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I have been trying to write this report since we came back from SA. I'm not very confident at writing but will give it a go.

Arrived in Jo'burg on 16th April and had a couple of days to organise ourselves that being myself, SO, Mom, Dad from UK and Mom in Law and Sister in Law from SA. Going to be quite an adventure planned for a year.

Friday night everything packed and ready. So to bed with sleep difficult to come by, everyone up by 4am on the road by 4.45. For a change we drove up the N1 and then via Tzaneen, beautiful countryside. Finally after 2 years Phalaborwa gate in sight



Formalities quickly done, quick loo break (have to smell the thatch) and we are on our way. Competition to guess the first spot. SIL(sister in law) won of course with Impala and then the 1st of many Ellie sighting

Cont

We carried on up the H14 making our way to Shimuwini camp.

Road block

1st breeding herd:


Turned onto the private road to the camp and did the river loops:



Arrived in camp and at our lovely cottage exhausted with heat and hunger but soon revived sitting on the stoep drinking vodka and tonic (for the mozzies) and watching the world go by. Shine the resident buck came to welcome us








The river view at Shimuwini is fabulous - Hippos, crocs, Carmine bee eaters, go away birds, yellow hornbills and on the river bank impala, water buck & Zebra what a lovely first day.

Nearly full moon. After supper sat under the stars with full glasses listening to the crickets and hippos. Early night for all, lulled to sleep with bush noises

Thanks for the positive comments I'll carry on whilst on a roll

Day 2
We were all up by 6am, decided not to do early morning game drives 6 oldies trying to get out at that time was just to hard. Shimuwini is great to just sit and watch the birds drongos, carmine bee eaters, Kingfishers, Yellow Hornbill, crested Barbet, heron & Egyptian geese. Also resident crocs & hippos and Impalas:







Had a leisurely breakfast and left camp 9am. It continued being a bird day more hornbills, swainson spur fowl, saddle billed stork, guinea fowl, vultures, lilac breasted roller, hammerkop just awesome.

We made our way to Mopani rest camp on the H14. The road was quiet giraffe, Impalas,buffalo and elephant. The day was very hot and humid.



Arrived at Mopani and had lunch on the veranda looking over the dam:



The best meal & service of the holiday.




Our drive back to camp saw stick insect on road:



Bataleur drying himself:



we were far away so picture not so clear.

1st large herd of buffalo:


As we got back to camp Thunder & lightning brewing, amazing sight but the rain missed us though cooled things down .
Hippo's calling from river. Super day

Day 3 Monday 21st April

Woken early by Hippo Alarm Clock, A family of hippo had moved down river and were opposite our house. They were very playful, wonderful to watch. The day was cloudy and cool, the cold front passing over.

Off to Letaba for the day via H14 towards Mopani and down H1-6 to Letaba. Before we reachead the main road we saw Nyala female crossing the road then we saw the male.



Then black backed Jackel and this lovely Hammerkop



The main road was quiet. The mopani scrub very thick but little creatures & birds a plenty. An army of large ants caused a road block.
Secretary bird (only on video). & Ostriches




Came across freshly burnt area full of Grey, Red & Yellow hornbill, Glossy starlings & Drongos enjoying themselves:





Arrived at Letaba river bridge one of my favourite places and to be able to get out is such a treat. Plenty to see Elephant, marabou stork, impala, waterbuck, buffalo & giraffe






Eventually nature called and we had to leave post haste to Letaba rest camp and then for a picnic at the day visitor area. We were the only ones there, very nicely set out. A visit to the elephant museum was a must only SO and i had been before so was of great interest to all. walked to riverside and got ice cream and watched the animals and birds. Couple of large ellies down river but kept amused with the squirrels playing around the foot path. Time marching on and off on our return going back the same way to do all the river loops







To be continued

cont:
I love the river loops never knowing what's round each loop.
Fish eagle my favourite bird, saddle billes stork and the beautiful giraffe ( photos on previous post) Then back onto the bridge had to get out again, i could stay there forever always something to see. This time it was a troop of baboon crossing a small stream



started off normally and then they were up on two legs sort of hopping across. It was such a funny site. This stop the smell of the bats under the bridge was very strong as the the clouds were clearing but still a chilly wind, the sun was out. It was getting late, oh where does the day go. Couldn't stop again passed huge herd of buffs and ellies. Turned onto private road only 15 mins to get back. the sun was setting.







My so had to stop for the giraffe photo

Arrived in camp with 8mins to spare.

