Category Archives: Mpumalanga Province

Our experiences in the reserves of Mpumalanga, South Africa

A quick breakaway to Loskop

22 Replies

We spent the past weekend with good friends in and around the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, taking in the peaceful atmosphere, spectacular scenery and diverse wildlife. Here’s a gallery showing some of what we saw and experienced – if you’d like to know more about Loskop Dam and the general area, have a read here.

On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
Waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
Waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
On the trail to the waterfall at Waterfall Safari Lodge
View from Waterfall Safari Lodge
Garden Commodore (wet season colouration)
Natal Acraea
Guinea-fowl Butterfly
Foxy Emperor
Spotted Joker
Mixed bag of butterflies at a mud puddle
Poisonous Koppie Foam Grasshopper
Common Stick Grasshopper camouflage
Elegant Grasshopper nymphs
Golden Orb Web Spider – the female is considerably larger than the male
Red Toad at the Waterfall Safari Lodge
Arrow-marked Babbler
Male Red-backed Shrike
Woodland Kingfisher
Bushbuck ram
Bushbuck ewe
Warthog
Warthog
Kudu
Kudu
Waterbuck ewe
Waterbuck bull
Impala ram
Impala lamb
Impala lamb
Giraffe
Vervet monkey
Loskop scenery
Loskop scenery
Loskop scenery
Lily Dam Hide in Loskop Dam Nature Reserve
Lily Dam Hide in Loskop Dam Nature Reserve

Our 2016 in pictures

22 Replies

Looking back on another year of enjoying South Africa’s beautiful wild places!

Camping at Bakgatla, Pilanesberg National Park, February 2016
Golden Gate Hotel & Chalets, February 2016
Ntshondwe Chalet 34, Ithala Game Reserve, March 2016
Ntshondwe Chalet 15, Ithala Game Reserve, March 2016
Umlalazi Log Cabin, March 2016
Our camping setup at Bontle, Marakele National Park – April 2016
Bungalow 12 at Lower Sabie, May 2016
Olifants bungalow 23, May 2016
Satara Cottage 85, June 2016 (photo taken on a visit in 2012)
Mopani Cottage 43, July 2016
Haak-en-Steek Cottage, Mokala National Park, August 2016
Camping at Kgaswane, October 2016
Nyathi Camp unit #3, Addo Elephant Park, October 2016
OuKlip’s luxury safari tents (in Dinokeng Game Reserve)
Glen Reenen, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Unit 27, December 2016
Thendele Chalet 27, Royal Natal National Park, December 2016
Mpila Chalet 21, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, December 2016

Them Big Old Bulls

38 Replies

What better way to wrap up the report back on our winter visit to the Kruger National Park‘s Satara and Mopani Rest Camps, than to appreciate those majestic elephant bulls that roam the Lowveld!

Nothing like an evening dustbath…
… and a bit of a scratch!
Drinking from an “elephant well”
The old guys don’t mind a bit of shade
Impressive Tusker
Just look at that bulk!
Obviously a very gentle individual
Armada approaching over the waving landscape
Ndlovane (2016/07/02)
Ndlovane (2016/07/02)
Ndlovane (2016/07/02)
Ndlovane (2016/07/02)
Regal procession
Regal procession
Regal procession
Regal procession
Regal procession
Regal procession
Regal procession
Regal procession

Herbivore Haven

23 Replies

The Kruger National Park protects an amazing variety of wildlife. Our recent winter visit to the Satara and Mopani areas of the Park allowed us to tick 35 different species of mammals, in addition to the many kinds of reptiles and birds we’ve already shown you. We told you about the hardships the drought is causing for the hippos and we’ve bragged about the buffaloes, predators, huge zebra herds and rare antelope we encountered. Here’s a chance now to look at some of the other herbivorous species that find sanctuary here in South Africa’s flagship Park.

Blue wildebeest on the move
Wildebeest herd kicking up dust at Makhadzi
Wildebeest bull walking away from Tinhongonyeni
Curious Wildebeest Calf
Bushbuck Ram
Bushbuck Ewe
Bushbuck Ewe
Bushbuck in Letaba
Bushbuck in Letaba
Young Bushbuck Ram
Tuskless elephant cow
Elephant family
Giraffe in a sea of Mopani
Grey Duiker
Grysbok
Impala Ram
Impala Ram
Impala youngster
Spotlight on Klipspringer
Klipspringer ewe
Kudu siblings
Kudu bull with an oxpecker irritation
Kudu cows drinking
Kudu bachelors
Scrub Hare
Steenbok
Warthog
Waterbuck
Waterbuck
Waterbuck
Waterbuck
Waterbuck
A tender moment between a White Rhino cow and her calf

 

 

Taking in the Kruger’s amazing scenery

23 Replies

Our recent winter visit to the Satara and Mopani areas of the Kruger National Park provided constant reminders of just how privileged we are to have this amazing natural area in our country. While it is the astounding bird and animal life that find a home here that draw people from all over the world, that would not have been possible had it not been for the incredible landscapes that has now been protected from human exploitation for over a hundred years.

