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Along the Limpopo river (Pafuri)

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    Along the Limpopo river (Pafuri)

    I just returned to the Saudi desert after a two week vacation back home in South Africa.

    My 1st week was spend next to the dry/wet Limpopo river in the Makuleke concession of the Kruger Park.

    Makuleke is situated basically from where you enter the Pafuri gate as the western boundary going east to Crooks Corner border of South Africa, Zimbabawe and Mozambique and the Levuvhu river in the south as a rough indication.

    I joined the Ecotraining team for a week of birding were about 20 bird nuts wanted to learn, see and hear all what Makuleke is all about.

    The area in South Africa has a very rich bird population even with the drought that limited us a bit with the water bird species.

    Highlights in the mammal sightings for me was finding black backed jackal (not often seen in the Kruger) African wild cat, Eland ( 1st time I find them in the Park) and then the Wilddogs swimming across the Levuvhu river while at Lanner Gorge.

    Reptile highlight definately the Black Mamba that the Meve's starlings were harassing but was chilled out enough to give me a photo or 3...

    The visit to Crooks Corner was amazing walking in a dry Limpopo river bed.

    Walking among the Fever Tree forests mixed with riverine forests was magical.

    I am still working through the photos in between catching up with work here in the desert and will share some photos shortly.
    Last edited by Gerhard; 04-17-2016, 09:18 AM.

    #2
    Lemon-breasted Canary



    Female Redbacked Shrike



    Emerald spotted wood dove



    Mosque Swallows




    Meve's Starling



    The magnificent and magical Fever Tree forests...

    The zebra is about 200 meters away from me when i took the photo.

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      #3
      View from out Sunset stop.



      The diversity is absolutely amazing.

      From the road looking North towards the Limpopo river you have grassveld savana, palm savana, fever tree forest inter mixed with riverine forests.

      Each has its own bit of magic and bird species...

      If you turn 180 degrees you will find the ridges with the Mopane right next to the road



      We saw and heard Firery-necked Nightjars and Square-tailed Nightjars on the way back to camp.

      Scops owls and Pear Spotted Owlets often sang around the camp at night.

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        #4
        The Black-chested Snake Eagle was another new species for me







        Blue Waxbill's



        1st time I get photos of a male and femal Chinspot Batis



        The area where we stopped for coffee and rusks is called Makwadi Pan I believe.

        I can only imagine the area in a wet rainy season and the abundance of water birds one could find here but during our week it was bone dry as it was for most of the past summer







        Some of the riverine brush and trees



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          #5
          A few photos of the Ecotraining camp









          Neat tented camp with no power except when the generator is started during the morning to pump water.

          The ladies in the kitchen did a super job making basic but great tasting food.

          One of the biggest + points is that the area has not yet been invaded by cell phone signals.

          The location under the bug Nyala berry trees are perfect.

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            #6
            Beautiful photos Gerhard! Thanks for taking us along-

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              #7
              Originally posted by jerp View Post
              Beautiful photos Gerhard! Thanks for taking us along-
              Glad you like them... There is a lot of them coming

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                #8
                White - bellied Sunbird female





                Violet-backed Starling



                Scaly-throated Honeyguide



                Diderick Cuckoo



                Purple Indigobird



                Temninck's Courser



                African Pitpit

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                  #9
                  My 1st Southern Carmine Bee-eater



                  A very special bird for me...

                  Grey-headed Kingfisher another 1st



                  Spotted Flycatcher



                  The afternoon drive was to the Levuvu river a new destination for me.

                  I just love African rivers as each are magical and has their own personality.

                  Red billed buffalo weaver



                  Cape Buffalo herd















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                    #10


                    One of the magnificent baobab trees of the Levuvhu





                    White-Crowned Lapwing

                    Have a look at the spurs on the wings



                    Southern Carmin bee eater



                    White fronted bee eater







                    Broad billed roller

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                      #11
                      Great pics

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                        #12
                        Cool.

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                          #13
                          Great pics!

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                            #14
                            Wow, what a thread...Thank You!!

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                              #15
                              Sun set at the Levubu River







                              An absolute magical African sunset

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