The last day

26 August 2021 - Kruger National Park/Ngwenya; Day 7

Today was our last day of the holiday, so again we were at the Croc Bridge Gate by 6am and were processed quite quickly. This time we headed west on the S25 toward Hippo Pools and then turned north on and made our way to the S130 to Lower Sabie.

This morning, although overcast, was really quite on the game front, but we did get a pair of Double-banded Sandgrouse just before Lower Sabie.

Double-banded Sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus)

The male Leopard was still in the ditch close to the camp gate and as was expected created a large traffic jam. We had a coffee stop and continued north to Mlondozi Dam where we had good views of Ele and some plains game, including a big herd of Burchell's Zebra

Abstract Burchell's Zebra (Equus quagga burchelli)

At the lookout and picnic point over the dam, two Lionesses had killed a Zebra less than an hour before our arrival, so from a distance we could watch the action. Blue Waxbill were obliging around the lookout point

Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis)

We then headed south on the S29 finding a Steenbok in a section of unburnt grass

Steenbuck (Raphicerus campestris)

But more exciting was a daytime sighting of a large Porcupine as it wandered down the road, but then quickly disappeared into the long grass

Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)

I enjoyed the landscape on this drive and this lone tree on the horizon

Kruger Landscape

We slowly made our way back to Croc Bridge and said goodbye to the KNP until the same time next year.

Later in the afternoon, I had a last walk around the Lodge grounds finding a feww White-bellied Sunbirds feeding from a flowering bush

White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

White-crested Helmetshrike's provided some entertainment

White-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus)

and a Brown-hooded Kingfisher looked the part on a wind vane in the gardens

Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)

Overhead I heard and then saw a pair of Black-winged Lapwings

Black-winged Lapwing (Vanellus melanopterus)

I had a Lizard sp. still to be identified

Lizard sp.

Along with a probable Orange-winged Dropwing

Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi)

and a Powder-faced Sprite

Powder-faced Sprite (Pseudagrion kersteni)

Back at our Unit there were African Green Pigeon feeding in a fruiting tree,

African Green Pigeon (Treron calvus)

Later I was enjoying the view over the Crocodile River and noticed that two Waterbuck were very alert. Careful scanning of the habitat along the river bank revealed why - can you see it?