As we continued our drive, we spotted and identified numerous and good looking birds. One of the other couples at camp are birders. The gentleman told me he was shooting with a 300 2.8 lens, 2X converter, on a 7D making for a reach of 960mm. He said that is the minimum for birding. They have their own guide and jeep and their whole time here is birding.
Again we saw many animals. Elephants, giraffes, jackals, zebras etc. On a strip along side a water channel that we were driving were two elephants. As we drove the channel we got closer to him, and when we were perpendicular to him where is was grazing, he paid attention to us. We stopped the engine and stared at him.. He stared at us.
One should not look away in the jungle, only prey looks away (as it runs). Predators look straight at their prey. He kept looking at us. Hobbs turned on the engine reved it and turned it off. The elephant scooted away in a hurry. We won.
After our sundowners, drinks in the jungle, we headed for home. Hobbs and Mike are really good at what they do. They spotted leopard tracks on the road. We followed. Then we spotted her. Mike now got off his front seat onto the bonnet and climbed into the front seat. You don't sit in the spotter seat once it gets dicey.
The leopard then turned and ran into the woods. So did we, off road into the woods in the dark. They kept following the trail. We were now in the woods, no road, nothing. Hobbs was in a hurry. We dodged trees, whent around logs, ran over brush. Deeper and deeper we went. Everytime we thought we were stymied, eg. a big tree ahead, Hobbs found a crack to the left or the right. All the time he was calling in our progress to other jeeps hoping they could get over here and help us track and find the leopard. They were too far away. Then we found her. Engine off.
We sat and watched her. She sat and watched us, and then into the brush behind her she went. Hobbs said hold on and we went like a bat in hell around more trees, over big logs, around a corner or two and then stopped. Engine off, lights scanning. There she appeared behind a termite mound. Looked at us, and then into the woods again. The woods were now too thick for us to continue persuit especially without other jeep support should we get stuck. Adventure over.
Headed for home again. The place is full of paths so quickly we hit one after emerging from the woods and on the road again we were.
Near camp we stopped, engine and lights off. The stars, the sky, it never gets old. And listen to the crickets and frogs. The frogs make sounds like xylophones. Then just before camp, a hippo strolled by inthe dark. Huge. Another great drive.
After dinner and my 4th double screwdriver of the day (afternoon tea, sundowner and dinner), the staff gave us a concert of their indigenous music and dance. Bravo.
Off to bed. We are doing the cruise on the delta in the morning.
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