Location: Sabi Sabi, South Africa
We hit four of the “Big Five” in our first 45 minutes. That’s a good day. We started with African Buffalo. Our guide explained they were two elderly bachelors living apart from the herd. We saw them enjoying an evening in the mud.
Then within minutes we turned a corner and saw a family of elephants.
Then, again, within minutes we found another set of mother and calf rhinos. This time the calf was far younger.
Then we heard over the radio about a sleeping leopard. I don’t know who spotted him, but this leopard we snoozing only 5 meters from the trail. He napped while three vehicles took turns taking a look. He didn’t move much, but I did catch him raising his head.
Still no lions – maybe tomorrow.
Afterwards we found a small family of hyenas.
As sunset approached, we found a giant herd of impala. One showed an unusual level of curiosity about our vehicle.
As we returned to the lodge after sunset our guide spotted a Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl. Unfortunately, he never gave me a good view of his face while out spot light was on him.
Our guide also spotted a Genet, but he never came out of the bush. I think our guide has thermal vision.
Tomorrow we have a morning drive and then take a plane to Cape Town to re-join the ship. It’s been a fun few days.