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Sunset dam delivered some wonderful sightings with an ubundance of bird-, water life and beautiful sunsets.
Here are some of the unique ones worth sharing with all.

On the day of our arrival day at LS, we got this wonderful view of Sunsetdam.


The next day some wonderful bird sightings with the Pied kingfisher splashing in the water, but seemed to be unsuccessful.


Following our dissappointed drive via the S36 in search for sable, Sunset dam presented us with these wonderful birds - White-crowned lapwing.


I got quite excited with these 2 Diderik cuckoos - seems to be male and female (please correct me if I am wrong)



This Black-winged stilt was playing with his life by walking very close to the crocodile (seems as if he was walking on top).


On the last day of stay at LS, we enjoyed a magnificent sunset with some kingfishers, hippos around.






On this sunset-note we were on our way to Satara for 2 more wonderful days. A Mega pride of lions was awaiting us, a vulture 'airport' and most beautiful leopard pose we got as well as others. But as we departed the next morning, the bush presented us once again with unique sighting...this will be shared in the next posting... to be continued

And then...

One thing i can say.........what a Stunning adventure, TR and pics You are so right, Sunset dam always delivers

Kaapsedraai,

Sigh.....Sunset Dam is another special place in KNP for me.

of the Dam early morning and Sunset with all the magnificent birds...absolutely stunning.

WoW WoW WoW Kaapsedraai

This is not helping my homesickness

but bring it on, more please.

Great shots, love the pied kingfisher silhouette ..looking forward to more..

John

Goronta, Philip, Trrp-trrrrrrrr, Pumbaa, Meandering Mouse and john n poppy - thank you for all your comments and , , , and responses.

Next attraction coming up in a minute...day 7 - arrival at Satara...

It is day 7, 19 Dec’12, and leaving LS for Satara early morning via H10, turning off onto S29 Mlondozi and whilst still half asleep with concentration levels extremely low, we were all suddenly awaken by an appearance from out of the bush - right in front of us and walking straight at us. It was a rather weary looking lion seemed to have come off second best or should we speculate about how the other one might be looking . He walked unperturbed by our presence past us (this time with windows closed ), crossed the road at the back and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, into the bush again. Wow, that was an interesting sighting with all now wide awake in the car and adrenalin pumping. This was our 7th lion sighting in as many days in KNP.


The road towards Mlondozi picnic site was quiet with a few giraffe sightings here and there. At the picnic site we rented a gas braai and enjoyed some breakfast whilst overlooking the Mlondozi dam with its extremely low water level and only waterbuck that came down to drink.

Tummies filled, heading north onto H10, went past Nkumbe viewpoint and visited Orpen dam where it was also quiet. On a sad note - I might have lost my 15-55mm lens at this spot (or was it now Ratelpan hide later the day?). For the life of me, I just could not remember, but after unsuccessful enquires at a few camps, I was not confident finding it which limited my opportunity for wide angle shots in close range during our trip. Nevertheless, I managed to have it replaced back in Cape Town. Back onto the H10 a few birds were spotted amongst these two Whalberg eagles in an Apple leaf tree (I hope I have id-ed it correctly). Besides the animals, the trees are also amazing.


Our first sighting of this Southern-carmine bee-eater


Stopping at Kumana dam, this Jacana was nonchalantly riding on the hippo, then on his head and them on the body - enjoying a free hippo ride .


Then we headed east onto the S125 direction S36, stopping at Muzandzeni picnic spot – a road we have never travelled before, but also with some lion sightings on the camps sighting boards and being hopeful to see sable, we decided to explore the area. The road was interesting to drive with here and there some general game. In reaching the H7 tar road, we were on our way to Satara camp and just in the middle of the S12 and S40 turn-offs, we hit a major road block – giraffe kill with mega lion pride in the bushes. The visiability was not good and someone commented that they have counted about 30 lions since early that morning. (lion sighting no 2 for the day and 8 so far)




Stopping at Ntsemani dam, we spotted 2 hippos with a baby on land. Back home, we got a bbm latest sightings report that there is a dead hippo baby at the dam – not sure if it is the same one, but still tragic news though..