The night was falling and the hippos were still playing. A Goliath Heron perched on a rock at the side of the river bed. The fire lit, braai on the go I walked down to the fence and saw the full moon rising above the river it was fantastic. Our camera couldn't do it any justice but will stay in our memories for a long time.

Sitting on the veranda after supper suddenly heard a loud noise next to the fence, it was 4 dagga boys walking up, we followed them up the fence line for a while until they went into the bush, it was quite scary being so close.

The end of a great day and packing had to be done before bed. Early start to Satara in the am

Day 4 Tuesday 22/4/08
Up early to a cool Autumn morning mist rising from the river. Impala, buffalo & Kudu coming to the river to drink. Got to the end of the private road do we go left the way we went yesterday or right. Right it was, good call not far down the road and a family of hyena were walking down the road.





The one had a frog/crab in its mouth and another one decided he wanted it kept up amused for a while. I never used to like hyenas they always get bad press but over the last couple of years I've seen a different side, such devoted mothers and loving family units. Onwards to Letaba via the sand road can't find the road no. the road was very quiet except for this Marshall Eagle so happy that i found another on my wish list



Loo break at Letaba and a quick look over the river and then onwards to Olfants for breakfast. Just outside Letaba this big tusker was browsing.



Can anyone identify him or is he an emerging tusker.

On the road African Hawk Eagle, lilac breasted roller and more impalas

.

Arrived at Olifants and went outside to find the viewing deck closed for renovation. It was so windy couldn't sit outside. I love the view site , Plenty of hippos with babies, crocs sunbathing.



I have never seen so much water in the Olifants river this late in the year.

Breakfast was such a disappointment the cafe was so disorganised and food cold. Only a minor blip for the day. Sister in Law wasn't feeling very well so we decided to get to Satara as quick as possible so stayed on the main road and didn't stop again. The bush changed from Mopani scrub to Savannah and finally saw some Zebra, Wildebeest, Warthog.





Arrived at Satara, busy tarring the road so had to wait to get in the entrance. Booked into the Rudy Frankel Guest House. This was a treat of a life time considering our usual form of abode is camping which SO and i love we feel closer to the bush. Opened our own private gate to the house was fantastic


.

Our bedroom, there are 5 on suite.



Lounge, bar and dining room. The best of all is the outside stoep under thatch



Of course we mustn't forget our own flood lit water hole



We didn't go out again my Sister in Law went to bed and we sat and waited for the animals. All the birds in the garden as there is a bird bath.
Bulbuls, glossy starlings, francolins, crested barbets, goaway birds and squirrels.



Visitors at the waterhole. Kudu, resident hyenas, Wildebeest, Impala, Zebra and Buffalo.





Did go to reception area for a walk around and to see the Webcam and did some shopping.

After an oxtail supper we all sat and watched the water hole, 8 buffalo came down to drink, fantastic, eventually everyone else went to bed, leaving SO and i to sit outside listen and watch to see what else would make a visit, the only problem the bush noise are like a sleeping drug to me so i managed about 30 Min's and slept outside till SO dragged me to bed in the wee hours of the morning. i think that's why i love to camp miss the noises when inside. The next morning found out I'd slept through Hyenas calling really loudly and noisy lions.

Thanks Mgoddard for the nice comment. The water hole is not the webcam waterhole it's the waterhole in front of the Rudy Frankel Guest cottage. It can be seen from the Main road on the right hand side coming south just before the entance to Satara.

Off we go again
Cont: Day 5 Wednesday 23rd April

Woke up very early and saw it was just going light. Decided to go and sit outside and wait for the sun to rise and see what would come to drink. It was a cool autumn morning, so wrapped in a blanket with a cup of coffee went outside and sat and waited. The Franklins were the first to wake; slowly the bush awoke around me with the daylight breaking. The rest of the family began to join me and we sat and watched the first Impalas arriving to drink at the waterhole. We were surprised just how busy it was: Zebras by the hoards, more Impalas, wildebeest and warthogs. It took us ages to get going, scared to miss anything. Had a lovely breakfast on the verandah and then packed a picnic. We were off to do the famous S100.

Turned right out of gate and along the H1-4 then turned left onto the S100 with great anticipation. Plenty of general game, Impala, Kudu, Steenbok, Zebra, Giraffe, Warthog & Wildebeest, loads of Lilac Breasted Rollers and Hornbills





A special part of the route was when all the browsers were together with lots of babies. Also baboons, fisheagle, hippos, hammerkop & waterbuck.

Coming up to the end of the road it's now 11.30 and getting warm. I'm sitting in the back of the Combi with my feet up reading my Prime Origins of the Kruger Park, just finished saying that the road was not being kind to us when all of a sudden there was madness. My SO and Mum who was in the front shouting Stop LL******** the words just wouldn’t come out.







