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Post by tod2 on Dec 7, 2012 7:38:49 GMT
More interesting rock formations in Kruger: En route to our camp 'Bateleur' we traveled along the S52 many times. This road leads to the Tshanga Lookout. The rocks are Timbavati Gabbro and their age is around 1.1Billion years old. The hot molten rock filled a huge crack in the earths surface the length of Kruger Park. During the long slow cooling process, large crystals have formed in these rocks. Here you may alight from your vehicle and have breakfast or lunch on these natural furnishings! Unfortunately I did not take a shot of the huge gabbro boulders which surround this small picnic area. The Red Rocks Lookout, which is a Gubyane Sandstone Reef and part of what is called the 'Clarens formation' is estimated at around 180 million years old. Weathered rock was deposited in layers in cycles of desert-like and flooding conditions. The R52 dirt road to Bateleur skirts both sides of the Mashokwe River and one can take the route via Red Rocks. Here you are permitted to exit your vehicle but not to wander further than the cleared view point. If one is transversing Kruger Park from North to South or vice verse, you are bound to cross over the Tropic of Capricorn. The road crossing it is the S50. Off this road you can turn onto a short dirt road leading up to the Shibavantsengele Lookout. The rocks here are Tshokwane Granophyre (from the German and Latin). Aged at 150-180 million years old and is a feeder system to the overlying Lebombo basalt eruptions. The LEBOMBO MOUNTAINS: You can't miss these mountains that divides the Kruger Park from Mozambique. A long narrow range situated in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is about 800km long and consists of volcanic basalts. The name is derived from Zulu, "to set course in a chosen direction". In South Africa the mountains extend from Kwa-Zulu Natal north into Kruger Park. The average elevation of the range is about 600 metres above sea level. A number of rivers, including the Olifants, cut their way through the range. The Olifants River Gorge is known for the high concentration of crocodiles nesting there. This gorge may be threatened by the building of the Massingir Dam in Mozambique. This range of mountains is a stony and rugged series of Rhyolite hills that form this border. These pink-hued ridges were formed by volcanic eruptions some 200 million years ago. This is one of the lowest rainfall areas in Kruger, and this is reflected in the vegetation types. The drought resistant bush willow species and the succulent` euphoria's are common. The drainage lines of the Lebombo rhyolite are on a darker clay and support round-leaved blood-wood, marula and knob thorn acacia species. The drive from Crocodile Bridge to Tshokwane (H4-2 and H10)_ is geologically interesting because it traverses the basaltic plains and the rhylolitic hills, and includes some of the most spectacular scenery in the park. Lebombo Range in the distance. South of Letaba Camp there is a little loop road off the H9 which leads you to 'Clarens Formation Arenite'. Aged between 150-200 million years old these Arenites ( from the Latin, 'Sand') are formed by the erosion of other rocks deposited in desert conditions. Upon entering Kruger at Phalaborwa gate, this is the H9 passing the Sable Overnight Hide, then the Masorini Archaeological Site, and Shilawuri on the S96. Shilawuri (meaning unknown) is a 415m hill made up of Timbavati Gabbro. Seen here are the remains of the molten rocks that did not make it to the surface during a volcanic eruption. One of the biggest rocks of them all - SHABENI. This enormous rock formation of Goudplaats Gneiss and well over 3 billion years old, can be driven around at it's base. Unfortunately only a guided walk/hike can take you further up to the top. Shabeni is found shortly after entering Numbi Gate - The main tar road, H1-1 has a dirt road, the S7, leading off it. This then becomes the S10 which goes around the bottom of Shabeni. The nearest rest camp is Pretoriouskop. The 4 billion year old Shabeni Hill. The 4 billion year old Shabeni Hill. The Gneiss rock cooled down very slowly and glowed red hot for 100million years. Gazing up at the mighty granite wall of rock.
