Africa Cam, #3

[uppityperson]

#1 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5906753
#2 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5912187&mesg_id=5912187


Cam link to WMP http://live.wildlife.wavelit.net/451OK
They did a scan of the site and this is a camera and satellite dish on a tree, wires winding to a metal box on the ground. No people around.

More info on this cam, looks like it is in a Game Reserve (Sabi Sands) which is next to Kruger National Park, looks like the animals wander back and forth freely. Lots of lodges nearby, with varied trails for hiking or for vehicles (including some labeled "bushman").

http://www.wavelit.com/index.asp?ch=Wildlife&sh=africam

Nkorho Pan is brought to you by Africam.com, ranked as one of the top African wildlife sites on the web. We pioneered the live web cam industry in Africa back in 1998 when we broadcast live images from some of the wildest places on the continent. This was a world first and fast gained popularity world wide. Technology has moved on and we are proud to bring you the first of our live streaming cameras on the Africam Wildlife Channel.

Nkorho Pan is a natural water hole in the prestigious Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, in South Africa. Nkorho pan is named after Nkorho bush Lodge which gets it name from the Shangaan derivative for the call of the yellow-billed hornbill, a common and unusual looking bird from this area.

Kruger Ntl Park website http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger /

Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights – this is real Africa.

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, SANParks - Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man's interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is very evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets.

[SeattleGirl]

1. Thanks again, for starting a new thread, uppityperson.

When threads get to 100, it can be a bit frustrating. And I have internet cable.

And I love, love, love Africam!

[uppityperson]

2. noisy!

I have to keep refreshing since the noise continues and the video freezes. Those hyena closeups were cool. It is neat, thinking that these animals are just out there living, like my deer and coyotes and squirrels and raccoons. Just where they are, no zoo, no cages, just lots of noisy birds and wild animals.

[charlie and algernon]

3. yup, best part of it

no zoos, no cages

absolutely, totally wild

[SeattleGirl]

4. Agree with both of you -- seeing them in the wild is beautiful.

I've shared this site with several people, and they think it is really cool also. I wish my youngest sister had a computer so that she could watch it with my nephew. He would love it!

[grasswire]

12. I gotta say...

...that those giraffe last night, eating leaves in the dappled light with their beautiful dappled hides on display, well, that was unbelievably beautiful. Just stunning.

[SeattleGirl]

15. It was, wasn't it? I couldn't take my eyes of them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Where are the lions?

I want lions.

[charlie and algernon]

6. hyena territory

no lions here

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Kruger Park's web site says there are 1,500 lions and 1,000 leopards.

Bring 'em on.

[charlie and algernon]

11. awsome

[uppityperson]

7. person I got it from has seen lions and water buffalo too.

think you have to watch for days to see what happens as this is the wilderness.

[grasswire]

9. did you see the note about elephants this morning?

One person I know saw one, and another person saw three earlier. She got her 12-year-old out of his lazy bed in the morning by telling him about the elephants. He munched his cereal while watching them, fascinated.

[Road Scholar]

10. WOW! Outstanding!

[uppityperson]

13. moneys running down a hill?

something smallish

[grasswire]

21. I think those were birds

I made that same mistake yesterday, thinking that some running birds were monkeys.

[uppityperson]

14. I grew up reading Tarzan books and wishing to go to Africa

Kreegah! Running amongst the lions and apes and all the amazonian gold! What a life! OK, schmaltzy, but still, someday perhaps.

Edited to add, now I live in the NW woods, amongst deer, coyotes, occasional mt lion or bear, lots of racoons, birds, kreegah!

[SeattleGirl]

16. I didn't realize we were "neighbors"!

Cool!

[uppityperson]

19. indeed we are, hi!

says the woods mouse to the city mouse.

[SeattleGirl]

20. Hehehe!

Hi ya, woods mouse!

[charlie and algernon]

17. this is a very fitting video i found on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BuRwH59oAo

great rendition of the "Lion Sleeps tonight" song

[uppityperson]

18. cool scan of the cam stuff

electrical (?) metal box @ base of tree, wire/cable winding up tree to camera and satellite dish. I wonder if someone is remote controlling this from some lodge somewhere. There are no people at the waterhole. Just the camera, dish and elect equip to make it work.

[grasswire]

22. yeah, someone has to be working the camera from remote

It turns, follows, focuses, readjusts according to what is visible.

[uppityperson]

24. I had thought there was someone there, like in a little hut

but no one around

[grasswire]

51. the camera is quite high up in a tree

I don't know if you saw that shot tonight. A live human on site would have to be up in the tree.

[uppityperson]

60. person I got the link from said there are some buildings not too far away

behind where camera usually pans, not sure if research station or what.

