We set the alarm for 5:15 so we could take showers, pack the backpack (thank you again, Colleen), and grab breakfast before meeting our guide at 6:00. We were surprised, but not in the least disappointed, that we were the only ones in the Jeep again. There is a large group here but apparently they are part of a guided tour.
Sunrise was lovely and chilly. While the temperatures are set to reach 96, we needed our winter jackets and wish we'd brought along our hats and gloves to keep us warm with the cold morning and wind.
We saw a number of animals. Large herds of different types of antelope
and a honey badger, which, we were told was a rare sighting, but we were on the hunt for lions. Our guide is very good at following lion tracks
and soon we were at a watering hole to watch a lioness tracking a giraffe and a few antelope. As we watched, I hoped that the lioness would be successful, but not harm the giraffe.
We watched the patience of the lion as she stalked, slowly moving from one spot to another, waiting for the antelope “to relax.” However, once she got closer enough the antelope sensed her presence and were off. In the meantime, the giraffe had moved along.
The lioness moved across the road in front of us and began tracking another, larger group. She was joined by another lioness and three cubs. All looked undernourished and I hoped the hunt would be successful.
The morning drive was scheduled to last three hours. Happily, our guide seemed just as interested as us to see the lioness be successful, but once we'd been out for three and a half hours, we really needed to turn around and get back to camp, 30 minutes away.
We spotted another lioness on the way, some elephants, many different antelope, and a pair of cranes. All in all, a very successful morning.
Back at the camp, we spotted a number of animals coming to drink at a spring-fed watering hole. I was excited to see a herd of giraffe.
Now, it's siesta time - a chance to catch a nap before lunch and the afternoon game drive.
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