Game Drive #2

Up before dawn. 0545. It is dark. It is cold. The hippos were all over the place last night. You could the the splashing and groaning. Time to get dressed. Two pairs of socks, leggings, pants. Arm "leggings" for lack of a better word, long sleeve cycling shirt, cycling shirt on top of that, cycling sweater on top of that, cycling vest on top of that. Bandana and a balaclava type fleece neck warmer (ie a toque with a hole in the top). That has to be warm enough. On the jeep awaited a hot water bottle and a blanket to cover my legs with. I was warm. I was ready. I assume the others were as well. ;) If curious about any of the other three, check their blog site.











Along with the usual assortment of animals I've noted almost daily, we also came across a herd of Cape Buffalo. That was neat.

















We also came upon a pair of ostriches. And all in between we saw many birds. Pretty birds, birds of prey. In the trees, on the ground, taking off as we approach, and in the sky.






Lisa has taken a special interest in the birds and she can now spot and name many of them. Her interest is spreading to me. I don't necessarily need to be able to identify them, I just want to photograph them.

At times with the shaky jeep, moving people on the jeep including me, the guides stopping too late after frightening the birds or stopping such that a branch obfuscates my view. Not easy. Then you need to get the light just right. Before nine or after five, and never behind or to close to the sides of the birds.



















We then went down to the water for a drink and snacks and parked at the edge where we watched a pod of hippos. Very cool.






























On our way back to camp, Lisa spotted a vulture. Then two. Then three. Then countless more. In the tress, in the air, circling. We heading for the circling. Under a tree ahead we saw over a dozen of them. We barreled ahead, a mistake, I should have yelled stop. Because they up and flew away. Because we were moving, no good photos of the event. Under the tree I found a solitary hoof which we identified as a buffalo hoof.























Bali then continued on toward the circling. We went off road. The jeeps at this camp suck. Two large spare tires under our feet, not enough storage compartments, and just plain old army looking issue. They were not Land Rovers or Toyotas. They were not made to go through water. There is no water to go through here, just sand filled roads. Anyway, we went off road. We drove over bushes, small trees, stumps, whatever. Most of the small stuff stood back up after we passed over it. Again we were making our own roads. Fun, fun, fun. Some of the small stuff was 4 feet high. Substantial stuff.






The prize, a watering hole, a bush, vultures in the air, on trees, on the ground. And a jackal eating away at a large buffalo carcass. Large rib cage exposed, most of it eaten. We figured our arrival chased away a couple of lions. We saw the tracks. This gave the jackal (who was as nervous as the hyena the other day) a chance to eat. The vultures took their picks as well, and at times he hushed them away.


























On the way back to camp we also spotted a Steinbeck antelope. Looks and hops just like a little bunny rabbit. They are the size of a small dog. A rare find.

Finally we came across the Roan antelope. All in all a good morning.

Kwando Lagoon Drive #1

As we set out on our first drive here, I thought about how hard it may be for out guide Bali and out tracker PD because by now seeing a zebra or elephant is old hat. Guess what, it never gets old. They presented us with new and exciting experiences.












We saw many of the same animals and birds.











Then they spotted some wart hogs on a termite mound and headed there. As we approached, the typical thing with these hogs happened. They saw us, the five, seems there are always five, and ran away. Mom first, three kiddies, and big daddy. Seems we usually only see them from a distance, and only their ass ends.
























We approached the mound and stopped. We then noticed a large old hog with his head sticking out of a hole, and three others in another hole. Covered in dirt/dust. Eventually two more bolted and headed "for the hills". Boy can they run. And finally big daddy got out, stared us down and split. Very cool. Same old animal, new experience.

Further down the road we enter a field with elephants. Yup, another elephant story. We can across two adolescents. The older of the two postured with us, mock charged, we didn't budge. The younger one seemed to just eat and play and copy the older sibling.

We drove ahead further and came across the rest of the herd. There were a couple of really small young ones. Now they started backing off slowly. A couple of the bigs ones staring us down and trumpeting. Scary noise. As we watched, they pushed the young ones back a bit and other other ten or so formed a straight line across us fro left to right, most of them facing us. Then they froze in their tracks and went silent. Some of them with their trunks high up in the air. Smelling us we were told.
























As I type I hear the grunts of the hippos outside my window. Cool.

Anyway, they then did a mock charge in unison. Very scary. All these beasts charging at once, will they stop. We started the jeep and were ready to bolt, but they stopped. Turned around and left. Same old animals, new experience.











After sundowners, on our way back to camp, with the the lights on and PD shining the big light left, then right, then up into the trees, then back - searching for any predators that may be lying in wait - when we spotted these two green eyes in the woods. Off road we went, as always, on the chase to see what this was. We found it, a small cat, we think it was a Caracal.












Back at camp as we drank at the bar awaiting dinner, off the deck in the water we here a grunt and the splash. One of the guides flashes a light. And there it was, a huge huge hippo coming up to our lounge. We are told he visits this time every night. He was huge. He was then spooked and I couldn't believe how an animal this size could turn on a dime and get back in the water. A few seconds later blow water from his nose out into the night air.











We were then told that a leopard visited the bar three days ago while the bartender was cleaning up. He froze, stood still, ie froze, stared him down until the leopard left. That is what you are supposed to do. Only food runs. We were also told he did a uniform change after that.











We were also told this is the camp to view wild dogs. A couple of weeks ago while all the jeeps were out looking for them. They came to camp and killed an impala right there off the bar deck. Staff called the trackers to let them know what they were looking for was right here at camp. They raced back.

We met a lovely couple from Malaysia, Sindy and Basil. I hope i spelled their names correctly. They are on a pretty big adventure of there own. They are Nikon people. Gotta love Nikon people. lol

We've heard many stories, tomorrow we make more of our own.

Last LK Drive

This morning we headed out for our last drive, and the airstrip would be our last stop at 1050.

We dropped by the cheetah kill to find a hyena feasting away. We watched him for a while. He was very skittish. He got up a few times and ran away, and then returned, or circled the bush. He was not happy with the location of the kill. Eventually he dragged the carcass across the road. He wanted to get away in case the three cheetahs return. As always, we witness these animals from literally 10 yards away, give or take.















A lioness was spotted by another jeep so off we went. I thought this a big mistake, but everyone was all about the cat so a muttered to myself at best and went along. We never did find the cat.

I then suggested we return to the hyena. The reason why... It has a kill, many animals will be at tracked to it. They will come and challenge the hyena. What a better way to see animals than to have them come to you and in a live arena demonstrate their interactions and conflicts.


We couldn't find the hyena or the carcass. He must have dragged it a long way away.











So off to the airstrip for final good byes. The Plane was our largest yet. It had a turbine driven prop instead of piston driven. An 8 seater plus 2 pilot seats. We had to make 3 touchdowns before we landed at Kwando Lagoon on our 4th landing.











Along the way we met on the plane a lovely couple from Connecticut on their honeymoon. They were having a great time.

At Kwando Lagoon we checked in, got our very large and spacious rooms and had time for a short rest before our evening drive. This place was newly renovated, the rooms have many many lights; but not a plug. Again we have communal charging by giving up our electronics/batteries to staff. At Little Kwara, during our stay there, Paul's battery got switched, accidentally of course, but unacceptable under any circumstances. Come on, we have a ceiling fan. Charging electronics all day would take less energy by a long shot when compared to running the ceiling fan. If I ever come back to Africa, and in hope I do, a plug in my room will be a show stopper.

The camp


















Our tent