Back to the Lowveld

11 February 2021 - Kruger Park Lodge; Day 1

Last year we banked our timeshare due to Covid restrictions. Early thus year we were able to redeem our banked week, for a week at Kruger Park Lodge in Hazyview. The Lodge has a 9-hole Gary Player designed golf course and the Sabie River running through the property along with all the other amenities you would expect for this type of property.

We had arrived in the afternoon the day before, driving in convoy with my son and his mate. It took the whole afternoon to finally settle in, as we had to change our accommodation, as it was not up to the standard we expected for a property of this stature.

Our first day was spent in and around the Lodge, exploring what was on offer. But I started with an early morning walk to get acquainted with the habitat and what might be seen. Kruger Park Lodge is a lot more manicured than Ngwenya Lodge and in turn I didn't see as many species as I expected. Nevertheless, it was still good to be back in the bush for a welcome break.

Outside our chalet, I found a few species in the canopy, enjoying the early morning sun. There were Collared Sunbirds

Male Collared Sunbird (Hedydipna collaris)

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Yellow-breasted Apalis (Apalis flavida)

And a relatively obliging Purple-crested Turaco

Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus)

We had some riverine habitat next to our chalet and although there were few birds, I did get some invertebrates; Many Common Bush Brown's

Common Bush Brown (Bicyclus s. safitza)

A Common Zebra Blue

Common Zebra Blue (Leptotes p. pirithous)

An exquisite male Glistening Demoiselle in the gloom of the forest

Male Glistening Demoiselle (Phaon iridipennis)

and Spider webs galore

Watch where you walk!

along with some delicate forest flowers

Forest flower

Walking along the fairways of the golf course, the resident herd of Impala put on a show - galloping and jumping/pronking from one end to the other

Impala (Aepyceros melampus)

The Impala flushed an African Pied Wagtail which conveniently landed on one of the tee-boxes

African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp)

On the edges of the fairways, I found a couple of White-fronted Bee-eaters soaking up the morning sun with their gorgeous blue vents

White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides)

And a skulking White-browed Robin-Chat near one of the swimming pools and the only one I was able to see well and photograph in the whole week

White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini)

Overhead there were a couple of Hirundine species with White-rumped Swift in the mix

White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer)

Of course, I checked the Butterflies which were starting to appear as it warmed up; finding a female Brown Pansy

Female Brown Pansy (Junonia n. natalica)

and a Soldier Pansy

Soldier Pansy (Junonia terea elgiva)

There were quite a few dams on the property and these were a haven for quite a few species of Dragonfly - the majority were Julia Skimmers

Male Julia Skimmer (Orthetrum julia falsum)

Female Julia Skimmer (Orthetrum julia falsum)

Male and Female Julia Skimmer (Orthetrum julia falsum)

But I also found the distinctive Phantom Flutterer

Phantom Flutterer (Rhyothemis semihyalina)

So, an enjoyable and chilled first day to kick-off our week in the Lowveld