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Klippies are so cute aren't they?
Didn't see our dassie yesterday......hope he's ok!!

Hi Val what a fantastic time you are having and tanx for sharing, awesome bush buck

Day 18 (Nov 17th)
We were at the gate at 5.30 this morning, hoping to see more than yesterday.

We studied all the Impie herds we came across, but no babies yet!! Oh well early days.

We were disappointed not to see Desie in his crevice either, or our Klippies from Masorini and Erfplaas..............we didn't shower before we came out.......just a "tub up" as my Mom used to call it, so maybe they decided to keep their distance!!

Saw a big hippo at Nhlanganini Dam, and a very spruced up Waterbuck.
Then a bit further on a large Wartie put in an appearance.

We arrived at Letaba, and saw quite a few Ellies in the riverbed, and a lone Buff was grazing as well.

Then a troupe of baboons bounded across the sand, and came to play in the trees near the restaurant. They seemed to be having so much fun!!

I finally tracked down the Crested Barbet that I keep hearing when we're there, but the little blighter flew off before I could get a shot!!

We saw Red-Cheeked Mousebirds, which I was thrilled about, because I have only ever seen Grey ones there before.

Also saw our Pied and Brown Headed Kingfishers again, and of course the ever present Red-Winged Starlings.

We moved to the restaurant, and ordered a bacon and egg toastie and a coffee each..............yum, nice and hot, plenty of innards, and delivered quite quickly with a lovely smile!!

On the way home we saw several tortoises, lapping up some residual water from last night's storm, and several Ellies and Zebra.

Finally when we were almost at the gate we saw a lovely oldish Giraffe (quite dark), I do so love their gentle faces.

Then it was time to prepare for tonight's braai (T Bone for Dungy, and sirloin for me) and of course wors for us both, with a variery of salads, and then it was time for a swim and a snooze.

The braai was lekker, and so was the Amarula and coffee that followed!!!

You know, in time, I think that I could get used to this life in Africa!!

To be continued...................

Crested Val

Thank you for sharing lovely pics and TR

Hi Val, I can't wait to read your daily posts just to see what you saw, it's like almost being there with you guys!

I just love Letaba with the river front, all the birds in the trees and the resident bushbucks around.

My CB's: the female is in her nest all day and he is such a good husband and feeds her more than what she wants to eat. BUT there is another female in the area and he started hollowing out the other nesting log last week. Now I have not seen the other female much but I can hear her call is different to ours. If it was a male he would chased him off long ago, maybe he is looking for a second wife

We've got all the mousebirds visiting the trees in and around our garden, the red-cheeked ones came to eat the new leave as the started to come out in September, now they eat the neighbours malberries, they are so nice to watch.

Will be waiting by the gate for your next post, maybe some spots today!

Thanks Val for sharing.... love the daily Kruger dose!!!!

Great pics love the mom wartie with the green green grass, waterbuck gave you a lovely pose

How awesome to know that you can hop in and out of the Park .....must be such a burden

Lovely sightings so far Val! You will see the Impie babies in time, don't worry about them! You have still a few months to spend there!

Love the Wartie! Looks very young still, tusks still very small!

Interesting 4-legged Secretary Bird! Beautifully captured, the two of them!

Day 19 (Nov 18th)
We decided not to go into paradise today!!!
Sunday is usually busy, and we don't like sharing "our" park with strangers!!!

So we had a lie in, then a long luxurious shower, and then a bacon and avo sarnie.

I caught up on lots of emails, and other people's TRs, and Dungy read his kindle.

We had left over wors and salad for lunch, and a snooze, and then it was time for our sundowner.

We sat in our front garden for our sundowners (Gin and Tonics) and this is what transpired.

First of all we spotted a Glossy Starling nest, and a fledgling flew out and tried to land on our wall.
Sadly it missed, and plopped to the floor.
It was a bit stunned, but eventually started hopping along the ground.

Mom was frantic and calling for her baby.
Baby tried to take off, but couldn't!!!

Mom found baby, and lots of noise took place between them.

Then baby hopped on to a low wall, then on to a higher wall, then on to the tree and then hopped up the branches back to the nest!!!

You could almost hear Mom saying "And don't try that again, untill you are sure!!"

We have four Paradise Flycatchers in the garden (2 male 2 female) and we love to watch them, especially the males with their long floating tails!!

We watched them chasing and catching the hapless butterflies who were just not quick enough to get away!!

We had filled the bird bath and bird feeders earlier, and now sat back to watch who came to eat and drink.

There were Cut Throat Finches, Blue Waxbills, Bronze Manikins, Cape Sparrows, House Sparrows, White Bellied Sunbirds, Cape Doves, Laughing Doves, Black Capped Bulbuls, Grey Mousebirds, Paradise Flycatchers, Brown Hooded Kingfishers, African Hoopoes, Thick Billed and Sotted Back Weavers, and a naughty Crested Barbet who we could hear, but could not track down................he will be found!!!

Dinner was a simple meal of roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks, a baked potato and salad, all washed down with a dry white for me and a dry red for Dungy!!

He has now just put the kettle on for our filter coffee, and we might just have an Amarula to accompany it!!

The sky is darkening, and soon we will see those amazing African stars that seem to go on for ever.

The insect chorus is just startng up, and here we are in this wonderful country called South Africa!!

To be continued.......................

It's my pleasure Philip.

No spots today.......no park.

Please keep the info about your CBs coming!!

Yes Trrp....our life is very difficult.

Yes Hilda you are quite right.......I'll will wait patiently for the Impie babas.

I didn't realise to begin with that I had taken a picture of both secretary birds!!! Then I saw four legs and realised what I had done.

All caught up again!

Lovely that you got to meet EJ and Chirinda and great too that you got to see “your” klippie and Desmond the Dassie!

Lovely photos – especially the beautiful male bushbuck and the brown hooded kingfisher.

I know what you mean about getting that “almost dark getting light factor” but you don’t ALWAYS get that when staying in the park … it beats me as to how SanParks go about deciding when gates open!

Aaaaahhh … so the impalas are looking very pregnant and some babies have been seen??? I was wondering about that today, actually!

Great secretary bird photos – especially the one with four legs!!!

How exciting that there are FOUR Paradise FlyCatchers in the garden … can’t wait to see them! Love the birdie shots take in the garden!

Eish Val, your last post has me so homesick now lol.
Great one nonetheless

Val, Looks like you have been busy in the park with lots of great adventures and sightings. Hope your electricity keeps on for the rest of your stay. It was so great to meet both of you and spend time visiting. We are so glad you enjoyed the Copper River Salmon. I was worried we wouldn't meet up, and I would have been forced to give it to a random passerby in the park!
We are getting adjusted to the home time zone, but I am missing the warm Kruger spring already.
Happy you have got to say hello to your little friend in the rocks.