Southern Kruger

27 August 2024 - Kruger National Park; Day 4

We were at the Crocodile Bridge Gate by 5:30 but were still 10 deep in the queue to get in. Today was a quick trip to Lower Sabi and back, due to work commitments. We were treated to a glorious sunrise and in southern Kruger with the many dead trees it is almost iconic

African sunrise

Gill had seen Martial Eagle yesterday and amazingly we were able to relocate it

Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)

Quite a number of Sabota Larks in the road - they are pretty cryptic

Sabota Lark (Calendulauda sabota)

Along with many Magpie Shrikes - different backgrounds create quite different images

Magpie Shrike (Lanius melanoleucus) 

A typical southern Kruger landscape showing leading lines with the twin tracks

Kruger landscape

A quick coffee and pit stop at Lower Sabi, where Southern Boubou

Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus)

Orange-breasted Bushshrike entertained us walking from the car park to the Mugg and Bean

Orange-breasted Bushshrike (Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus)

And later, an adult and begging youngster Brown-hooded Parrot were also observed

Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus)

We then checked out Sunset Dam where Grey Heron's use the submerged Hippo's as perches to rest and hunt from.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

A Rattling Cistic popped up next to us at the dam

Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chiniana)

A different route back to Crocodile Bridge, stopping for a female Kudu which are quite elegant

Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)

And one of the many soaring Bateleur's

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)

Spent the day working at the Lodge and late afternoon another quick sortie into the Park, where the highlights were White-backed Vulture

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

And both an adult and juvenile White-headed Vulture, which is always special to see considering their endangered status

White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)

The sunset was on par with the sunrise this morning - truly iconic