[grasswire]

66. yeah, I saw them

I figured that's where the tribal drumming and singing was coming from, as well as that flashing light early Tuesday. It could be a ranger station type of facility.

[charlie and algernon]

23. woo hoo, aminals!

[uppityperson]

25. wildebeest

odd animals they are

[charlie and algernon]

27. lots of 'em

i count maybe 12?

[SeattleGirl]

28. I just saw the baby again!

Cute little thing.

[charlie and algernon]

30. just hopping along

wondering why momma and pappa aren't keeping up

[uppityperson]

31. they look like really thin moose

interesting how animals are similar in different parts of the world.
baby gnu=new gnu?

[charlie and algernon]

32. newbie gnu

hmm, maybe the continents were connected????

nah, stupid theory

[SeattleGirl]

34. newbie newbie gnu......be newbie newbie

Sorry, couldn't resist! :P

[SeattleGirl]

33. They are really into playing tonight.

I'm getting a kick out of them!

[charlie and algernon]

35. something spooked them

[freethought]

26. Wow! Gnus, Gnus, and more Gnus!

And a little baby gnu too!
All together now! 1...2...3. AAAAWWWWWWWW!

[uppityperson]

29. would that little one be a new gnu?

gnu=wildebeest, just looked it up

[freethought]

49. YES! I do believe it is! n/t

[SeattleGirl]

36. LOOK NOW!!!

Wildebeestes, zebras, and antelope (?)

[charlie and algernon]

37. absolutely stunning

wildebeasts (gnus), Zebras, and gazelles, completely free

[SeattleGirl]

39. I feel like a little kid, watching this!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[uppityperson]

62. I keep giggling and calling MrUP in to see

this is so cool.

[uppityperson]

38. zebras walking away from gnu/wildebeest towards gazelles?

[charlie and algernon]

40. we need a DU field trip

gotta see this in person

[SeattleGirl]

41. Did you see them all just run?

Something spooked 'em, but I can't see what it was.

Edit: Is that a wart hog?

[charlie and algernon]

43. YUP!!!!!

:bounce:

[grasswire]

46. yes

two days ago Mr. and Mrs. Warthog had quite a spa mud bath.

[charlie and algernon]

42. holy shi-ite!

stampede!

[SeattleGirl]

44. Wart hog? Is that what I'm seeing that spooked them?

That was awesome!

[uppityperson]

45. they all scatter and run from the WARTHOGS

giggle giggle

[charlie and algernon]

47. those are some scary sonsabitches

look at those horns!

[SeattleGirl]

48. Wouldn't want to meet up with one of them, that's for certain.

I'd run too!

[uppityperson]

50. the ones on the sides of their heads, what are those?

not teeth

[SeattleGirl]

53. Here's some info on warthogs. Kinda cool.

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/vecase/Behavior/Spring2004/byington/byington.html

[charlie and algernon]

52. damn straight

one of the big five most fearsome creatures in Africa

Lion, Water Buffalo, Hippo, warthog, and leopard

[uppityperson]

58. 150-220 lbs? aieee! Ain't no Pumba here.

and those "warts" on their heads. Pumba? Ha! ain't no Pumba here.

[SeattleGirl]

59. No singin' "Hakuna Matada" huh?

;)

[uppityperson]

61. chomp that meerkat!

wild things they are

[grasswire]

54. wildebeests must have fleas

They like to kick up dust baths and then wallow.

[SeattleGirl]

55. I think it is also a way to help them cool off.

Something I remember from when I was young, which was somewhere around the time the God was a little boy, so I can't recall, but I do think that with some animals, it is part of their "cooling system."

[grasswire]

57. according to the weather map for S. Africa,

yesterday's highs were anywhere from 70s to 90s, depending on the side of the continent. The western side being much hotter than the eastern side.

[grasswire]

56. I wonder what the air smells like there

Well, the watering hole itself probably smells bad, but I wonder otherwise if it smells of grass, or sweet, or.......what?

[uppityperson]

63. 2 hours of watching followed by 5 minutes of amazement! Too cool

carry on all, I am off to bed soon. May you have elephants in your evenings.

start another thread if this one gets too long also. And thank you all for watching and talking about this. I was getting really fed up in GD, nice to hang out here with you all. UP

[charlie and algernon]

64. it was a pleasure

have a goodnight!

:hi:

[gr8dane_daddy]

65. kick

nm

[SeattleGirl]

67. So, are the animals onscreen now antelopes or gazelles?

I can't quite figure it out.

[aaronbees]

68. I think they're impala

an African antelope. One wildebeest in the mix just chillin' out w/ the impala herd it seems so far.

