South Africa - Kruger

Naturetrek Tour Report 18 - 26 October 2019

Lion African Bush Elephants and African Buffalo

Baby African Bush Elephant Spotted Hyaena

Report & images by Gavin Sims

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report South Africa - Kruger

Tour participants: Gavin Sims and Dave Lovell (Leaders) with 12 Naturetrek clients

Summary

“Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it? How can you explain the fascination of this vast, dusty continent, whose oldest roads are elephant paths?” Brian Jackman

Twelve nature lovers and two safari guides decided to explore these paths in one of the few remaining bastions of large (and small ) mammals visited the Kruger National Park to search for many species, iconic and not so iconic, large and small, in conditions ranging from cold to hot, dry to wet. Temperatures ranged from 18 deg C to 42 deg C, which did have an effect on sightings, although mainly positive with a good number of sightings when we expected far fewer. We had cats, many herbivores and amazing birds and reptiles. We did look at some plants and geology too, and the way they affect mammal distribution and did our best to complete the picture of this wonderful environment called Africa.

Day 1 Friday 18th October

Members of the group had either already arrived in Johannesburg or arrived on overnight flights to O R Tambo International Airport from London Heathrow.

Day 2 Saturday 19th October

Dullstroom The group were collected from O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg and surrounding hotels for the start of the Mammals Tour. Due to flight arrival times we were unable to proceed to Rietvlei Nature Reserve, so travelled on to Alzu Rest Stop for a welcome lunch break, with the benefit of seeing the residents of the attached game farm i.e. Cape Buffalo, White Rhinoceros, Sable, Blesbok, Cape Eland, Oryx (Gemsbok), Plains Zebra, Ostriches and a few exotic Emus. The weather was forecast to be warm (31 degrees Celcius) cloudy to partly cloudy with a 7% chance of rain and the approaching highveld thunderstorms, so characteristic at this time of year, followed us down on our route to Dullstroom. We were able to stop to appreciate some waterfowl on a large dam too. We had hoped to see some wildlife on the way but the inclement weather and storm potential seemed to thwart us, with a total of just four mammals!

We arrived in Dullstroom late afternoon, allowing for some relaxation time after checking into the Old Transvaal Inn, before a 7pm dinner and a much needed good night’s rest.

Mammals for the day: Four plus seven in an open captive situation at Alzu Rest Stop

Day 3 Sunday 20th October

Satara, Kruger Park We awoke in Dullstroom to a beautiful clear and warm morning... a reminder of the much warmer temperatures we were heading to en route for Satara. We left the Old Transvaal Inn after breakfast, and headed for the Abel

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

Erasmus Pass, making a brief, but productive stop just before the Strydom Tunnel. The cliff faces are the only accessible South African site to view the very rare Taita Falcon (less than 500 breeding pairs globally!). We didn’t see one...but two! One falcon (ably assisted by a Yellow-billed Kite), was also seen mobbing a Crowned Eagle - a highlight for the morning, even for our mammal enthusiasts! We arrived at Orpen gate around 13.30, where we boarded our Open Safari vehicles and were shortly treated to the highlight of the day...a pack of African Hunting Dogs, Africa’s second rarest carnivore, right in front of Orpen Camp.

The afternoon was hot, 40 degrees C, when we arrived, yet the “dry” bed of the Tinbavati River, next to our route, came up trumps with many elephants digging for water, Zebras, Cape Buffaloes and Giraffe. We ended up with a tally of 19 mammals, one of which was seen outside the Kruger National Park, on a private game farm. A hot but productive day was had by all, and once at Satara Rest Camp, we enjoyed an al fresco dinner and headed for a well earned night’s sleep.

Mammals for the day: 14

Day 4 Monday 21st October

Satara, Kruger Park We awoke at Satara to a clear day which the weather forecast had assured us would turn into a scorcher! We left on our first game drive of the day, heading for the Sweni water point and were rewarded with a classic “African tableau” of Wildebeest, Zebras and Cape Buffalo drinking. They were shortly joined by several herds of Elephants and a pair of Kori Bustards. The drama continued with the arrival of some Lions on the other side of the river, attempting, unsuccessfully, to catch a Giraffe. They settled down under a tree...hardly surprising as the temperature had already climbed to 33 degrees Celsius by 09.00!

