Into the Park

25 August 2024 - Kruger National Park and Ngwenya; Day 2

We were in the queue at Crocodile Bridge Gate just after 5:30 and with our Wild Cards, it didnt long after the gates open to dispatch of the admin and into the Park by 6:15am.

It was a fairly uneventful slow drive to Lower Sabi, but I guess we are also oblivious to the common game that is plentiful on this road. Just before Lower Sabi, a Tawny Eagle enjoying the early morning sun

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

We stopped for a coffee and enjoyed the sights from the deck of Mugg + Bean where the Greater Blue-eared Starling's entertain all

Greater Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)

Little Swifts were amongst some of the other Hirundines aerial feeding above the Sabi River

Little Swift (Apus affinis)

On the way to the car, a White-browed Robin-Chat popped up next to the pathway

White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini)

As always a stop at Sunset Dam on the way to Skukuza - a massive herd of Buffalo had come down to drink

African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)

Two babies together - Hippo and Buff

African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious)

Yellow-billed Stork's are almost guaranteed at Sunset Dam

Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)

Continuing to Skukuza, a couple of Ele's

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

And a pride of Lion with cubs sleeping in some rocks that we always stop to check - this was the first time, something was actually using the rocks

Female Lion (Panthera leo) and Cubs

Another pit stop at Skukuza gave Terrestrial Brownbul's in the garden

Terrestrial Brownbul (Phyllastrephus terrestris)

Along with a confiding Green-backed Camaroptera

Green-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura)

From Skukuza, back down to Malelane Gate in the heat of mid-morning. We took the tar road back to Komatiepoort, for our traditional Portuguese lunch at the Tamborina Restaurant which again didnt disappoint. Sated, we drove back to Ngwenya to chill for the afternoon.

Later I had a short walk to the Ngwenya Restaurant, finding Natal Spurfowl, our morning alarm clock

Natal Spurfowl (Pternistis natalensis)

An interesting and fast flying Skipper that was more reminiscent of an Acraea

Spotted Velvet Skipper (Abantis tettensis)

Back at our Lodge, this Skink was chilling on the balcony wall

Skink sp.

Then it was time for sundowners

G+T's

and to enjoy a classic African sunset

Ngwenya Sunset

Life is so hard........