It was a really hot day as we settled in at Satara, but first visited friends from Nelspruit that were already in the camp spending catching on news until it was time we could book into the GC6BD Guest cottage. At the reception on the side of the building we saw these bats hanging out...in the trees that is...


When walking around in the camp, one must always be on the look-out for these guys as they sometimes are camourflarged with the dry grass patches.

After resting a bit, we did an afternoon drive with some unique bird sightings worth sharing. Coming up next…

We also feel a bit rough after a few early morning get ups....but not as rough as that lion!!

lovely bee eater pic, we have yetto see a carmine as they have gone by the time we arrive!!

john

Kaapsedraai,

Very interesting 7th day you had with amazing sightings and super pics.

Lion really did come off second best. ...wonder how it happened.

so many Lion sightings as to have been at the Giraffe kill.

Amazing what can all be seen within the camps if you only take the trouble to look.

Hi Kaapsedraai

I've caught up again.

Typical elephant behavior chasing that poor waterbuck away, I call them bullies of the bush .

S30 is I think, always worth a visit. Good to spot klipspringers, they blend in with them rocks really well.

Lovely pictures of the elephant bulls and nice sharp pictures of the birdies.

Magnificent pictures at Sunset Dam , especially the last view during the Sunset.

Awesome to see that poor injured male lion.
Sorry to hear that you lost your lens

Great that you spotted the mega pride, what an experience!

Nice to see that the rock monitor is still prancing around.

Can’t wait for more.

Kaapsedraai, love your tree. More that anything, trees give me a true Kruger feel.

That Lion does look worse for wear. You certainly had sightings galore.

sigh

After arriving at Satara on day 7 and rested a bit on a very, very hot day, we did a short afternoon drive down the H7, with a circle route via the S12 and S40, back onto H7 heading slowly back to camp. The one lesson we learnt is that on late afternoon drives, certain roads have an abundance of bird activity and this is exactly what we had found.

We passed the roadblock of cars still looking at the giraffe kill and mega pride of lions around and turned right onto the S12. A few kms down the road we stopped at a spot where quite a bit of hunting activities were taking place by 3 different bird species. They all sat on bushes right next to the road and then dive down to hunt the insects on the gravel road. Here are a few in action…
This starling was making some noise (hope he did not say something about us)


The Wattled starling was on the hunt and flew off..


African grey hornbill came in for a landing...


Further up the S12, some more activity with these 2 pairs posing for us...

...Lilac-breatsed rollers...


...and close to it these Grey go-away birds, but they were polite and did not ask us to 'go away'...


Just before Girivana waterhole, we were entertained by this Long-tailed paradise-whydah busy in the road and we followed it slowly from one bush to another for about a hundred meters. It was most enjoyable to watch all these activities.


We turned right at the intersection with S40 towards H7 and was intrigued by this beautiful flower in the bush – sort of ‘out of place’ .


Back on the H7, we spotted these 2 Steenbok - mating pair, I guess .


The Ntsemani dam did not dissappoint us as we saw a fish eagle trying to catch some fish on the far side of the dam - pity about the focus though and light deteriorating.


Mr 'H' was vocal and actually saying in hippo-language to us on the hill ..."hope you sleep tight through the night and hope we have each other tomorrow again in sight". (Ye-ess, that is what he said...


As a bird lover, we thoroughly enjoyed this drive and on this note returned back to camp again delighted with the sightings we had enjoyed. The next day, it was time to head north on the H1-4 direction Ngotso dam and then S39 Timbavati road, via Ratelpan hide and back to camp. Due to the interesting sightings we had enjoyed, I will have to split this drive in two. Our day 8 started with some predators (no lions for a change) and others worth sharing…so, until tomorrow….

WoW - Great bird pictures here, Kaapsedraai,

isn't it strange in the beginning we could only identify an eagle and the more often we do visit the park the more frantic we get in brid watching I could always watch them for ages