Third day in the park (second for some of us) and this time, in our own vehicles so that we have air conditioning and no dust but lead by two trackers in their own vehicles to help us track down the game (plus, they carry the coolers with cold drinks and lunch!).
We arrived at Andersson's Gate but this time, had to wait for quite a while to get in. Apparently, it was their first day with a new computer system. Fortunately, we got processed as a group so when our turn came, the people behind were sure grateful for 7 vehicles pulling through all at once!
Back to Okaekuejo to the "boxseats" watering hole for more unbelievable scenes of animals gracefully making their way - always watching warily and stepping gingerly. Got pictures of 3 giraffes drinking in their awkward way - front legs spread apart and bent as far as possible with their necks stretched way down to the water. It was impossible to catch them all drinking at the same time as they seem to instinctively know who's taking a breather so that one of their heads is always up to watch for predators. It was like watching a choreographed dance with the 3 heads - two up, one down, in all different patterns!
On the way to the next watering hole, we saw a desert fox for the first time lying peacefully in the shade of a lone tree off the road about 40 feet. At the watering hole, we saw jackals skulking around and 3 warthogs scaring off the other game as they made their way to the water for a drink.
The next watering hole had what someone referred to as a "kudu convention". We had never seen so man kudu together in one place. Hundreds of beautiful big bucks with their distinctive stripe down the sides of their body and their mid-length, slightly-twisted horns that always look so majestic. Off to the side was a large male ostrich with its 8 tiny little baby ostriches running in every direction so he had his hands (wings?) full! The female was a little further away taking an obviously much- needed break!
Suddenly, the tracker pointed out a lion to us that was lying in the grass under a tree that was way across the watering hole - probably 1/2 km. away! We strained our eyes and it was Lynn who first found him and then, over the shortwave, tried to explain where it was so we could all try for a picture. It must have taken 5 minutes of her carefully explaining his position for anyone to see him as he blended in so well into the sand he was lying in and behind a log. Only when he made a slight movement and you happened to catch it, could you make him out. Lynn, of course, lucked out and got a fabulous picture of him with his head up surveying the kudu at the watering hole.
I got a pic of him lying down but you can't see him in the picture unless you know it's him.
We had noted the outside temperature at 23 degrees when we left at 8:30 am. It was now 11:30 am and the temperature outside was 36 degrees! (By the hottest part of the day, it reached 41 degrees!)
We again stopped for lunch in a shaded picnic area at Okaekuejo and then some headed back to the Toshari Lodge while some chose to continue the hunt for lions.
More stories to come.......sorry for the delay......have been out of internet service for almost a week!.......JT
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