Game Spotting

Although weather-wise we already experience summer temperatures, no rain has brought "relief" yet to nature in most parts of our country. Yet the dry conditions are optimal for game spotting, like this giraffe, which is the tallest animal in the world, yet not a member of the BIG 5 [See: previous blog entry].




In contrast, trees growing near rivers are already "decked" in leaves - & act as a "frame" to this Yellow-billed hornbill.






Although listed under endangered bird species, the larger relative of the previous bird, a Ground hornbill, is "well-presented" in the Kruger National Park.




Amongst smaller creatures, just walking around the Skukuza camp in KNP "delivers" regular "inhabitants" like this Tree agama . . .





. . . or a related and more colourful reptile, such as this skink.





Back in the bush, it's always a pleasure to "meet" as handsome an antelope as a kudu male . . .





. . . although I find the far more common impala similarly attractive, especially when "presented" with as magnificent a scene as this rather large herd of impalas "congregating" around a water-hole.





A photogenic scene - impalas "lining up" for a drink . . .






. . . watched from the "side-lines" by 3 impala females.




"Talking" about impalas: a friendly reminder that my book, IMPI the IMPALA is available on-line - just visit one of my other blogs,
- specifically "dedicated" to this book.

BIG 5 Life

Perhaps the quality of the following photos isn't "the best" (because they were taken through the windows of a tour-bus) but to be "greeted" - right after entering the Kruger National Park - by four old buffalo males (instead of the more common sighting of impala antelopes) caused great excitement.

Soon after, sighting two lazy rhinos right next to the road, was ample proof that in the Kruger Park, the BIG 5 are "well & alive".




Observing a herd of elephant probably is one of the most endearing sightings during a game drive & almost appears "unreal" when they come ambling towards you along a road.

By now, we could "tick off" 3 of the BIG 5 - but would we be privileged to also see the 2 cat-species (= the 2 remaining members of the BIG 5)??



Yes, it was one of those lucky days: "out of the blue" a lioness made an appearance . . .




. . . once she lay down & after the original excitement had "died down", we noticed that this female wasn't the only lion around - in the shade of a bush (& to her left) we "discovered" a young male lion. So there were two . . .


. . . no, correction: yet another male lion appeared & settled down next to the other male in the shade of the bush. So we were privileged to "capture" 2 male lions in 1 photo . . .



. . . but then, as if to "even out the equation", yet another lioness joined this group . . .







. . . however that wasn't meant to be the final "count" - lion number 5 had "arrived" . . .





. . . the final scenario: 5 lions "in a row" = 2 females & 3 males = a very unusual sighting, because usually, only 1 male is accompanied by a group of females!

My personal conclusion: the 5 lions probably were young siblings still "experimenting" before 1 or more of the males would set off to find other non-related females to "start" their own "families".

In the end we did sight the 5th member of the BIG 5 (= a leopard) but unfortunately, it disappeared too quickly in the thicket for one of us to take a "clear picture". However we had a clear visual of a similarly "dangerous" animal - a young Spotted hyena . . .

. . . and on a sandbank, an equally "feared" large crocodile.

All in all, a very successful game drive - I will "post" more photos of other & less dangerous, but equally interesting, wild animals, in a "follow-up".