The Last Hurrah!

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We were up at 5 am for our eleventh and last game drive.  I can't say how many jeeps were out front but there was definitely enough for a parade.  This morning's guide was Gee.  He was very good but tended to speak in the third person - which kinda cracks me up.

We had a very special sighting of two hyenas.  They are very rare to see during the day since they are usually nocturnal animals.  Gee spotted them from far off and raced like the wind to get to them in time before they scattered off into the bush.  Then, of course, there was the usual hanging around - elephants, hippos, giraffes, etc.  Spotted a very cute owl in a tree when we stopped for a coffee break.  There was a rumor that a leopard was seen crossing a road - off we all went barreling through the bush but to no avail.  If the leopard was there, he was either hiding or had left.

We were on our way back to the lodge, when we ran into African gridlock.  Lions.  All the jeeps were huddled around this one pride.  Looked like mostly females lying very close by the buffalo herd.  We counted six.  We observed them for a while and then we had to get back, the Aussies needed to catch their plan to Jo'berg.  That will be us tomorrow morning.  We won't be going on the morning game drive however.  I think we have reached our limit.

Back at the lodge, we had enough time to eat breakfast and change for the next activity - our private boat tour.  Met up with Mike around 11 and boarded a smaller but similar boat to the one we took the first afternoon.  By this time, we really knew the lay of  land and all the stories.  It was getting hot. and we didn't really expect to see anything we hadn't already.

I wanted to see a croc in the water and we did see quite a few of them.  I was only able to get pictures of two.  They go under pretty quick when they want.  Mike also spotted a monitor - another reptile creature that eats crocodile eggs.  The crocodile, in turn, will eat the monitor!  And, of course, the elephants.  I promised I would take no more pictures of these guys. But, honestly, you really can't help yourself.

One new species for us was the red lechwe, another antelope.  This one is aquatic and swims out to the island to feed and is safe from the big cats.  When the island gets flooded it has to swim back to the mainland.  If he makes it past the crocs, he has the lions and leopards to contend with.

We stayed out for two hours.  It was pool time.  Unfortunately, it was right around the high traffic time of day.  We took a quick dunk, dried off for a bit and headed to the bar for lunch.  After lunch we tried to hang by the pool for our last couple of hours but it was pretty hectic.  Besides all the people, there is a lot of construction going on in this place.  They have to get all the repairs done before the rains come.  The construction noise got to be a bit too much so we headed to the room.

Resting now in the comfort of our own lodgings enjoying the animals our front and the quiet.  We plan to check out the sunset bar tonight.  We just discovered this place in the morning when I was looking for the spa.  I wanted to check it out for later.  While walking to the spa we saw signs for sunset bar - something else no one told us about.  Found the spa, which is in a renovated old boat (I think I am going to pass on that) and kept walking till we found the bar.  It is situated in the perfect place for sunset.  I hope it is open later.

Yes, it was definitely open.  I was so looking forward to a fancy Botswana cocktail, but alas, no fancy cocktails here.  Well then a vodka and soda will do just fine.  We sat and watched the sun go down along with the sun tours out on the water.  Not as dramatic as Tsitsikama, but beautiful nonetheless. 

Dinner was very crowded tonight, mostly with tour groups.  We are ready to leave tomorrow. Sweet dreams.

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