I woke up at 5:30am so was ready to roll before 6:30. There was another beautiful sunrise, and it was a bit warmer this morning. We tracked for a long time and saw only occasional impalas, nyalas, babbons, warthogs, mongoose, and birds. We also found the elephants we watched the other day. But it seemed no one had found any cats or rhinos. We stopped for a coffee break in the grassland and decided we’d try to go in where others had heard lions but not been able to find them. Finally, we
saw a lioness, and soon after, her sister and their three cubs. The females were beautiful, and the cubs were adorable, especially the one that is just a couple
months old. The moms would get up and walk, and the cubs would eventually get up and follow. Rob said they looked a bit thin and were in need of a kill. What a perfect Leo present for me to see the lions!
On our way back, we again saw the leopard from yesterday, but today she was sound asleep near the road. It ended up a great morning, and I got some wonderful photos. I had a filing breakfast and am now sitting on my porch just taking in the beautiful weather, scenery, and quiet. I do have to grade papers, but what a setting for it! Today is warm enough to use my private outdoor shower, and I will enjoy it!
This afternoon, seven people arrived – a couple working in Angola (she’s from Brazil, and he from ZA); and five Americans. From what I can gather, the parents also work in Angola, and their three young adult girls are visiting. I have to admit, I enjoyed it much more when I didn’t have to listen to silly US girl talk on the game rides, so I’m glad I had that time to myself before.
On the afternoon/evening ride, we saw several rhino (seven, I think), about 4 bull elephants (one that dared us on a bridge while crossing through the river!), a giraffe, a leopard, mongoose, water buck, and three sleeping male lions (one of whom woke up long enough to give us some great photos). It was much warmer today, though the girls were complaining that they were freezing. Again, we could see the Milky Way on the ride back, though there was a crescent moon out tonight, so it wasn’t quite as brilliant.
For dinner I tried eland, ZA’s largest antelope. It was good, but tough compared to the ostrich. Melinda and the staff came out at the end singing “Happy birthday” to me and carrying in a chocolate cake covered with strawberries and kiwi. Altogether, it’s been a rare and wonderful mini-vacation.
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