A Perfect Day in Africa........
The morning was spent in the blissful sunshine. The day previous we had made a rather large dent in the sickle bush encroachment on the grassland plain. Now all we had to do was to spread the broken branches across an area which was severely degraded and eroded.
Wow trampling and rain can make a real mess!!!
So we started work. The sun was great, not too hot but enough to try and get a tan on my extremely pasty shoulders and maybe even enough to tan my even whiter legs!! In addition, today was a good day as I had remembered last night to put my juice bottle in the freezer, so today I had a orange oros ice pop!! It was thirsty work, not to mention a little bit rough on the arms and legs! This sickle bush has a demon mind of its own!!! A few hours later, half an ice pop and a well compacted erosion site we were done for the day! As it was Saturday we only had chores to do in the morning so now we were free to do as we pleased.
We had been promised a game drive this afternoon and we were not about to let them forget it!! After a fantastic lunch on the veranda it was starting to get late as Joe decided we needed to get ready for game drive.
Sun downers, binos, bird book and coat fro later packed we were off. Joe had decided on a simple circle drive. The sun was already starting to get rather low in the sky but this time of day is always the most exciting as it is full of promise!
We had only driven for about 5 minutes before we came across 2 bull rhinos sleeping the day off under a large tree. At first they seemed to not be too bothered by our presence but after a short time one got up and decided to wander off into the thick bush, shortly followed by the other. As we were driving off our ears pricked up at the very distinctive sound of a loan lion, making sure all around knew he was there! Not only was this exciting but it was rather loud, therefore it only took us a few moments to find the big guy.
Lion Roar |
We took the river road and as we turned the corner we pretty much drove into a rather large breeding herd of elephants!! Now this really was exciting, we had only been driving 20 minutes and we had already seen 3 out of the "big 5"!!! We were all smiles and in awe of what we had seen on the amazing afternoon drive.
Breeding Elephant Herd |
The elephants were very relaxed and were feeding all around our vehicle. We sat with them a while and as the sun was just starting to dip, we decided to crack open the cooler!
The sounds of the end of the day and beginning of the evening in Africa is truly wonderful.
Seriously, I hear you say this drive could not get any better?! Well in that moment it did!! Just as we were about to pack up we heard another russel and another and another and then the unmistakable snoring and mooing of the cape buffalo. A small herd was making their way down on the other side of the river for an evening drink, just as the sun as turning a bright orange. I managed to grab this shot below.
Cape Buffalo |
As I was taking numerous shots like this one. I heard Joe mutter, "No way". As I turned about I saw a large grey shape and a smaller grey shape emerging from the bushes right in front of the car! It was indeed a mother rhino and her rather small calf. They bolted across the road and quickly were hidden by the thick bush of the river bank.
WOW!!! 4 out of the "big 5" I actually had to pinch myself. This was unheard of on this reserve! And in such a short space of time. My cheeks had started to hurt I was smiling so much.
The sun had nearly gone down and the last rays of sun were fast dripping down past the horizon. We decided to make our way back as we had to be the braai going. The car we full of chatter and excitement. What a drive!!!
Then, yes you guessed it, the one thing I never even had dared to dream of actually happened............................................. we turned a corner to be greeted by a female leopardess hastening crossing the road!!!! Well I cant repeat the comments can came out of many of our mouths! This could not be happening. We had spent 3 weeks here and not a sniff of a leopard. But of course it had to happen on this drive. Unfortunately the light was nearly all gone and my ever faithful point and shoot was just not up to the job and I could only manage a pitiful shot below, but you get the idea!
Leopard *terrible photo!* |
All this followed by a traditional African Braai. THE BEST DAY OF OUR AFRICAN ADVENTURE AND THE BEST DAY OFF MY LIFE SO FAR.
And it is all thanks to Blue Lizard Adventures and their team!!
http://www.bluelizardadventures.com/
The Best Week with the Lion Ecology and Monitoring Research Team!
So the past week has been rather epic! As a volunteer at this project I have had the best time of my life! I have seen some incredible wildlife! I have been the worlds most infamous "big cats" nearly every single day! We have watched them and studies them. Lions are so lazy but lead a very complex life with "issues"!! I have come to have a great ifinity for these creatures and their world.
Lions! |
Now not only have we seen and had some of the most fantastic encounters with the lions but this weekespecailly has been crazy good for other sightings! We have seen, aardvark which you never see! They are such crazy aniamls. The staff here said that it was so rare to see these guys that most people who work on the reserve havent seen one! We have also seen the rare and endangered African Wildcat, spotted hyaena and porcupine.
However, particular highlights for me was our waterhole visits! There is a small waterhole near the volunteer house at the lion project. It is visible from the boma area. This week a gorgeous leopard came down to drink. Eagle-eyed Koos spotted its tail flicking in the long grass as he enjoyed a cup of coffee on the verandah!! After we thought it could not get much better a few days later a serval was spotted at our wtaer hole!!! Now that is special!!
Leopard Drinking |
Serval Drinking |
http://www.bluelizardadventures.com/volunteer/south_africa/lion-ecology-and-monitoring-programme.html
Lion Monitoring Ecology Volunteer Update
Zebra - Travel South Africa |
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