Tuesday, Nov. 14- Beautiful morning again.

Going on a bush ride today. Breakfast is at 7 and we leave at 8. We will eat a bush lunch and return around 6-6:30. We are on the lookout for Wildebeest or Gnu as we have not spotted them yet. Also, we would love to see the large pack of dogs with their puppies. (24 of them) We start out by seeing the Pink-backed Pelicans, the Deiderick Cuckoo, 3 little bee eaters, the white-throated bee eater, a white-browed sparrow weaver, a Southern Cordon Bleu, Hadada Ibis, Wart Hogs with babies, some nursing, Red-billed Ox-Peckers on small impalas, 18-20 giraffes in a large field. Two of them were trying to mate. Further along we see a Spotted Flycatcher, an Immature Fish Eagles, a Palm-Nut Vulture, White-Crowned Lapwing, Black-Winger Stilt with reflection in the water, a Crested Barbet, A Common Scimitarbill. There was a bee-eater eating a butterfly as well as 6 Giraffes drinking. We then see our first Wildebeasts in the background of the giraffes. Then there is a Scarlet-Breasted Sunbird upside down in a tree, a Streaky seed eater, Black-headed Weavers in a palm tree, and more. There’s an infinity of Wildlife.

White-Throated Bee Eater

Wart Hog with babies

Impalas with Red-Billed Ox-Peckers

Palm-Nut Vulture

Black-Winged Stilt

White-Crowned Lapwing

Heron

Baby giraffe drinking with mom close by to protect it.

Male following female for mating purposes. He jumped her a few times. 

Hadada Ibis (the dark coloured bird)

Palm-Nut Vulture

Spotted Flycatcher

A Wildebeest

Hippo travel in numbers and they are very heavy so it’s easy to spot their trails.

In an open field our guide spots a Tawny eagle high above in one tree and a Martial Eagle in another. He figures that the Martial Eagle has recently killed a young impala. Sure enough we find the kill under another tree not far away. Poor little one didn’t stand a chance. The Martial Eagle will return to eat later but he’s keeping an eye on it to make sure that no one else gets it.

Hippo tracks

Tawny Eagle

Martial Eagle

Impala killed by Martial Eagle

We then see a Lilac-Breasted roller eating a small snake. There are poisonous flowers around and we spot a nice one. It’s called the Fireball Lily. More Wildebeasts are spotted under a tree and in a field, probably about 20-30 of them.

We start driving through a thick forest where there are Baboons eating the fruit of one of the Palm trees. We then come through and open expanse and lions are spotted with the help of African White-Backed Vultures and the Hooded Vultures who are lurking in the trees. This usually means that the lions have a kill and the Vultures are awaiting their turn. We turn to look around under more trees and count 11 lions in total. There are 4 adults and 7 younger ones) They have killed a Wart Hog, not a lot of food for these carnivores.

Black Egret/ Heron

Umbrella Tree with Wildebeests

One lion eating parts of the Wart Hog

An African white backed vulture and a Hooded vulture

The other lions sleeping

Baboon eating a palm fruit

Baboon

Lunch is in a very scenic location, on the shores of Nzelekela Lake.

We drive on and pass a very large Baobab tree. Incredibly our guide spots a tail coming out of a hole in the upper portion of the tree. It always amazed us at how well these guys can spot not only big animals, but the smallest and difficult ones as well. We drive to the other side of the tree to see if the face of the leopard has come through. Luckily it has. What a sight. It is high up and we can really only see the face and a bit of the body but nonetheless, a very cool viewing.

Lunch set up

2 Egyptian Geese

Migrant butterflies

Vulture

Very difficult to see but there is a leopard in the hole in the Baobab tree

Water Buck

Open-Billed Stork

Lion eating a Wart Hog

The rest of the herd sleeping and eating

We drive off near the shore of a lake and see a Nile Monitor Lizard and some small Crocodiles. Then there is a bigger Monitor coming down to the water. Very impressive.

There is a very nice looking tree and our guide tells us that it is called a Puzzle tree. This is because Baboons cannot figure out how to climb it. They always slide down. Then there is a male Common Water buck nearby.

a Nile Monitor Lizard

Big Monitor Lizard

Alligator with mouth open

We decide to return to where the lions were eating the WH to see if anything is happening. Some of the young are still eating but then the mother stands up and starts walking. A few of the other lions follow and of course, so do we. She is leading them to a water hole. In all there are 6 of them all crouched down and drinking at the same time. What a great shot. In the distance, we see a spotted Hyena lurking by. It knows that there is a kill nearby and would like to eat the leftovers, before the vultures. We then follow it around, but it ends up lying down a little further away from the kill.  

We are headed back to the camp now as the sun is going down and there is still a little distance to drive. On the way we see Baboons, Kudus, Wildebeasts, and giraffes. (two are attempting to mate) Our guide tells us that foreplay can take up to two days. We see another Hyena. It walks right past our jeep without a second thought. 

Mama wakes up and she is thirsty

Walking to the water hole. Can see how close she came to the jeep

Such a cool pictures

Drinking at sunset

Hyena relaxing but looking for leftovers

Hyena walking toward the kill

It’s 6:45 when we pull into our camp. A little late but lots of action at the end of the day with the lions. We get off the jeep expecting to walk down the path to our tents but the elephants are there. Road block! We have to wait until they are gone before proceeding. Luckily it doesn’t take too long. We have half an hour to shower and be ready when the Masai returns to walk us back. Open-air supper again tonight with two campfires. We eat well then return to our tent around 9:20. We look at a few pictures and candles out at 10:10.