Gecko #81 goes to Kruger – Skukuza to Lower Sabi and back

Sunday 17 November 2019

The day started with the temperature being in the low twenties as the skies were overcast.   We left camp at 6:30 after enjoying an early morning cup of coffee and planned to have breakfast at Tshokwane Picnic Site.

The first excitement was on the H4-1 when we saw a row of cars stopped ahead and their occupants looking left.   Oops – a few hyaenas came loping onto the road.   We counted seven in all and followed them as they turned onto the S76. When they disappeared into the bush we continued on our way.

Our route took us next to the river with lots of little crescent turnoffs and on one of these, we spotted a blue-eared starling with a feather in his or her mouth.  He/she was obviously lining the nest.

Later we came across an interesting interaction with two Jacobin Cuckoos

Another interesting bird was a white-browed scrub-robin.  Thanks to De Wet’s Wild for correctly identifying him for me.

Also please help me with this little chap.

De Wet’s Wild thinks Nedicky

My favourite animal has to be the giraffe!  They are so elegant and graceful and always elicit a thrill when I see them on the African landscape

How many giraffes do you see?

Baby – you are gorgeous

At breakfast time we stopped at Tshokwane a really lovely picnic site in Kruger.   The restaurant is a boma created around a huge tree.

Tshokwane Boma

The front entrance

The picnic area

All the picnic sites provide a wash-up area

You can, if you wish, cater for yourself at the picnic area but we usually buy breakfast as you can get something to eat for a really good price and the coffee is excellent.

Don’t expect silver cutlery and porcelain crockery but the food is excellent.

After breakfast, we continued our tour stopping to look at various interesting creatures including this elephant.

Around midday, we stopped to stretch our legs and get an ice cream at Lower Sabi Camp.  After that, we spent a few minutes observing life at Sunset Dam.

White-fronted lapwing

Black-winged Stilt

Grey Heron getting a lift on the back of a hippo

Greenshank

Yell0w-billed stork sitting on his haunches

African Jacana

Black-winged Stilt

Spreading his wings

The temperatures rose to 35 degrees C today so we did not expect to see too much on our return to Skukuza.

This baboon looked so human surveying the terrain

Our most exciting spot of the day was these lazy lions.  As I mentioned, it was hot so they chose a nice shady spot to spend the day doing what lions do best – sleep!

There were other creatures out and about but mostly near the river.

A handsome male kudu

This one needed a snooze

Just love this male Waterbuck

Female Nyala

The Earl took some lovely bird photographs

Violet-backed starting female (Thanks to De Wets Wild for the ID)

White-backed Vulture

It was quite late when we finally returned to camp and we were hot and tired.  The Earl did not feel like doing a braai so suggested we go to the Skukuza Cattle Baron for dinner.  This was a real treat as the Cattle Baron is expensive but awesome.   Wonderful gourmet food is on offer and the service is superb.  One doesn’t expect to have fine dining in the bush but in colonial times they took their crystal, silver and fine china on safari and had their meals served on a table covered in a white table cloth, so why not now?

We both had chateaubriand served with mash potato, salad and vegetables.

Getting ready to flambe the steaks

The flame is there

Beautiful setting – wonderful meal

It was a lovely end to an awesome day.