As was to be expected, I was in no mood to pack up my tent and prepare to leave Kruger. I did so very reluctantly, and all too soon I headed south. While I drove, I tried to forget where I was driving to, and just focused on enjoying my last hours in Kruger.
I came across a little animal party. There were a few Giraffes, Zebras and Impalas.
I love all the faces of the beautiful Kruger animals.
There were also a few birds around. An African Hawk Eagle made a quick dash across the road. There were more Drongos, Magpie Shrikes, Lilac-breasted Rollers and a gorgeous European Bee-eater.
I stopped at the Letaba river bridge. A Pied Kingfisher was hovering next to the bridge.
The view reminded me of one of my happiest moments in Kruger.
I stopped next to the rive just before I reached Letaba. There was a lot going on in the riverbed.
Just before Letaba I came across Impalas, Baboons, a White-fronted Bee-eater and some Giraffes.
I stopped at Letaba for a quick break. The bird list in camp was as long as my arm. The list started with a Grey-headed Sparrow, Dark-Capped Bulbul a Violet-backed Starling and a Cardinal Woodpecker.
As I walked to the River I saw a Cape Starling, Laughing Dove, Red-billed Hornbill and Natal Spurfowl. At the fence along the river I saw Red-winged Starlings, heard a Burchell’s Coucal and saw some Buffalo Weavers. I spotted Yellow-billed Storks and Water Thick-knees in the riverbed while White-rumped Swifts flew overhead.
As I walked back to the car I saw a Yellow-billed Hornbill with a small snack.
Just past the 4-way stop there was a massive elephant eating from a tree. The sight of him breaking off a large branch was breathtaking.
I had a number of great sightings during the first half of the trip to the gate. At one of the river crossings I spotted a Saddle-billed Stork.
A little further on was another herd of buffalos.
I saw a Hooded Vulture high above me in the sky – one of the very few vultures I saw. More Zebras were looking pretty.
The sightings gradually dried up as I drove further away from Letaba. The last few sightings included a Sabota Lark, a Lilac-breasted Roller.
And then a Kudu. It looked so much like the Kudu I saw when I entered the Park a few days before, and it was in the same area. I wondered if it was the same Kudu, but even if it wasn’t, it was such a fitting end to another absolutely wonderful Kruger Trip.