randombirder

Time to leave. It reminded me of the moment I had to leave Kuwait a year or so ago, gazing out the window trying to bottle the moment. It felt the same here. Why couldn't life be like this everyday? Then the guilt of feeling this way - getting the sense of the opportunity and privilege that we have to travel to these incredible places. The freedom to fly. The drive to the airport felt long, because it was - over five hours - but a stop at what could be the greatest service station still makes me smile. Yes indeed - there were 13 rhinos here - albeit in captivity but was grateful for the last throes of seeing these wonderful animals regardless of their provenance. Apart from earlier finding out that British Airways had cancelled our flight back to the UK but being quick enough to secure a couple of the last remaining seats on the Virgin flight at the same time averting a potential inconvenience - the trip was the stuff of dreams. Two years in a row is indulgent - but it doesn't ...

It was time to leave Idle and Wild to head south toward the Crocodile Bridge Gate for the last leg of our trip. We couldn't resist another visit to Lake Panic not really expecting to replicate the excitement of yesterday. Plenty of bird interest included these water thick-knee , village weaver and diederik cuckoo . A couple of crocodile were still on the prowl. Probably the only mature male giraffe we saw on the trip sporting its very smart mahogany coat. More wharthog spotted from a dirt track off the main road. The rest stops are great places to relax for a bit. Lower Sabie provides great views over the river. More wildlife while en route and some that require a bit of prizing out. Relatively widespread in the area but Steenbok were only seen on three occasions and perhaps overlooked during the trip. Impala are ubiquitous but such lovely animals. More roadside sightings.  European roller are   quite common around the park. Heading south through the park, we had heard tha...