4 December 2017 – A Day of Biggies

Today we were packed and ready to set off to our last camp Berg en Dal by quarter to seven.  As usual when we’re towing the caravan we stuck to the tar road for the 67km drive.   Strangely today we did not see all the usual residents. Our sightings were unusual and interesting and the ‘biggies’ popped up a few times

One of our favourite birds of prey is the Bateleur.  We often see him flying and quite regularly in a tree. But this morning he was on the ground.

Next a female bushbuck came along to say hi.

We arrived at Afsaal picnic site just before the Jeep Jockeys and their clients.   In fact we were the only people there for a few minutes.   I ordered the ‘Toastie” without the toast without expecting to pay less. However when we got the bill we found they’d charged us for only the items I ordered – egg, bacon and tomato.  That is fantastic!

The Jeep Jockey Clients come with their snack packs and usually only order coffee. They’re not supposed to sit at the restaurant tables but they do.  When it’s quiet it doesn’t matter. I expect that in busy times they’re asked to use the picnic tables.  Nine jeep-loads arrived at the same time!

Elephants held us up before we arrived at Berg en Dal

After we settled in at a lovely site next to the fence at Berg en Dal I suddenly felt quite sleepy and had a long nap – unusual for me – it’s usually The Earl who naps.  He only lay down for a short time and we were up and gone on our afternoon drive at 2 pm.

We saw plenty of impala but only one zebra and no giraffe.  Within half an hour of leaving camp we’d seen four of the Big Five!

First two male elephant at some distance that I didn’t even bother to photograph, then a single buffalo.  Suddenly I spotted them and yelled – stop – lion.  The Earl nearly jumped out of his skin.  There right next to us was a beautiful male lion

I’m sure I saw two, I said.  Oh wait – there she is – lying down low.

We were the only car there and we stayed until they lay flat and went to sleep.  Nobody else came along and when we returned later they were gone.

I am not mentioning the route we took as I’m writing about the rhino we saw.  We had three sightings

Earl spotted the first – a rock appeared to have twitching ears and turned into one then two rhino.   Later we found three adults and a baby and then another four later on our journey.

Buffalo love the water.  This lot are no exception

Special birds of the trip were first

Next we saw a hornbill with a bug in his bill – but he’d already given it to his holed up wife before we could get a photograph

Third was a lovely lilac breasted roller with a bug in his mouth

A treeful of black birds with red bill attracted out attention

And finally a coqui francolin crossed in front of us – We weren’t quick enough for a good portrait

We’d hoped that we  would get all five of the Biggies in an afternoon – but we dipped on the leopard – Perhaps tomorrow!

Yesterday the temperature reached over 40 degrees C. Today we were grateful to have it 10 degrees cooler.  We braaied chops and sausage and did gem squash in tin foil.  Another delicious supper in Africa.