After a delicious brunch, we drove to the famous “Lion Road” of the Kruger, the S100. We were not disappointed, coming across a group of Lionesses and six cubs. The sun was the winner, and by 12.30 we returned to camp with temperatures in the low 40’s! With some trepidation as regards animal sightings in the afternoon heat, we left camp at 3pm with a temperature of 45degC, travelling north... and we were all pleasantly surprised to see an abundance of plains game, Elephants (including one of the “emerging tuskers”), Hyena and cubs, a brief Leopard sighting, along with many vultures and, once again, Kori Bustards and Ostriches. The hot weather brought in a cold front, and our al fresco dinner was enjoyed with an accompanying meteorological orchestra of thunder and lightning...and a few drops of rain. Some of us went on a night drive and were lucky enough to see White Rhinoceros, Civet, and both species of genet.

(The guides, not on the night drive, were visited by an African Wild Cat (well known in Satara), close to their chalet.) Mammals for the day: 23

2 © Naturetrek November 19

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

Day 5 Tuesday 22nd October

Lower Sabie, Kruger Park This morning the promised cold front had arrived! It was colder, cloudy and drizzly with an early morning temperature of 20 deg C, which plummeted to 18 deg C and remained there for the duration of our long drive down to Lower Sabie. Such days are not the best for game viewing...but were we in for a surprise! Our pre- breakfast drive was spent with three Lions and their Buffalo kill, accompanying vultures and a couple of Black- backed Jackals.

After loading our luggage...and ourselves...we proceeded to Lower Sabie via Tshokwane picnic site. Our drive down yielded a further four Lion sightings and a memorable Leopard very close to the vehicle. We saw Elephants, Rhinos, plains game, Buffaloes...in fact a total of 24 mammal species on a cold and dreary day. Africa is always full of surprises.

We arrived at Lower Sabie Camp in the late afternoon, hoping for the promised higher temperatures and dryer weather tomorrow. Mammals for the day: 24

Day 6 Wednesday 23rd October

Lower Sabie, Kruger Park The cold weather stayed with us this morning with a promise of clearer and warmer weather later in the day. We enjoyed early morning coffee/tea and decided to go and see which fauna had also decided to brave the chilly temperatures. Despite the drizzle, we managed to see 13 mammal species, but no predators, before breakfast, after which we had a long and welcome break after yesterday’s long journey down. Sunset dam was the highlight of the morning, with many Hippos and birdlife.

The afternoon drive was in much better, though windy, weather. We were however rewarded with a Honey Badger and a couple of Leopards. Mammals for the day: 23

Day 7 Thursday 24th October

Pretoriuskop, Kruger Park The weather forecast promised us a much warmer day with clear skies...sadly the weather forecasters were wrong (again!) and the morning was again cloudy. Our morning drive was mainly graced with herbivores but the highlight of the morning was not a mammalian predator, but a bird...a Martial Eagle with its most unusual prey...a Barn Owl! We packed up the trailer with luggage, had a good breakfast and headed up to Skukuza.

The day started to warm up and we were rewarded with several Lion sightings and a Leopard. Elephants were abundant too, as were Buffalo along the Sabie River.

We continued, after lunch, for Pretoriuskop Camp for the final two nights of the trip.

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

The afternoon drive was fairly quiet sightings wise, but we did get to see several Sable Antelope and had a further Lion sighting at Shithlave Dam. Taking the unpredictable spring weather into account, and its effect on animal sightings, we were pleasantly surprised to see the number of species we did. Mammals for the day: 25

Day 8 Friday 25th October

Pretoriuskop, Kruger Park Once again the morning began with cool temperatures and cloud...with a promise of much hotter temperatures later in the day. We opted for a long morning drive so as to avoid the heat later and paid a visit to Transport Dam, where we enjoyed interactions between a White Rhino, Wildebeest, Impalas and Hippos. Crocodiles, Fish Eagles, a Warthog and a Nile Monitor Lizard put in appearances too. The highlights of the morning were surely the White Rhino grazing close to the vehicle, then crossing the road in front of us, and watching an active Hyena den. Despite the fact that a natural lightning fire had passed through the area a week before, we ended the morning with a respectable haul of 15 mammal species.

We opted for a midday break due to the heat, and went out later for our penultimate game drive in Kruger. The elusive Klipspingers showed themselves and we watched some amazing Elephant interaction between a bachelor herd of 10 males...with the bonus of watching them demolish two trees to eat. A pleasant drive with the smell of impending rain, known as petrichor with us all the time. Mammals for the day: 15

Day 9 Saturday 26th October

Rietvlei Nature Reserve and Johannesburg, O R Tambo Airport We left Pretoriuskop Camp after breakfast, heading for Phabeni Gate where one of the group left us for a different destination, and we changed vehicles and headed for Pretoria and the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Once again the Alzu Rest Stop, where we had lunch, proved interesting...especially a nearby dam with flamingos and other waterfowl.

