Sojourn to Golden Gate

A quick working visit to beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park last month provided a few leisurely hours to enjoy the reserve’s exceptional scenery. Heavy skies and regular downpours provided some much needed relief from the drought that has even this mountain paradise in its grip.

Arriving from Clarens’ side

Pied starling

What would a visit to Golden Gate be without the hiking trails!?

Heavy clouds add to the dramatic scenery

Golden Gate Hotel & Chalets, February 2016

Speckled pigeons

Downpour coming along the valley

What would a visit to Golden Gate be without the hiking trails!?

Mountain cascade following the heavy showers

Blesbuck

View from Highlands Retreat

Black-backed jackal

Drakensberg view

Looking from the foot of Brandwag towards Clarens

Golden Gate Hotel & Chalets

Looking from the foot of Brandwag towards Clarens

At the foot of the Brandwag buttress

Eland cresting a nearby hill

Red-eyed bulbul

Mountain stream in full flow following the previous day’s good rains

Immature Cape Robin-Chat

A ray of sunshine illuminating the cliffs

Speckled pigeon

Crested Barbet

Rock Martins

Weekend in Pilanesberg

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By mid-February, the Wild de Wets were suffering from extreme bush withdrawal symptoms. So, with our “monochrome memories” from a visit to Pilanesberg National Park in December lined up for publishing at the same time, we headed back to Pilanesberg for a quick weekend bush-fix, camping at Bakgatla Resort for the Saturday night before Valentine’s Day.

It was noticeable that the Park received some much needed rain since our previous visit, evidenced by flowing streams, fuller dams and greener vegetation. We hope that more falls before the end of the summer rainy season, and that it will be enough to sustain the fauna and flora through the dry winter.

Camping at Bakgatla, Pilanesberg National Park, February 2016

Giraffe reaching for tasty leaves

Young giraffe

Blue wildebeest bull

Kudu close-up

Skittish mountain reedbuck

White rhino

Red hartebeest

Plains zebra

Elephant on a rocky outcrop

White rhino

Waterbuck cow

Elephant bull at Batlhako

Pilanesberg scenery

Elephant herd on the move near Bakubung

Early morning at Lake Mankwe

Klipspringer peeking

Western Osprey

Early morning impalas

Grey Go-away-bird

Plains Zebra

Plains Zebra foals

Herbivores often congregate in mixed herds

Blue wildebeests on the run

Tsessebe in the Pilanesberg

It was Valentine’s Day, after all…

Shocked onlookers!

Mankwe stream in Pilanesberg National Park

Kudu bull

Kudu cow

A month of monochrome memories: On the Rocks

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A pair of confiding Klipspringers seen along Mankwe Drive, in the Pilanesberg National Park. Pilanesberg 29122015 (17)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and shared photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we called “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Towering Giant

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Warthog, Waterbuck and Giraffe meeting at the Malatse Dam in the Pilanesberg National Park Pilanesberg 29122015 (14)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Pied Pair

23 Replies

A pair of Pied Kingfishers hunting from a shared perch at the Mankwe Hide in the Pilanesberg National Park Pilanesberg 29122015 (13)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Mud, Glorious Mud!

25 Replies

A warthog finding respite from the heat in a pool of mud at the Mankwe Hide in Pilanesberg National Park.
Pilanesberg 29122015 (12)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Bull In Hiding

8 Replies

A kudu bull seeking shelter from the harsh midday heat in Pilanesberg National Park Pilanesberg 29122015 (11)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: Mother’s Love

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A blue wildebeest calf looking for reassurance at the side of his mother, in the Pilanesberg National Park.

Pilanesberg 29122015 (10)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: At The Water’s Edge

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In contrast to most of the other bodies of water in the Park, the large Lake Mankwe in the centre of the Pilanesberg still held a considerable volume of water, and was a predictable magnet for wildlife, such as this male impala.

Pilanesberg 29122015 (8)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.

A month of monochrome memories: All Ears

19 Replies

The prevailing dry conditions, and consequently denuded vegetation, meant that it wasn’t difficult to see several little Steenbok in Pilanesberg National Park during our recent visit. Pilanesberg 29122015 (7)

Our end-of-year 2015 holidays were absolutely packed to the brim. Apart from our ten-day visit to the Kruger National Park (read more about our time at Lower Sabie, Olifants and Shingwedzi in December), we also made day trips to five other reserves, and will be sharing photos from those (except Suikerbosrand, which we introduced in a post all of its own) daily through the month of February, in a series we call “a month of monochrome memories”.