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A spotted-eagle owl which remembered all we taught it in training classes about posing! (The same evening we had one which completely missed its footing as it tried to land in a tree near us - so funny!)


Another as yet unidentified beastie - this time on the Malelane bridge

Super photos EJ and I am just a wee bit keep them coming

Rainbow on the walk yesterday morning


Carmine bee-eaters trying to keep their positions in strong wind


The leopard I saw yesterday with the kill - already in the grass by the time I got the camera ready!


And just before he disappeared into the bushes with the impala ram


That is all for now - did not get any photos of the porcupines or pythons - all good sightings but I was positioning the vehicle for the guests and had no time to get my camera sorted out!

Lion queen

Pumbaa - after the past 24hrs - getting very wet!!!!!

Hi EJ
Some great photos that you put up -- thanks for sharing them with us.
Enjoy the "enforced rest" with all the rain that is in that area

That is good to hear EJ I think it was still extreme dry in some parts of Kruger

EJ beautiful pics! It'sthe 19th of Jan, I pray that you are alright (Hey, you know what? I know that you are fine!!!!!! Take care, much love from Wal and Sal xxxxxxx

I'm OK - just tired!

So glad to hear you are fine, you did a great job yesterday along with all the other SANParks staff, and many thanks for keeping us all up to date via DB and pics. Hope you get a chance for a good rest.

Did get some rest yesterday - more than some folk managed though. I know for a fact some of the managers were still going last night having not had a break.......

Yesterday evening I was scheduled for a bush braai that did not happen. Took a walk around camp and photographed some of the flood evidence and tent damage. Martie joined me when I walked over to the tents.....we ended up turning off a leaking geyser, 2 taps, and 3 lots of lights while there!

This morning I did a walk with Martie. Options were very limited, but we went down the power line to an area which is fairly flat so no spruits etc to cross. Very very muddy though and I do not know if I will get my trousers clean again!!!!

Heard lions soon after starting off, but in thick bush so headed the other way. Kudus soon after and later too. Then more lions, this time ahead of us and a bit right, so we decided to head that way. Almost immediately hyenas started behind us near first roaring!!!! And they built up to balistic cackling and giggling..... We decided to try and get closer......

And then a herd of ellies heading our way! Martie wanted to get downwind, but there was no time. We quickly got behind trees and watched as they passed and picked up our scent. They were already agitated (?lions) and so just kept moving rather than look for us.

As we moved off from them we saw more ellies heading for us - and this time spread out cutting off any sideways move and too fast for retreat. We headed for bushes....but one young male decided to try and charge us..... Both of us cocked our rifles and Martie shouted while I moved the guests away even quicker.....and the ellie turned away, causing the others to turn too.

The shouting meant less animals after that....but we found a hole obviously time-shared by warthog and porcupine (tracks, and a quill were the evidence), and saw a couple of lone ellies.

So a good walk, with 2 Kruger newbies who only entered the park yesterday!

All still quiet on the roads. River is continuing to drop - the weir can be seen now, and the bridge is showing, but with water still pouring over it and lots of debris that will need clearing away before it can be used.

Yesterday morning I did a walk with Irving - still very wet and muddy underfoot! It was much quieter than the day before, with a close approach to 3 peaceful ellie bulls. Saw some huge lion tracks too - probably the ones we heard roaring first the day before!

This morning I am walking again with Irving...

Wow EJ, thanks for the postings!

Hope you enjoyed your walk today and that is was as exciting as the one the other day!

Walk this morning was wet, and quiet - one good close encounter with an ellie, and a potentially nasty encounter with a hippo - but fortunately we saw it first!

Night drive tonight was good too. Kudu bulls first, then big herd of ellies plus more a little later. Genets posing nicely, civet, impalas, scrub hares, spotted eagle owl, serval, hyenas, hippos, and 2 young male lions on the road but nervous. They went off into the bush and we managed to keep sight of them for a while. Then suddenly there was a lot of noise from the river side and they took off across the road and into the river area. We saw them walking on the edge of the river and eventually lying next to the water, and I saw 2 other lions heading towards them too. But we could not see what was happening there at all.

Now to bed for a few hours sleep before the morning walk tomorrow.

EJ, found it. thank you.

Thanks for all your posts ej -- may not comment often, but do read them & often turn a touch