Talamati to Shimuweni, three

From Satara we took to H1-4 northwards.

 Giraff and its natural pose - head in tree, oops, here is a portrait !

The Olifants River bridge, you may get out but only between the yellow lines.

Waterbuck

Talamati to Shimuweni, Two

Although cloudy and murky it did not rain any more once we had packed the car.  Drove first to Orpen Camp to sort out our morning walk cancellation to find out the reception had already looked at our schedule and booked us for a walk from another camp - well done.

Early morning coffee from the coffee shop rondavel at Orpen Camp.

These are the pictures from the remote camera trap set up overnight.  First visited by a pair of honey badgers getting into the bins and making a noise.

 Then the genet visited again to clean up the braai area.

From Orpen Camp we drove the gravel S106, now newly graded, back on to the H7 and continued to Satara Camp where we stopped for a bit of shopping and a stretch.

 Giraff rushing to find a tree to hide behind

As we entered Satara Camp we saw this starling was making a nest in the keybox.  Flew away of course once the camera was lifted.

22 Oct - Talamati to Shimuweni, one

Up early as C, AP and AR where scheduled for a morning walk.  But it had rained heavily overnight and was still rather wet.  Loaded into the bakkie and went a small way, then decided that the weather was not going to improve- on the way back to camp, it started bucketing down, so the decision was well made!

A few animals were seen, but it was decided that it would be better to have a guided walk on a sunnier day!  The rain settled in, but we packed between showers and left to travel to Shimuweni camp.

Talamati Area, Two

We stopped at Bobbejaankrans Lookout.

Elephants were here......

 After a break we continued west along the H7.

Passed Nsemani Dam.

A couple of intersections and on the the H6.

 Arrived at N'wanetsi Picnic area in time for lunch.  This is the covered eating area.

 And this is the toilet block.

 There is a short walk up the hill to the lookout area.

This is the view .....

 And this is what we could see 'resting' in the water.

The rocks near the picnic area and lookout had lots of lizards.

After a comfortable stop and lunch we retraced our route back to Talamati Camp. Impala everywhere of course.

 Leopard tortoise - one of the small five.

21 Oct - Talamati Area, one

Woke up very early to rather cloudy weather.

 After food, out the gate and off eastward.  
This is the electrified cattle grid at the camp gate.

 One of the first animals we saw was this Swainson's Francolin on a culvert, posing nicelyWe travelled along the H7 then along the S106.  We had to use this road, a minor road, as the H7 had been badly damaged when the Timbavati River flooded earlier in the year.

 The Loooooonely Gnuuu.

This road is not normally used for a lot of traffic, luckily it was getting graded regularly or it would have had a terrible surface.

 Wildebeest- if they are by themselves they are looooonely gnuuuuus, but together they are wildebeest

Small quick buck.

After about 12km we rejoined the H7 just before the Bobbejaanskrans Lookout.