We were out at 6 AM for a wonderful morning of safari! Everyone did well with the action, starting with two big brother lions on the move through golden grass. Our vehicles looked balletic the way they worked back and forth in front of the lions. Then it was a drive along the big green swamp. There were Open-billed Storks in the marsh like I've never seen! They flew back and forth from the green to a set of dead trees where they were roosting. Every time a new bird flew to the trees there was a squabble over who was going to have which perch. Wow, wow, wow! We had fun! Flying, fighting, preening, and sharpening beaks on the tree branches… it was quite a show.

Next it was bush birds on endless, beautiful, low perches, and then we heard of a leopard with a kill in a tree. As we started driving in that direction, the news came that he had gone down, at which point a vehicle came screaming around a corner, the driver waiving at Salva saying “Cheetah” as he whizzed by. Two big cheetahs were hunting reedbuck on the edge of the marsh. When they went to the bush, Niko radioed about the 150 elephants making a trek along the marsh! We got there to see the endless parade drinking, playing, and dusting until they turned and made their way into the depths of the green reeds.

This afternoon was for the birds. There were Lilac-breasted Rollers, Hornbills, flying Kori Bustards, Egyptian geese, (and 1,000 buffalo), but best of all was the Saddle-billed Stork fishing in the middle of a jade green pool.

At the evening campfire we were giddy! “I didn't know it would be like this!” was said more than once.

Next post >

Previous post >