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Post by nycgirl on Dec 7, 2012 19:29:36 GMT
Tod, this stuff is great! You've been holding out on us. I didn't know you were a zoologist, botanist, and geologist. Geology is really fascinating, isn't it? My husband is the geologist of the family, though. As I said, I don't have a keen scientific mind. Still, I really appreciate the beauty and dynamism of the earth, though I may be ignorant of the mechanics. I like the charmingly rustic Bateleur picnic site. Hope I can eat at a couple of those sites, it'd be nice to stretch my legs.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 9, 2012 9:14:17 GMT
Nycgirl, you're very kind but believe me I am none of those ;D My interest is very amateur geology and would only call myself a 'collector of unusual items'! While at Shipandani Overnight Hide I hope you find time to take the H1-6 across the Tropic of Capricorn, then turn off this main tar road onto the S144 before turning onto the S143 towards the Lebombo range. Pass the water hole Thongonyeni before going to the S50 and turning north towards the SHIBAVANTSENGELE Lookout. As you drive along have your binoculars at the ready to stop and scan the rocks at the top for huge caves. Continue on through the most amazing sight of millions of small rocks scattered over the entire area. Looks like an explosion of sorts must have caused this - only place in Kruger that looks like this. The S50 heading southwards passes many experimental areas and numbered waterholes - Nshawu 1- 3. Joining the main tarred road again, H1-6, a short 14km brings you to to the H15 leading to the Giriyondo Border Post entry into Mozambique. Just 9km along this road you come to MAKHADZI - here is one of the nicest picnic areas in the park. Not only is it unusual because every building made out of wood is on stilts, but the park official running it makes the most amazing flower arrangements out of the trash people throw away. He sells them for R20 a piece and I came away with no less than 6. At this picnic site we met a couple from Paris! They came over to speak to us about souvinirs and ask what animals we had seen. Speaking in English I established they live in Montrouge. Here are the 'trash arrangements' - The main components are aluminium cans and crisp packets. The candle holders: Made from Hansa Beer cans which are a gold colour. I have a bit more to add to the geology of Kruger later today.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 9, 2012 13:17:05 GMT
The Basaltic Corridor in Kruger.
There is a "Krugerism" that, if you're looking for the animals, follow the basalt. This is because food and water are associated with areas supported by basalt. Basalt is the earth's most common volcanic rock and also makes up most of the Eastern half of the Park from Crocodile Bridge almost to the Luvuvhu River. Basalt is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphate, which makes the grass growing on the sediments above it sweet and nutritious. It is also relatively impervious to water, so that the pans on basalt hold surface water more easily and for longer stretches than in other geological areas. Thus, the basaltic zone attracts large herds of grazing animals - impala, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, water buck, warthog, and tsessebe - which in turn attract the predators. Because basalt weathers very easily and evenly there are very few hills in this landscape of flat and open grassland, and game can be seen over great distances.
More facts about the animals:
Divided into three catergories of Grazer/Browser/or both, here are some facts:
Elephants, Impala and Eland - are both grazers and browsers.
Giraffe, Kudu, Black Rhino, Klipspringer, Duiker, Steenbik, nyala, and bushbuck, are only browsers.
Buffalo, Zebra, waterbuck, wildebeest, white rhino, hippo, warthog, sable antelope, roan antelope, tsessebe and lichtensteins hartebeest , are only grazers.
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Post by nycboy on Dec 9, 2012 17:30:15 GMT
Thanks for the wonderful facts and the driving advice, I'll be sure to mark that route off. Having other bits to appreciate like the geology and the flora will make the day that much more fulfilling.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 9, 2012 18:04:12 GMT
You're very welcome Of course these little hints are just for guidance if you have time At the first shop you stop at in Kruger Park buy yourselves this book. There are numerous others but I have found this one to be a bit better. It also gives you the layout of each major camp, a distance from point A to point B in Km and the time it takes, plus lovely bird and animal pictures to help you recognise what you are looking at. My advice is keep it with you at all times (leave in vehicle) Although there are signposts along the road, they don't give you ALL the info you will need to get back to camp. This booklet is A4 size but light. Only 12 pages - 14 if you count the cover.
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Post by nycgirl on Dec 10, 2012 0:00:16 GMT
Thank you for taking the time to post all this! Those souvenirs are charming. Funny, I didn't know browsing was a word applied to animals. I had only thought of it as a shopping term.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 5:53:29 GMT
This picture fascinates me because it looks like the mix of rainwater and metal from the plaque are creating something that is dissolving the rock underneath. Or is that just an optical illusion due to the staining?
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Post by tod2 on Dec 10, 2012 7:54:24 GMT
Gosh Kerouac, that's a good question. I will have to take a closer look next visit. What I can make out is that the installer of the metal plaque must have chiseled part of the rock into a recess at the top left, then to get the thing to sit properly, did a similar job down on the bottom right. The rock being very uneven underneath looks like rainwater seeps behind it and the metal ( probably copper mix) is corroding with rust and staining the rock - but looking around at the other boulders perched on top of each other, I notice they also are stained this rust colour so it must be the metallic content of the rock itself which is causing the stain. I also think because of the plaque the water is being channeled in a swift directed flow. Looks pretty awful but at least its still here due to its height - many many metal plaques have been ripped off, chiseled off, and removed by either tourists or even staff members. This is distressing as when one refers to the guide book and sees an information plaque at a certain place, the reality is that it is no longer there and neither is the information about the historical site!