Sunset at Satara
Looking up into the branches of a fever tree
Lazy winter morning sun above a pool in the Nwanetsi
Sweni stream crossing
Gnarled Leadwood stump
Taking in the wildlife and scenery from Satara’s boundary fence
Herds of game congregating near Satara
Taking in a Satara sunset
Satara sunset
WInding roads and beautiful scenery
Congregating at the waterhole
Kudu in the mist
Misty sunrise
Misty sunrise
Misty sunrise
Sweni stream crossing
Satara sunrise
Windpump at sunset
Sunrise at Tinhongonyeni
Sunrise at Tinhongonyeni
Sunset at Shipandani
Gathering at Tinhongonyeni
Breaking through the clouds at Tinhongonyeni
Breaking through the clouds at Tinhongonyeni

 

Bountiful Birding in Kruger, even in winter

41 Replies

The Kruger National Park has a list just short of 500 bird species recorded there. Many of these are summer migrants, while a few others are rare vagrants to these parts. Even in winter however, the Park abounds with feathered life, and here’s just a few of the 115 species we managed to tick in our recent eight day visit to the Satara and Mopani areas of the Park.

African Mourning Dove
African Mourning Dove
African Spoonbill
Black Crake
Cape Glossy Starling
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chinspot Batis (male)
Coqui Francolin (male)
Double-Banded Sandgrouse male
Double-Banded Sandgrouse female
Great White Pelicans in flight over Mopani
Grey Heron using a hippo as an island
Grey Heron
Hamerkop
Kori Bustard
Ostrich female
Senegal lapwing
Southern Black Tit
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Southern Ground Hornbill
Southern Ground Hornbill
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Red-billed Hornbill
Tawny Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl
African Barred Owlet
Lilac Breasted Roller silhouette
Water Thick-Knee
White-Headed Vulture
Black and Woolly-necked Storks
Saddle-billed Stork
Yellow-billed Stork

 

Creepy Crawlies

33 Replies

When out and about in the Kruger National Park, even in winter, there’s always a chance of spying some cold-blooded creatures, many of them extremely dangerous to humans!

Puff adder, poised to strike
Puff adder, poised to strike
Medium-sized African Rock Python seen at Middelvlei, between Letaba and Mopani
Medium-sized African Rock Python seen at Middelvlei, between Letaba and Mopani
Nle crocodile slipping into the water
Young Nile Crocodile basking next to a small pool
Big adult Nile Crocodiles sharing a piece of shoreline
Basking Nile Crocodile
Armoured ground crickets abound in the mopaneveld in the north of the Park

A dry Kruger is a predator’s paradise

25 Replies

Our winter visit to the Kruger National Park, suffering through one of the worst droughts to hit it in recorded history, provided several excellent sightings of some of the predators for which the Park is renowned. While many of the herbivores are finding survival difficult now with limited water and grazing, the predators are having a royal time, as the movement of prey revolves predictably around the remaining water sources where they can be easily ambushed.

Black-backed jackal at Satara
Black-backed jackal at Tinhongonyeni, near Mopani
Black-backed jackal saying his morning prayer?
Bold honey badger at Nwanetsi Picnic Site
Bold honey badger at Nwanetsi Picnic Site
Foraging honey badger seen between Satara and Tshowane
Foraging honey badgers just north of Satara
Foraging honey badgers just north of Satara
Early morning leopard at Nsemani Dam
Leopard trying to hide among the thorns
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Spotted hyena waiting for the lions to have their fill
Another lion protecting his buffalo carcass from vultures near Tshokwane
Another lion protecting his buffalo carcass from vultures near Tshokwane
Another lion protecting his buffalo carcass from vultures near Tshokwane
Lying in wait at the waterhole
Lying in wait at the waterhole
With a belly full of wildebeest, this lion doesn’t have enough energy to get up
With a belly full of wildebeest, this lion doesn’t have enough energy to get up
Lying in wait at the waterhole
Spotted hyena
Spotted hyena along the road
Spotted hyena
Spotted hyenas with porcupine kill
Spotted hyena close-up

The Satara area of the Park is well known for excellent predator sightings, and the guided night drive we took part in there delivered lions, hyenas, black-backed and side-striped jackals and two leopard sightings!

