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Satara is a great place for animal viewing. After seeing those two beautiful lions mating we did not see other cats during our last few days at Satara, not even at the S100.
But we saw lots of other animals, even a honeybadger at a waterhole.



After the honeybadger disappeared a herd of ellies came to drink water. It was so cute to watch the little ellie drinking water.
He looked so independent!!!!









The giraffes always so graceful!!!!




Zebras settling a quarrel.


Walking close to mum.




Back at N’samani Dam before sunset we watched the baboons playing. One baboon climbed in a tree eventually sitting right at the top eating the pods. It looked as if the "grandfather" couldn’t care less and prefer to go back to sleep!!!!

Chip: The lions are waiting at Punda Maria .......

COS:

Tawny: It does look like a slit on the nose of the baboon. I have not noticed it before.
You are observant!

Crested Val: The AWC and skopsies are indeed very special.

Normana 53: A HB in a camp can cause a lot of destruction!!!

Hilda: So sorry you did not see a HB this time. There will be a next time!
You were in my thoughts while you were in KNP and I do hope that you had a great time.
Looking forward to read all about your trip

Pumbaa: HB: Beautiful, but they can be very destructive!!!!

While we were at Maroela there was a HB in the camp. He behaved very badly. He overturned the garbage tins and made a great noise at night.
People from SanParks set a trap for him and one night he was caught. They released him 30 km from the camp. It took him 3 days to return to his "pantry" at Maroela!!!!

My son took the following photos of a very miserable HB!!!!!

Today is our last day at Satara. It is always sad to leave Satara.
I went for a final peek to see if there are any animals at the waterhole.
I can't help wondering what the forumites have seen on the cams today ....



















A beautiful tusker.




Hippo at N’samani.


The beautiful Gudzani Dam.


A final drive before leaving for Letaba.

Letaba is a beautiful camp with lots of shady trees and bushbuck roamning free. Letaba has always been a camp of leisure to us.
We do not even want to go for a drive ….. It is so good just to be there …..











You can take a long stroll along the fence. There are always animals that you can watch from the restaurant viewpoint.
Usually the ellies graze in the riverbed. Some of the big tuskers stay in the vicinity of Letaba.





















(One evening we watched with our friends the match between the Stormers and the Sharks on TV at the community centre.
The Stormers lost and the Capetonians disappeared very quietly!!!!!)

Letaba: Before leaving Letaba a few more photos.

About 4 km from Letaba on the H9 we saw this beautiful tusker.
Could this ellie be one of the known tuskers?



The baby animals are always so special to watch.






















We love Letaba with its beautiful trees!!

Next stop Punda Maria.

It is a long stretch from Letaba to Punda Maria.
Looking back I am so glad we did not stop too much, because near Punda Maria we were fortunate to watch the most amazing sighting of our lives.
(can’t wait to share .......)

Driving to Punda Maria there were beautiful sightings:

PUNDA MARIA PART 1:
From the H1-7 we turned left on the H3-1. About 2 km further there is a waterhole on your left. There were about 3 cars. If we were in the south of the Park there would have been 30 cars!!!

We saw a few ellies drinking water. Then we saw an almost intact buffalo carcass, but no predators. We did not wait long to witness an amazing interaction between two of the Big Five.



This is the story:
Lions caught a buffalo near the waterhole. Ellies are very sensitive animals. They are also very emotional and sensitive about death.
Being emotional creatures the death of the buffalo caused great stress among the ellies.
Their instinct also tells them that the lions are a thread to the baby ellies.

After the ellies drank water they went to the carcass. They stood motionless; then sniffed the air with their trunks as if in respect for the dead animal. It was very emotional. Then they charged into the bush trumpeting and chased the lions away. The lions scattered in all directions!!

I do not have the vocabulary to express the feeling and emotion of what was happening in front of our eyes. This was a once in a lifetime experience!!! I hope that my photos will speak for itself.





















The male lion fled in disarray. (Have a closer look at photo nr 13.
Not a very dignified position for the king of the jungle!!) We never saw him again!!!!!
So much for bravery!!!







Lions scattering in all directions.





(To be continued)

PUNDA MARIA PART 2

The younger lions returned cautiously to the carcass.
Eventually the pride was feasting on the carcass.
They kept an eye on the ellies and did not relax completely.































In the distance the ellies took a sandbath.


When the ellies returned to drink water the ritual started again: ellies chasing the lions; Lions fleeing ……

We watched this ritual for hours. We went to set up our camp, then hurried back to the lions and ellies.

I have never witnessed something like this. I saw similar scenarios on National Geographic, but in real life…...never.

(To be continued)

PUNDA MARIA PART 3

Eventually the lions went to the waterhole to drink water.



The reflections of drinking lions and leopards make excellent photography!
I couldn’t be happier!!! For the first time in my life I was in a position to photograph exactly that!!






























