Category Archives: Mpumalanga Province

Our experiences in the reserves of Mpumalanga, South Africa

The patience of a thirsty elephant

African Elephants are well known for their ability to find underground water and digging wells to reach it. While exploring the Kruger National Park in September we came across this bull patiently waiting, trunk draped over a tusk, for his well to fill up sufficiently for another sip, and repeating the process several times over. Aptly the dry stream is called “N’watindlopfu” in Tsonga, meaning “of the elephants”.

We’re waiting… We’re waiting… We’re waiting…

We’re drinking…

We’re waiting… We’re waiting… We’re waiting…

While humming a Bobby Darin song…

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In the Kruger Park‘s Lower Sabie Rest Camp, on the way to the reception office, there’s a bird bath and fountain well frequented by a wide variety of birds, including beautiful Greater Blue-eared Starlings like this one. But you’re not really supposed to get out of the bath looking worse than you did before getting in, are you!?

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Splish-splash, I was taking a bath…

Greater Blue-eared Starling looking quite wet

Quarrels with the neighbours

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When we arrived at the Kruger Park‘s Nthandanyathi Hide (between Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge) early one morning in September, we found two groups of Three-banded Plovers in a heated argument about a piece of shoreline. Pretty soon they were exchanging blows, leading to one family having to beat a hasty retreat…

Three-banded Plovers in heated argument

Lushious Lashes

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Maybe she was born with it? Maybe it’s…

This Southern Ground Hornbill we saw along the S30 between Skukuza and Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park came close enough to our vehicle to allow us to appreciate her eyelashes from up-close!

Ground Hornbill (photo by Joubert)

Southern Ground Hornbill

Southern Ground Hornbill close-up

Ground Hornbill (photo by Joubert)

First time ever!

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I have been visiting South Africa’s wild places for all my 40+ years, and yet there’s still many of their treasures I am yet to see. Following our September visit to the Kruger National Park I can now finally tick my first ever encounter with a leopard cub! We found the little one lazily watching the passing vehicles from a rocky outcrop along the main road between Tshokwane and Skukuza.

What luck!

Leopard cub (photo by Joubert)

Leopard cub in a rocky outcrop between Tshokwane and Skukuza

Peeping Toad

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This Foam Nest Frog was sitting on a signboard from where it had a perfect view through the window of the ladies bathroom in the camping area at Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park.

Come to think of it, I probably didn’t look that kosher either, hanging around the ablution block with my camera…

This Foam Nest Frog was sitting on a signboard from whence it had a perfect view through the window of the ladies bathroom in the camping area at Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park.

How’s this for getting a name right?

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Impala Street is a road through the staff village at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, and it leads past the indigenous nursery where the public may purchase local plants for their gardens at very reasonable cost. And just to prove how well deserved the name is, a male Impala was available to pose perfectly on cue for Joubert to take this picture in September.

We should have taken a drive to Lion Street, just in case…

A committee of Vultures

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A committee of Vultures – Lappet-faced, White-headed and White-backed – assembling for their afternoon meeting near Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park.

*”Committee” is the collective noun for a group of vultures just sitting around.*

A committee of Vultures – Lappet-faced, White-headed and White-backed – assembling for their afternoon meeting near Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park

An impala celebrity and his posse

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This adult Impala ram was followed quite dutifully by his much younger companions, who seemed to hang on his every word like real celebrity groupies would. Seen in September near Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park.

This adult Impala ram was followed quite dutifully by his much younger companions, who seemed to hang on his every word like real celebrity groupies would.