Followed a couple of male lions for a km or so as they headed back to the rest of their male mates. Part of a group of seven males called "the seven boys" who live in this area . They growl loudly to each other to let each other know where they are at any time when they're not in view. Very interesting. These two had been scoping their territory to make sure no other lions had entered & now were getting back to the others. They passed by very close to the jeep.
Hippo
Lions guarding their territory!
Lions very close
Letting his mates know where he is..
At one time Steve's mobile phone gave out a voice message which no one expected, hilarious but the lion was close by, didn't faze the lion...thankfully.We followed the lions for about an hour as they casually walked down the dirt road.
A large herd of impalas watched them pass to make sure they weren't in danger, a couple of jackals also watched.
Jackal
Lion on the move
Impalas keeping a watch on the lions
One of the lions stopped to drink at a watering hole where 5 hippos relaxed, the hippos didn't take their eyes off the lion the whole time. Amazing to watch. Eventually the lions went into the deep scrub so we turned around.
Hippos watching the lion pass by
We saw some monkeys and a tsessebe which is not a common antelope. We also saw a single ostrich relaxing in the sun.
Tsessebe
Vervet monkey
Ostrich
We then came across a male elephant giving himself a mud bath. Elephants do this to stop getting sun burn. He mixed up the mud with his foot then took a trunk full and sprayed it over his body. He did this for ages then moved to clean water to wash his tusks and have a drink and then went back to his mud bath. At one time he dropped on his front knees and shook his head in the mud. Master was unable to explain his actions except that this elephant is "in musk" (equivalent of a female being "on heat") and they do strange things. After about 30 mins we left him in peace.
Head in the mudbath
Female giraffe with white face markings
Had a light brunch/lunch, headed back to the room for our siesta. On the way one of the guides caught another bush snake outside Maria and Steven's cabin.
Slept for an hour or so, did a bit of admin stuff.
Bush snake
Slept for an hour or so, did a bit of admin stuff.
Back to the mess hall for high tea then off on our afternoon safari, heading west. Driving on we saw more giraffes, elephants and birds.
Master spotted a leopard way in the distance so we drove up to it. It headed into bushes so into the bushes we went still in the jeep of course. It was hiding in grass and behind bushes but Master managed to manoeuvre the jeep into the bushes knocking down a few along the way. We watched the leopard for an hour moving about the bushes, got some good photos. The leopard is one of the hardest animals to find.
Had "our sundowner" at a watering hole. On the way back to camp Chester had the spot light on and we saw a serval cat, hyena and birds. Dinner at 9, bed at 11, exhausted.
Lunchtime
Stork
Elephant spraying water to cool off
Master spotted a leopard way in the distance so we drove up to it. It headed into bushes so into the bushes we went still in the jeep of course. It was hiding in grass and behind bushes but Master managed to manoeuvre the jeep into the bushes knocking down a few along the way. We watched the leopard for an hour moving about the bushes, got some good photos. The leopard is one of the hardest animals to find.
Leopard hidden in the grass
Great camouflage for the leopard
Had "our sundowner" at a watering hole. On the way back to camp Chester had the spot light on and we saw a serval cat, hyena and birds. Dinner at 9, bed at 11, exhausted.
Hyena
Serval cat
Sunset
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