Africa 2017-Day 2

Day2-Arrive at Thornybush

After breakfast, we left for the airport (around the corner from the hotel) for a 50 minute flight to Hoelspruit (unpronounceable Afrikaner), a part time airport and part time army base.  This is the closest airport to our first camp in the Thornybush Reserve.  2 months ago, the fence that separates Thornybush from Kruger National Park was removed, allowing animals free range (kind of like the EU).  I don’t know if the animals are making a net migration to Kruger or vice versa.  The acacia is always greener on the other side of the fence. 

I spotted our first game.  As we were taxiing to the gate after landing, I spotted 2 warthogs running in the opposite direction.  No photo.  But shortly into our drive to the camp, we saw giraffes and nyla. 

The camp is a bit more rustic than where we stayed in Mala, Mala, but beautiful, nonetheless. After a briefing, we spent a few minutes checking out some birds and a local tortoise, then we set out on our first game drive.  

Leopard Tortoise

Black-capped bulbul

Blue Waxbill

Southern Black Tit

Cardinal Woodpecker

There were two other couples in the camp, and rather than cramming all ten of us into a land rover, Jeri and I along with one other member of our group, Nikki, went with the other couples.  This turned out great for us, since the four of them were from Stuttgart.  They were very pleased to speak German to us, so we were able to continue or German studies while game viewing.  

Our first afternoon was quite successful.  We first came across several Nyla (“nyla” means onion in a local dialect.  The Nyla have white stripes that look like an onion.  Females are reddish brown and the males get darker, except at the forelegs, as they age.). 

We next ran smack into a herd of elephants who had apparently just migrated from Kruger.  The elephants came right up to our vehicle, fortunately not on it.  ­­ There was a baby amidst the throng, that was quickly surrounded by adults to protect it.

A lone Nyla was wandering through a herd of baboons near a large watering hole.  This adult male shows the normal adult male marking with the gray coat, stripes, and reddish brown forelegs.

We had a slight mishap along the way.  One of the many pothole swallowed up our rear tire.  Eric and Aubrey (the guide and driver) could work for NASCAR.  The tire was changed in minutes!.

We had a few more good sightings  including a herd of cape buffalo, zebra, an African Fisher Eagle and some ground fowl.

Crested Francolin

African Fish Eagle

Cape Buffalo

As the sun began to set, we stopped for sundowners, gin and tonic and beef jerky.  Our driver and guide were great bartenders, and they even were able to find a few giraffes for us for entertainment.

The sun set, and we began to search for a leopard.  We didn’t find one, we found 5!  There were 2 cubs and 3 others, all sharing an impala.  

We could have spent all night there, but watching them was making us hungry, and our dinner awaited.  

Tomorrow we start at 5:30, so I have to get his to press and get some shut eye.