Kruger 300 - DAY 1 [A change of plan]

It’s a glass past 10 - nearby Painted Reed Frogs ping a challenge. A Western Barn Owl hums a tune. Out there, the natural world does battle – here, not so much. Day one (1) of the Kruger 300 is in the bag, well almost.

How'd we do? 149 sp. – shy of our targeted 150 & some would say 'ha' – a miss; but we’re not fanatics. Remiss? No - there’s always tomorrow.

Zazu - merely departed

The day’s highlights were bloody – a drip by drop reminder of the protein circle; eat or be served; feet-up. In the first, a Tawny Eagle clobbered Zazu over breakfast – a twisted tale & enough deviation in plot to question the veracity of the Lion King; an observation highlighted by Sebastian, our 3-yr old. 

Help, help me Mother

Hello! Is it you I'm looking for..?

In the second, a blood-curdled yell to the gods; a loss against the odds when fate came calling. It’s perseverance & a tragedy of torment & triumph. An imm. African Harrier Hawk trawled the thorn boma of a Red-billed Buffalo Weaver nest for as long as it took. Inside the false sanctuary, the chicks [I'm guessing of course] sucked in their distended bellies as the claws of no-tomorrow raked the nursery. By hook the crook snared a victim & the rest, as they say, is white-wash for another day.

Highlights included: Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird; Western Osprey; White-fronted Plover and Southern Brown-throated Weaver. The big & hairies included 3 of the Big 5 – no cats.

We had hoped to avoid The South but with the routine report of a roosting Bat Hawk, near Lower Sabie Camp – the temptation proved unavoidable. We joined the fray via Crocodile Bridge & stopped for a few goodies along the way. As it was Batman had flown the Jackal-berry Tree & we were left with too far to go on an empty clock. Fortunately, Lower Sabie Camp had a room with a view & if change is as good as a holiday; ours has kicked off with a bang.