The car did not even come to a complete standstill and the Kruger choir performed in all their glory, Rattling Cisticolas, Tawny-flanked Prinias, Cape Glossy Starlings and the highlight, the first Woodland Kingfisher we heard for the season!!!
Check-in went as smooth and friendly as always and we started "crawling" in on our way to Punda Maria camp. Not a hundred meters in and I could hear a special bird calling, at first I was hesitant to call it but after hearing them again later on and seeing them I came to the conclusion that they were indeed Broad-billed Rollers calling from closer to the ridge.
The first animals were of course the very numerous but yet so graceful Impala, which was quickly followed up by a Steenbok and then some Buffalo.
High above us there were some Bateleurs circling while a Lilac-breasted Roller and Black-crowned Tchagra were scurrying after food in between bushes. As we came closer to camp we could hear the magical melody of the Piet-my-vrou (also know as the Red-chested Cuckoo) ringing from the overgrown hillside.
Another quick and successful check-in done we quickly unpacked and then went to have a some lunch at the restaurant, tasting phenomenal as only a Kruger meal can. Then we had a quick nap before going on our sunset drive, well the others did not even the Lowveld heat could put a damper on my excitement and I had to go explore.
I made my way through the bush along the Flycatcher trail which runs along the northern boundary of the camp. Even with the heat the bush was ringing with bird sounds, Green-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Eastern Nicator, African Goshawk, Bearded Scrub-Robin and Crested Guineafowl to name but a few.
It was wonderful to spend some time here and time sure flies when having fun. I eventually had to rush to ensure I wasn't left behind for the drive.
For the sunset drive we sat off in an anti-clockwise direction along the Mahonie loop. This is truly one of the magical loops of Kruger especially as far as biodiversity is concerned. Not long after leaving the tar road we came across a beautiful dark phase Wahlberg's Eagle perfectly showing of the slight crest and yellow lipstick. This off course had the Fork-tailed Drongo's in a flat spin and they were going crazy. Leaving their racquet behind we soon found another couple of very nice birds including Mosque Swallows, Golden-breasted Buntings, Jacobin Cuckoo's, Jameson's Firefinches and Common Whitethroat.
We went down a small loop towards a watering hole and this is where we came across a pair of Broad-billed Rollers calling. Close by we came across some more Buffaloes which yielded another little jewel in the form of Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. Back on the main dirt road we soon bumped into a rather fierce looking but magnificent Dickinson's Kestrel. With the sun now started to get quite low down on the horizon we had our third group of Grey-headed Parrots flying overhead towards their roosts. As we sat listening to their screeching we noticed some movement in the riverbed to our right. A family herd of Elephants where on a mission past us and only gave us brief glimpses.
As darkness set in we moved onto a special track off limits to normal tourists. This is the Pennant-winged highway. We stopped at several sites waiting and listening, but nothing. Just as we were about to through in the towel though we had a single female come down to investigate. Maybe next time we'll be lucky enough to find a male willing to put on a show for us.
The road back was fairly quiet apart from two Rufous-cheeked Nightjars. And then just before we got back to camp this beautiful Barn Owl made its presence know.
Unfortunately it did not stick around for long with its kill and disappeared back into the darkness in utter silence. This marked the end of a wonderful and very successful drive and first day back in paradise.
Our species total at the end of the day was 62.
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