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I love Wikipedia "A cicada an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha (which was formerly included in the now invalid suborder Homoptera), in the superfamily Cicadoidea, "

I do believe they're called cicadas, all

was in before you

Ola Porridge
Now see what happens when I'm MIA... You go and write a stellar TR man!!!!! At least I have caught up now and will be on board until you have finished your honeymoon eskapades That yellow karretjie is famous man!!!! It was seen all over Kruger in that trip
What great sightings and 360km to have been there for the meet I would have said 'o gatta patatta' as I would never have made it, I drive about 180km in a day in Kruger.
Yes the birdies on page 1 is a brown snake eagle and a European Bee eater
And those speedsters are soooooo boiling my insides I have seen many people protruding as well with carnivorous sightings!!!! Will post them later!



Ag nee Noel!

Day 4

Following the wonderful obligatory braai (although there was a whiff of someone’s curry, which was just cruel!), we retired with the intention of leaving a little later in the morning to have a bush breakfast at Makhadzi. Not before this elegant lady came and said hello though.



Fortunately, the next morning the day dawned bright and clear and we left Letaba around 8.00 (May I remind you that we were honeymooners!!) We actually just slept late, really.

On the way up, the temperature was escalating by the minute and was the hottest day to date that we had had so far. As a result of this, we drove the entire way (around 32 kms) without seeing even one 2 or 4 legged sightings. Turning off onto the H15 during this trip rewarded us with a single extremely distant zebra sighting which my camera was completely incapable of capturing. Turning off into Makhadzi, we arrived at the most pleasantly surprising picnic spot.

I believe that this spot was underwater and closed for ages after the January '13 flooding, which is a real pity as I loved it!! Beautifully clean and stilted toilets and kitchen areas, astonishingly helpful staff, what a pleasure!!! Well done, you guys!!! I need to be shot for not remembering their names as I would like to donate for them individually …

After having been well equipped with a gas bottle and skottel, we proceeded to cook our delicious brekkie with stories of lion prides and elephants breaking trees in the picnic area echoing in our ears.

Not long after this, we were enjoying our really tasty repast when a bone-chilling scream was heard.

Eardrums ringing, I looked around to find the source, when I realized it was emanating from my beautiful bride. A knee-jerk reaction ensued and I leapt into action grabbing the nearest lethal weapon, the egg-lifter. Spinning around to face the threat of marauding lion hordes, I almost put my knee out. Realizing that there was no threat to my north, east, or west, my keen instincts prevailed and I managed to turn to the south (without killing myself) where the fair maiden was seated. My first observation was “Where’s the blood?” and then “Brilliant, she’s still breathing”, when I was told in a voice of thunder “GET IT OFF ME!!!!”.

Seeing as I had the egg-lifter in hand, I thought I may be the yolk of the moment but I was too slow. Like lightning, Jax had already ensured that we would not be consumed by savage feral beasts on this journey, and she has my eternal gratitude. We may have died if not for the egg-lifter or Jax’s extraordinary reflexes… A picture of the vicious bugger below.



At this point, there are probably tears in your eyes but here’s a different reason



And this baby



Not much in the rest of the day, but I’ll be back …

Was huge

AWC is the sweetest thing ever super pic.

Thanks for sharing.

And who said romance was dead ... What a big BRAVE hubby our Jax's has found
and only armed with an egg-filter ... Looking forward to the next episode

Jy's 'n bliksem.


At least you recognize my selfless contribution, Della


Thx Trrp-trrtjie You may not know it yet, but you were with us!


Nou meisie, baie welkom. Glad nie my fout dat jy so baie laat is nie. Jy rock, so by the way

Jy's 'n bliksem.

The one and only.

Thank you Porridge & Jaxidean.....Like your adventure.

PS. Wat is 'n bliksem?

Great story Porridge . Luckily you got proof of the culprit .
Awesome AWC pic .
Thanks for sharing .

What a wonderful honeymoon you had! Jaxidean knows for sure that you will always save her from anything that flies around (with an egg lifter!) Doesn't matter! You did it!

I had many of your lion scares with Ms WendyA on our trip! Always jerking thinking that she and a lion/vervet/bushbaby was wrestling but to see a moth flying from her. Had a few lekker laughs.
That's nice having a bushbuck so up close. I never witnessed a tame one like that, I need to go to Letaba...
Lekker kiekies and how funny about the spatula lekker gelag daar!!!!

Day 5

We took it very easy for the rest of Day 4, as firstly it was roastingly hot with the animals all trying to find a convenient freezer to get into, and also we were leaving for Satara on Day 5. Relaxing in and around the pool was the order of the day, and we had an early night after munching some yummy lamb chops and boerie. Managed to get this pic of the bats in my belfry just after sunset though.



Around 5.30 am we left Letaba and turned north on the H1-6, and then left on the S47. It was very quiet with very few sightings until about halfway to Mingerhout dam, where a large nursery herd of impies were on the left side of the road. We could see them for quite a distance before we got to them and they were very agitated, to say the least. We could see a big black something in the road ahead which kept rushing at the impie babies, and then being driven off by the mothers. The closer we got, we could see that this big black something had wings. I have never seen this behavior by ground hornbills before, and believe me, once they spread their wings, they are huge!!! By the time we got close enough for a pic, the hornbills had settled down (6 of them) and had moved on a bit. Maybe the impies were making fun of their false eyelashes …



We got to the viewpoint at Mingerhout, and saw ………. absolutely nothing. We switched the engine off and had a cup of Kruger coffee while just listening and soaking up the bush. So peaceful and wonderful, with a large number of Woodies trrp-trrrring away, but none in sight. Heading down towards the S131, this wartie stood still long enough for me to lift the camera, then took off at a rate of knots with this pic being the result. Numpty ..



We ambled back towards Letaba and headed off on the S46/44/93 to Olifants where we had a wonderful breakfast. All credit to the friendly and efficient staff for a very enjoyable experience. What would a stop at Olifants be without the obligatory vista pic?



We went down the S92 to find that the causeway was still closed, and then on the S91 where we turned left on the H1-4, then right on the S39 down to a stop-off at Timbavati picnic spot for a potty break and got this one (After the potty break).



And this one



Down the S40 we saw a baby zebbie



And then my very first sighting of these cute fluffballs




Looking majestic



Killing time to check in, got these in front of the restaurant and near the webcam



Turning the water trough into his own personal Valley of the Waves







Once we had checked in, these from our patio




Followed by some cold frosties, wine and AmaAma with our braai, and as so frequently happens, another early night.

A heartbreaking day 6 to follow

Ground Hornbills chasing the baby Impies? You must be joking Porridge!

Cute Blue Waxbill and even cuter baby Zebra! And aren't those Ostrich babies lovely?!?

Beautiful bird pictures in the camp, as well as the Agama/Lizard pics!

Looking forward to read about the heartbreaking day 6!