21 January 2021
After a night of heavy rainfall our first encounter of the morning was with an amphibian, probably no surprize there. It was however the first time we saw the tiny Bush Squeaker frog – this one, no bigger than a thumbnail, was sitting next to our vehicle as we wanted to climb aboard for our morning excursion.

Bush Squeaker
Everything was crisp and clean along the Grassland Loop after the rainstorm the previous night.
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Sunrise over Lake Bhangazi and the forested dunes of Cape Vidal
Cuckoo Hawk
Immature Burchell’s Coucal
Red-breasted Swallows
Climbing to the top of the Kwasheleni Tower and taking in the beautiful views in the morning light with the smell of a wet forest all around was magical.
Kwasheleni Tower
Steps leading up to the Kwasheleni Tower
Thorny Bone-apple fruit
Indian Ocean from Kwasheleni Tower
View towards the north-west from Kwasheleni Tower
View southwards from Kwasheleni Tower
View to the south-west from Kwasheleni Tower, with Lake St. Lucia in the background
There was lots to see along the remainder of the road back to camp
Distant view of a Crowned Eagle in the forest
Buffalo close-up
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Bell’s Hinged Tortoise
Crested Guineafowl leaving home for work (photo by Joubert)
Samango Monkey
Black-bellied Starling
With low tide arriving around 15:00 this afternoon we used the opportunity to go down to Mission Rocks and explore the wonders of the rocky shoreline there. This gallery is just a little teaser of what we have in store for you tomorrow.
Wild Date Palm
Mission Rocks
Interesting plantlife above the high water mark at Mission Rocks
Little fish in a rock pool at Mission Rocks
Natal Rock Crab at Mission Rocks
Interesting plantlife above the high water mark at Mission Rocks
Little fish in a rock pool at Mission Rocks
Heart-shaped rock pool at Mission Rocks
Mission Rocks
Barred Flagtail in a rock pool at Mission Rocks
After a wonderful time around the rock pools at Mission Rocks the road back to Cape Vidal was buzzing with lots to see.
Cute little Vervet Monkeys – just look at that smile!
Flat-crown Tree
Scenery along the Vlei Loop on the Eastern Shores of Lake St. Lucia
Black-bellied Starling at its nest
Black-bellied Starling at its nest
Kudu bull close-up
Kudu bull
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iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
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If I hadn’t been there I would find it hard to believe there is such diversity in one place! Such a lovely record in your posts. Makes me want to visit there again …
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When we visited in January, KZN was still deep in the midst of the “second wave” and many of our family and friends tried to dissuade us from visiting iSimangaliso, perhaps because they didn’t know just how safely one could visit a reserve like this while cutting contact with other people to an absolute minimum. In the end we had a wonderful time and we’re so grateful for the opportunity.
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It is good to know that such visits can be done safely. We have been super cautious this past year …
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Those stairs look to be a bit of a climb! But again, I love those monkeys. They are probably my favorite animals to watch those few times I get the opportunity. For me, that’s never in the wild.
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The stairs would be quite daunting to me too if they were built in a building, but as these are situated in a forest alive with wildlife you wouldn’t mind climbing them!
There’s a show on TV here of a band of scientists traveling all over the USA looking for the Sasquatch, which they’d lead us to believe is North America’s only indigenous primate, John. Have you never had an encounter with Bigfoot? 😉
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I’ve never seen a Sasquatch, but someone I know well tells me that on our trip to the northwest last fall, he saw a Sasquatch looking at me with “love” in his eyes. I’m pretty sure I was being kidded. >grin<
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I’m sure the National Enquirer would’ve been very interested in publishing the story if Bigfoot acted on his feelings for you, John! 😀
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Dis so lekker dat jy name by fotos sit. Kan dan sommer sien wat dit is ook.
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Ek is bly jy vind dit help, Ineke!
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Beslis ja en dis tog maar hoe mens kennis opdoen nê.
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There is so much there to see! I’m just happy to know that places like that still exist and that they are being protected!
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As are we, Montucky, and double blessed to be able to visit every once in a while!
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I love that last shot of the cute little monkeys and oh, look, another kudu bull. ❤
janet
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Doesn’t that baby monkey have just the most lovable expression on his face?
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Oh, yes!
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