Our last safari at Nzumba Lodge, Klaserie Reserve, South Africa - looking for Lions

On our final morning we had one last safari at Nzuma before we transferred to our next lodge. We had not seen lion on the previous four safaris or any further Leopard sightings.

Over an early coffee at 5.30am our wonderful guide Stefan informed us that lions had been heard during the night and we were off to try and find them. Both Stefan and our wonderful tracker Vusi carefully studied the dirt tracks for prints but after an hour there was still no sign. Then out of the blue Vusi spots two males around 100 metres away behind some trees and it was all systems go, to go see them at closer range.

We had brief but good close views of both lions before they hot pawed it into the bush and could not be located. We spent the next couple of hours looking for the rest of the pride. Stefan and Vusi, went on foot and found another male near a kill but it ran as soon as it saw them and could not be relocated.     
 

It was time to get back to the lodge, finish packing and make our way to our  next destination. 

About Nzumba:

• 60 species of birds seen
• White Rhino, (1) seen briefly by torch light on way back to camp, lions, leopard, wild dogs, hippo, crocodile, giraffe (many), zebra (very few), warthog, hyena, jackal, kudu, impala and waterbuck

Nzuma was a great location for our first stop. We saw 4 of the Big 5 (not Buffalo) but we had to work for it. The lodge itself is superb. The accommodation was very comfortable, and the food just could not have been better. 

High tea

Each day we got a 5.30am knock for our 6am safari. Hot drinks, muffins and breakfast was provided. It is winter in South Africa now so at 6am it was cold. For the first couple of hours we needed layers,  hats and gloves. During the day it got up to a a nice 25/26c. During our morning safari we would usually find a safe spot to stop for more drinks and snacks, before getting back around 10.15am, just in time for a lovely and massive breakfast. We then had a few hours to ourselves, before high tea was served at 3.30pm. Stuffed we then headed out on our afternoon safari. As the sun disappeared over the horizon we'd stop for a hot drink or cold beer etc, if you prefer, getting back at 7ish, for a quick shower before a sumptuous evening meal, served communally with other guests if there are any. The lodge has three rooms so it is never crowded.  

This lodge really was fantastic and could not be faulted. 5/5!         

    

Nzuma Lodge, Klaserie Reserve, South Africa - part 2

Our second full day was dominated by African Wild Dogs. The African Wild Dog is one of the most endangered mammals in Africa, with a small population of just a few thousand, dropping in numbers year on year. During our evening safari we encountered a pack on 7 individuals on the hunt. We followed the pack for around 2 hours. At one point they were hot on the hooves of an Impala which luckily got away. Seeing a successful Wild Dog hunt and kill is rare, and we were told is very violent and brutal with the unfortunate animal caught, pulled limb from limb and eaten alive, although our guide assured us death is quick. We were quite pleased to miss out on that to be honest.
           

 

10 meters behind an Impala 

The first of many Lilac Breasted Rollers (c50 seen)

Record shot of a Magpie Shrike

Zebra were surprisingly scarce 

We ended the evening safari with this impressive Verreaux's Eagle Owl - the only owl seen on our entire trip

  

Nzumba Lodge, Klaserie Reserve, South Africa - part 1

On out very first safari we came across this beautiful Leopard. At the time we didn't realise how lucky we were with other guests struggling to connect with this species during their entire stay.
 

Red Crested Koorhan (the Suicide bird)

Dark Chanting Goshawk - one of the more common raptors seen in South Africa    

Impala visiting the watering hole

Tawny Eagle - one of around half a dozen seen on the trip 

African Fish Eagle - again around half a dozen seen

Southern Red Billed Hornbill (Zazu from The Lion King)  

South Africa - 3 camp safari, July 2018 - introduction

Our annual family holiday usually involves some sort of wildlife watching, even if it just a well chosen location for some decent birding, but this year we went for it with a 9 night, 3 camp, 3 reserve safari in South Africa.

As has become usual we booked via The Responsible Travel Company, who put us in touch with On Track Safari. We (myself, my wife and grown up kids, Sophie (20) and Jamie (18), flew into Johannesburg then had an 11 hour (yes 11 hours) by road to get us to our first camp. In hindsight we should have flown up. At the end of the holiday we flew back down (45 mins) and it was not massively expensive.

Itinerary:

1. Nzuma Lodge, Klaserie Reserve, 3 nights - 5 safaris, https://www.klaseriecamps.com/nzumba

2. Rukiya Camp, Wild Rivers Nature Reserve, 3 nights - 6 safaris, https://www.rukiyacamp.com

3. Tangala Safari Camp, Thornybush Reserve, 3 nights, 6 safaris -  http://tangalasafaricamp.co.za

Each camp and each reserve were quite different. Overall we were very glad we went to Tangala last as it is on a much bigger reserve with more vehicles, although not too many, and therefore we got more news and saw more animals. The game viewing at the other sites may have seemed like hard work after seeing so much at Tangala, so in retrospect we were very happy with the order of our itinerary.

Overall we had a great time and saw loads. The only major target we missed out on was Cheetah, but we saw plenty of fantastic animals and around 110 species of birds.     
       

Ornate Hawk Eagle, Arenal, Costa Rica

Found this beauty on a walk around Arenal. It was sitting just 30 feet away when we walked out on to a viewing platform.  One of just two seen all trip.

Resplendent Quetzal - San Gerardo, Costa Rica

After a night in San Jose, we picked up the hire car and headed to the cloud forest. We stayed 2 nights at Trogon Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, a prime location for most birders number one target bird in Costa Rica; the Resplendent Quetzal. One was seen at the lodge within an hour of arriving although it was the following morning when taken to a private site, when cracking views of up to 6 birds were had.              

Red Footed Falcon Vange Marsh RSPB

I'm back. Over 6 months since my last post. A combination of a lack of birding home or abroad and training for a half marathon and marathon has resulted in not a lot of interest to write a post about.

It hasn't been all work and no play. Two weeks ago Hawky and I had a day at Dungeness, Kent, and year ticked Wood Warbler, Black Tern and on the way home saw the Meena form of Oriental Turtle Dove, which one day if split from Orientalis, could be a mega armchair tick.

Yesterday, I was at Abberton Reservoir to get my first tick of the year, a Franklin's Gull. It never came close but provided ok scope views. (BOU 421).

Today turned out to be great. News of 2 Black Winged Stilts at Vange Marsh, just 30 minutes away meant I would do my planned supermarket at the store just 5 minutes from that site and not my local one. Jamie and I (my son now 16) headed off and was on site soon after, the stilts were easy to locate and showed well through the scope. After 30 minutes or so in the supermarket as we left to come home, Hawky calls to ask me if I was still in the areas as a Red Footed Falcon had been found back at Vange Marsh. We were 200 yards away! We parked up and 10 minutes later we were enjoying great views of my 4th Red Foot. This female being my second. We enjoyed cracking views for 30 minutes before heading home to unpack the shopping!