Set within the central area of Kruger Nationwide Park dominated by miombo woodland, Letaba restcamp is without doubt one of the camps I visited with my household most regularly on journeys to the park again once we lived in South Africa. This publish is considered one of a number of on birding in and round some camps in Kruger that I bear in mind most fondly. Letaba is considered one of these due to the superb vary of species that may simply be discovered contained in the camp, with many further memorable sightings on recreation drives within the space.
If you happen to want a break from driving for a day or only a morning, strolling across the camp may be very rewarding. Aside from the views over the river the place some good issues can flip up, I’ve had very close-up sightings of Little Sparrowhawk, Inexperienced-winged Pytilia, Crimson-capped and White-browed Robin-Chats, and Pale Flycatcher, to call just some that come to thoughts. The camp can be wonderful for bushshrikes, with Sulpur-breasted and Gray-headed Bushshrikes simply seen. I as soon as noticed the latter having difficulties swallowing a roosting bat it had caught!
Like in most camps, the compulsory aloes across the camp reception had been in style with sunbirds and different species reminiscent of Black-headed Orioles. Collared Sunbirds had been widespread right here, and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds had been round as nicely. The deep black of those birds contrasting with their scarlet chest is just stunnning, however I discover it difficult to {photograph} with out over-exposing the lighter areas or under-exposing the black plumage.
As a rule, a recreation drive on this space resulted in at the very least one particular sighting. One time, this was a Hamerkop – already a enjoyable species to observe once they’re not doing something – gulping down a frog it had caught in a small stream. I like that the form of the invoice gives the look of a slight smile of satisfaction gained from this productive catch.
Certainly one of our highlights as soon as was coming throughout an analogous stream that had nearly dried out, with a small pool remaining. Saddle-billed, Yellow-billed, and Black Storks gathered right here along with Hamerkop and varied egrets and herons, to grab the fish that had concentrated right here. We got here throughout Black Storks a number of occasions on this space in actual fact, together with three of those birds perched on a useless tree at dawn (featured picture). The a number of waterways on this space are a magnet for birds within the drier months, however species just like the Three-banded Plover reside right here all year-round. Watching considered one of these birds having organized a set of antelope droppings round its nest scrape to have its eggs mix into the environment was considered one of my favorite sightings of this cute wader.
removed from all species depend on the moister areas although, with Kori Bustards being notably widespread within the sparsely vegetated areas. Striding round in a sluggish, intentional method is typical of those birds and, along with their giant measurement, generally makes these birds practically intimidating.
The world round Letaba all the time delivered – each by way of recreation viewing and birding, with the vary of environments creating a lot of niches for waterbirds, species restricted to woodlands, and people preferring drier open areas. Provided that the camp is so productive as nicely, that is an space warranting greater than only a day’s value exploring.
