C&L South African Adventure Oct 2018 - Day 5 - More Safari

[LN89]

Day 5

It had been a very windy night, luckily we had ear plugs as the side of the tent was banging a lot and it was quite noisy. We were woken up at 5am again and got ready.

It was very cold and windy so we wore many layers and used the blankets in the trucks. It was crazy to think how warm it had been two days before. We drove around for about 90 minutes not seeing anything so thought it was going to be an unsuccessful morning. Our ranger had received a radio call to say there were a herd of buffalos with some lions nearby. We started to make our way to the lions but stumbled across two other lions following the buffalo!





They were young males, two brothers about 3. The ranger said they were quite inexperienced at hunting the buffalo, they were following it, then spent some time playing around. They were so close to the truck and were just ignoring it while walking around. They made their way down to a water hole for a drink. We were watching them for about 45 minutes before heading off to see if we could see the other lions, however they had since crossed the boundaries into Kruger which our trucks couldn’t go into.















We stopped for coffee which was very chilly, it was actually about 13 degrees which is a massive difference from 37 two days before! We drove around a bit but couldn’t see anything so headed back to the camp (except this cute owl and buffalo skull).





We’d got back a bit earlier and had about half an hour before breakfast. We had a hash brown, sausage, fried egg, tomato and butternut squash fritter.



After breakfast we went for our nap, and actually spent most of the time until lunch relaxing in bed as it was the warmest place .

Lunch was served at 2.30 and we had Cornish pasty and chips. It was lovely, albeit very carb heavy. I didn’t get chance to get a photo as we hadn’t taken our phones over with us.

We left for our game drive at 4 and I wore three jumpers . It wasn’t as chilly as in the morning. We saw a water buffalo and then found some elephants that were lovely, it was fascinating seeing them eating and stripping the tree with their horns.









We were driving off from the elephants and I spotted a dead impala by the side of the track, we told the ranger and he reversed and said he thought it was a leopard kill. We drove around nearby and found the leopard We sat watching it for ages, apparently it was an older female. She got up at one point and her stomach was hanging so low, she’d obviously eaten a lot . Another vehicle turned up which scared the leopard and she moved off into a deeper bush.







We drove off and found a rhino and her baby, we couldn’t get a good look on the baby but it looked so cute running through the bush and you could just see the little ears above the bushes .



It isn’t the best photo but you can see the baby by the back leg.

We stopped for a sundowner - g&t and a beer. We drove back in the dark, not seeing anything until we got back and saw a hyena at our water hole.









We got back about 6.50 and went back to then tent and had a stretch as we didn’t feel like we were moving much except sitting on the truck all day. We were escorted over to the main area, eating inside again.

We both had a glass of wine. We were given tomato soup, followed by chicken, potatoes and veg, and malva pudding (sponge and custard). While we were eating a rhino came and visited the water hole. Even the staff jumped up to watch so we assumed it might be an unusual sight! It was there for about 5 minutes then wandered off.







We were escorted back to our tent about 8.30 and relaxed before going to bed.

Next - day 6

[AlisonB]

Loving your reports - amazing photos! Those beautiful animals ... 😍

[Melbatb]

Your lion pictures are something else! What a brilliant experience!

[LN89]

Originally Posted by AlisonB

Loving your reports - amazing photos! Those beautiful animals ... 😍

See more...

Thank you, it was a truly amazing experience!

[LN89]

Originally Posted by Melbatb

Your lion pictures are something else! What a brilliant experience!

See more...

Thank you, I think the two lions was one of my favourite sightings, it was incredible

[LN89]

Originally Posted by LN89

Day 5

It had been a very windy night, luckily we had ear plugs as the side of the tent was banging a lot and it was quite noisy. We were woken up at 5am again and got ready.

It was very cold and windy so we wore many layers and used the blankets in the trucks. It was crazy to think how warm it had been two days before. We drove around for about 90 minutes not seeing anything so thought it was going to be an unsuccessful morning. Our ranger had received a radio call to say there were a herd of buffalos with some lions nearby. We started to make our way to the lions but stumbled across two other lions following the buffalo!





They were young males, two brothers about 3. The ranger said they were quite inexperienced at hunting the buffalo, they were following it, then spent some time playing around. They were so close to the truck and were just ignoring it while walking around. They made their way down to a water hole for a drink. We were watching them for about 45 minutes before heading off to see if we could see the other lions, however they had since crossed the boundaries into Kruger which our trucks couldn’t go into.















We stopped for coffee which was very chilly, it was actually about 13 degrees which is a massive difference from 37 two days before! We drove around a bit but couldn’t see anything so headed back to the camp (except this cute owl and buffalo skull).





We’d got back a bit earlier and had about half an hour before breakfast. We had a hash brown, sausage, fried egg, tomato and butternut squash fritter.



After breakfast we went for our nap, and actually spent most of the time until lunch relaxing in bed as it was the warmest place .

Lunch was served at 2.30 and we had Cornish pasty and chips. It was lovely, albeit very carb heavy. I didn’t get chance to get a photo as we hadn’t taken our phones over with us.

We left for our game drive at 4 and I wore three jumpers . It wasn’t as chilly as in the morning. We saw a water buffalo and then found some elephants that were lovely, it was fascinating seeing them eating and stripping the tree with their horns.









We were driving off from the elephants and I spotted a dead impala by the side of the track, we told the ranger and he reversed and said he thought it was a leopard kill. We drove around nearby and found the leopard We sat watching it for ages, apparently it was an older female. She got up at one point and her stomach was hanging so low, she’d obviously eaten a lot . Another vehicle turned up which scared the leopard and she moved off into a deeper bush.







We drove off and found a rhino and her baby, we couldn’t get a good look on the baby but it looked so cute running through the bush and you could just see the little ears above the bushes .



It isn’t the best photo but you can see the baby by the back leg.

We stopped for a sundowner - g&t and a beer. We drove back in the dark, not seeing anything until we got back and saw a hyena at our water hole.









We got back about 6.50 and went back to then tent and had a stretch as we didn’t feel like we were moving much except sitting on the truck all day. We were escorted over to the main area, eating inside again.

We both had a glass of wine. We were given tomato soup, followed by chicken, potatoes and veg, and malva pudding (sponge and custard). While we were eating a rhino came and visited the water hole. Even the staff jumped up to watch so we assumed it might be an unusual sight! It was there for about 5 minutes then wandered off.







We were escorted back to our tent about 8.30 and relaxed before going to bed.

See more...

Next - day 6

[christybell]

You guys look like you are having a ball! Makes me want to go on safari

[CrispyA]

Love the lion pictures - this looks like an amzazing trip

[marypoppins38]

Oh my word, your lion pics made me feel quite emotional. How beautiful are they?! It looks like the holiday of a lifetime. I have never thought I would want to go on safari but I so want to now!