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I am not very updated about the different hides. Where is Ratelpan hide?

On the S39 close to Timbavati Picnic site

Saw a very nice green-backed Camaroptera there recently.

Saw Openbill stork there in December, but not much else. The vegetation in front on one side also blocks the view.

In the book by Nussey and Paynter they state that they did indeed see a ratel there, which would have been over 20 years ago!

(Still the best Kruger book by far!)

Saw 2 honey badgers crossing the road about half a km from the hide. There was water and yellow billed and Openbilled storks, and we saw a Spoonbill there. The hide was in bad shape, but it was worth it.

I always take photos of the hides and picnic sights I visit.

These I took in July last year, are of Ratelpan Hide on the S39, Timbavati Road, near the Timbavati picnic site.

The first one is of the entrance to the hide



These two are of the view from inside the hide...

right......



and left views.

Its been a long time since somebody posted on this thread. In November 2010 and January 2011 I visited this bird hide on a number of occassions. Everything is fine, clean and the door automatically closes. ON 13/11/2010 I arrived in the afternoon to an empty hide. No one else around although quite a few cars passed without stopping. On the other side of the river bed were 13 lions resting in the afternoon heat. I stayed sometime as I had already driven a fair amount in the morning. It was interesting to watch the Lions as they rested and on 2 occassions two females stalked Impala unsuccessfully. I know the photo shows 12 lions but the 13th one was just out of view.
Later in the afternoon a family arrived, looked out of the hide saw 'nothing' and started to leave. I asked if they had seen the lions. Where? they shouted. After pointing them out they blushed ever so slightly!
Four days earlier at this hide I witnessed a lone female trying to catch a Buffalo from a herd that had been resting in the riverbed. The buffalo scattered and regrouped and a couple of bulls turned on her and she had to back off!

Here is a photo of the pride.

ADW, that is the kind of sighting I wish I would have at a hide Thanks for sharing. Did have a nice sighting of two sunbirds and a hippo there in december.

Saw a male Buffalo in the ratelpan hide parking lot on Sunday afternoon... Lots of water but no birds unfortunately!