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve provided us with some new species such as the Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeeste and Blesbok in addition to some amazing bird species, all not found in the Kruger National Park. An amazing short tour, in a remarkable nature reserve, surrounded by urbanisation.

We arrived at O R Tambo International Airport at 18.00 where the group headed for their respective flights. Mammals for the day: 15

Day 10 Sunday 27th October

Overnight flight to the UK

4 © Naturetrek November 19

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

Species Lists

Mammals (✓=recorded but not counted)

October Common name Scientific name 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1 African Bush Elephant Loxodonta africana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus pygerythrus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4 Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis ✓ 5 Smith's Bush Squirrel Paraxerus cepapi ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Lion Panthera leo ✓ ✓ ✓ 7 Leopard Panthera pardus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8 Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata ✓ 9 Common Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguineus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 11 Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 12 African Civet Civettictis civetta ✓ 13 Small-spotted Genet Genetta genetta ✓ 14 Central African Large-spotted Genet Genetta maculata ✓ 15 Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas ✓ ✓ ✓ 16 African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus ✓ 17 Honey Badger Mellivora capensis ✓ 18 Plains Zebra Equus quagga burchellii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 19 White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 20 Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 21 Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 22 Impala Aepyceros melampus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 23 Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis ✓ 24 Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou ✓ 25 Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 26 Blesbok Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi ✓ ✓ 27 Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger ✓ 28 Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 29 Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus ✓ 30 Steenbok Raphicerus campestris 31 Sharpe's Grysbok Raphicerus sharpei ✓ 32 Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 33 African Buffalo Syncerus caffer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 34 Common Eland Taurotragus oryx ✓ 35 Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus ✓ ✓ ✓ 36 Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 37 Nyala Tragelaphus angasii ✓ ✓ ✓ 38 Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 39 Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat Epomophorus crypturus ✓ 40 Pipistrelle sp Pipistrellus sp ✓ ✓ ✓ 41 Egyptian Freetailed Bat Tadarida aegyptiaca ✓ ✓ ✓

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

October Common name Scientific name 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Birds

1 Common Ostrich Struthio camelus ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis ✓ 3 Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos ✓ 4 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii ✓ 6 African Black Duck Anas sparsa ✓ 7 Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata ✓ 8 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 11 Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 12 Common Quail Coturnix coturnix ✓ 13 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ✓ ✓ 14 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus ✓ 15 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus ✓ 16 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis ✓ ✓ ✓ 17 African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus ✓ ✓ 18 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus ✓ 19 Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis ✓ ✓ 20 African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus ✓ 21 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 22 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus ✓ ✓ 23 African Spoonbill Platalea alba ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 24 Striated Heron Butorides striata ✓ 25 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 26 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 27 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala ✓ 28 Goliath Heron Ardea goliath ✓ ✓ 29 Great Egret Ardea alba ✓ 30 Little Egret Egretta garzetta ✓ ✓ ✓ 31 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 32 Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus ✓ ✓ 33 White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus ✓ ✓ 34 African Darter Anhinga rufa ✓ ✓ 35 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 36 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus ✓ ✓ ✓ 37 White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 38 Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres ✓ 39 White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis ✓ 40 Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos ✓ ✓ ✓ 41 Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 42 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 43 Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus ✓ 44 Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

October Common name Scientific name 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 45 Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis ✓ 46 Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 47 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 48 Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus ✓ 49 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar ✓ 50 Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates ✓ ✓ 51 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 52 African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 53 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo ✓ ✓ 54 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori ✓ ✓ 55 Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 56 Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster ✓ ✓ 57 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 58 African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis ✓ 59 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus ✓ 60 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata ✓ 61 Common Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus ✓ 62 Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 63 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 64 Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 65 White-crowned Lapwing Vanellus albiceps ✓ ✓ 66 Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 67 African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus ✓ ✓ ✓ 68 Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius ✓ 69 Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 70 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 71 African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis ✓ 72 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia ✓ ✓ ✓ 73 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 74 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos ✓ ✓ 75 Little Stint Calidris minuta ✓ 76 Ruff Philomachus pugnax ✓ 77 Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus ✓ ✓ 78 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida ✓ 79 White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus ✓ 80 Rock Dove Columba livia ✓ 81 Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea ✓ ✓ ✓ 82 Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens ✓ ✓ ✓ 83 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata ✓ 84 Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 85 Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 86 Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 87 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis ✓ ✓ ✓ 88 African Green Pigeon Treron calvus ✓ 89 Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus ✓ ✓ 90 Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

