Atlasville, 08 Jun 2005

Just spent 3 nights at the Mount Sheba Cottages near Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga, our second visit, having spent the same weekend here one year ago. Mount Sheba has some excellent walks through indigenous rainforest, which boasts some birds which are locally common but scarce elsewhere. I was fortunate enough on my day of walking the trails to see Chorister Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Orange Ground Thrush and Lemon Dove for only the second time having seen each here for the first time during last year’s visit. Olive Woodpecker was the only lifer at Mount Sheba this trip. I can recommend the 5 km circular trail that takes you past the Marco’s Mantle waterfall. One of the main attractions is the rare Samango Monkey, which was also seen.

When you are just over an hour’s drive from the Kruger Park it makes no sense not to pay a visit, so we spent our second day in the southern part of the Park, entering at Phabeni Gate. We made sure to call in at Lake Panic Bird Hide near Skukuza. The Lake Panic hide has become almost a pilgrimage for us, it is one of those gems that no trip to the southern Kruger is complete without. Whether it is birds, larger game or dragonflies, there is always something to bring you back next time. This time was no exception as I ticked off Lesser Honeyguide (lifer) in the hide’s parking area.

Being winter there are none of the northern hemisphere migrant bird species present, but nevertheless a day total of 75 species was not too bad. Always good to see African Green Pigeon, Brown-headed Parrot, Gabar Goshawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk and Shelley's Francolin.