And there it was a Leopard, came straight out into the road the most beautiful sight. (Please remember I've been coming to Game Parks for the last 20 odd years and have just not been able to find one) He/She walked towards us then passed us, my Dad trying to reverse. Then it went under a water culvert and back up the other side, stopped and looked at us and then carried on walking down the road us reversing keeping up with it. We were alone with it for 10mins absolutely fantastic.

After that we were on such a high turned left at T junction and stopped at Gudinzi Dam.


Quite a bit going on Hippo's, Kudu's near the car with baby,



Egyptian geese, African darter, marabou stork, giraffe, croc, spur winged goose, buffalo, wildebeest. Lovely place to spend some time

Moving on as our picnic awaits at N'wantsi picnic site. Going along the gravel road a lovely sighting of open billed stork

.

Then stopped on lower water crossing.



This Hippo was very curious. Couldn't resist doing some of the river loops even though nature was calling us. Car stopped us and told us there was a lion kill far into the bushes



Taken on far zoom. Not easy to see with naked eye.

Arrived at N'wentsi, again only people in the picnic site.



Enjoyed our food and going over all the morning excitement.



To be cont:

Day 5 Continued

After out picnic we Climbed to the view site. Impala's. Waterbuck. Bushbuck, Baboons, Crocs etc. Lovely view over the expanse of the bush.









Decided to make our way back to camp via the sand road. The usual game sightings.



Came across controlled burn areas ‘4yr experiment of biodiversity of burning in the bush’ “What does it do for the ecology of the park” The warthogs seem to love it.





Saw this eagle not sure of the identification.



Got to the T-Junction to turn right back onto the H - 4 . We were met by a huge traffic jam on the bridge over the N'wentsi River. Looking down onto the sand there were 2 lionesses and 4 cubs. They had killed a Wildebeest and the cubs were trying to eat. We managed to get the vehicle into a position where we could see. The cubs were so small and couldn't get into the carcass; eventually the one lioness came and opened up the stomach for them.







)

The bridge was in the way with the photos

What a day we had had. Arrived back in camp tired and elated on our days adventure. We then had the comings and goings of our water hole. The Impala Rams were starting their rutting season. trying to keep their ‘ladies’ under control, very amusing. The resident Hyena clan arrived followed by Buffalo and when it was just going dark we had a visit from an Ellie felt so close with just the fence between us. Four of the big five today. We sat again till late in the evening listening and watching until our eyes wouldn't stay awake. Can’t believe we have to leave tomorrow. Could stay here for ever!







Last morning

Leaving via Orpen Gate, must be out be 13h00 to make our way to Blydepoort.

Again, watched the day breaking. Heard lions in the distance and then a very cross elephant trumpeting. My heart breaking, having to leave this magic park. The water hole is quiet this morning, but loads of cheeky birds – crested barbet and goaway birds playing under the sprinklers in the garden.



Packed and had breakfast. Finally a herd of Zebra arrive as we packing the car. We go out of the gate and back along the main road to see them once more and take photos of the house in the background.







Then to the bridge to see if the lions are still there. The carcass had been moved into the bush, got a glimpse of a lioness fast asleep with foot in the air. We turned around and headed for Orpen gate via the main road. Animals very quiet this morning few and far between, Stopped at the ... dam

Cont later

Final post

Stopped at Nsemani Dam. Plenty to see. Hippo's, Waterbuck, Eygptian geese, crocs, Heron and large herd of Zebra





Next stop was the view site at Bobbejaans Krans. Very quiet and peaceful a lovely view. The rest of the drive to Orpen was very quiet. Saw this Baboon having a nice feast



We realised there were a lot of elephant tracks and drove very slowly. Our patience was rewarded with a nice breeding herd. Finally arrived at Orpen camp and has a lovely picnic. What a lovely little camp, defiantly going to stay there next year. We had a walk to the fence to wave at the web cam.
Our time had come to leave this magic kingdom.

Each of us had our favourite bits of the trips which we will treasure for many years.

My SO loved the Sunsets at Shimuwini and the water hole at Satara.
Mother in law loved the hippo's playing at Shumiwini and the leopard.
Sister in law loved the mornings at Shumiwini
Mom loved the leopard was always her dream to see one.
Dad loved the Rudy Frankel guest house the ambiance and the water hole
And for myself sitting watching the river at Shumwini and of course my dream leopard.

Until our next trip goodbye

Thanks to all who posted comments.