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I just got an SMS from Jose

Some SMS'es received this weekend:





I told them to not drink so early in the morning

Just a couple of pics to whet your appetite for when Suej and Jose do their trip reports
I left the pic taking to the experts as I was the taxi provider and driver, (back a bit, forward a touch, bit more ) but I couldn't resist a few of the wilddogs

Saw Jose on Saturday afternoon at Lower Sabie. She was very excited about there sightings. I"ll leave it to Jose to tell you in her trip report.

What you did not mention is that Jose & Freda would have missed the best bits had they not had to leave me behind in camp due to me having an upset tummy. I had decided to relax on the stoop for the day and they had only just left camp, with me having been watching 3 beautiful mature Kudu buck in the riverbed, joined by waterbuck when the cacophony of noise began. Firstly with the echoing warning cries of Baboon, followed by the complaining bellows of nearby Hippo, and the screeching of birds. I saw the Kudu suddenly take off across the mostly dry riverbed into the bush and I scanned around to see what was happening.

Afer a few minutes I resumed my viewing of various birds in the tree opposite #18 and then decided to walk up to the main viewpoint. It was there I learnt of the kill ! I returned to our stoop to continue to watch the lions with the kudu kill, right where I had seen the buck standing. Ultimately, a female lion dragged the kill over to a grassy hillock and proceeded to attempt to hoist the Kudu bull up over her head, like a weight-lifter, onto the top of the hillock. I could make out the lioness's head under the kudu, which had its legs uppermost as she held it in the middle of it's back. She did not succeed but it was an interesting few moments watching her try !

I sent an sms to the other 2 "girls" who immediately hot-footed it back to camp to catch the action.

I had also given Freda my requested sitings list some months ago and of course Freda did not disappoint as she managed to find me my first siting of a wild dog pack on the last day of my visit. A pack with 6 pups feeding on an impala kill right next to the road - nice one Freda !

My report will follow soon, starting with the Kgalagadi and ending in Kruger (not forgetting the Cape).

PC is currently busy downloading all the pics for conversion !

Freeds, the AWD are bootiful! Whereabouts did you spot them?

On the Doispane road, Pardus
Saw on the sightings board that they had been seen on the Albasini Road the previous day and we were heading there from Skukuza.
Was a great sighting

from J2 this evening;

" saw Tsotsi again today! Back to Letaba tomorrow lookin for Nhlanganini."

....sigh...3 "trip reports" I received today... what have I done to desereve this....sigh

will do so now Bert...hope I don't wake J2

and a reply for you Bert

" wide awake and, excercising and watching bush tv lol. I saw him 3 days ago from little river loop right of tar road. will keep looking. Thnx, and to Bert too!"

in from J2 last night but only received this morning


" Allo! Another 1 added: Alexander, yesterday, some 6kms S of Mopani. Nice soaking rain all day 2day. At Shing. now, raining again! "

And from J* this evening:


and soon after....



This is an ellie lady for sure!

from J2 via DB:

"last Kruger night already! Listening to lion and hyena (close) 7thunder (distant). Nighty night! "

Yo peeps! I is back!

Trip was magical, as always. Very special sightings and great company... Thanks Freda and Sue!! And thanks also to all who posted sms-updates.

Highlights...

Tuskers galore: saw (in order of appearance) Tsotsi (twice), Nhlanganini, and Alexander, plus 2 nice promising candidates for the emerging tusker project. Also went up the Old Main Rd. to pay respect to the remains of Massunguine.

A very special sneak preview

The wild dogs with pups on kill

Various very enjoyable YR-meets, including of course the Gauteng Spring Meet

The cutest smile in all of Southern Africa

Meeting a dear old friend from a place not to be mentioned on this forum

The list goes on and on and on. Will post some pics in the next few days.