Wild Dogs, Kruger Park, South Africa

 

Lucky to see this pack of wild dogs a couple of times during our stay in Kruger. They really are fantastic to watch, never still, always running, biting and playing. Last time we were in Kruger we had the pleasure of watching a pack of dogs on one of the side roads alone, no other cars, but this time, oh my goodness, it was literally a bun fight as they were on on one of the main roads inbetween the busiest camps. Too many cars for our liking making viewing difficult and photography almost impossible. The dogs are oblivious !

Klipspringer, Kruger Park

 

A new mammal for us on this trip, Klipspringer Antelope, standing high on the rocks and constantly climbing and jumping from rock to rock. Tiny antelope showing no fear. We saw a few on this trip.

More stunning birds from Kruger, South Africa

 

White-crested Helmet Shrike

Jacana

Kittlitz's Plover

Kurrichane Thrush

Purple Roller

Little Bee-eater

Magpie Shrike

Natal Francolins

Ostrich, we saw these most days standing proud in the African grasslands

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Pied Kingfisher

African Pied Wagtail

Red-billed Hornbill

Red-breasted Swallow

Lilac Breasted Roller

Southern Ground Hornbill - 3ft tall and as ugly as sin !

Glossy starlings at a waterhole taking a much needed drink and bath

Cape Buffalo with Oxpeckers, Kruger

 

We saw huge herds of cape buffalo, usually at waterholes and all had both red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers on them.

Dead hippo and crocodile's lunch, near Satara, Kruger

 

This was a lake quite near to Satara camp which we visited a few times. There were two dead hippos which we have since found out is suspected anthax that is spreading in Kruger. Some of the recent social media posts are so sad with many animals scumming to suspected anthax. The rangers have a task to curtail it. But while we were parked looking at a distant lion we saw a lot of crocodiles attacking one of the hippos. There was an almighty whooshing sound and all the hippo's intestines shot out, giving the crocodiles a feeding frenzy. It really was quite disgusting as yards and yards of intestines flew through the air being snatched at by crocodiles and fish eagles swooped down and bit off a yard off.  We could see the water underneath bubbling which will have been cat fish also getting a meal. But if these hippos are dying from anthax then this is quite a sad post. 

A few birds from Kruger, South Africa

Another birthday and what better treat that a couple of weeks in Kruger. It's springtime in Kruger at the moment, the best time for game viewing as the vegetation hasn't started to grow and the weather is cooler. We have been to Kruger before but not at this time of year. Birding was quite hard going to be honest with a lot of species still elsewhere but we did manage around 20 new birds which was a pleasant surprise. What was the highlight of the trip was the lion sightings which were a daily occurrence ! Three water buffalo kills which I have to say, were flipping gruesome, even though the kills had happened during the night, to see a half eaten buffalo with lions crunching away from the inside was not for the feint hearted !

I am just editing the photos so will post a few a day for you, hope you like them. It really was a fantastic trip and I would recommend this as a self drive holiday to anyone.

All our pics are taken from inside our vehicle as it is totally forbidden to get out. 

African Fish Eagle, very common and seen every day on our trip

African Marsh Harrier

Spoonbill

Arrow marked babblers

Bateleur Eagles

Bearded Woodpecker

Black Crake

Blackbacked Puffback

Black-crowned Tchagra

Blacksmiths Plover

Brown Snake Eagle with a lizard lunch !

Burchell's Coucal

Kori Bustard

Crowned Plover

Golden Breasted Bunting

Groundscraper Thrush

Hamerkop