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It is Friday, 14 Dec’12, and right at the crossing outside of the Skukuza, 3 hyenas were walking around.



Off to Lake Panic for early morning sunrise (as mentioned before, the Lake Panic photos have been uploaded on Lake Panic gallery thread) and on our way back later the morning as drove slowly towards Skukuza on H11, this beautiful leopard was posing in a tree just before staff village turn off. We went back later the afternoon and only saw a leg of an impala lying in another tree close by.




The birds of prey were quite active and as we drove the roads around Skukuza we managed to get a few photos (I hope I have identified them correctly – you are welcome to correct me where applicable)
Brown snake eagle


Wahlberg's eagle


Tawny eagle


The afternoon was equally eventful as we met some more predators around Skukuza. To be continued...

Kaapsedraai what a frightening experience. It just shows how very unpredictable the bush can be. I am so pleased you are all ok and thank goodness you have a good car insurance. So sad about the rhino mom and calf though.

Your pictures are just wonderful

... pshew.... what an experience.

Beautiful Leopard Kaapsedraai, I find it amazing lately that more people are seeing leopards before they see lion lol its almost as if the lions are now the elusive one and not the leopard anymore thanks for sharing

Great Hyena, Raptures and Awesome Leopard

Kaapsedraai,

I also use a 3rd party company to book my car hire, but I only pay when I pick up the car.
On a previous occassion, when I have arrvied at the car hire place, I haven't been happy with what they allocated me, they were happy to change it to another vehicle.
If you want, I can pm you the details of te 3rd party company.

Wow, that sounds like quite an experience with the Rhino.

And some great photos.

Glad i am on board this TR, some great raptor shots and a leppie to start with

john

Hi Kaapsedraai

Your car being hit by a rhino must be shocking . Last year we were charged by a bull rhino who was protecting a calf and a female, luckily we saw it coming and could escape with our heart’s pumping like crazy. Luckily only your car was damaged and nothing more serious happened.

But what a great morning you had. 3 Hyena’s near a kill by the looks of it, A beautiful leopard in a tree looking so graceful as ever and lots of raptors .

As I thought seeing your first few photographs, I can safely say that your photos are amazing .

Can’t wait for your afternoon events.

Thanks for sharing your encounter with the black rhino. Surely not a tea party when he charges .

Awesome pic's of the hyenas and leppie .
Thanks for sharing

Wow Kaapsedraai! What an experience with the Black Rhino! Such a pity that he killed the mom and baby Rhino!

Awesome early morning Hyenas! And a stunning Leopard! Great sightings!

Gorgeous pictures of the Raptors too!

Thank you Meandering Mouse, Sheenaugh-Lee, Philip1, yoda, john n poppy, t-bal, barryels and hilda for your kind comments.

yoda, I used Drive-out (on Go! magazine's website) as they required some deposit, but agree normally you only pay at time of collection.

As it is our accustom when in Skukuza, Lake Panic gets visited first on our early afternoon drive and then again just before gate closing. It continues to be relatively quiet sightings wise, but managed to get a few pics of the locals i.e. Jacana, grey heron, pied kingfishers and dragonflies. (Jan, if you are reading this – in my mind’s eye I pictured you sitting in the corner of the hide for maximum lake coverage – and a thought came up “maybe I must put a sign up saying – “Corner Reserved for Jan van Wyk”, knowing that you were on your way to LP following your trip to Kgalagadi and will entertain us with your magnificent photos).

After a while, we left Lake Panic and took the H11 towards Kruger Gate and came across a few cars looking at something in the long grass. As we drove closer, we spotted the wild dogs, but at first the visibility was poor. Later some got up and came closer to the road. I guess it was the Skukuza pack, but could only see a few of them.


Whilst observing them, my wife complained that her camera struggled to focus, then we realized that there is something in the way… which was this spiderweb with Mr G Orb playing a waiting game, whilst at the same time disturbing the focus on the wild dogs. But…it turned out to be a bonus as could be seen…


Next to us was a Toyota and the lady and gentleman have noticed our orange ribbon (KNP sightings bbm group) and we started talking. They were actually Nadav Ossendrywer’s parents on their way to pick up Nadav from Skukuza where he attended a seminar/course/training. What coincidence this was – just shows that there is benefit in identifying yourself via the ribbons.

We took the road towards Steven Hamilton where we saw this kudu with skin pigmentation which was a unique sighting in a way.


Then close to Renosterkoppiesdam (S114) we encountered our first lion sighting. Although not a clear shot, but the fact remains - a lion sighting is a lion sighting, especially if it is the first one on the trip.


Being bird lovers, this black collared babbler entertained us with calls in true babbler fashion.


Just before gate closing, it was time to pay another visit to Lake Panic to see if the hippos have come closer to the hide and was once again rewarded by a spylike stare and this yawn…



At this fitting note, it was time to head back to camp for something to eat and a good night’s rest.
Day 3 proved to be equally exiting as we were making our way to Biyamiti, but first we enjoyed a magnificent early morning sighting of the Skukuza pack – all 16 of them…up close and personal

Nice start to your TR Kaapsedraai

Stunning afternoon drive with lots of very interesting sightings Kaapsedraai!

I have never seen 'n Kudu with a skin pigmentation ever before!

Love your picture of the Black-collared Babbler! Great shot!

To find Lions on your first afternoon drive is very lucky! Love the Hippo too!

Kaapsedraai,

Wow!!! Black Rhino ...what an experience.

Wonderful sightings and stunning pics of all

Lovely variety and Lake Panic delivered once again.

Hippo ...closing this day is gorgeous.

Beautiful simply exquisite kaapsedraai love the wild dog pics and that Kudu is odd I would say it is a definite rare sighting that, I wonder why its hide was pigmented like that?