Lower Sabie 25 – 28th July

Thursday, 25th        This afternoon we again go up the Sabie river road.

Friday, 26th            Having lost a bit of faith in any road other than the H4-1 Sabie River R0ad, today we decide to head again for Skukuza. Nearly every morning is golden in the Kruger winter and today is no exception.

Approaching the high-level bridge over the Sabie (H12) we come across a few cars in the road and they tell us that there are two leopards – one sprawled in classic pose on a log whilst the other is feeding on a bushbuck up a tree. Too many twigs obscure the one on the log but the height of the Quantum allows me to photograph over the roofs of the cars and I get my shot.

In Skukuza camp I manage to get some good photos of the exquisite Scarlet Chested Sunbird.

After lunch on the deck we set out again for Lower Sabie and just beyond the high-level H12 bridge but about 1km beyond the earlier leopards, we find one fast asleep in a tree, unperturbed by the jam of cars.

Half a Km before Sunset Dam we catch a glimpse of yet another leopard going walk abouts at midday. I suspect that this is the same one that a;lmost got the warthog on my first afternoon.

This afternoon we go rapidly up to the Nwatimhiri Bridge.

Along the way we sight a large herd of buffalo down in  the riverbed.

We  come across  the same herd of buffalo now spilling over the road in front of us. These great buffalo herds are such a feature of Kruger and never fail to impress.

Noteworthy also are the number of Kudu that we come across.

Saturday, 27th       Warren returns to Jo’burg today and we are going to miss his eagle-eyed spotting. We decide to follow him down to Croc Bridge, breakfast in Komatipoort and then do our grocery shop in preparation for next week’s move to Shingwedzi.

At dawn we therefore travel south along the S28 gravel road to Croc Bridge and how disappointingly quiet it is. Despite a beautiful morning we see absolutely nothing of interest and when we begin to meet the heavy weekend traffic entering the Park, we know our cause is lost.

After breakfast, we bid fond farewells to Warren, do our shopping at Super Spar, have a very necessary haircut, re-enter the Park and are back at Lower Sabie at 11.30am.

Meanwhile radio reports tell of yet another severe cold front lashing the Cape and even extending to Gauteng and KZN. As is so often the case it is forecast to pass by the Lowveld.

Again, this afternoon, we ride up and down the Sabie River road.

After a refreshing evening shower, I always enjoy my stroll back to our campsite through the fires and the murmur of happy campers. Tonight there is a power failure and although most campers keep some battery powered lighting, things are quite dark. Reaching our caravan, I decide to refill the water tank and fumble my way towards the dark tap. At my feet there erupts a fierce scrabbling and a hissing snarl and in the light from the neighbour’s tent, I see a Ratel scuttling off.

Sunday, 28th       Today dawns clear and still and I make my way the Sunset Dam. I am out of luck with the  Kingfishers but there is plenty to keep me busy.

All Kruger visitors will be familiar with the dead Leadwood tree that has stood in water since Sunset Dam was built 50-60 (?) years ago. That it has not long rotted and disappeared bears testimony to the amazing resilience of the Leadwood.

Readers will also be  pleased to hear that the Buffalo Weavers are very active in their nests and not an Indian Mynah to be seen.

After Sunset Dam, I hurry down to the bridge for a while.