Last Updated on December 20, 2021 by Kevin Agar

After months of planning by my wife we finally arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa in the afternoon of the 16th January 2019. We found our transfer after a bit of trouble and were transported to the Airport Game Lodge for the night. A good night’s sleep and with excellent gardens to walk around in the morning, it was a great start to the holiday.

We returned to the airport the following morning to pick up our hire car. From here we drove to Graskop where we stayed at Zur Alten Mine. On the drive we stopped at a service area which was a bit of a surprise as it looked on to a water hole where there were a lot of different animals, including rhinoceros, as well as a few birds.

Managed to get shots of Southern Red Bishop and Masked Weaver although neither were better than ID shots 🙁 but at least they were New Lifers 🙂

Our stay in Graskop was so we could explore the panorama route and to look at the Blyde River Canyon, which is the 3rd biggest canyon in the world. Here are a few shots of the canyon and surrounding area as well as a couple of bird shots.

The Three Rondavels

This had to be one of the best places to eat we have ever found. Very rustic but the ambience was unbelievable.

During the stay in this area we saw :- White necked Raven, African Pied Wagtail, Cape Glossy Starlings, Spotted Flycatcher, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Peregrine Falcon, Steppe Buzzard, White-throated Swallow, Red-winged Starling and Cape White-eye.

Next it’s on to Kruger National Park.

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