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Lower Sabie Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
South Africa

Day 17 - Satara Game Drive

10/18/2011

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This morning we were ready to leave Satara Camp at 5:30 a.m. when the gate opened. We were going to do a loop drive with a stop for breakfast at the Muzandzeni Picnic Site.

Right out of the gate, we saw a Spotted Hyena on the road.
Spotted Hyena, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Next we saw a single lioness, and then a small group of young male lions.
Young Male Lion, Kruger National Park, South Africa
After the lions, we saw another couple of Spotted Hyenas.
Spotted Hyenas, Kruger National Park, South Africa
And then a Giraffe.
Giraffe, Kruger National Park, South Africa
And then we came upon a rhino. It had been a few days since we were close enough to get a rhino picture.
White Rhino, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Next was a Red-crested Korhaan.
Red-crested Korhaan, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Ah, and then we saw the colorful Lilac-breasted Roller in great lighting. What a beauty.
Lilac-breasted Roller, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Back to the big animals. This was our first elephant of the day, but there would be more.
Elephant, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Somehow, we then spotted a napping Leopard through the brush.
Leopard, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Without good game spotters, you can certainly miss a lot on an African safari.

We finally made it to the picnic site where there were Cape Buffalo drinking at a water pan (with Kudu walking by).
Cape Buffalo & Kudu, Muzandzeni Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa
And that, my friends, gave us the "Big Five" for three days in a row, and it was the second day in a row we saw all of them in the first hour and a half of our day. AND, today, I finally got photos of all of them the same day.

We set up at the Muzandzeni Picnic Site and rented two of the gas skottels (frying pan on a pole on a gas tank) to prepare our "breakfast in the bush".
Muzandzeni Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Muzandzeni Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa
While breakfast was cooking, I took pictures of the Brown-headed Parrot, ....
Brown-headed Parrot, Muzandzeni Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Brown-headed Parrot, Muzandzeni Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa
and the Yellow-billed Hornbills in the trees above us.
Yellow-billed Hornbills, Muzandzeni Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa
It certainly wasn't a struggle to get good hornbill shots.
Yellow-billed Hornbill, Muzandzeni Picnic Site, Kruger National Park, South Africa
After our delicious breakfast, we headed back toward Satara taking a different route.

We saw our first Secretary Bird in the park and got a long-distance look at a Side-striped Jackal, which is different than the Black-backed we saw yesterday.
Secretary Bird, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Side-striped Jackal, Kruger National Park, South Africa
This Secretary Bird was just hanging out in the shade, but we hope to see one hunting. They are known for being good snake hunters, and they also eat other small reptiles, small birds, small mammals, and large insects.

They tend to stomp their pray until it's stunned or dead, flapping their wings during the assault.
Moving on, we found a Southern Ground Hornbill. This one is a female, and we know that due to the violet patch of skin on the throat. The male's throat skin is entirely red.
Female Southern Ground Hornbill, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Back at camp, people were gathered around this adorable little African Scops Owl that was just sitting in a low tree near the office and restaurant.
African Scops Owl, Satara Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa
It was a very hot day, so we had lunch and then headed to our bungalows to rest in the air conditioning for a couple of hours.

We met back at our van around 4:00 p.m. and headed out for a two-hour afternoon drive. Actually, we didn't go very far. We just drove the short distance to the Nsemani Dam and waited for whatever might show up.​

These folks were doing the same, although they seemed much better equipped. They put my rice-bag-window-camera-support to shame.
Photographers, Kruger National Park, South Africa
​There was a family of Waterbucks, and this fuzzy calf was very cute.
Waterbuck, Kruger National Park, South Africa
We also saw a Slender Mongoose and, in a tree nearby, was a Purple Roller. It's another pretty bird, but not nearly as striking as its cousin that we saw earlier today.
Slender Mongoose, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Purple Roller, Kruger National Park, South Africa
​Those were nice sightings, but this afternoon was all about the elephants. There always seem to be elephants near the dam, and when they need to cross the road to get to the water, it's an organized event.

The matriarch gathered the herd. We heard her give a trumpet, and the others lined up behind her.
Elephants Crossing, Kruger National Park, South Africa
They packed together tightly, and we've noticed that the more vehicles there are in the area, the tighter they group up. The babies are usually in the middle, fully protected.

When she determined it was safe, they all crossed at once.
Elephants Crossing, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Elephants Crossing, Kruger National Park, South Africa
We love to sit and watch and study all the animals. A good portion of our time is spent doing just that. But the elephants are the most fascinating. The herd dynamics, the communication, and the clear intelligence is amazing.

We gave ourselves just enough time to get back inside the Satara gate. Then it was an early dinner and off to our individual bungalows for the night.

Another grand day in Kruger National Park.​

Today's additional sightings (no photos):
  • Zebra
  • Impala
  • Warthog
  • Hippo
  • Chacma Baboon
  • Wildebeest
  • Steenbok

"Big Five" Report - lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo
Third day in a row we got them all in a single day.
Today's additional bird sightings (no photos):
  • Ostrich
  • Bateleur
​Day 18 - Game Drive Satara to Skukuza & Double Big 5
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