Thursday, 2nd May
A thick mist greets the day so I leave Sunset Dam and continue to Nwatimhiri S21. It does not take long for the rising sun to burn away the mist leaving the most beautiful meander along this, one of my favourite roads.
However, all is again quiet and coming to the end and not wishing to face the corrugations again, I continue around via Skukuza to the H4-1 river road. I cross over the low-level bridge over the Sabie River hoping for an African Finfoot but no luck.
I drive down the H4-1 road and coming to the high-level bridge, I cross over and spy a magnificent Martial Eagle drinking from a pool in the river bed. I do a quick 4 point turn on the bridge and just as I lift my camera, he flies off and I lose a chance of some really good photos.
Back down to camp at Lower Sabie on another glorious May day where I do some tidying up in preparation for our departure for Satara tomorrow.
This evening I sit at Sunset Dam and photograph birds.
Friday, 3rd May
A brisk northerly wind is ruffling the surface of Sunset Dam so I forego the chance of sitting there. Instead, I leisurely pack up our camp and then drive up the H4-1 river road heading to Skukuza Airport. I am regularly held up by lion induced traffic jams which are rather difficult to negotiate with the caravan. Renette has been in Jo’burg for a week helping with family issues and today flies back at 11am.
The Airlink plane lands on schedule and we set off northwards for Satara on what is now a hot mid-30’s degree day. The veld is now really wintery – all shades of brown.
The campsite at Satara is full and we are very fortunate to find a pretty good site on the northern fence against Struben Guest House. What a pleasure after the cramped conditions at Lower Sabie to have some privacy in the sprawling Satara campsite. We look forward to tackling the varied roads on offer at this, our favourite camp.
2 Comments
Cheryl May 4, 2019 at 7:18 am
Fred, I find it most intriguing as to what is hanging from the lapwing’s beak area, being the same colour as the beak.
Richard Grant May 4, 2019 at 9:01 am
Cheryl, both the White-Crowned and the Wattled Lapwings have yellow wattles hanging from the base of their bills (gapes) so this is quite a distinctive feature. I got very excited when, after many years, I saw my first White-Crowned Lapwing (Plover in those days). Now they are everywhere and quite common.