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New laptop in South Africa

I have no idea what I’m doing with Windows 8 but I bought a new laptop in South Africa.  Sorely missing the Windows Live software like Writer and Gallery but didn’t want to spend the extra money right now.  Downloaded Picasa and will have to learn how to use it too.  Plus post directly on WordPress.  Lots of learning curves ahead.

St Lucia

Spent the day driving from St Lucia along the coast north to Nelspruit, a town large enough to find this computer.

Zebra

Tomorrow we’re headed back to Kruger National Park.  Why, because I want photos of this amazing place that were lost on the stolen computer.

Hopefully I’ll get this all worked out soon and be back to posting about this amazing adventure in South Africa.

2014 South Africa diversity Ecotour, South Africa 16 Comments

Maroela Camp Kruger National Park days 4 and 5 2014

 

Wild dogs Kruger National Park South Africa

Ended day three at Kruger National Park with lions on the road and started day four with wild dogs, the first time I’d seen them.  Two adults, four sub adults and four pups.  They are mottled almost like a calico color and each very different.

Wild dogs Kruger National

The pups were so inquisitive, stopping at every little leaf and bug along the road.  We followed them for almost 3 km before they disappeared into the bush.

Snail on road Kruger National Park South Africa

Also seen along the road was snails with shells about five inches long.  They come out after the rain, which happened daily.

Buffalo Kruger National Park South Africa

We saw several huge herds of buffalo, up to 300 head.  This is a really good sign as 20 years ago they were almost decimated from Kruger due to catching TB from cattle on ranches adjacent to the park.

Steenbok Kruger National Park Sout Africa

Steenbok

It’s mind boggling to remember all the kinds of antelope and would take me years to recognize the differences.  Thank goodness I’m with Joan who knows them all.

Watched a herd of at least 60 elephants come down to the water to drink, cool off, and for the little ones play.

Giraffe Kruger National Park South Africa

Not only are the spots on each giraffe different but their horns identify gender.  Females have furry looking tops and males have a solid bump.  And then there are anomalies.  Can you tell which sex this one is?

Giraffe & man on bike Kruger National Park South Africa

And of course they are extremely tall with adults standing at 20 feet.  BTW, this security guard on his bicycle carried a rifle on his back.

We spent a couple hours mid-day at the Orpen pool wallowing like hippos then rushed back to Maroela Camp to close up tents against the impending rain.  Started out on an afternoon drive but when the wind picked up ferociously returned to camp where we sat in the truck watching the pouring rain form a river around the tents.  As soon as the rain stopped the ground dried out but Joan’s tent and mattress did not.  Lesson learned to always put up the tarp.

Zebras & Impalas Kruger National Park South Africa

Black Stork Kruger National Park South Africa

Waterbuck Kruger National Park South Africa

The next morning’s drive started out with zebras, impalas and an elephant under sunrise plus a Black Stork and Waterbuck.  Also saw a Giant Eagle Owl that was very far from the road and much more.  After several hours out we returned to camp and made an effort to dry our gear plus work online for a while.

Two lions next to car Kruger National Park South Africa

Two lions on the road Kruger National Park South Africa

Then out for a late afternoon drive where we saw lions on the road as we rushed back to camp before the gate closed.  This seemed to become a pattern.

After a night of more rain and no electricity in camp to make coffee we packed our soggy gear into the back of the truck and took a slow drive to Satara in the hopes of finding some breakfast.  Many of the park’s restaurants are closed because of a change in concessions.

Animals seen:  Wild Dog, Lion, Spiders, Snails, Buffalo, Giraffe, Baboon, Steenbok, Elephant, Korhaan, Chameleon, Hyena, Zebra, Impala, Black Stork, Waterbuck, Hippo, Vulture, Giant Eagle Owl, Gray Duiker, Burchell’s Coucal

2014 South Africa diversity Ecotour, South Africa , , 9 Comments

Lots of lions at Kruger National Park day 3 2014

Greetings from Kruger National Park day 3.

Elephant Kruger National Park South Africa

A hurried break down of camp at Letaba with sprinkles of rain then out for a game drive.  Cruising at 20 to 30 mph makes it easier to spot animals both big and small but does mean it takes many hours to travel only a few miles through changing landscapes.

As I mentioned before, baboons are rather obnoxious yet their antics are often rather human like.  If these had been huckleberries instead of the white berries of the Barley Sugar Bush this could have easily been me.

Elephants crossing Oliphants River Kruger National Park South Africa

Elephants crossing Oliphants River and Crocodile Kruger National Park South Africa

Elephants Oliphants River Kruger National Park South Africa

After about an hour of driving and looking at wildflowers we stopped at an overlook of the Oliphants River where you can actually get out of the vehicle.  A herd of about 15 elephants were headed toward the river.  While crossing they chased a crocodile away.  I can never get enough of the elephants and love watching their interactions and play.

Oliphants River Kruger National Park South Africa

Rafts of Hippos also soaked in the river.

Crocodile Kruger Nationa Park South Africa

Continuing on our drive we crossed a shallow water pool and saw a young Crocodile.  In 2010 at this very place we were attacked by turtles and Joan experienced the same problem there since.  Well good thing we were safely inside as they tried it again but we managed to escape unscathed.

Ranger Wanda Lust Oliphants River Kruger National Park South Africa

Crossing the Oliphants River we got out on the bridge where Ranger Wanda Lust pointed out more hippos and a few birds.

Impala Kruger National Park South Africa

Impala, one of the many antelopes, are the most commonly seen animals in Kruger National Park yet I never tire of watching their flicking white tails, tiptoe like scamper and playful head butting.

Two lioness Kruger National Park South Africa

After passing a couple more single male elephants Joan spotted two female lions lazily lying in the shade of a bush.  Not our last sighting of lions for the day.

Yellow-billed Kites Kruger National Park South Africa

Yet it’s not always about seeing the big game and Kruger is a bird watcher’s dream.  Yellow-billed Kites are frequently seen but usually not in such great numbers as this.

White Rhino Kruger National Park South Africa

White Rhino

Two lioness Kruger National Park South Africa

Then just before we got to our new camp near Orpen Gate we spotted two more lioness lounging in a dry river bed.

Maroela Camp Kruger National Park South Africa

Squirrel Maroela Camp Kruger National Park South Africa

We barely got set up at Moroela Camp when a visitor arrived.  Seems squirrels beg from campers all over the world.

Lioness Kruger Nationa Park South Africa

Two lioness Kruger National Park South Africa

Lioness Kruger National Park South Africa

Then back out for a late afternoon drive and saw the previous pair of lions, wildebeest and vultures before it was time to head back.  Camp gates close at 6:30pm and wouldn’t you just know we saw more lions, on the road, so of course had to stop which made us late by about two minutes.  But the gate was still open.  This gal looked right in the window at us.

Sunset Kruger National Park South Africa

Another most amazing day at Kruger National Park where in one day we saw lions four times.

Animals seen:  Baboon, Elephant, Hippo, Turtle, Crocodile, Impala, Giraffe, Lion, Vulture, Yellow-billed Kite, White Stork, White Rhino, Squirrel, Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, Warthog

2014 South Africa diversity Ecotour, South Africa 22 Comments

Lijit

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