Wanted to get to the base of the falls but a 22 km round trip would have finished me off completely so stopped and smelled the flowers. This quilted-leaved vernonia Veronia hirsuta had a brightly coloured red and black beetle hiding amongst the flowers which was extremely camera shy.
At elevations of around 1000 m and higher one's likely to bump into this handsome fellow the buff-streaked chat - always accompanied by his partner.
Creaking Gurney's sugarbirds were flitting around the flowering Protea roupelliae but also tended to avoid the camera. Oddly though there doesn't appear to be a common name for this species other than the generic sugarbush - though I'm sure Richard Boon will correct me.
Also showing off his breeding finery was a yellow bishop who flitting and fluffing so much a crisp picture was impossible.
Not quite sure what they were aiming for in the design of the cottages San Chic perhaps or imitation Yak.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to accompany Maralyn to a friends lodge situated on Welgevonden Private reserve in the Waterberg mountains near Vaalwater. This massive 39 000 ha reserve features the big five in a malaria free area and is hence very popular with overseas visitors who spend vast amounts of money to be pampered at one of the 60 odd lodges. Sekgwa, the one we were staying in, was privately owned and slept at least 10. Vehicles are left at the gate and you are transferred by a guide to your accommodation in a game drive vehicle.
The most noticeable thing on the hour's drive to the lodge was the number of rhinos, particularly in this fig tree valley, with nine clustered around one ........
..........three under another and five others scattered about. It is one of the safest places for these not far off extinct unfortunates and they are thus custodians to many "visitors" from more susceptible reserves. Absolutely marvellous to see them in such numbers, long may it last.
After dropping off the cases at the chalet......
.....we were making our way back to the central entertainment area when this small leguaan sized plated lizard crossed the path and gave us the beady eye.........
............and on the game drive later we were fortunate enough to meet up with a magnificent Denham's bustard taking a sedate stroll in search of supper......
........and a while later this little bee-eater showing off it's finery in the late afternoon sun.
An early rise for another drive with the sun not yet out of bed, but due to the very dry conditions there was not much around, however...........
.........later in the day a very Familiar chat absolutely insisted on being photographed. I was then struck down by a dreaded gut bug and spent 48 hours confined to camp.
After recovering sufficiently to join one of the last evening drives we were treated to a pride of lions that were actually active and not just lazing around and soon after these two got up and strolled past within spitting distance and disappeared..........
.......... leaving us to watch the splendid sunset.
Early on the final morning our erstwhile guide Steven Mugabe (a Zimbabwean but no relative he was quick to assure us) located three young cheetah brothers which provided a fascinating diversion. Steven was, without doubt, one of the finest guides I've ever come across, with a broad knowledge base that included the Latin and common names of virtually every tree in the reserve.
The entertainment started with this chap giving odd little mewling calls which resulted in his brother wandering in to join him and the third brother sitting someway off. After a bit more interaction and chat ..........
..........they all sloped off presumably to try and round up a bit of breakfast.
Maralyn and I then flew down to Durban as I was presenting a talk on my travels to the local bird club - many thanks Sue and Giles for the hospitality and to all of you who came to the talk, it was most rewarding. Back in Boksburg news came through of a black-tailed godwit at Marievale which prompted an expedition. The bird proved elusive but was eventually located and coaxed out of it's slumber to reveal it's awesome beak and of course the black tail. When I submitted my atlas card I promptly received a National Rarity Form as it appears none of the dozens of previous spectators had bothered - great, let me do all the work! Not the best picture but I shall return.
And on the subject of who's got the biggest - this African snipe wasn't far behind.
