Part 4…Night game drive and bush braai didn’t disappoint…Birds and miscellaneous…

The African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus), formerly known as the African Gymnogene, is one of Africa’s most unusual and fascinating birds of prey. It is a medium-sized raptor with a gray body, broad wings, a long tail, and distinctive black-and-white barring on its wings and tail. Its face is bare and often brightly colored, ranging from yellow to orange-red, giving the bird a rather striking appearance.

What makes the African Harrier-Hawk especially interesting is the way it finds food. Unlike many birds of prey that rely mainly on speed and powerful talons, this clever bird uses its unusually flexible legs to reach into holes, crevices, nests, and other hiding places. It can bend its legs backward at the knee joint, allowing it to probe deep into places where other birds cannot reach.

Its varied diet includes small mammals, birds, eggs, reptiles, insects, and nestlings. It is particularly well known for raiding weaver nests and other bird nests, carefully reaching inside to remove eggs or young.

In flight, the African Harrier-Hawk is graceful and easy to recognize by its broad wings, long tail, and contrasting barred pattern. It is often seen soaring above the bushveld or perched quietly in a tree, watching for its next opportunity.

In places such as Marloth Park and the Kruger area, spotting one is always exciting. With its unusual appearance, clever hunting techniques, and remarkably flexible legs, the African Harrier-Hawk is truly one of the more distinctive and entertaining birds of prey in the African bush.

These are the last of the photos from our sunset game drive in Kruger National Park on Thursday, bringing to a close an unforgettable afternoon and evening in the bush. From the remarkable wildlife sightings to the changing colors of the African sky as the sun began to set, every moment offered something special to see and photograph. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic game drive, followed by a delicious bush braai and a wonderful time spent with friends.

Yesterday morning, we headed to Frikkee’s Dam for a bush braai in Lionspruit, the wildlife “conservancy within a conservancy” here in Marloth Park. The braai area is in a lovely setting overlooking a spacious waterhole, where we hoped the water would attract some of the many species living in this part of the bush. There were 12 of us altogether, and everyone brought food to share, including some dishes that had been prepared in advance, along with various meats to be cooked on the braai.

Danie took charge of preparing the open fire, as he so meticulously does, making sure everything would be just right for cooking our lunch. Everyone also brought their preferred beverages, and before long, the conversations were flowing as easily as the drinks. With good friends, plenty of food and such a beautiful setting, we really couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend the day.

The scenery around us was exquisite, and we were fortunate to spot some wildlife while we were there. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed at Frikkie’s Dam, so we were pleased with whatever happened to make an appearance. No, we didn’t see the rhinos, lions or Cape buffalo, but that certainly didn’t prevent us from having a fantastic time. Sometimes it is the setting, the company and the experience itself that makes an outing memorable, rather than checking off a list of animals.

We stayed at the dam for quite a while, enjoying our food, drinks, conversations and the peaceful bush surroundings. We didn’t make it back to the house until late afternoon, and by then everyone was ready for a little downtime. Eventually, the cards came out, as they so often do when we’re all together, and we settled in for another round of fun and plenty of laughter.

Later, we enjoyed leftovers from our wonderful bush braai, followed by some of Peter’s birthday cake. It was a perfect ending to another perfect day with our dear friends, Di and Peter, who will be leaving us in only two days. It’s hard to believe how quickly their visit has gone. We’ve packed a lot of good times into their stay, and we’ll certainly miss having them here.

Today, we’re keeping things a little closer to home. We’ll be cooking a beef roast on the outdoor grill, along with baby potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and a big salad. And, of course, we still have some of Peter’s birthday cake remaining for dessert. I’m sure none of us will complain about that!

After dinner, we’ll once again play cards and enjoy another relaxing evening sitting on the veranda. We’ll make the most of these final days together before Di and Peter depart.

Then, next Sunday, Tom and I will depart Marloth Park for Madagascar on our next visa run. We’ll be gone for a week and, hopefully, will return with another 90-day stamp, allowing us to settle back into our life here in the bush. For now, though, we’re simply enjoying each day as it comes and making the most of our remaining time with our wonderful friends.

Be well.