October Common name Scientific name 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 91 Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchellii ✓ ✓ ✓ 92 Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius ✓ 93 African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis ✓ 94 Western Barn Owl Tyto alba ✓ 95 Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum ✓ ✓ 96 African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense ✓ 97 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus ✓ ✓ 98 Little Swift Apus affinis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 99 White-rumped Swift Apus caffer ✓ 100 Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus ✓ 101 Purple Roller Coracias naevius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 102 Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 103 Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 104 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti ✓ 105 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima ✓ ✓ 106 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 107 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus ✓ 108 White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides ✓ ✓ ✓ 109 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 110 African Hoopoe Upupa africana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 111 Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus ✓ ✓ ✓ 112 Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas ✓ 113 Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri ✓ ✓ ✓ 114 Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 115 Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 116 Crowned Hornbill Lophoceros alboterminatus ✓ 117 African Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 118 Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus ✓ 119 Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 120 Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni ✓ 121 Bearded Woodpecker Chloropicus namaquus ✓ 122 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens ✓ ✓ ✓ 123 Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha ✓ 124 Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus ✓ 125 Chinspot Batis Batis molitor ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 126 White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus ✓ ✓ 127 Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti ✓ 128 Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus ✓ ✓ ✓ 129 Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis ✓ 130 Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus ✓ 131 Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 132 Brubru Nilaus afer ✓ 133 Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 134 Southern Fiscal Lanius collaris ✓ 135 Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus ✓ 136 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

October Common name Scientific name 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 137 Cape Crow Corvus capensis ✓ 138 Pied Crow Corvus albus ✓ 139 Southern Black Tit Melaniparus niger ✓ 140 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucotis ✓ 141 Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota ✓ ✓ ✓ 142 Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana ✓ ✓ 143 Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea ✓ 144 Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola ✓ 145 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 146 White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis ✓ 147 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii ✓ ✓ 148 Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula ✓ 149 Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata ✓ ✓ 150 Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 151 Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 152 Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 153 Lazy Cisticola Cisticola aberrans ✓ 154 Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 155 Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens ✓ 156 Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla ✓ 157 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis ✓ ✓ 158 Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus ✓ 159 Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii ✓ 160 Rufous-winged Cisticola Cisticola galactotes ✓ 161 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 162 Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura ✓ 163 Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii ✓ ✓ ✓ 164 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis ✓ ✓ 165 Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 166 Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 167 Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus ✓ ✓ ✓ 168 Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 169 Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor ✓ 170 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster ✓ 171 Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio ✓ 172 Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 173 Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus ✓ 174 Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana ✓ 175 Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus ✓ 176 Karoo Thrush Turdus smithi ✓ 177 White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys ✓ ✓ ✓ 178 White-throated Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis ✓ 179 Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis ✓ 180 White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala ✓ 181 White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali ✓ 182 House Sparrow Passer domesticus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

South Africa - Kruger Tour Report

October Common name Scientific name 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 183 Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus ✓ 184 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 185 Yellow-throated Petronia Gymnoris superciliaris ✓ 186 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger ✓ ✓ 187 Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis ✓ 188 Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius ✓ ✓ ✓ 189 Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus ✓ ✓ 190 Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 191 Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris ✓ 192 Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens ✓ 193 Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne ✓ ✓ 194 Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba ✓ ✓ 195 Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala ✓ 196 African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata ✓ ✓ 197 Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 198 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild ✓ ✓ 199 Dusky Indigobird Vidua funerea ✓ 200 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura ✓ ✓ 201 Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis ✓ ✓ 202 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp ✓ ✓ 203 Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus ✓ ✓ ✓ 204 African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus ✓ 205 Bushveld Pipit Anthus caffer ✓ 206 Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica ✓ ✓ 207 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi ✓ 208 Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Reptiles

East African Serrated Mud Turtle, Pelusios sinuatus Cape Dwarf Gecko, Lygodactylus capensis Large-scale Snake Lizard, Chamaesaura macrolepis Highveld Crag Lizard, Cordylus melanotus Sekukhune Flat Lizard, Platysaurus orientalis White-throated Monitor, Varanus albigularis Nile Crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus

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