Despite our truck buddy having been moved to a closer tent, we still had to hang around waiting this morning, which I do feel is a little impolite. When we finally headed out we went back to yesterday's lions which were still in the same area. Two male lions were lying in the grass.
The one on the left then gave a good head shake.
The next batch of photos aren't particularly good quality as it was still very early and light levels were low. One of the 6 or so cubs (we don't know quite how many, nor their ages) was particularly adventurous.
Isn't he gorgeous.
Not fazed by the truck at all.
Stopping to check for danger.
I'm sad to say that for probably the first time ever I began to feel we (the trucks around in general) were actually interfering with her plans - she kept looking around, seemingly confused. However George said it wasn't us but that the other females, back where they'd been previously, were still calling them all back and that's why they seemed unsure.
Here's my little braveheart
I'm so pleased they got their spacings correctly so I get both ends of them in shot. And just look at the size of that paw.
Despite the early hour and relative coolness, there were still a lot of flies around.
Obviously the other lionesses were in charge as this one then marched them all back to the bushy area they'd set off from.
As we got closer we saw this massive hippo running from the area - maybe that's why she'd wanted to move the cubs.
I don't know how good hippos' eyesight is but I don't like the look it's giving us and we're very close.
Time to move on and find somewhere for breakfast.
I actually find the breakfast situation rather embarrassing, although it is less so here as we've pre-ordered so there is less for the guide to do. But firstly he has to find us a safe place to stop, check around the bushes etc before we have a loo visit, unpack the trestle table and camping stools from the back of the truck, lay the table, get all the food out, make the drinks and, when we've finished, pack it all away again making sure not a scrap is left behind. I just can't stand idly by whilst someone does all that and I do believe my help is appreciated as he actually deserves a rest more than we do.
Whilst we enjoyed our breakfast I wandered around taking a few photos.
Little Bee Eater posing nicely.
With his own fly collection.
And, in the bushes by the river, Pied Kingfishers.
Who were fishing in the river and hovered beautifully for me, although yet again I failed to get the entry shot.
I think I should call George the Giraffe Whisperer, he does seem to find them for me.
I know Wildebeest are considered by many to be one of the Ugly Five (along with Warthog, Marabou Stork, Hyena and Vulture) but I rather like them.
And the markings are quite lovely.
Is this a "Go Away, Leave Me Alone" face or what?
Another one for my Arses of Africa book although I learned from George today that someone has already published one so I need to find a new title.
We then happened upon this female cheetah sitting on a termite mound surveying the area.
It's really quite chilling when they look straight at you and actually almost "through" you.
She then started to make her way down towards us.
Stopping midway for a stretch.
And a yawn. I can never understand why cheetah's teeth are so white whereas lions are yellowed.
She strode off quite purposefully so we hoped she was going to hunt.
She just sat down by a nearby tree which offered her little shade from the mid-day sun.
Poking her tongue out and waving at the same time - is she trying to tell me something.
Perhaps it was "go away and stop photographing me"
She was soon up again and watching some Impala in the distance.
Then she headed back up onto another termite mound.
And with a sense of déjà vu, that's where we left her and headed back to camp for lunch.
This was one of the Impala the cheetah was interested in; a handsome young male.
It's rare to see humans in the conservancy, these were collecting water and presumably the donkey was going to carry the buckets.
A little piggy family
And then a few zebras; I have so many shots in my head that I want to take of zebras but they never perform for me - so what you see, is what I got!
And whilst it's not yet the "migration" here there are also a lot of wildebeest around. Wildebeest
and zebra share a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship in the
African savannah, often migrating together for survival. Zebras act as
"lawnmowers," eating the tall, tough grass, which exposes the
shorter, more palatable grass that wildebeest prefer. Together they share
predator vigilance—zebras have excellent eyesight and memory, whilst wildebeest
have strong hearing and smell, enhancing their collective security against
predators.
I've mentioned previously how different the calves look to the adults and this picture illustrates it perfectly.
Definitely time for lunch and a rest for George.