Gecko goes to Kruger – Berg en Dal to Skukuza

16 November 2019

This morning we packed up and were ready to move to Skukuza by 6:15 am.  Because we were towing we stuck to the tar road.  Berg en Dal to Skukuza is about 67 km.

We had some interesting sightings before arriving at Skukuza at around nine.

Klipspringer in the middle of the road.  There were rocky koppies on either side of the road so they were probably crossing when they stopped to investigate who we were.

Lilac-breasted roller – iconic in the park

At Kwagga Pan we found a pair of knob-billed ducks

Only the male has the knob

The female has freckles instead

Aren’t I a handsome chap!

 

We found a suitable campsite at Skukuza and then the Earl cooked us a delicious breakfast.

At 2 pm we left for our afternoon drive.  The temperatures today got up to 35 degrees C and the skies were clear.

The red-chested cuckoo or Piet-my-vrou is a very vocal bird.  You hear him all the time but spotting him is next to impossible as he hides in the foliage of the trees.   So when Earl said, “I can see the Piet-my-vrou”  I trained my binoculars into the tree and saw this.

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

“It’s a kingfisher!” I said, “not a cuckoo!”

“This is not a kingfisher – it has a red chest and a cuckoo shape!” he insisted and then took this photograph.

Piet-my-vrou!

 

Indeed, it was a red-chested cuckoo!

(Cousin Wayne – Please note – It’s not a kingfisher!) Sorry, dear readers, private joke!

Our drive was lovely as it took us alongside the Sabi river and had little semi-circular turnoffs from the road so you got good views of the river and the bank.

Great Egret

Waterbuck enjoying the water

Naughty Monkeys

Little Bee-eaters

One flew away

White-fronted bee-eater

Water thick-knee

Egyptian Geese

Female Bushbuck

Look right

Look left – Pied kingfisher

Near the end of our drive, we crossed a bridge over the river bed and scanned for animals that might be grazing or crossing to the other side.   As we drove along slowly I heard a crunching sound and leaned closer to the window to look down.  I got the fright of my life when just inches below the window was this guy!

Now you’ve disturbed my meal!

Always lovely to see my favourite – giraffe

Lovely curly horns

 

To end our trip we went to Lake Panic which is usually a fabulous place to watch birds.   However, being the weekend, it was full of tourists.   It was hot and we did not relish fighting for a place to sit in the hide so we left and promised ourselves we would return on Monday.

We enjoyed a lovely braai of pork chops, sweet potato and gems as well as the compulsory Greek salad and were asleep before 8 pm!