[SeattleGirl]

69. Thanks.

They are very similar breeds, aren't they?

Regardless, I love watching them.

[aaronbees]

70. Me too, they're gorgeous

I think the horns are the distinctive part to tell which ones they are. They didn't seem too bothered by that wildebeest but there was something making a funky noise back there that had them attentive ... not sure who/what that was!

[SeattleGirl]

71. Maybe Mr. Wart Hog was still hanging around.

In addition to the gazelles and wildebeestes, there were zebras there at the same time earlier. All of a sudden, they were all spooked and ran. Mr. Wart Hog had come to the watering hole for his mudbath. Must have left Mrs. Wart Hog at home.

[aaronbees]

72. They're my favorites

Gotta love a good mudbath ... even if all alone. :D

[SeattleGirl]

73. Hehehehehe!

I've never had a mudbath, but if you enjoy them, then I hope that you find a good person to share them with!

[aaronbees]

74. Well, honestly, I was speaking theoretically...

I mean, I'm sure I had a good mudbath as a kid in some way or another while playing outdoors, but I think it would take me a lot to dive in now, even with the inspiration of our good friends the Warthog family. :P But hey, I could be game for it.

[SeattleGirl]

75. Gane for it? Then I say, GO FOR IT

First chance you get!

[livetohike]

76. Elephant! n/t

[QMPMom]

77. more than one ELEPHANT! BIG with tusks!

[livetohike]

78. I've been watching for at least 20 minutes now

I am so addicted to this webcam :-).

[QMPMom]

79. I know! We are too. Did you see the zebra herd with the foal

last night? And there were the greatest close-ups of a hyena.

[livetohike]

81. No I missed them

:-(. My computer is upstairs, so I was probably downstairs then. I'm packing for a move in two weeks, so if I hear something happening, I run to the computer to look.

LOL, I'm not getting much done.

[graywarrior]

80. This is the best thing ever put on DU. EVER.

[livetohike]

82. I agree

:hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

83. Isn't this the coolest site? I love the noises from the birds, etc.

[livetohike]

84. I haven't seen many birds though, have you?

I think I saw some hornbills yesterday, but I thought there might be some wading birds in or near the hole.

[Midlodemocrat]

85. I saw a couple this morning, but I don't know what kind they are.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

86. Jackal!

[texas1928]

87. It's a bird from the Windex commercials.

cool

[charlie and algernon]

88. hyena!

[charlie and algernon]

89. holy hell, BIG elephant!!!!

must've scared off the hyena

[uppityperson]

99. dang it, just on computer and no elephant, hyenas calling though

no waterbuffalo gnu/wildebeest, anything. Were those elephants and water buffs on the night screen?

I spoke too soon, great hyena noises

[grasswire]

90. ELEPHANT!!

[grasswire]

91. I turned it on for the day....

..and there was the elephant, perfectly framed at the watering hole, drinking.

Wheee!

[charlie and algernon]

92. just switched to the night cam

now we can see it again

[texas1928]

93. You should see the herd of animals right now.

I can not think of what they are called.

[charlie and algernon]

94. water buffalo, at least 50 of them

[texas1928]

112. I wanted to say water buffalo but...

My mind was second guessing me.

[reyd reid reed]

95. Aren't those water buffalo? eom

[charlie and algernon]

96. yup!

beautiful creatures

[charlie and algernon]

97. we need some of these guys to start cracking heads

[LynneSin]

98. PUBLIC BREASTFEEDING RIGHT NOW

Ok, it's just water buffalo!

[BikeWriter]

100. Any theories on whether that's a solar powered light source or what?

[uppityperson]

101. good morning. I was thinking some sort of night vision camera thingy

rather than a light source. "some sort of night vision camera thingy" being techno-jargon-babble talk.

[BikeWriter]

102. If so, why the glare at the bottom of the frame?

[uppityperson]

103. Did some research. Infrared night light.

A couple nights ago when I first watched, it was not as bright, then it got brighter. There was talk about why getting brighter, since it was midnightish. Then the moon's reflection came in the water and we figured it out. Perhaps this is the moon? There were no shadows last night when the hyena was walking around on this side of the water either.

http://www.africam.com/ seems the head cam place, gives links to other cams too.

http://www.africam.com/cam_info/index.php?camId=nkorho This is info on this cam
Pictureaway from where usually faces, explains why people in last picture below.

Nkorho Pan

Quick Facts

* Where: South Africa
* What: Big Five and Various
* When: Throughout the Year
* Cam: Live Streaming

The cam is located at Nkoro Bush Lodge in the prestigious Sabi Sands Game Reserve, bordering the Kruger National Park, in South Africa. The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is named after two rivers that cut through this area, namely the Sabie and Sand River systems. The area is renowned for its wildlife and in particular the big five, lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. It is rated as one of the best reserves in Africa to see these large animals in there natural habitat and in particular leopard. Its not all about the big animals and the Sabi Sands has plenty of other smaller animals that call this place there home.

