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My Swansong???

We had some wonderful sightings. Enjoyed the research camp very much and the cricket week end was fabulous. I deleted some of my photos (by accident) and drowned my cell phone in apple juice, but that paled onto insignificance as one of our group of 4 oldies got seriously ill. More of this later
We travelled from Jo’burg to enter at the Numbi Gate shopping at the Riverside Mall Whiteriver for provisions on the way …
I had never seen the park so green

We chose Pretoriouskop as it was the first place we visited, when I was so excited to see the Big Five now smaller thing have taken over.
Like these ants busy doing what ants do

Our cottage was close to the fence and we watched Impala and Baboons strolling along in the evening sun.



Happiness is me at the fence


Tired after the journey we went to the restaurant..... Then to bed to sleep as only you can in the park.

Nice start Dotty, can't wait for the rest

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Many thanks...Friend now a mite like us (bojangles) is improving slowly I had go disguised as an old lady not a dottty ellie as SO couldn't take pets into the park
To all who replied a very big thank you, It’s very daunting doing this There are some wonderful reports being written right now
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Up very early the next morning to watch the sunrise



MitchUK the moose (a present from our CC) watched it with us and saw everything I did



I was kept company by several bulbuls and then far to fast to photograph a Purple Turaco in the tree in front of me, what a stunning bird.

When we drove out on the way to Asfaal we spotted our first YR it was “the mystery guest” I was so surprised I forgot to take a photo, but there would be plenty of opportunities at the cricket on Saturday.
By now of course you all know it was Prings lorrainepring and d_pring. Such a nice fun family, more of that later.
At Asfaal there were lots of birds, some enjoying a bath



Carmine BeeEater not a great photo, but the better one was a victim of my senior moment deleting my pics, or that’s my story and I am sticking to it

Thought I'd better say bojangles is an angel

Thank you all so much, the encouragement helps to go on with another episode
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Then it was time to meet our driver (Pat)……We met him by the filling station. .There were huge ants all over the place..
He explained first we would go on an evening drive


The drive started with a laugh!!
After a duiker and some guinea fowl had disturbed and young male Elephant he was cross.


He chased the guinea fowl up the road


Run chickens run!!!
He then turned and shouted at us several times before crashing off into the bush.In a very bad mood
The white car in the photo of the “chicken run” was driven by two ladies with very shocked look on their faces.
No pictures of him running, as I was just so enthralled I forgot.
We saw him again if not a relative who wouldn’t come out to have photo taken He was also very grumpy

and promptly threw a tree at us.. Albeit the small one to his right..

In the setting sun we saw 4 ground hornbills take flight
The guide told us they were ground nesters? I thought differently to myself and checked up when I met Ecojunkie and she confirmed my thoughts, also spoke to Sandra Macfayden of the reaserch Centre and she endorsed it.so--guides are not always right!I.They nest in holes in trees.The ground hornbill not the guides
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Next up rhino (much better behaved than the ellies)
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Not too many pics lost Dbs and the most important ones came later
My explanation of the "Swansong" will come later
Matthys do you mean these feet?

I cannot tell youall how much your comments mean you make it all worthwhile.

Then some more beautifully behaved rhinos posing like catwalk models
This way
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and of course, the “does my bum look big in this” pose
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the "get my best side darling" pose
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and "one more shot please sweetie"
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then on into the sunset………………..
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So many people to thank for reading Glad you all like it so far.Seems like my shoes are interesting too Couldn't photograph both Own (tummy gets in the way )
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Our driver spent time explaining Rhino middens it was very interesting I hadn’t realised they marked out their territories. (I hope he got that right)
It was now quite dark and the chef was waiting so back we went.
On the way to our destination we still had time for lots of nightjars. No photos they flew far too fast for me.

We saw 6-8 eagle owls( unless the same one was nipping from tree to tree)
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and this little fellow
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If you look carefully you can see a fine wriggly line near him, we had just missed seeing our first KNP snake, and I would think the little green fellow had just missed the grim reaper!!
We drove up a dirt track to a rocky area with paper bag lanterns
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leading the way to..
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the chef was busy doing last minute things
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the guard was on alert as lions had been sniffing around a bit earlier
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The food smelt good and tasted better , and sitting under the stars on a hot summers evening, a cold savanna a glass of wine or a beer and good company was so special and soon lead to empty plates and full tummies
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Which in turn lead to big smiles from the guys
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Leaving the chef and guard to clear up,we were then driven back slowly to our door. Big hugs and thanks all round for a splendid very special evening.

Unforgettable evening you've had Dotty!!!


More plz??

The next day was very hot so not that many sightings in fact we saw one buffalo and wildebeest the whole visit an only 2-3 giraffe. We did catch site of the Asfaal owl Not easy to see and very hard to photograph
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A Zebra with an itch to scratch

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Watching the coming and goings of the residents of Pretoriouskop
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A family of mongoose live near the fence at Pretoriouskop. Their coming and goings were frantic. Dashing from tunnel to tunnel and chasing each other around. Heads popping up and down again. So hilarious..
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In fact we had to warn a group of ladies walking around after dark, in case one put her foot into a mongoose tunnel. We lent them a torch so they’d be safer. So beware if you walk the fence after dark at Pretoriouskop.
Next off to Skukuza and the cricket

it wasn’t this .
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or
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or
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It was this …….
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OK enough teasing This beautiful creature was a first for me.


It stepped out in front of the car
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crossed over and went into the bush…
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We thought WOW WOW WOW How lucky was that?...........
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But it got better
The gorgeous creature turned and stood side on to us
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and then ………………..
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Then best of all he laid down in the road turned this way and that
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I make no apologies for posting more pics it is a swansong after all
yawning
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rolling around in the shade
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then giving us one last look
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walked away slowly down the road
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We had been alone with him for ages, the saddest thing of all? there was only the 4 of us No one to share it with..
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A wonderful moment I will never forget.
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We drove away feeling very honoured and back to Pretoriouskop to pack in the morning all ready to put our stuff in the car
The maid whose name was Sara Sanbo at Pretoriouskop came to say goodbye as we were about to pack the car the guy who empties the bins came to see us and tell us our car had a puncture. I’d recommend them both for good service. It took a while to change the tyre (lots of huffing and puffing) Then off we set to get the tyre fixed at Skukuza .At the gate we saw our bush braai guide, he had a day off lots of goodbyes from him handshakes and hugs all round. He might not have been that well informed on Ground Hornbills but he was very sweet.
The temperature was rising as we were late leaving, but on the way we had a few sightings…
A giraffe
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A buffalo which was the only one we saw this trip
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Guinea Fowl
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As we arrived in the car park to book in at reception a YR drove by attached to a white Landie It was DBs and Hawk Big hello’s all round
We booked in and off to find the accommodation
From the stoep I could see the Selati Bridge
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mitch the moose approved of the view
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and there had been bats (evidence on the table… more of them… or at least one of them later
We did a short drive and met
Ellies
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Buck
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and Chameleon
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who we managed to save from the wheels of oncoming cars, by parking across the road to allow the little green person to carry on his journey.
Off to the Braai at the Diplomatic Camp where I met lots of mites and didn’t manage to say hello to all.
Mods and SANParks staff were greeting all and handing out goodies. Which included Shirts, hats, and lanyards
SANParks did the forum proud they supplied and served the pap n sous and salad etc and they didn’t stop smiling all evening
Recognising people and chatting around the braai was great.
I have another confession …….I forgot my camera but my friend managed to take one of our hosts
SANParks.
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Big applause for them all