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Mel,

I really can feel your excitement before and when entering the park and do the planning for the next day

Hey Mel, I'm thoroughly enjoying your TR so far... and there's a real sense of anticipation for your first full day in the park now

Please don't keep us waiting too long for more

I think the drongo will bring you lots of luck

Absolutely great!

[quote="melph68, Next thing we started to notice on the road was ellie poo
Dad and I had never seen ellie poo before so this was a very exciting sighting for us
quote]

ROFL. I'm sure they heard me laughing right down the road. Love it. I just love your excitement. Hope you didn't have to wait too long to see the manufacturers thereof.

It was wonderful to meet you both that morning , and to be able to give you a proper send-off on your first African safari.

Now "just get on with it will you" we can't wait for the next thrilling episode.

Did you get a pic of the genet on your verandah?

Nice to see the Forum mites who is who....??

Nice picture of the Goats crossing the street....I can understand your confusion....

Nice Kruger pictures too...Kudu...Squirrel....

Like the Safari tent....

I actually think you did very well! You just don't do late nights and early mornings.

Start playing the lottery!



Very generous - thank you, Mel!

And I just love the enthusiasm conveyed by your last post!

Hi Mel,

I love simple Aussie dinners .

What's that in the middle of the table?

Great episode again.

Hi Mel,
Your TR is just very special......you had me on the floor with laughter.....and it brought a tear to my eye!!!!
Thanks for sharing your African experience with us...
Great photos and I love every post
Waiting in great expectation for the next 'episode'

Spots... ....can't you see its dinner!!!!!

Just back in time...................wow what a stunning start!!!!



So glad you are in the park and enjoying every moment..................

Thank you JenB, MM, hilda, tedredrum, Pumbaa, PJL, Sharifa, chirinda, vinkie, Lionspoon, Spots, koedoe and lion queen for all your encouraging and funny comments

@Lionspoon - I just want to clarify that our "simple dinner" consisted of chirinda's delicious cheese puffs, Shi's yummy biltong and dried boer wors, bread, butter, and grapes for dessert. But of course we washed it all down with a few cold beers

@koedoe - how wonderful to see you here! Glad you are enjoying my TR

Since I got that teary episode out of the way I am really enjoying reliving our daily adventures in Kruger
So let's move on shall we....

Our first full day in Kruger!!

Dad and I were excited about EVERYTHING we saw!!

Our first Kruger sunrise


Some birds were looking absolutely gorgeous in the early morning light Please help with the IDs if I've got them wrong

yellow hornbill


woodland kingfisher


Carmine bee-eater


Cattle egret?



Our very first manufacturer of ellie poo!!


Our first giraffe



Our first sholongolo



Reptiles of the day




Driving along the H13-2 I was looking up at a bateleur overhead and then when I looked down again, what was that on the roadside??
"Stop!!" I yelled to Dad. But by the time I got the camera ready the bushpig had disappeared into the long grass
I've only seen bushpig on the cams before, so I was thrilled to see one, but very disappointed not to get a photo.

Unfortunately our first buffalo refused to lift his head up out of the grass
But doesn't his coat look amazing all thick with mud


Driving along the Nyala Loop, we pressed thumbs that we would see the animal the road was named after
Suddenly, I saw something
"Stop!!" I yelled to Dad (he was such a wonderful and patient driver throughout our adventure )
Who is that hiding in the grass pretending to be an impala?
OMG - our first nyala!!!


A bit further around the loop we also came across our first breeding herd of ellies
We were a little anxious as they browsed not more than 10m from the car, but they all seemed very calm and relaxed



After completing the loop we decided to go back to where we'd seen the nyala impersonating impala.
And this time he was standing up to give us our first full view of a magnificent nyala bull


By this stage it was lunchtime, so we headed to the Parfuri picnic site for a pit stop.
A fellow noticed our yellow ribbon and came over to introduce himself. It was Frank - I was thrilled to meet him

Mel, I am so enjoying your wonder and excitement.... all over again.

and how great to have seen Frank. He is, without a doubt a true legend.

What a nice photo of you and Frank. He is such a great guard and the most friendly person in kruger.

Love the sunrise picture

Just love those carmine bee-eaters, could not stop taking photos of them in January..........

What an amazing looking piece of mud that buffalo is!!!!