Spotted Hyena on Satara Night Drive
Spotted Hyena on Satara Night Drive
Spotted Hyena on Satara Night Drive
Leopard at Nwanetsi Bridge, on a night drive from Satara
Leopard at Nwanetsi Bridge, on a night drive from Satara in the Kruger Park
Daring jackals at a lion kill, seen on a night drive from Satara
Daring jackals at a lion kill, seen on a night drive from Satara
Daring jackals at a lion kill, seen on a night drive from Satara

Even just walking around the fenceline at Satara could provide close encounters with dangerous predators, though 99.9% of the time seperated by an electrified fence. Spotted hyenas are to be found on most nights, as visitors often feed them scraps from their evening meals. The reason why this is illegal is because the animals become very bold beggars, which often ends in tragedy for the hyenas and sometimes also for the human visitors, as evidenced by a hyena attacking a teenager when it somehow found its way into Crocodile Bridge recently. We therefore expected to find hyenas on our evening walkabouts and weren’t disappointed, but the leopard that unexpectedly appeared in the glare of our spotlight near Satara’s entrance gate, safely on the other side of the fence, caused us great excitement!

Hyena patrolling along Satara’s fence
Hyena patrolling along Satara’s fence
Leopard seen along Satara’s fence
Leopard seen along Satara’s fence

 

Dazzling in the Dust

19 Replies

With the Kruger National Park in the drought’s firm grip, we weren’t surprised that the majority of our sightings of Plains Zebra during our recent winter visit to the Satara and Mopani areas were near or at some of the artificial water holes maintained by the Park’s staff. The most spectacular congregations were at the Mooiplaas waterhole, where hundreds of zebras (if not more) milled around the water during the midday hours, kicking up dust (often further exacerbated by strong winds) and getting on each other’s nerves.

Artificial waterholes providing relief to thirsty zebras
Artificial waterholes providing relief to thirsty zebras
Artificial waterholes providing relief to thirsty zebras
Artificial waterholes providing relief to thirsty zebras
Despite the denuded vegetation, most of the zebras were still in good condition
Despite the denuded vegetation, most of the zebras were still in good condition
Hanging around Satara’s waterhole
Social interaction at Middelvlei
Social interaction at Middelvlei
On their way to Mooiplaas
Starting to arrive at Mooiplaas
Waiting their turn at Mooiplaas
Social interaction at Mooiplaas
Waiting their turn at Mooiplaas
On the way to Mooiplaas
Chasing each other around at Tinhongonyeni
Huge congregation of zebra at Mooiplaas
Huge congregation of zebra at Mooiplaas
Huge congregation of zebra at Mooiplaas
Huge congregation of zebra at Mooiplaas
On their way to the waterhole

Hippos and Drought

45 Replies

The Kruger National Park is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recorded history, and the Satara area of the Park seems to be the worst affected of all.

Of course, this has a tremendous impact on the water dependent hippopotamus. While there are still substantial pools of water remaining in man-made dams, stream and the large rivers, the lack of rain has meant that the available grazing around these water sources has been drastically denuded, causing the hippos to have to travel further and further to satisfy their considerable daily food requirement. For the first time I can remember, we encountered hippos spending the heat of the day out in the open veld, miles away from the nearest water.

The normal view of hippos, lazing in a pool of water on the Sweni River
Hippos lazing on a sandbank in the Nwaswitsontso River
Hippos setting off at dusk in search of grazing
Hippos lying out in the open veld – a first for us
Hippos lying out in the open veld – a first for us
Hard to see hippos looking so thin

On the second day of our winter 2016 visit, we noticed a hippo that had succumbed to the drought lying in a pool in the Nwanetsi River, just a few kilometers from Satara along the S100-road. Knowing that the carcass would soon start attracting predators intent on an easy meal, we decided to visit the sighting again that evening. Sure enough, we arrived to find a fairly large crocodile tearing at the bloating body. When the rest of the hippo pod occupying the pool started moving closer, we thought we were going to see them attack the crocodile to try and defend their fallen comrade. Bot nothing. They plodded past, barely giving the unfolding events a passing glance, almost as if resigned to the fact that they too will likely meet their end in this fashion, and leaving the crocodile to go about his gory business…

Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara
Crocodile feeding on hippo carcass in the Nwanetsi River near Satara

Harrowing as it was to witness, we had to remind ourselves that drought, and the deaths of the animals too old or weak to cope with the demands made by the difficult circumstances, is a part of the natural cycle in a wilderness like Kruger. We passed the same pool in the Nwanetsi again on our last afternoon at Satara, only to find that another emaciated member of this particular herd of hippos had lost the battle.

Drought Hippos (19)