The lions were constantly alert and aware of the ellies.


At this sighting the lioncount was 14!! We have seen 30 lions in total .
Now 38 to go ……

(To be continued)

PUNDA MARIA PART 4

We had a panoramic view of the waterhole. To our right we had the carcass with the lions and the ellies chasing them from time to time. To our left the herds of ellies came to drink.
It was great to watch the ellies drink and play at the waterhole.
There was so much going on at that waterhole!!! It was a very exciting day!!!






























(to be continued)

PUNDA MARIA PART 5

THE NEXT DAY:
We decided to take a drive to Pafuri Picnic Spot where we shall meet our friends for a farewell brunch. The following day (31st May 2012) our friends will be returning home. And we will be travelling north to Tshipise. On the 9th of June we will return to KNP for our final 12 days in paradise!!!!

Our first stop was at the waterhole. Only a few bones and pieces of skin as well as a few hopeful vultures and a jackal remained.
Yesterday we were so exited, but today it was sad to see the scavenging.













On our way to Pafuri we saw a herd of buffalo.













We took the beautiful Nyala Road.











A farewell brunch.



The next instalment will follow as soon as I have sorted out the photos!!!

Janeli wrote:


We had a pleasant stay at Tshipise. All those Boabab trees next to the road took my breath away!!
At Tshipise I saw the biggest Boabab I have ever seen. But I longed to be back in KNP.





What a wonderful feeling when we crossed the Luvuvhu River! We are back for 12 more days.








On our way to Shingwedzi we stopped at the (now famous!!!) waterhole near Punda Maria.
It was sad to see what remained of the buffalo carcass.



This time there were no lions. Only a few ellies drinking water. Two ellies gave us an entertaining performance.
Once again we left this waterhole with a good feeling…..

Philip 1: My pleasure!

Vinkie and Onewithnature: The Boababs are amazing trees.



Trrp-trrrrrrrr: Must have been a beautiful sight!!

Hilda: Had a great time at Tshipise watching the naughty monkeys and banded mongoose.



Meandering Mouse: Thank you!

Barryels: The young ellies are so entertaining …..

Super Mongoose:
So glad you had a great time at KNP. It was great reading your TR! Well done!

Philip 1: Amen to that!

Chip: Yes, indeed it is the H13-1!!! Thank you!!

Shingwedzi: I do not want to be in this camp ……

When we planned this trip my only request was: no staying in Shingwedzi!
That is why we stayed at Punda Maria, which turned out to be the best decision ever!!! But SO decided that on our journey back south I must come to terms with my fear!

Four years ago we camped next to the fence at Shingwedzi. We had a good time. We had wonderful neighbours and became friends. One evening a herd of ellies grazed next to the fence. It was a beautiful evening. SO took a photo of me standing next to the fence with a huge ellie on the other side!!! We had a lovely braai. Everything was so calm.…. Suddenly as I was getting out of my chair SO pulled me out of my chair and I fell into his chair, which overturned…. It all happened so quickly. Our neighbours came running over to see what was happening. If I had put my foot down I would have trampled on a puffadder who curled up right where my foot had been!
The puffie didn’t want to move. Eventually the men chased him into the bush.
(I wrote about this in a previous TR)

I never realised that I had the shock of my life!! The next morning we left Shingwedzi. Three days after this incident I realised I can not remember anything about Shingwedzi! Looking at the photos I can recall the ellies, but do not remember anything about the campsite. I know that you can die within 30 minutes from shock when bitten by a puffadder. I realised that it was night, the nearest hospital would be at Phalaborwa!! I am a very lucky person. Thanks to my SO who saw the snake and reacted immediately I am alive and can write another TR!!!

During this trip we stayed 3 nights at Shingwedzi, next to the fence, but I kept my eyes on the ground.
Somehow it felt like déja vu!! The second evening the ellies grazed next to the fence, SO took a photo of me with a huge ellie at the other side of the fence ……. But no snakes!!!!! During the day I took my time to walk through the camp and once again regain the wonderful feeling of Shingwedzi.
Realising what a beautiful camp Shingwedzi is …. If I am not mistaken it was the camp of the year (2012).
I also realised that puffadders are not only in Shingwedzi, they can be anywhere.

The incident with the snake made me realise how precious life is. You must embrace life and live life to its fullest every day ……

Philip 1, Pumbaa, Super Mongoose, Trrp-trrrrrrrr, Barryels, Chip, COS, Meandering Mouse, Hida.

Thanks for your wonderful replies!!! It is good to hear that Shingwedzi is a favourite camp.

I am so glad that we stayed at Shingwedzi and will definitely go back.
I will never forget that the quick reaction of my husband probably saved my life!

Here are two photos which I took in 2008. It really felt like déja vu!