Back to full strength

After a good night's sleep, Toni was back on the mend so we were out again the minute they opened the gates. 2 Spotted Hyenas showed very well by the road near Newbrownii first thing but little else here.

Spotted Hyena

A return to Olifontsbad produced many Black-faced Impala, Greater Kudu, and Red Hartebeest along with 2 male Lions.

Lion

Greater Kudu stag

Black-faced Impala

Red Hartebeest

Also an adult Tawny Eagle here and several photogenic African Red-eyed Bulbuls, Great Sparrows and Red-headed Finches by the nearby picnic site.

Tawny Eagle

Red-eyed Bulbul
Red-headed Finch
Great Sparrow

Many Burchell’s Zebras around Gemsbokvelate waterhole along with a melanistic Gabar Goshawk and many Red-capped Larks and Chestnut-backed Sparrowlarks.

Burchell's Zebra

Red-capped Lark

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark

Also many Burchell’s Zebra at Ombika waterhole at midday along with a Secretary Bird.
The usual Sociable Weavers around Okahojou campsite at lunchtime along with an African Hoopoe but little else due to the extreme heat.
 

Sociable Weaver colony that got so big they had to support it

Sociable Weaver

The waterhole around the campsite was very busy in the afternoon as many Springbok, Zebras, Kudu and Blue Wildebeest came in to drink.

Rush hour at the waterhole

Blue Wildebeest

female Greater Kudu

Springbok

A late afternoon visit to Wolfsnes was very quiet mammal-wise but, Pale-chanting Goshawk, 3 Batleurs and Lappet-faced and White-backed Vultures showed very well and a cracking Black-shouldered Kite near nearby Wolfnes waterhole.

Black-shouldered Kite

Pale-chanting Goshawk

White-backed Vulture

Several Southern Ant-eating Chats seen by the road along with a confiding Double-banded Courser and several Northern Black Koorhans.

Southern Ant-eating Chat

Double-banded Courser

Northern Black Koorhan

After dark, 5 Black Rhinos, including 2 young, along with a herd of Elephants and a Lioness showed well at the Okokojou waterhole.

Black Rhino
March of the Elephants
Lioness

A hot day in paradise

Much the same as yesterday at dawn around the Halali waterhole with the Verraux’s Eagle Owl again coming to drink along with many Double-banded Sandgrouse.

Verraux's Eagle Owl

Also Golden-breasted and Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, African Grey Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, White-browed Scrub-Robin and many Helmeted Guineafowl present around the waterhole.

Golden-breasted Bunting

The walk back ton the camp was equally productive, with Brown-crowned Tchagra, Long-billed Crombec, Grey-backed Cameroptera, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, a few White-crested Helmet-Shrikes and a Groundscraper Thrush along the path.

Grey-backed Cameroptera

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Red-billed Buffalo-weaver
White-crested Helmet-shrike

Groundscraper Thrush

Not much else done during the morning whilst waiting for a puncture to be mended and Toni coming down with a bout of suspected food poisoning.

The afternoon spent around the Okahojou Camp where many Sociable Weavers were present scrounging for food around the tables attracting the attention of a Little Sparrowhawk. Also African Red-eyed Bulbul and a Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler here. A visit to Olifontsbad waterhole in the evening was very quiet apart from hundreds of Helmeted Guineafowl and a Cape Hare and also a Lioness at Gemsbokvelate waterhole at dusk.

Lioness

A bit of excitement at the Okekojou waterhole after dark with 2 Black Rhinos, a horde of Elephants and the ubiquitous Black-backed Jackals.