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Just catching up Kaapsedraai. Another WOW from me. Just love that "airport" shots. That giraffe with teh Baobab and Leadwood tree is indeed very special. Zebra's in early morning light Red Billed Quellea-the most frustrating bird in all of Kruger-you captured them beautifully. At a water hole nogal Agree with sentiments about Satara entrance-but it it more than makes up for it with fab sightings in that area

I'm intrigued-what is that thingamajig on the Baby impalas back, next to the Oxpecker?

Looking forward to the Creepy crawlies. They are as fascinating as anything in Kruger!

Thank you Meandering Mouse, the giraffe and baobab is one of those special moments for me.


Yes, Trrp-trrrrrrrr, Mopani is just a special place - especially away from the overcrowdedness experienced in the south in Dec and such a beautiful camp.


Philip1, thank you for comments and I appreciate it.



hilda, firstly welcome back and we missed you and SO, secondly thank you for the comments and thirdly, we are looking forward to read your TR


Welcome to the forum Ivan Fourie See it is your 1 posting I know the feeling of waiting and counting the days...but hang in there...the clock is ticking.


At least there are more forumites that feels like me Thank you, john n poppy.


Thank you, Bushbuddies. I am glad that you have enjoyed the scenic shots.


Thank you noel, while in Kruger going through the motions and excitement with sightings 'rolling' on your camera, you do not realise how privileged one is to enjoy it all. It is only now with the TR, when breaking it in bite-size chunks, that one is really enjoying it, appreciating every moment again and most of all - be able to share it with others.

WARNING!!! This posting not for the 'do not do creepy crawly' stuff...

We arrived at Mopani, and at our unit, which had a wonderful view over the Pionier dam, we were welcomed by a mating pair of Giant plated lizards which appeared to be quite shy. These lizards lay about 5 eggs in summer and eat insects, flowers, soft fruit and leaves.


After enjoying some refreshments, we headed to the restaurant and shops to get some food and wood for the evening braai. Must add that the quality of meat at Mopani is excellent. At the restaurant, one enjoys some wonderful scenic views over the Pionier dam. There were Egyptian geese and Open-billed storks next to the water. Then we also saw two fish eagles in the trees on the one end of the dam.



But...at the entrance of the shop in the large tree full of weaver nests, there was this interesting sighting - a first for me - Boomslang going from one nest to another looking for eggs and small birds. We were all very concerned, but relieved to see that all the nests were empty.



This boomslang sighting was our 4th in as many trips we had done to Kruger. On previous trips, we have been fortunate to see some different snakes i.e. in May'09, we spotted this puffadder just before Olifants camp on the gravel road intersection with the tar road.


In Sep'10, we spotted this Olive grass snake on the H4-1 tar road just before the Nkulu picnic area.


In Dec'11 travelling from Letaba to Olifants early morning on the H1-5, this Mozambican spitting cobra was crossing our path...


On this creepy crawly note we headed back to our unit and took a drive to Shipandani hide and Pionier dam hide from where we could see this view of the Mopani camp.


Now that we have given attention to the creepy-crawlies of Kruger, we are moving on to some wonderful sightings we had enjoyed from the two hides and Mooiplaas which I will share in next reports...to be continued.

Thanks Kaapsredraai

love the road along the Letaba with the huge baobab and to have a giraffe too on that picture with the tree is brilliant - WoW to your many snakes you saw especially the boomslang in camp

Now that is what I call creepy

The boomslang picture is a classic what opportunity and really a stunning .

More, please.

Kaapsedraai,

What amazing pics of the snakes.... Awesome photo opportunities you had all are captured superbly.

Thanks for sharing your "creepy" sightings.

Wow, but you saw quite a lot of beautiful creepy crawlies Kaapsedraai! Beautifully captured too!

I don't mind the creepy crawlies, as long as they are in pictures!

Hi Kaapsedraai

That’s the great thing about the Kruger I think, it is never the same, and you could do the same route the next day and spot all the big cats, just the luck of the draw.

Stunning view of the Olifants deck , one of the best views in the park. But Mopani also gives you great view during the lunch

Love the reptile pictures; you have had some slibery encounters during your last couple of years.

Great pic as always, can’t wait for more...

Oooo my aarde! Those slangetjies of yours will have me jumping onto my chair and screaming! I love the bush - but the snakes, scorpions and spiders must stay hidden far away in the bush when I'm around!

Stunning pics of those snakes kaapsedraai, you have been lucky Ive only ever found dead snakes in the kruger nice sightings

Kaapsedraai,

One thing i must say... i just don't like snakes! But the pics are awesome. To spot snakes in the park must be a experience i guess? As i said on my previous post, my wife and i are looking forward to our trip to the Kruger...oh and it is our 3rd trip together I hope we will spot a Fish Eagle as it is my favourite eagle! looking forward to read your next posting!!

Keep up the good work!!

Pumbaa - thank you. Yes we could not believe our eyes to see the boomslang in the camp. When we had visited the area again later, the snake was gone and I was wondering which direction, so it causes one to look at every bush, tree and greenery with searching eyes - just in case.

Meandering Mouse - thank you , more coming up tomorrow as time has caught up on me.

Trrp-trrrrrrrr, it is only a pleasure in sharing these with you.

hilda, I agree with you - they must be far away or in pictures. Thank you for comments.

t-bal, that is true as one must have the sentiment of enjoying what the bushveld presents you with...not to have an attitude that you have arrived and the bush must show you what it got as you will only be dissappointed.

Bushbuddies, scary stuff, but there is something about such sightings - a bit of adrenalin rush and then after such a sighting you tends to check every bush and corner in the hides you are visiting as well as the unit you are staying.

Sheenaugh-Lee, I guess we have been fortunate every time we visited Kruger and hope it does not stop...

Ivan Fourie, take me with on your next trip and I will do the snake spotting for you. I am also good in fish eagle spotting, so discuss with SO and let me know...eagerly awaiting your response

Apologies to everyone for no posting due to busy schedule, but will share some sightings from Pionier dam ...

Waiting.

I`m rather jealous about these great sightings...

Great shot of the two Banana Birds on top of the Pioneer Dam signpost Kaapsedraai!