Autumn road trip to four Nat Parks - in rain or shine

[FinMari]

Thank you so much all for leaving a comment

Lovely sightings in Addo. I shall have to content myself with others TRs as I shall not get there

Great help with a different sort of braai

umtali, More lovely sightings coming up

Addo ...... sigh. I love that place so much. Great that you saw elephants on your first drive. Nice spotting the Bokmakierie, some trips I find lots of them and sometimes not so many.
Gorgeous sunset colours.

Karin, I love Addo too - and calm elephants there
Bokmakierie are so joy to find

Great pics and sightings in Addo. Sounds as though camp was a bit disappointing,such a shame...one chair..
strange braai,even staff can't open
Nice to see largish herd of ellies

Mischief, I say always - If one wants to see ellies, Addo never disappoints

Lovely drive to Addo with a stop at the Wildlife Rescue Center

Not getting unit requested but maintenance needs to be done
Some amazing sightings on your first drive...

k@c, I guess you will enjoy also some sightings on the second day

Addo animals and bird sightings including peaceful elephants and spoonbills

Sunset colours

Thanks FinMari

colbol, We started our selfdriving from Addo and still amaze how peacuful elephants are there

Just rejoined the bus and played catch up!!

Karoo NP seemed a big success with lovely sightings and photos.

Amazing to see the lioness.

More useful info for people wanting to book.

Love driving through Meringspoort , it is so beautiful.

Looking forward to more stories from Addo.

Loving all your food photos both from Karoo and Addo.

Val, I'm super happy if you find my info useful
More stories about Addo and MZNP still to come

[FinMari]

Sunday March 30th, 2025
Addo Main Camp

We had woke up at 0515. Gates opened already 0530, but we thought it was way too dark still. Off we go 0550, 12c. Just before the gate - inside the rest camp - we both saw a brown hyena But too dark and it was too fast to capture a photo
Some sunrise colours at 0559

It was way too early for some

We took again Gorah loop

Sunrise behind the hill at 0641

The grass was still so wet due the mist

Crowned Lapwing

Yellow canaries

Some where still sleepy

Swallows at Carols Rest waterhole

Sombre Greenbull looked bit crumpy. Thank you Karin for correct ID

Nice flowers

Fiscal Flycatcher

A tree full of Speckled Mousebirds

We stooped at Kadouw lookout point to strech our legs. Sadly we heared loud doef-doef music in distance Why to come a park and have disco inside the vehicle

A warthog

Southern Fiscal

We had coffee / tea and rusks made by chirinda at Jack's picnic site

We chatted for a while with family from Somerset West. Two daughters have never seen snow. I showed some pics from my cell phone to them
Southern Boubous were begging - no success from us

On our way back to the rest camp we saw for example a terrapin

And some Kudus

We visited the waterhole at the camp - nobody home - and the shop. At our unit the breakfast was granadilla and apple fruit salad with strawberry yogurt

Rest of the day in the next post

[FinMari]

Sunday March 30th, 2025
Addo Main Camp part 2

We were wondering what to do. The original plan for this day was to sit on the stoep and watch animals passing by like in our earlier visits. Not this time. Ok, let's return to the park. I made us feta salad to go. I didn't find any olives at the park shop, so I used pickled capsicums instead. Some sundried tomato pesto into salad dressing to give extra flavour. Back at the gate 1156, 22c.
We drove pass Ghwarrie and Rooidam (Egyptian Goose family on duty) the gravel road to Hapoor. There was one lonely elephant

There was some water on the road after recent rains. We drove slowly - 25km took almost two hours - to Algoa lookout point where we turned around

On the return near Lismore waterhole a warthog

and yellow mongoose

Lunch at Jack's

Red-necked Spurfowl couple

7 zebras at Hapoor at 1520, 25.5c

Then next happened on gravel road between crossings 15 and 19 on the map

There was quite skinny lion walking

It went down. He had seen a lot

He stared to the other side of the road

Where was a warthog family

Lion started to walk

I missed to take video of actual hunt, but here one piglet is caught and mom is watching

While the lion was killing the piglet

We noticed something else. Another lion behind our rental car

The first was so focused to eat

Didn't notice about second lion arriving

But managed to keep the kill. The second lion looked more well eaten

And decided to lie down. It was our time to leave. We were onsite 25 minutes. Now so many OSVs were arriving to the site

We drove to Zuurkop lookout point, where we chatted with people in other car who shared the kill experience. And I had to told SO: if we would be staying at those waterhole view cottaged, we would missed this. So there was a very good reason to get unit what we got
Addo was so green

The rest of the day in the next post

[FinMari]

Sunday March 30th, 2025
Addo Main Camp part 3

Those who have not been at Addo, the road visible in earlier photo is Grah loop. There are quite difference in vertical.
There we went again. Some zebras and nyala

More zebras at Carols Rest

Very active tinyfant

Sibling was soon to be born

SO counted 63 ellies at the open uphill area of Gorah loop

Also Black-Headed Heron

Red Hartebeest

Tiny one was resting

The dinner was melted Brie with Pita breads

We were sleeping happily at 2045

T.B.C.

