0600... Good morning...
And yes it was. I got 9 hours sleep last night, better than my usual 6-7. The night was cool, the air crisp, and the familiar sounds were present. Hippos honking, I think best describes it. Honk, pause, honk honk honk honk honk. Then maybe a snort. Some splashing. Then it starts again with a hippo across the water. Very peaceful.
The morning was beautiful. We haven't seen rain since we left Halifax (home) nearly a month ago. Sunrise as beautiful as sunset.
Very early in our ride Lisa spots tracks. Porcupine tracks they are. As everyone is looking down at them, immediately to the right is a large elephant. No more than two meters from the jeep. It was going to cross the road as we turned around the bend. Luckily we didn't collide. Luckily it was as startled as we. It stepped back a stride, then another, then turned and split. Man! I wish I was ready for that one with my wide angle G10. Just when you get complacent or you think you've seen it all... Another unique experience. I'll never forget how big and how close we were to this animal. This is what I got by the time I got the G10 out. Too little too late. Had the 560mm Oly in my hands but that would have given me snout hairs.
Next we ran into some giraffes.
And then I almost got the second best perfect impala shot. The very best was left in Sandibe. Nope, he ducked. However, I should be able to make a shot out of this.
From there we went on the lookout for hippos, crocks and wild dogs. Wild dogs are the one animal we have yet to see and we really badly want to see them.
We found hippos. They were I the water and also on their way out of the water. Once out, they don't waste time. These large animals don't lollygag like elephants, they trot just like our dog Spinner. They don't like hanging out on dry ground so they move with a purpose.
After the hippos, we found the old den the dogs used to use. Mom I.n now carrying and so they have obviously moved to another of their dens or built a new one, and we don't known where it is.
As we drove, we viewed many more animals.
We then stopped for drinks and pumping requirements.
In this area, we continue to see termite mounds. But they are bigger, ie more above ground here. They need to stay above the water table. It still amazes me how they contribute to the lay of the land, how they contribute to the island oasises.
The tree below is the Baobab tree. The trunk enormous. And sheen you are under it, wow, the whole tress is enormous.
Back at camp after breakfast (which we eat at noonish, one of our 6 meals a day), we saw a solitary elephant across the channel. Two plus weeks in Turkey, I think I kept my weight constant. We walked so much. Here you eat, sit on a drive, eat, repeat, sleep, repeat... I had to move one hole on my belt. Typically that's 5-10 pounds. More work for when I get home.
While typing this, the rest of the gaggle was still at the lounge. And more elephants appeared. Here are some of the images Lisa got.
Paul, you should come over for Thmo-dynamics and study their solar. lol
