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1 ) Berg-en Dale 9/10.3.2011

The flight went well, despite my wet eyes!





I will take possession of the vehicle, which goes with me for over 2 months and lucky day I get a Tucson instead of a Terios. The renter even say to me : it is a big car for alone person Is not your problem I'm thinking in myself

I head immediately to Malelane to buy basic commodities and some reserves for the early days, wood and all that goes with it, and water. The car is full too large the car

and I take possession of Kruger

The first animal

a road block,

two Elephants which are in no hurry at all, which bodes for the rest of my trip.

I arrived around 17h in Berg-en-Dale, place well know by me, to be every time, my destination and my departure. I move into the cottage No. 31, right next to the fence. A beautiful cottage, almost new, with a large kitchen and a large outdoor "braai" terrace well lit at night, which is very important ... I do not like the night, and it is dark much earlier here. There is easily one hour difference between Cape Town and the Kgalagadi.





Not enough time for a drive, I bring myself to look around me. Monkeys are already lying


à suivre ...

The next day, I "attack" Majulu loop, the big loop
I'm going to Gardenia Hide, and return by the Magic Road (S110).
I have the chance to see Giraffes, Elephants, Buffaloes with a young, Kudus, Malachite Kingfisher with a kill... twice, Blue Waxbill, Red-billed Firefinch, a Levaillant's Cuckoo that I did not have time to make a photo, and Starlings, birds that I enjoy for their colors so vivid.

Buffalo with baby

Dragon-fly

Lazy Cisticola... I think ???

Go-away Bird... feeding or in love... a little far away

Malachite King fisher with a kill... a spider

blue Waxbill

Malachite Kingfisher with a Tadpole

... another angle... it was very cooperative

Red-billed Firefinch ? ou Jameson's Firefinch this last seems not to be in the South of Kruger

Southern Carmine Bee-Eater... hidden behind a branch

Extract of my live report :

a leopard is lying on the rocks not for long, since he decided almost immediately to continue its path toward ... Biyamiti.
I think it's the same Leopard as I will find much later during my stay in Biyamiti



And at the wehr there is also a couple of Fish Eagle...one was just calling when I arrived, Ho ! this song



Then again normal game, Giraffes, Elephants and Buffaloes, African Grey Hornbill, I like them, I only discovered them, on my last trip.

African Grey Hornbil

European Roller

Extract of my live report :

Today is the big day
Last night I received a pass, the cricket ground is in the middle of the Village Staff. I find it quite easily. I greet those present, it's early, there are not many people and I sat a little bit away to take pictures. I have a whole series, but like I still don't understand the rules, I don't know which are important. I will make a short summary...

click on the picture to open

And then there's the new little cricketman



à suivre ...

I leave all these people a few hours to go to Lake Panic Hide, which was a little bit quiet, but I still found some killers

quiet Lake Panic

Malachite Kingfisher again... with a kill

Pied Kingfisher... with a kill

à suivre ...

And dinner time arrives
I get dressed, put my gala's clothes , and hop, off for the new conference room.
I find Aboon and SO and Jose who invites me to their table, thank you and another couple.
A very beautifully decorated table, close to the stage, as I would not waste a crumb of speech ....

chaise

table

I enjoy, it seems that it was a little too spicy, I liked it very much.

And reached what was to happen a long time, more than a month of frantic races and about 10PM, before dessert, I left the table ... ... exhausted
I must have slept more than 12 hours in a row ... and the next day I can't find anyone, of course they are all on the roads of the park !!!!

Before leaving, these huge critters want to say good bye





like these Monkeys… they are still on my side, cute, nice, funny





à suivre...

3) Talamati 15/17.3.2011

Extract of my live report

during my stay in Skukuza, I visited Transport Dam, The Napi Rocks, hoping to find Klippspringers, Shilthave, Mestel. At Mpondo, I found two guys out of their car and who insult me :
-we have the right to get out of car ... and then if the South Africans can't do it... then stay in your country





Woodland Kinkfisher

Rhino, very big horn


Afsaal, African Scoop Owl

And then comes the departure to Talamati, the dance of baggage, do and undo and redo ...
I hope not to be in Bungalows 1 or 2, I know from experience that the baboons regularly visit those two. So I asked, on the advice of the forum, the No. 10 ... that in the meantime seems to have burned Is attributed to me on No. 7, without any view and could use some work.

Mistake, big mistake, since the early hours I hear the baboons in the big trees nearby and then they come, 2 or 3 directly behind the large sliding glass door to see if there is a possibility to go inside ! But they remain on their guard, they run away very quickly when they see us.

The first bird I saw at the camp was a Bearder Woodpecker (if I'm correct)
*EDIT* female Bennet's Woodpecker, thanks Elsa for the ID



I'm going to register myself directly for a "Sunset Drive" but nobody the first 2 nights. And Oh! surprise the third evening, a nice lady comes knocking at the door, there is a drive tonight, a "night drive" and I am invited for free, for waiting so long that's a nice gesture, thank you TALAMATI
I will come back in a month, and of course will register again for a drive

Superb drive, Serval, Hyena, Rhino, Porcupine, Side Striped Jackal and Scrub Hare are at the rendezvous

Serval



Porcupine

Side-Striped Jackal

Scrub Hare

à suivre ...

I decided to go a little south before I set out for Talamati. We must drive up to 2PM, thanks or because the new schedule of check-in

Along the way, full of Antelopes are waiting for me, and now, I am sure, a huge Puff Adder no time again for a picture... but next time , Banded Mongoose, Wooly-necked Stork, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Squirrel, a huge grasshopper on the windshield, LBR with a kill ... again ... and trash collectors on foot, Thank you for your work

Grey-headed Bush-Shrike

Micetta



LBR with a kill

trash collectors

Going up north, I take Marula loop, up to Jone's Dam, where I find Bufaloes, including a baby in trouble, , Lugmag is desert and then I advise something in the middle of the road A Giant Snail ... a first for me, really giant ... more than 20 cm long
I mention it to the cars coming the other way and I hope he is still alive ... that he was not crushed



2 collared... laughing at me






I stop at NHLANGULELI: nobody and just before Talamati a big herd of buffaloes

à suivre ...

a bonus