[colbol]

I would say a quiet start to your day turned into a thriller

Overall sightings were many and varied - better than sitting on the stoep

Thanks FinMari

[Meandering Mouse]

That is such a splendid sunrise. I also love the early morning light.

What a fantastic lion sighting.

The meals all look delicious.

Addo ellies, it doesn't get better than this.

[Carla + Tony]

Shame you didn't get the chalet you requested at Addo but the one you got looks very nice as well.

Wonderful sightings so far of all the locals. 63 ellies Lucky they are all so relaxed.
But the best sighting has to be the lions...WOW
Just as well you got the other chalet. This is something you don't get to see from the comfort of the bungalow.

[umtali1]

Beautiful early morning light.

Fantastic scenes.

Ouch! That wound looked sore

[Karin Mitton]

Brown hyena! Even if you don't get photos still wonderful sighting and an animal I am yet to see in Addo.
That Pied Starling is actually a Sombre Greenbull.
Lions! Feel sorry for the piglet, but glad the lion found a small meal.
Elephants on a green backdrop - lovely!

[Tessa G]

Love your sunrise photos Mari.

I could get stuck into that breakfast Mari.

Nothing like beautiful birdsong and wonderful sightings and vistas.

Addo here we come.

Poor little fox, but I do understand that it would not survive in the wild now. Bat Eared Foxes

A disappointment with your accommodation at Addo, but sometimes things just work out for the best.
Lovely variety of sightings and beautiful sunset.
Great to see the Brown Hyena's

Wonderful lion sighting Mari. A winner!!!
All those ellies. Wow!!!! I miss my ellies, it's been 3 years since we last had an ellie experience. Maybe next year.

[kids@camping]

Just love the morning light....

What an amazing drive with some lovely sightings

& then the hunt... poor piggy, but Lion need to eat

Very of the brown hyena...

(Addo unfortunately not part of our 7 Park trip...)

[Pumbaa]

Thanks so much, FinMari,

as you said it was destiny not to get the untis with view What a fantastic lion encounter instead Luckily for the skinny one he could keep the kill

Nevertheless the bungalow is looking very comfortable and love all the different birds you saw already especially the Ludwig's - Lot's of different antelopes as well

And finally thanks to all your yummy breakfast, lunch and dinner shots

[Cape of Storms]

FinMari, what a post! You truly have a way of bringing the whole park experience to life — I felt like I was right there in the early morning mist with you, rusks in hand.

That brown hyena sighting, even without a photo, must’ve given you both such a thrill! And then the lion drama — goodness me! Nature doesn’t hold back, does she? Poor piggy, but what an unforgettable moment.

Your photos are a feast — loved the birds, the tinyfant antics, and that gorgeous green backdrop framing all the ellies. And I must say, your picnic fare and evening meals make me feel like I need to up my game! Brie and pita? Yes please!

It’s funny how not getting the unit you hoped for ended up delivering such a wow moment — Addo always seems to know what it’s doing.

[Meandering Mouse]

at the Brown hyena.

I love your sunrise pics. What a perfect start to the day.

It looks like a delicious lunch at Jacks. at the very cute mongoose.

That is an incredible lion sighting. Lucky, lucky you.

Fabulous ellie images. I love the field and the numerous animals dotting the plains.

[FinMari]

I'm so happy to have you all onboard Thank you so much

:Overall sightings were many and varied - better than sitting on the stoep

colbol, I agree so much

Addo ellies, it doesn't get better than this.

MM, Addo ellies are so relaxed, one can just enjoy

But the best sighting has to be the lions...WOW
Just as well you got the other chalet. This is something you don't get to see from the comfort of the bungalow.

Carla + Tony, This was really the bright side of not getting that type of unit what we booked

Ouch! That wound looked sore

umtali, Yes it did, but I didn't go out and put some healing medicin lotion to him

Brown hyena! Even if you don't get photos still wonderful sighting and an animal I am yet to see in Addo.

Karin, We have been lucky with brown hyena at Addo also earlier time

All those ellies. Wow!!!! I miss my ellies, it's been 3 years since we last had an ellie experience. Maybe next year.

Tessa, I do understand you. Since last April we have visited several parks, but no ellies. In early planning of this trip I told SO, we have to visit Addo. I need to see ellies Maybe we will be in same park next year sharing our ellie love

Just love the morning light....

k@c, African sunrises and sunsets are very special for me. They are so different than at home

What a fantastic lion encounter instead Luckily for the skinny one he could keep the kill

Pumbaa, He did look so skinny. I was happy also for him

It’s funny how not getting the unit you hoped for ended up delivering such a wow moment — Addo always seems to know what it’s doing.

CoS, It seems Lady Fortuna had plans for us