16 January 2015
Today was the
first day of this safari and we started with an afternoon drive. Our first
highlight of this drive was a pair of mating lions. We had gotten a tip from a
fellow guide who was on his way out when we just arrived at the gate and so we
made our way to the spot. Arriving on the scene we saw the cars, but a few ram
impalas were crossing the road in front of us. The male was sitting up,
so he was quickly spotted next to the bush, but the impalas were oblivious. We
waited around a little and got to be the lucky witnesses of lions mating. She
was all flirty rolling over before the male mounted her and retracted with a
big snarl. Just then the impalas noticed the lions just 10 meters away and all
started alarm calling.
Our second
highlight was a group of seven giraffes that were feeding on the bushes next to
the road. Hanging around out in the open this was a great photo opportunity!
Other animals
seen: two reedbucks fighting, hamerkop, violet backed starling, more giraffes
with one of them lying down, impala herd with older babies, red crested
korhaan, zebras, wildebeest, kudus, black bellied bustard, buffalos, hippos,
yellow billed kite, little bee eater, elephant and guineafowls.
17 January 2015
The rain did
not stop this morning when we set off at the crack of dawn for our morning
drive. Our first highlight of today was a visit to the hide at Lake Panic. It
was so nice and tranquil like it was almost magical. The guests enjoyed all the
birds species flying around, or sitting on the water's edge as well as the
crocodile that was pretending to be just a log.
To choose our
second highlight of today is a difficult one as we had many good sightings. As
a group we decided to go for the leopard sighting. At first he was sitting up
in a tree all relaxed and it looked like he had all the leisure time in the
world. He climbed up a bit to lie down on a different branch and then decided
to come down for a little stroll. We spend the next two hours anticipating
where he would go next, being right a couple of times. It resulting in
sightings of him close to the road, then nothing for a bit. Suddenly we saw him
walking again and then scent marking a bush, and disappear in the thick bush.
Suddenly he was crossing the road in front of us and scent marking a patch of
grass right next to the road on the other side (unfortunately half obscured by
other vehicles). All in all a great sighting, although he didn't come all the
way down to Lake Panic while we were watching.
Other animals
seen: waterbucks, impalas, a lone hyena standing in the middle of the road with
a piece of meat in its mouth, double-banded sandgrouses, kudu bulls as well as
females, an elephant herd, white rhinos, lilac breasted roller and its cousin
the European roller, hinged tortoises, ears and nostrils of hippos, bateleurs,
baboons, leopard tortoise, a pair of hawk eagles, two male lions hiding in a
bush but close to the road, giraffes, tawny eagle, white-backed and hooded
vultures, dung beetle rolling a dung ball, zebras, wildebeest, malachite
kingfisher, a pied kingfisher fishing but missed, woodlands kingfisher, fish
eagle, green-backed heron, african jacanas, and last but not least a lone
elephant bull splashing himself (and us) with mud. The sunset game drive added
sightings of a scrub hare and a large herd of buffalos.
18 January 2015
On our last
day we set off bright and early again, and even though it was overcast and
coldish, at least this time it was dry. Our first highlight was a sighting of
dwarf mongoose. First of all because it was one of the new animals we saw today
and hadn't seen before. Secondly because when we stopped, a couple of brave
ones came to investigate our vehicle and others were playing in the middle of
the road in front of us. It was a joy to watch!
Then for our
second highlight we had to choose between an amazing white rhino sighting or,
our victor of being second highlight, our even better elephant sighting. This
bull was feeding close to the road and came really close to the car. He had his
eye on us but was quiet relaxed and as we didn't bother him, he didn't bother
us. We had a slight breath taking moment when he smashed a tree right next to
us, but luckily he decided to smash it sideways instead of right on top of us.
We did get some great footage!
Other animals
seen: herd of buffalo, zebras, heard but did not see a leopard, giraffe, vervet
monkeys, multiple white rhinos, buffalo bulls crossing in front, impalas, a
common grey duiker, hippos and a wide assortment of colourful birds.
More coming
soon!
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