Game Drives Day 2

An early start with the rangers waking us at 5.30am. Dressing quickly we meet the rangers and guests in the lounge for a welcome hot tea/coffee. The jeeps assemble outside. The weather is overcast and chilly but - good news - we have a hot water bottle and blanket on our seats. Off we go.

Almost immediately we see a family of elephants and some giraffes grazing. The we come across rhinos (first some males) then later we see some rhinos with a baby. Mum is not best pleased with the jeep’s closeness so charges at us stopping just short but still a nervy moment for our tracker perched on the jeep’s bonnet.

We visit a water hole and spot a nearly submerged hippo. It will stay here all day having wandered around all night eating. A short stop for hot drink and snack, always in an open area to ensure nothing sneaks up on us. We do feel like we are a mobile lunch for the bigger animals.

Another watering hole visit sees a mum and baby elephant who walk close by.

After arriving back at lodge and a hearty bush breakfast we split. Emma and Alison for some R&R and Paul for a bush walk. With a ranger, a loaded rifle and four of us guests we go for a circuit. Any animals scatter long before we arrive (scent of human carries) so the ranger concentrates on showing us tracks and many types of dung which they use to track the animals we see.

Then lunch, more eating ready for a 3.30pm game drive. The sun is out so much easier to take sharp photos. We stop to take photos of majestic impalas, more rhinos. We see a Grey Dakar (small antelope) and finally some mongooses stop still for long enough to grab a pic.

We were expecting a G&T stop on the way home but pulled in to a well prepared BBQ snacks and bar out under the stars. Absolutely amazing. The stars were gradually appearing in the clear sky above. The bones from the BBQ were tossed into the bushes which attracted a couple of hyenas to within a few feet of us. Tried we get back to the lodge. Time for dinner and some more drinks and a chat with the lodge manager.Read more