Birds of the Kruger National Park

European Bee-Eater

Lilac Breasted Roller

Lilac Breasted Roller

Lilac Breasted Roller

White Crowned  Plover

White Crowned Plover

Jacana

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Goliath Heron

Pied Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Brownhooded Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher

Ground Hornbill

Ground Hornbill

Ground Hornbill

Long Tailed Shrike

Helmeted Guineafowl

Crested Guineafowl

Three banded Plover

  

Wood Sandpiper

Ruff

Knot

Giant Eagle Own

Bateleur

Bateleur

Tawny Eagle

Martial Eagle

Brown Snake Eagle

African Fish Eagle

African Fish Eagle

Hawk Eagle

Steppe Eagle

Tawny Eagle

Kite

White Faced Vulture

Whitebacked Vulture

Raptors in flight

Hamerkop

Yellow Billed Hornbill

Yellowbilled Hornbill

Redbilled Hornbill

Stilt

Stilt

Blackbellied Korhaan

Blackbellied Kornhaan

Kori Bustard

Redbilled Oxpecker

Rednecked Francolin

Rednecked Francolin

Crested Francolin

Doublebanded Sandgrouse

Orange Breasted Bush Shrike

Bennetts Woodpecker

Darter

Whitebreasted Cormorant

Egyptian Goose

Masked Weaver

Saddlebilled Stork

Storks

Various

Various

A Redbilled Oxpecker searches for yummy ticks...

Birds seen during my stay

• Whitebreasted Cormorant
• Darter
• Goliath Heron
• Grey Heron
• Greenbacked Heron
• Yellowbilled Stork
• Marabou Stork
• Woolynecked Stork
• Openbilled Stork
• Saddlebilled Stork
• African Spoonbill
• Hamerkop
• Hadeda Ibis
• Egyptian Goose
• Knobbilled Duck
• Lappetfaced Vulture
• Whiteheaded Vulture
• Whitebacked Vulture
• African Fish Eagle
• Bateleur
• Brown Snake Eagle
• Tawny Eagle
• Martial Eagle
• African Hawk Eagle
• Yellowbilled Kite
• Lizard Buzzard
• Rednecked Francolin
• Crested Francolin
• Helmeted Guineafowl
• Crested Guineafowl
• Ground Hornbill
• Ostrich
• Black Crake
• Kori Bustard
• Black Bellied Korhaan
• Three Banded plover
• Whitecrowned Plover
• Blacksmith Plover
• Dikkop
• Doublebanded Sandgrouse
• Laughing Dove
• Grey Lourie
• Striped Cuckoo
• Diederik Cuckoo
• Burchell's Cuckoo
• Red Chested Cuckoo
• Giant Eagle Owl
• Black Swift
• Giant Kingfisher
• Pied Kingfisher
• Malachite Kingfisher
• Brownhooded Kingfisher
• European Bee-Eater
• White Faced Bee-Eater
• Lilac Breasted Roller
• Grey Hornbill
• Yellowbilled Hornbill
• Redbilled Hornbill
• Masked Weaver
• Blue Waxbill
• Blackeyed Bulbul
• Whitethroated Robin
• Purple Crested Lourie
• Orange Breasted Bushshrike
• Bennett's Woodpecker

Wisdom Trove early map

Here is an early version of the quotes I collected for Wisdom Trove before moving it all to Evernote. 

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Leopard in The Kruger

I desperately wanted to photograph a leopard (my favourite animal) during my time in the Kruger but after 3 weeks, I started to lose hope.  My only sighting had been a teasing tail disappearing into the bush.

Then during a drive in a secluded part of the park, I saw the faint shape of a leopard lying under a tree.  I resolved to wait for him to show himself, no matter how long it took.  

Three and a half hours later, my resolve was slipping as I had to get back to camp by dusk.

Then, without warning, he stood up, stretched and yawned. And then walked slowly and languidly in my direction. Closer and closer. Until he was inches from my car window, too close to even photograph.  And he looked straight at me, and I felt a sense of connection with him so deep and profound that I was in ecstasy and tears at the same time. It probably didn't last more than a few seconds, but it seemed to last for ages.

Then he stretched again and preened and walked to the opposite side of the car into beautiful light, then disappeared back into the bushes, leaving me with a feeling of gratitude and wonder that I still haven't lost in the two weeks since I've been home.

Of all the beautiful animals I saw and photographed in the Kruger, this was the undoubted highlight.

The Kruger

Beautiful sunset over the Kruger during my 3 weeks there in 2012.

Wow, you'd almost think she was born a Myburgh!

Jo and I took some time from paddling down the Orange River to leap.