With Antonia to Pilanesburg National Park.

Antonia’s Pilansburg Adventure

Day 1, Sept 24

We drove towards Vicky's BnB in Mogase and entered the Pilanseburg National Park at the Bakubung gate. We drove through the Park and exited at the Manyane gate 6 hours later.

Just inside the Bakubung Gate is a water hole.

Here was a Waterbuck, Some Egyptian Geese, and a White Faced Duck.

Here also we saw our first Zebra.

Golden Breasted Bunting

Dusky Flycatcher

White Breasted Cormorant

White Breasted Cormorant Flying

Reed Cormorant

Pied Kingfisher

Sleepy Looking Hippo

Grey Lourie

Water Striders

Water strider legs have tiny hairs that repel water and capture air. By repelling water, the tiny water striders stand on the water's surface and the captured airs allows them to float and move.

While driving along, we came across a herd of elephants crossing the road. Many cars were stopped behind us,

Once we thought they were all past, An elephant came out of the bush on our right. She was big and stared at us. She moved beside us. 

Then a small elephant came running out of the bush near us. He was scared, and Antonia was worried he was going to hit her car, but there were cars behind us so she couldn't back up. He came within 2 meters of the car.

They both ate beside the car for about 5 minutes.

Cape Spurfowl

Lesser Striped Swallow

Lesser striped Swallow Launching

End of Day One

Day 2, Sept 25

We woke up at 4. Antonia needed to do some work on her laptop. Load shedding started at 5. We got through the Manyane gate, into the Park around 6:30.

We decided to go to a far away dam, and work our way back to the Manyane gate.

We headed for the Ruighoek Dam and Hide.

Male Baboon flashing Just inside the Gate.

Zebra Strolling along.

A very Regal Impala

A nice clean Zebra.

We arrived at the Ruighoek Dam. This Dam would become our favorite.

Spurwing Geese, Egyptian Geese, and Terrapins.

Serrated Hinged Terrapin and a Barbel.

Southern Marsh Terrapin

Terrapins are different from Turtles. Terrapins eat only plants, where Turtles eat meat. Also most Turtles live in the water. Terrapins like both land and water. Tortoises stay only on the Land.

Some Hippos getting ready to take a nap.

Sleeping Hippos

A herd of elephant came to the water and splashed around and drank.

The Hippos were concerned about the arrival of the Elephants.

Some Elephants went over and woke the Hippos up, then chased them away.

The Hippos all ran into the water.

We then left the dam and drove up the mountain to the high up microwave tower. From here we could see the Largest Lake in the Park. Called Mankwe Dam.

Mankwe Dam

Tlou Dam

Cape Bunting

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

Grasshopper on car

Male Klipspringer

Klipspringers are very cool. They are a small antelope, and are the highest jumping animal. They can jump straight up 8 meters (25 feet). They have special hooves that contact the ground in a very small pattern. They can stand with all four feet on a one Rand coin (Silver Dollar). Once mated, the couple are never more than 5 meters apart for the rest of their lives. They have thick, course fur to absorb when they fall. This one is very vulnerable because there are no cliffs and mountains nearby. The female was at the other side of the road in the grass.

Kori Bustard is the heaviest flying bird

Crowned Lapwing

Another Lesser Striped Swallow.

Red Faced Mousebird

We got back to the BnB at about 18:45, and load shedding would next start at 20:00. So Antonia got straight onto the computer.

                                           Day 3, Sept 26

Up at 4, Antonia got straight onto the laptop and load shedding started at 5. We got to the Manyane gate just before 7.

The first animals we saw, was some Warthogs praying,

and some Impala doing morning ablutions.

We decided to go to the far Western side of the park and visit some water holes.

There should be good birding there.

Laughing Dove

Golden-breasted Bunting

Dark Capped Bulbul

Cape Glossy Starling

Blue Waxbills

Sobata Lark

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

A very cool, laid back Elephant

We arrived at a small, muddy, water hole, and a lone Giraffe was there.

Then along came 2 Rhinos.

The poor, thirsty Giraffe stepped aside, and the mean ole Rhinos started rolling around in the small water hole.

The Giraffe was not impressed.

But soon a herd of the Giraffe's buddies came along, and the Rhino moved off.

Now our Giraffe could once again drink...BUT..

The water tasted like Rhino, and the Giraffe spit it out.

A very laid back Zebra, deep in thought. 

The Moral here is: When you are in the shit, eat lunch.

Crested Francolin

Next we decided to go to a small dam nearby. The parking area was small, and on a cliff, overlooking the dam. The only entrance was where we came in.

A Hippo pillow is a sharp rock.

Rocks make better chin scratching places.

Wattled Plover landing

Wattled Plover down safe.

While making a multi-point turn to get her car turned around without falling over the cliff into the water, I asked Antonia, "Do Volvos float?"
She replied, "They don't know....Yet." 

After escaping the cliff, we headed for a big dam.

Capped Wheater

Common Sandpiper

Grey Loerie

The very colourful Violet-eared Waxbill

White-browed Robin Chat

Reed Cormorant, White-breasted Cormorant, Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Whiskered Tern

African Darter

Blacksmith Plover

We saw a Pied Kingfisher, and watched him.

Pied Kingfisher searching for lunch.

He sees something and launches

Finding the prey

Aiming

Diving

He got lunch, but it looks huge.

He kept banging the fish on the branches.

He ate the whole fish.

Then he kept diving into the water and wiping his beak on a branch.

A quick wash

And wiping the beak.

Common Myna

In the hide parking lot a bird went right up to Antonia. 

White-throated Robin Chat

She had trouble focusing at her feet. It grabbed a berry and went under the car. 

We drove to the central restaurant for lunch. There was a Giraffe with many Redbilled Oxpeckers on him.

Giraffe with Red-billed Oxpeckers

Giraffe licking a salt lick.

A noisy Speckled Pigeon

We headed back to the Manyane gate.

Swainson's Spurfowl

I don't know this bird. I suspect a juvenile woodpecker.

On the way to the gate we came across some Cheetahs.

Cheetahs looking for food.

Food spotted, and they quickly disappeared.

End of day 3.

                                Day 4, Sept 27

Our last day in the Game Reserve started at 04:00, so Antonia could get an hours work before the 05:00 load shedding.

We entered the park a bit late at 07:15 because we had to pack up everything.

Just inside the Manyane Gate was a young Wildebeast

And some young Impala

African Reed Warbler

Some Dark-capped Bulbuls

A very cute Blue Waxbill

A Slender Mongoose zooming across the road

Red-winged Starling

A hiding Violet-eared Waxbill

House Sparrow

Some Female Kudu

Radar Ears

Forked Tail Drongo

Forked tail Drongo Diving

Healthy Zebra

Lesser Striped Swallow 

We then drove toward a new (to us) dam.

A herd of Wildebeasts with a lone Zebra.

The Zebra is limping

His leg is torn and damaged

He can't keep up.

Sad. Life is cruel.

Red  Dragon Fly

Reed Darter

As we are leaving the park, we decided on a quick visit to our Favourite Dam.

Egyption Geese

Fish Eagle

Grey Heron

Grey Heron Taking Off

Grey Heron Flying

Grey Heron Flying

Yellow-billed Egret

Then our Elephant buddies showed up to say goodbye.

Playing in a mud hole.

Washing the mud off

The lazy Hippos were there also.

And chasing the Wart Hogs as usual.

Bye Mr.Pigtail

As we drove to the gate, we saw our first Steenbok.

Then his Mate.

The last Picture of our trip. :-(

This trip was 4 days of wonder, pleasure, calmness, and adventure.
Thank You.