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Post by tod2 on Dec 10, 2012 12:18:22 GMT
Viva la difference! Did you know this about the IMPALA? As one of the most common large mammals in the park, you may see up to 30 different Impala herds in a day - start differentiating between them....how big are they? How many ewes are there in relation to rams? Are they huddled closely together, which often indicates their awareness of danger- Or are the spread out? Are the impala grazing or browsing? What other animals are with them? Here is what the experts say: Impala is one animals the visitor is guaranteed to see in Kruger. They are by far the most common antelope in the park, with a relatively stable population of about 100,000 at any given time. They are the staple diet of many predators, and during calving in early summer even martial eagles and baboons may try to hunt newly-born impalas. By the end of the summer on of the male impalas in the herd will have become the dominant male and the other male impalas with form bachelor herds during the winter. They often hand around on the fringes of the dominant male's harem and will occasionally try to challenge his authority. The dominant male can fertilize up to 50 ewes. During calving, bachelor herds become integrated back into the main herd for added protection. During the breading season in late April and early May, male impalas make a series of grunting sounds and may even roar. Male impala also demonstrate an unusual behaviour during the rut, known as "tongue flashing", the repeated sticking out of the tongue to ward off potential rivals and attract females. Impala ewes are believed to be able to hold back on calving for up to a month in order to wait for new grazing or water for their young. New-born impala are hidden by their mothers in long grass or bush thickets for their first few days of life until they are strong enough to keep up with the herd. Impalas have a good sense of hearing and smell. They are quite social animals, co-existing with other animals in grazing parties. They also have a natural association with baboons, often eating fruit or leaves dropped by the primates from the trees above them. Look at the black markings on their rumps to understand why they are referred to as the "MacDonalds" of the bush! ;D [img src=" img23.imageshack.us/img23/9355/mg0093small.jp"]
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Post by tod2 on Dec 10, 2012 12:37:02 GMT
ROCK ART in the Kruger Park.
Most of the 100 or so rock art sites in Kruger are located in rock shelters in the southwest of the park. San hunter-gatherers made the art, and there are tens of thousands of their painting sites in Southern Africa. San rock art is deeply spiritual, reflecting upon the rituals and spirit-world experiences of San ritual specialists: the '!gi:xa' or shamans. In keeping with this, the rock art of Kruger is dominated by images of those animals that the San knew to have most spiritual power: eland, kudu, giraffe, elephant and rhino. There are some unique features about the Kruger rock art sites -relatively few human figures are depicted, and those that are show strange other-worldly features, such as long streamer-like tails ( the so-called 'Vapour Trail Figures'). The Rock Art Research Institute believes the Kruger paintings may be comparatively old (many centuries if not millennia) as they are on hard rock that the sandstones of other parts of South Africa. Kruger rock art, therefore has none of the scenes of domestic animals or colonial imagery that are found in other areas where rock art is more recent. Among the paintings are the relatively rare Roan Antelope. materials used include ochre, blood and ash. The rock art sites can be accessed only by taking part in the Bushman Walking Trails - Bookings at 013-790-1480.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 13:07:52 GMT
Boy, I bet that human mothers would absolutely love to be able to hold back on childbirth for up to a month to get better "grazing" (tax relief, allocations, family benefits.... )
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Post by tod2 on Dec 10, 2012 14:27:16 GMT
Could be advantages. When things get uncomfortable a lot of mothers want to drop that calf long before it's due ;D
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Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2012 12:49:13 GMT
I love the photos of the hippopotamuses so much that I wish I could print, enlarge and frame them to put in one of my bedrooms where the kids usually stay the night. Mich, I replied that I would find my 'better' hippo photos! These are them: More to follow Mich!
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Post by mossie on Dec 14, 2012 14:23:37 GMT
Are they saying "What's for dinner"
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Post by nycboy on Dec 14, 2012 14:26:22 GMT
Those dirty teeth make me cringe
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Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2012 17:40:53 GMT
Ncyboy - The jaws of death, yep they are! So many people are killed by hippos because they take chances.
