Girivana Loop via the Msemani Dam on the H7
Msemani Dam and Girivana Loop. Waypoints 274 to 277 ... H7, S12 and the S40 Loop Close to Satara Camp
After completing the
exciting S90 and
S100 loop we crossed the main H1-4 tar road to complete the much
shorter route that would take us down the S7 then onto the S12 and then
the S40 before taking the S7 and H1-4 back to Satara Camp. After the
earlier sightings this loop turned out to be a bit of anti-climax but
the next day on a night drive we were to see a magnificent male Lion and
an Leopard also. |
The loop is within a well wooded area and surrounds a
number of small streams all of which drain into the Nsemani Dam at the south east corner of the loop and
which is at an elevation around 20 metres lower than the surrounding bush.. |
Waypoint 274 is the Nsemani Dam. The road passes over the dam wall. Close to
the point was a beautiful Giraffe which was not at all photo-shy. There were
many baboons patrolling the far bank and sharing the space with a number of
Hippo out of the water. |
The Giraffe above was in company with a
Purple Roller
and this was the first sighting of this bird I'd seen in 2 visits. |
Close to the above waypoint was a tree containing the nests of
Red-billed
Buffalo-Weavers. These birds have communal nesting habits building their
nests normally on the northern side of larger trees in order to avoid
the prevailing south easterly winds. On a day when the sun is not
shining then this fact can be used to help navigation for those walking
in dense areas. |
We turned off onto the Girivana (name of a chief who lived near here at some stage in the
early 1900's) S12 loop at waypoint 275. A dry stream bed was crossed at waypoint
276. |
Waypoint 277 ... is the water hole just after the river crossing above and
the picture shows a nice Umbrella Thorntree in the background reflecting nicely
in the late afternoon light. 2
Black
Crakes were patrolling the far bank.We made our way back to Satara after completing the loop stopping to enjoy the antics of the baboons at Nsemani Dam. |
