Day 13 - Satara to N'wanetzi - Nature Travelers

Day 13 - Satara to N'wanetzi

10/22/2011

We were up early as usual for our morning game drive. This morning we were driving from Satara Camp east to the N'wanetsi Picnic Site.

But before we left camp, we spotted this little African Scops Owl sleeping in the trees just outside our bungalows.

African Scops Owl, Satara Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa

On the road in the early morning light, we came across this Kudu.

Kudu, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Then it was a couple of Giraffes.

Giraffes, Kruger National Park, South Africa

On the rest of the ride to the picnic site we didn't see much. And even with the wide views at N'wanetsi, nothing came into view.

N'wanetsi Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa

On the return drive, however, the game viewing picked up.

We saw Zebras, ....

Zebras, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Impala, ....

and a Cape Buffalo.

Cape Buffalo, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Eventually, we found a pair of lions taking it easy. It wasn't a great look, but we never took any big cat sighting for granted.

Lion, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Our view of this elephant was much better.

Elephant, Kruger National Park, South Africa

We saw a few raptors. From left to right below - African Fish Eagle in flight, African Hawk Eagles (a first for us), and a Bateleur.

African Fish Eagle, Kruger National Park, South Africa

African Hawk Eagles, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Bateleur, Kruger National Park, South Africa

A little farther along, we saw more buffalo.

Before we got back to Satara, we saw our second Magpie Shrike ... a much better sighting than our first one yesterday.

Magpie Shrike, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Back at Satara, we had lunch and relaxed for a bit.

The Vervet Monkeys were hanging out in our "back yard". This mother was nursing twins, one of which was curious about us.

Vervet Monkey Nursing Twins, Satara Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Vervet Monkey With Babies, Satara Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Vervet Monkey Baby, Kruger National Park, South Africa

A couple of Kudu and an Impala walked past the fence just beyond the monkeys, and then we headed out for an afternoon drive.

We took a gravel road and found a large male lion lying fairly close to the road.

We watched him quite a while and got some good close ups.

When he got up and started to walk away, we noticed he was injured with some fairly fresh wounds on his back.

Injured Lion, Kruger National Park, South Africa

It looked like he might have lost a recent battle.

Moving on, we found some mixed species. Here we have Zebra, Wildebeest, and Waterbuck ....

Zebra, Wildebeest, & Waterbuck, Kruger National Park, South Africa

and then Impala with a Waterbuck.

Impala & Waterbuck, Kruger National Park, South Africa

I don't know what it is, but we especially enjoy seeing different species together. It gives some additional perspective on size, and it's just interesting to watch the interactions.

Toward the end of our drive, we came upon this very large White Rhino with the longest horn we've seen so far.

White Rhino, Kruger National Park, South Africa

The rhino gave us four out of the "Big Five" for the day. Once again, it was the Leopard that we were missing.

As the sun was going down, we saw another Kudu on our way back to camp.