Talek

Entim Camp is amazing. This is our last full day here and it didn’t disappoint. Joseph said “We meet at 6 again in the morning” Alan asked “Can we make it a bit later”, “Ok 6.15” 😂😂😂
The camp has no fences and they have guys patrolling all night. If you want to go anywhere at night you have to have an escort with you. Probably just as well, you can hear Hippos, Lions, Hyenas, Elephants on and off all night.

We set off in a different direction this morning. At least I think it was, it’s a bit hard to tell. There are tracks through the long grass everywhere here and only a few trees and river beds to distinguish one area from another. Beautiful sunrise this morning and there are about ten balloons up enjoying an early morning ride.

We met a couple of Mama Giraffes with their babies and then a big Bull Elephant striding across the savannah. He was on a mission to get somewhere, wasn’t even stopping to eat and they eat all the time.

There was some activity near one of the waterholes. A pride of lions, only half the pride according to Joseph. There was a young male, three lionesses and five cubs. The cubs where so funny, jumping on each other, racing into the bushes and down the road, pouncing on their Mum.

The lions are out in force today. We saw two more different prides. One with all females and another with several cubs. The male lion was on his way back to them while we watched. It was all a bit tense until the lionesses greeted him and when he settled down for a nap the rest of the pride could relax again.

Joseph is always scanning the savannah and he noticed a couple of trucks over on a distant hill so we were off again to see what it was. It was a Lion kill. Three Lionesses and a Lion all dining on a Buffalo. Mesmerising to watch, a little scary too. I never though we would be so close to these big cats and they seem to look up and straight at you. The Lion got a little too close for comfort again, walking straight towards our truck. Yikes!!
Its hard work hunting and eating in this heat and the Lion was looking for a bit of shade. Even Joseph thought it was time to move.

Back to the camp then for a bit of lunch, you get fed like a king here and they are always horrified when you only want one course instead of three.

This afternoon we are off to see the hippo pool. There are lots of Hippos in the river near our camp but you can’t get too close to them. It’s in another direction again and we have to cross a muddy rocky river. The bank is pretty steep and it’s not exactly shallow either. I was already freaking out a bit and then we got stuck on a rock half way across. That’s it I thought we’d be spending the night on top of the truck but no Joseph just got out into the raging river and locked the hubs in. Then with a bit of back and forth and some encouragement and advise from Graham and Alan which I’m sure he appreciated we were off again.

So many hippos in this river. Luckily we’re standing on a very high bank they can’t get up. One of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Our last sunset on the way home was a pretty special one.Read more