Kruger National Park In May 2016
May 17, 2016 13:10:11 GMT
Post by tod2 on May 17, 2016 13:10:11 GMT
Visiting Kruger in May is a joy. The weather is very mild and although sunny it is not the unbearable heat experienced in November to March.
We had booked only two camps in the lower half of the park. We have stayed at Malelane and Crocodile Bridge many times and prefer these two small camps.
Only days before we left home I saw that Nycgirl and family had landed in Kruger quite by chance. Unfortunately they left on the Monday and we arrived on the Tuesday! So near and yet so far. I was thrilled to get two "Kilroy" notes which they left hidden in the bird hides. What a bit of fun it was to track them down!
The first note was secreted in Gardenia Hide near Malelane camp.
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The second took me two attempts to locate it in the Ntandanyathi Hide nearer Lower Sabie Camp.
This hide has a fairly good amount of water to look down on and hippos are usually about.
We were joined by another couple as I was hunting for Nycgirl's note. A curious glance made me explain that I was just looking for my mail from New York - And show them I did!
imageshack.com/a/img924/7830/mLpPib.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img922/9339/LpchuO.jpg
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On previous visits here we have encountered elephant and that lovely green snake I showed in my last Kruger report. None of these this time but I learnt something worthwhile from the couple in the hide.
On the opposite bank is a Ficus Burkei or Common Wild Fig tree. Whenever you see one of these trees always look into the branches and most likely you will find the beautiful Green Pigeon.
www.figweb.org/Ficus/Subgenus_Urostigma/Section_Galoglychia/Subsection_Chlamydodorae/Ficus_burkei.htm
This is what we saw from the hide.
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imageshack.com/a/img924/3121/QPxyen.jpg
Busy as bees the Swallows were speeding through the air back and forth to their nests underneath the bridges.
This one is called a Wire-Tailed Swallow.
imageshack.com/a/img923/7093/PRVMwo.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img923/8487/MzzUM1.jpg
Also found around the waterholes and rivers is this plain brown Hammerkop. The unusual head shape, especially when excited is it's claim to fame.
imageshack.com/a/img923/6220/u9jgQg.jpg
Because of all the butterflies floating near anything that looks like a flower no matter how small, the Lilac-Breasted Rollers were perched and ready to snap them up. They are truly one of the most colourful birds in the park and even more beautiful when they fly.
imageshack.com/a/img922/8384/6Nm5Ez.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img924/4872/cItgir.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img924/8209/kv1VUd.jpg
More birds to come....
We had booked only two camps in the lower half of the park. We have stayed at Malelane and Crocodile Bridge many times and prefer these two small camps.
Only days before we left home I saw that Nycgirl and family had landed in Kruger quite by chance. Unfortunately they left on the Monday and we arrived on the Tuesday! So near and yet so far. I was thrilled to get two "Kilroy" notes which they left hidden in the bird hides. What a bit of fun it was to track them down!
The first note was secreted in Gardenia Hide near Malelane camp.
imageshack.com/a/img924/8685/yVucA2.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img923/1568/0dDgtj.jpg
The second took me two attempts to locate it in the Ntandanyathi Hide nearer Lower Sabie Camp.
This hide has a fairly good amount of water to look down on and hippos are usually about.
We were joined by another couple as I was hunting for Nycgirl's note. A curious glance made me explain that I was just looking for my mail from New York - And show them I did!
imageshack.com/a/img924/7830/mLpPib.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img922/9339/LpchuO.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img924/657/A10Yen.jpg
On previous visits here we have encountered elephant and that lovely green snake I showed in my last Kruger report. None of these this time but I learnt something worthwhile from the couple in the hide.
On the opposite bank is a Ficus Burkei or Common Wild Fig tree. Whenever you see one of these trees always look into the branches and most likely you will find the beautiful Green Pigeon.
www.figweb.org/Ficus/Subgenus_Urostigma/Section_Galoglychia/Subsection_Chlamydodorae/Ficus_burkei.htm
This is what we saw from the hide.
imageshack.com/a/img922/6351/JkApgH.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img924/3121/QPxyen.jpg
Busy as bees the Swallows were speeding through the air back and forth to their nests underneath the bridges.
This one is called a Wire-Tailed Swallow.
imageshack.com/a/img923/7093/PRVMwo.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img923/8487/MzzUM1.jpg
Also found around the waterholes and rivers is this plain brown Hammerkop. The unusual head shape, especially when excited is it's claim to fame.
imageshack.com/a/img923/6220/u9jgQg.jpg
Because of all the butterflies floating near anything that looks like a flower no matter how small, the Lilac-Breasted Rollers were perched and ready to snap them up. They are truly one of the most colourful birds in the park and even more beautiful when they fly.
imageshack.com/a/img922/8384/6Nm5Ez.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img924/4872/cItgir.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img924/8209/kv1VUd.jpg
More birds to come....