Little K third drive

This drive started as all the others in Little Kwara. We drove towards the airstrip, over a total of three bridges and followed a meandering waterway. Then we spotted a Sable Antelope. A rare sighting, they are very shy.


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.

Little Kwara Day 2 - AM.

Up at 0600, light breakfast, and off we went. The staff here are great. Friendly and willing to do what it takes to make this the experience of a lifetime.

I won't blah blah all the animals we've seen since you see most of them on every drive. Not a complaint.



It was cold. 3C.



The wart hogs sometimes eat by crawling on their front knees.





We got word there was a pride of lions. We went to them. We had to make our own road along the way, driving through and over a few bushes, getting the machete out to hack down a few branches as well.

Three females and five cubs. So majestic, so confident, so cute. Big furry cats. While we and another jeep were in amongst them, if you wanted a different angle for he shot, Hobbs our guide would just move the jeep, sometimes straight at the lions. Slowly of course, just to nudge them to another location.


Lens envy!!!
























They were relaxing at the water's edge of a large, deep water hole. In the water we hear a snort, then a blast of water upward. A pod of exactly a dozen hippos. Cool. Tough to take their pictures, as they as mostly under water or with their heads on the surface and the sun was behind the them. Nevertheless, just sitting back and enjoying the view, while ignoring the lions at this point, was priceless.





Hobbs is our driver and guide. Very knowledgeable and nice. Mike is his spotter who sits on the front engine bonnet seat - unless of course danger lurks.

We also came across a herd of Impalas, don't we always, the prime staple of the predators here. They were frolicking, playing, jumping, running. Having a great time, not knowing the pride was very nearby, and they will hunt today.


11AM. It was not hot. 31C.

The open air jeeps a great, the location of the camp, logistically, not. It is a half hour drive out and back just to start the drive so a good hour is spent getting to and fro. Not that there is nothing during this part of the drive, the are elephants' Impalas, etc. Of course they all live and visit the camp as well.

The room here, raised off the ground are very nice. No plugs in the room, a big disappointment, or let's say nuisance. We need to give our chargers and batteries to staff to charge and return.

Boom. We kept hearing what sounds like a firecracker all day yesterday anadromous overnight. Jackalberries falling from trees, either on their own, or monkeys tossing them. They hit the canvas top and sound like a boom.

As I was typing this blog, an elephant visited, grazed and left. Now I look up and see the Impalas coming to visit. I mention to Lisa that the hogs will come next. Nope, they are here now as well. Can't keep your head down or rest for a second or nature passes you by.

It is a noisy place,, or should I say chatty. Constant talk amongst the monkeys, baboons, birds, hogs. They all have something to say. Quite relaxing. It's like I am in Africa or something.

Another boom. And another. It is now 12:30. High tea at 3:30, next drive at 4PM.

Little K first game drive

We headed out. Roofless jeep this time. I think we like it. Less things blocking views. But also less things ie no poles to brace cameras and no shade from the sun.

We saw some elephants. Again one got more than curious with us. Came 10 or so meters from the jeep. We were quiet and still. Then he decided to leave. Seems he was interested in Nancy's red top - a no no color. Of the three primary colors, sky is blue, vegetation is green. So red is something they don't see in nature and it sticks out and it disturbs them.





We saw some more zebras, Impalas, red lechwe and kudus.

Our guides then saw lion tracks and drag marks. We followed and came across the lion eating a mostly finished impala. We parked again oh so close next to another jeep also watching. I felt more vulnerable since the jeep is open, and just so available to anything that wanted us. Left then headed out. The lion paid us no attention. They ignore us, our cameras, the clicks, out talking, my coughing. Just don't stand up and make yourself look like it is not part of the jeep.




















We stopped for drinks, I had a screw driver, at a swampy area. Time to add some clothing, the sun is down. Out on an island was a croc.









On our way back, it was now dark, we caught up to a hyena strolling down the same road. We figured he was on the scent of the lion's kill. He was. Once he came to the drag spot, he sniffed, and turned left. Of course, we followed. Just as he spotted the lion, she spotted him, he turned and bolted past our jeep. She ran after him at top speed right past our jeep.


We heard some rustling, a yelp, and then nothing. He got away. We proceeded to the kill. She came back and passed us on the way back to her kill. She them laid down and proceeded to finish her meal with vigor. You could hear the rib bones cracking as she crunched through them. We were told she was now in a hurry to finish in case the hyena came back with a couple of others. Two to three hyenas could possibly kill the lion. At best they would drive her away from her meal.








Another vehicle approached. They radio each other when they spot interesting things so all can share and they can track animal movement.

On the way back we spotted a giant eagle owl. They can grown 2 feet tall. What a magnificent bird.





Time for dinner. As we drove home the temperature kept dropping, it was now cold. The sky, clear, the stars, unbelievable. The milky way looks milky. Then the are the dippers, upside down, and the southern cross. What an amazing sky.


Dinner as always was fantastic. Time for bed. Up at 0600 for our next adventure.

Sandibe to Little Kwara - "down time" ?!!!

Breakfast. I had the toast bacon and eggs fort. Gee saw it and asked for the same with sausage. He liked it. Said he would start eating it that way.

Word on the street was a cheetah was spotted. Clever. So we decided to go and find it on the way to the runway. But we would have to make fast time. We did. Gee drove that jeep like a bat out of hell. Not like the lackadaisical bats that were hanging above us at breakfast back from their nightly feeding. Just before seeing it, nearby we spotted a couple of jackals.





After a half hour or so of speeding through trails, a couple of deep water crossings, through side roads lined with thorny brush, there it was. Sweet.




Many many photos later, after he decided to nap before his afternoon hunt, we left for the airstrip. And a bonanza came upon us. We ignored the elephants. Then came a herd of zebras, small and large. Many More giraffes, both young and old. Impalas. And I'm sure other animals but by now I had images of them all.








After a short plane ride on what looked like a newer but same size plane, we arrived at our new camp 10 minutes from the runway. The camp seems smaller, only 5 suites. The tents here are actually made of canvas, but in the air, wooden floors, outdoor shower, and a bath tub. Lisa likes bath tubs. We got here around 1:00 giving us some down time finally.




















We showered, settled down, Lisa on the deck, me inside reading a photo magazine on the iPad when Lisa called me out to see the herd of Impalas below and all around our deck. Sweet. I snuck out, took many images, coughed a few times to perk their ears up, and finally they left. I went back in to resume my reading.


Geno get out here, a wart hog in the distance. Out I go. Yup. These pigs are tough to photograph. They ran whenever we came close to them. Look, 4 more. They are coming this way. They did, the whole family. They hung around like the impalas so that I could shoot them. Not under the best
conditions, from up high, backlit, mix of shadow and sun. But I did, and loved every minute of it. The whole time they saw us, but alertly ignored us. SNORTING, GRUNTING, softly but continuously the whole time.








As I type this, they are back, and Lisa is now on the deck with her camera. Sweet. The animals are doing a drive, to our place. Unreal. Cool. Did I say sweet. And we need to get ready for our first drive here, high tea at 3:30 and we drive at 4:00.

Gotta go. Cheers.