We have still not learned to keep up with Jim but we have improved.   Maureen is second in the queue, a chap named Des – a hardened bush whacker who has to be out first – has been waiting since 5:45!   I am third!  We chat with Des and he says it is vital to get to the waterholes as early as possible and that if something exciting is going to happen it must be right next to the road or it won’t be worth watching!  But we are still torn between wanting to see the cats and wanting to enjoy the early morning birdlife!

It is already 23 C and rising.   The first animal of the day is a Black-backed jackal.

By 7:10 we’ve spotted Gemsbok, Springbok, Kori Bustard Giraffe and Tawny Eagle.

Our first proper stop is at 13^th Waterhole where there is quite a bit of action.  A jackal is drinking and  so is a large tortoise.

The birds – Namaqua doves, red-headed finches, lark-like buntings, grey-backed sparrow-larks, yellow canaries, Cape sparrows and laughing doves are flying down is flocks grabbing a drink and flying up into the trees again.  The juvenile Gabar and a Lanner are there swooping down on the hunt.  We see the Gabar take a lark-like bunting and settle in the tree to enjoy it!

We then head to the breakfast spot – Kamqua – and find a good table under a tree but the shade hasn’t reached it yet so Jim uses his canopy which works perfectly.  This time we decide to have muesli and yogurt.

We then head toward Montrose Waterhole find very little so turn around and come back. We find a hyena lying in the shade on the side of the road.

As we continue I yell STOP  Go Back, I’ve seen a White-faced  Owl.  Earl reverses and sure enough there among the foliage is the bird I’ve been looking for in camp! Soon after this we find 4 spotted dikkop.

At Dalkeith a lovely family of ostriches runs away from us.

We watch a Namaqua Sandgrouse take drink

And a grey headed sparrow goes rock jumping

A car stops to tell us there is a lion at Craig Lockhart and when we get there we look toward the waterhole and see nothing.  The chap in the car parked next to the big tree that dominates the site points next to us and there in all his glory sits a big male lion!

Half an hour later we find 4 cheetahs resting under a shady tree.  We return to camp after a cursory glance at some beautiful giraffe and then return to the cheetahs later in the afternoon. They wake up and mover around and we hope to see them hunt but all too soon it is time to go back to camp so we don’t have that privilege.