that Mocambican Spitting cobra, I have read that he is the 2nd most dangerous snake in the Kruger next to the black Mamba, of course!!! And my goodness he is really a big specimen!!! Glad to be in the car at a time like that!!!! Have a super day and give a big kiss from me to both the leopard cubs - they are so cute!!!!! Have a wonderful day today Martie, until your next blog!!!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Hi Martie wow but you are having so much luck regarding the Leopards I suppose you would be chairperson of the LIT & LOG club one of these days!!!
And now it is a new camp and new adventures to arose, just such a wonderful camp LS must be one of my all time favourites! Enjoy all the area has to offer especially the spectacular sunrise and sunset pics one get from the the bridge over the river and of course Sunset dam as the name suggests!
Hope you’re having a fantastic day thus far can’t wait till tonight!
PL & N
November 24th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
hi martie,
thanks for sharing stu & toni
stunning pics again you’re so lucky with the spotted ones but wiyh cubs aswell
November 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Hi Martie
Your website is adictive,we are leaving for Letaba on Friday 27.11.2009 and I hope we also see a lot of animals. I really hope we see the cat families as my grand daughter is coming with us and she loves the cats.
Please keep up the good and anjoyable work
Regards
November 24th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Dearest Martie,
I have been following your blog for months now, my Dad who still lives in SA told me about your blog - I live in the UK now, been here for over 10 years but come home at least once a year to visit my Dad. I was brought up going on holiday every year to the Kruger National Park and like you I would love to live my Dream too. My Dad often is in the Kruger as he travels for business and will pop in one gate and pop out another when he can’t stay for long, most recently he stayed at Crocodile Bridge while you were there over this last weekend, he phoned me to tell me he was going to come and introduce himself but you had company and were eating dinner so he didn’t want to disturb you … I hope the next time he is there he would have read my comment and makes the effort to come and meet you! The next time I come out to SA is next August so by then you would have already left the Kruger - I would have loved to have meet you … I wish you well with all your adventures in the Kruger, it’s such a special place and many of us treasure it!
Through your eyes I’m getting to live your dream with you , hopefully one day I will actually be there living my dream too!
Thank-you for all the wonderful photographs you download for us to see, life wouldn’t be the same without them. I show my Children every day and got my husband and friends reading your blog - so from across the miles I wish you well!
Much Love
Bokkie (my dad’s nickname for me)
xxx
November 24th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hi Leopard Queen
Thanks for the stunning pics of the leopard moms and cubs. How can one be so lucky to see two groups of leopard on one day? The cubs are really special. Your photos are always brilliant and so real, it makes us feel if we are also there. The only thing missing is the smell and the sound of the bush! But with your good pics and love for the bush we can almost experience that as well!
Regards
Pumba
November 24th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Wow wow wow!! Two leopards and two cubs one day - just fab!!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
WOW Martie, what a great day you had two families of leopard you definately must tell us what radar system you are using to find them!!!! The snake is so cool and just love the impala. Glad you had a lovely evening with your guests and that you got some sleep. Hope you have had an even better day today with your sightings. Regards Chrissie.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
November 24th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Wonderfull photo’s!!
I just discovered how to comment!!!
I Love this blog and I LOVE KRUGER!
November 24th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Amazing LOGs with cubs! SOOOOOOOOO special!
November 24th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Martie, our leopard queen. So darn lucky to find the sleeping place of a mum with cub
November 24th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Hi Martie,
Wow leopards are amazing. Please give more detail on the location of the second family. You should consider writing a book on your experience of the year in KRUGER.
Hope to meet you in Dec if the bridge at croc holds up.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Another great day for you … and us! I sincerely hope that you are considering publishing a book when you leave KP. Of course it should be called Living my Dream. I will be the first to buy it … will be very difficult choosing pics for it .. there are so many amazing ones.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Hi Martie, Great sightings your having… Fantastic. How close are these 2 different Leopards…. Sounds like they are in the same area. Thanks for the wonderful Pics. Bev
November 24th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
WOW!!! What a fantastic day!!! You are really lucky with the leopards!!
Thank you so much for showing us these amazing pics!!! That brings me KN a little bit closer! Cannot wait to be there again in May! Hopefully to see a leopard! But if not, I am watching your pics! Thanks!
Have a great day!
Karin
November 24th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Hi Martie,
What a wonderful sightings day you had again yesterday. Thanks for the beautiful pics. How lucky you are Leopard lady! Thinking of your Engel and the move today, but I’m sure he managed well. You will have to write a book as I suggested about a week into your dream when I discovered your blog. I bet the first edition will be sold out in a few days. Have another dream day tomorrow. Regards, Delene, East London.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Hi Engel. The pics of the Impalas are sweet… the pics of both Leopard families are cute.. But the pics of the Mocambique Spitting Cobra ARE THE BEST. Really beautiful ‘animal’…thank you! Now…Black Rhino Please. Im bushed after 2days packing for move.. Never again. Speak later. Luv u XXX
November 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Omigosh - 2 mommy leopard and cubs on the same day! Maritie you must have some sort of magic! The universe is sure rewarding you with wonderful sightings. Loved the baby impala, got shivers down my back at the snake and the starling with the worm was marvelous too.
May you continue to see more of the wonders of nature in the beautiful Kruger National Park.
Glorious, sunny, warm weather in Cape Town.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Thank you very much, very good photo’s!
November 25th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Hi Martie
Great leopard pics yet again
Love the impala and bub
Lorraine…..Canberra
November 26th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Good day,
As an enthusiastic regular visitor to our most prescious place in this country, the Kruger Park,
I want to thank you for the “blog” comments and beatiful pictures.
I cannot wait to logg-in and read about your fantasic experiences.
Me and my spouse are going to stay in Skukuza from the 19-12-09 to th 26-12-09.
Many thanks for pictures and positive comments.
Enjoy your stay,
Faan and Rose.
November 26th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Amazing photos and experience I have frequented most major parks in SADC and yet to see a monther and cub.
I cannot go to sleep before reading your blog!
Enjoy
Magdel