Location and subject matter
Nkoro pan is located in the North Eastern corner of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, and about 1km (0.62 miles) from the unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park. The Pan is situated at the bottom of an open plain, about 250m from Nkoro Bush Lodge and is frequented by a number of resident animals, in particular is the resident herd of wildebeest and impala and a family of warthogs that can often been seen drinking and wallowing in the mud at the pan. The camera is located on top of a termite mound on the Eastern side of the pan and looks Westerly when viewing the pan.

When to view
The camera is a day night pan tilt zoom camera with an 18x zoom with the capabilities of panning almost 360 degrees around the pan. The camera is fitted with infra red light for night time viewing. The Sabi Sands is very productive from a game viewing perspective throughout the year with a peak viewing over the winter months from May through to November. Nkoro Pan can be viewed on the Africam website on a 30s refresh rate or alternatively live real time streaming with audio on the Africam Wildlife Channel.

Leopard

People watching lions drink (?)

[BikeWriter]

104. Infrared requires an infrared light source of some sort, doesn't it?.

I'm thinking the scopes I've seen did. Perhaps not.

[uppityperson]

105. they showed a metal looking box at bottom of tree yesterday

when they panned. Wire/cable things winding up tree. Saw satellite dish too. Most likely solar powered I would guess.

[BikeWriter]

106. That sounds reasonable, I'd think.

[Drum]

107. Somebody's howling now....

I hear footsteps...:scared: Oh, they stopped. Sounded like a hyena?

This thing is fascinating, the sounds alone are great!

:bounce:

[Cass]

108. This cam is fascinating! Thank you to Uppityperson for turning us on to this!

:toast:

One of the best links on the internets ever!!

[uppityperson]

109. people laughing? talking?

I would so love to go there

[texas1928]

111. They panned around earlier before the sun set.

And there are a bunch of buildings in the trees back off behind the camera.

[uppityperson]

113. check above to post#103, pictures and info

people travel by during the day in vehicles occasionally also. First time I'd heard them though. Couldn't tell if they were people or wildlife.

[momophile]

110. my daughter and I have been watching this at meal times

at the kitchen table. She is only 15 months old. I'm sure one of the first places she'll want to go now is Africa on safari. This webcam is wonderful! I'm gonna start saving for a trip for the family.

on edit - can anyone recommend a particular safari trip?

[texas1928]

114. The animals must be having a union meeting.

There is nothing going on tonight.

[uppityperson]

115. been hearing people noises for a while.

hopefully they will settle down. Interesting how the wildlife noises like hyenas (other than bugs) dropped off when human noises started up.

[grasswire]

116. it's after midnight there...

...so perhaps we'll get something soon. Hyenas, probably. It was a thrill to hear them "laughing" the other night. I hope I never have to actually meet one. I keep remembering in the movie about the Coke bottle how the little boy holds a board up over his head so the hyena will stay away from him.

[uppityperson]

119. The Gods Must Be Crazy 1/2

1 was the coke bottle, 2 had the kids getting lost (fell in a container on a truck?)

[Drum]

117. Elephant just arriving!

off to the left there...

edit: darn...gone again just as suddenly.

[cwydro]

118. ELEPHANT!

right now!

[cwydro]

120. Some serious sounds going on tonight.

But I've seen nothing since the elephant. SO cool, I could hear him/her walking long before she got there....

[uppityperson]

121. I wonder what that longish noise is, hoohoohoohooo...decreasing

the short repetitive ones a bit ago I think were some sort of ringnecked doves 'cause sound like the ones I have. But that dropping down hoohoohoohoohooo? They have grouse there?

[cwydro]

127. Dunno

I was thinking something more exotic (wild imagination)lol. Now I'm watching while I drink my sleepytime tea hoping something will come to visit before I go to sleep. Now tomorrow night, I'm in for the duration because I have Friday off...

[hippywife]

122. Yaaaa!

I almost couldn't find this thread tonight! I missed the elephants! :cry:

Thanx for keeping it going, uppity! This has been fun! :hi:

[GenDem]

123. What the frick was that????

:scared:

[uppityperson]

125. my guess is baboons. Off to topic #4 so will load faster

[uppityperson]

124. Started #4 topic for tonight/morning in Africa, bring on those animals

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5919374

[Drum]

126. The sky's beginning to get light...

maybe we need a new thread for the new day?
:hi:

edit: Ah! just as I posted! Thank you...see you in #4.