Now - Something completely different: YOU are the photographer on this trip, so please take my advice and DO NOT wear a seatbelt. Plug the darn thing in to the buckle behind you and be free and easy. Not EVER do I ( the driver) wear a sealbelt in Kruger. Neither dose my photographer! Just have your driving license with you at all times. Buckle up if you have to before being stopped but you should not worry. This is Africa. Bullshit baffles brains......especially in a New York drawl ;D
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Post by mich64 on Dec 14, 2012 18:38:39 GMT
Yeah Tod! They are so amazing to me, I do not know why, but I enjoy them very much. Your whole report is outstanding and I think it is wonderful how you are providing nycboy and nycgirl with such terrific tips and advice on their upcoming adventure. (I am probably the only grown adult women with two stuffed hippo animals on their bed. Of course they match my color scheme so they fit in.)
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Post by nycboy on Dec 16, 2012 18:11:52 GMT
You don't have to tell me twice, tod. Btw, I picked up a Canon T4i at an incredible price ($490 usd, including tax and shipping) so that we'd have two camera bodies ready at all times for the trip and I'll just sell the old one when I get back. This one isn't much of a jump in technology but it does have a better autofocus system (9 cross-type points) and swivel, touch screen LCD which they've done a fantastic job with. I'll probably put the 17-50mm lens on that one and the 70-300mm on my old camera, assuming the old body would have an easier time focusing with more depth. I had considered the 7d which also had many great deals but I just couldn't bring myself to spend that much when rumor has it Canon will be replacing it in March. Plus, I'm kind of liking this "slowly climb the ladder" with the bodies method, always having an overlap to use on trips, never letting a body get so old I can't get some money for it. Off topic, NYCGirl was accepted to Columbia Teachers College for her masters. I'm proud of her, and starting to think about buying some pro camera equipment when the additional income starts rolling in.
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Post by htmb on Dec 16, 2012 18:21:28 GMT
Congratulations to NYCGIRL! Fantastic news!
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Post by tod2 on Dec 17, 2012 9:54:41 GMT
Great news and hearty congratulations! You must be on your way any time soon? Where first? CT, Namibia or Kruger?
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Post by nycboy on Dec 17, 2012 17:01:47 GMT
We fly into CT Dec 30th and we'll be there until Jan 3rd. Then it's up to Namibia and across to Kruger. Can't believe it's so soon!
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Post by nycgirl on Dec 20, 2012 5:35:34 GMT
Thanks, Tod and Htmb! I'm very excited. This trip is going to be my graduation celebration. Wow, those hippo mouths are fearsome! Funny rump markings on the impala.
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Post by nycboy on Dec 20, 2012 16:55:35 GMT
You'd be pretty pleased if fish sandwiches came out of there.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 22, 2012 14:51:47 GMT
Bon Voyageeee, as Bugs Bunny pronounces it ;D Wishing you both the most awesome trip and photos to prove it! If you have the time and inclination, write KILROY WAS HERE! on a piece of paper and shove it into a crevice in the hide and on my next trip I would love to find it! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2012 17:23:18 GMT
So pleased to see that nycgirl has a future as a money pump!
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Post by lugg on Dec 23, 2012 7:17:47 GMT
Congrats to NYC girl. Really enjoyed catching up with the rest of this thread Tod. Fascinating reading as always. The hippo photos are fabuous - I guess you used a zoom I was intrigued by the similarity of the Gneiss rocks to some I had seen in Sri Lanka ( some photos in Sri Lanka Part 1 thread ) and had a quick google , explained by the fact that SL and SE Africa once close geographically when Godwana existed. ??
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Post by tod2 on Dec 23, 2012 7:29:52 GMT
Congrats to NYC girl. Really enjoyed catching up with the rest of this thread Tod. Fascinating reading as always. The hippo photos are fabulous - I guess you used a zoom I was intrigued by the similarity of the Gneiss rocks to some I had seen in Sri Lanka ( some photos in Sri Lanka Part 1 thread ) and had a quick google , explained by the fact that SL and SE Africa once close geographically when Godwana existed. ?? Yes, definitely a zoom resting on a camera pillow, which in turn was put onto a simple flat gadget my husband invented. I have put some photos of it somewhere on Anyport There is a short paragraph of information relating to the super Continent of Gondwana Land under my heading :GEOLOGY OF KRUGER NATIONAL PARK.
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Post by lugg on Dec 31, 2012 7:54:54 GMT
Ah yes thanks Tod
NYC girl and boy - wishing you a fantastic holiday and looking forward to seeing your pics and report
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Post by nycgirl on Jan 5, 2013 7:07:47 GMT
Bon Voyageeee, as Bugs Bunny pronounces it ;D Wishing you both the most awesome trip and photos to prove it! If you have the time and inclination, write KILROY WAS HERE! on a piece of paper and shove it into a crevice in the hide and on my next trip I would love to find it! ;D Will do! Which hide?
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