The Safari crew have a long hard day today as they have to break camp, load it all into a big truck and drive the 6 hours to our new site in Serondella camp then set it all back up and fix dinner for us. As for us, we did a 3 hour game drive then the 6 hour drive to the new camp, then a 3-4 hour game drive in the park before arriving in time for cocktails and dinner.
In Savuti we saw giraffe, kudu (male and 2 female), and the hammercop bird building its nest. These are huge nests of sticks but the bird enters it from the bottom. There are lots of birds including the come duck, spur wing goose, white crowm shrike, red billed buffalo weavers, hawk eagle, and the coloful lilac breasted roller.
We stopped to look at a lone wildebeest when I saw this red mound next to it. Upon closer inspection we discovered it was a dead zebra and it was probably killed by a lioness who had gone to the den to get her cubs. She would then teach them about killing and eating their prey.
The baobab tree is not really a tree but a succulent! This tree is over 1500 years old!
The two Jeeps departed the park on the way to the next camp but joined up a few minutes out. All the guys were in one and girls in the other so when we met all the guys got out and sang ‘ Happy Mother’s Day’ to us girls! That was sweet of them! Also Mr. Fish showed us a chamelion on a stick playing dead. Almost as soon as he set it in a branch, it scooted away. The girls also had Stanley rescue two dung beetles rolling their dung down the road. Then Mr. Fish got another flat tire!
The two Jeeps departed the park on the way to the next camp but joined up a few minutes out. All the guys were in one and girls in the other so when we met all the guys got out and sang ‘ Happy Mother’s Day’ to us girls! That was sweet of them! Also Mr. Fish showed us a chamelion on a stick playing dead. Almost as soon as he set it in a branch, it scooted away. The girls also had Stanley rescue two dung beetles rolling their dung down the road. Then Mr. Fish got another flat tire!
In mid-afternoon we arrived back in the Chobe National Park at Serondella and immediately started hunting for game. The Chobe river is currently at its highest flood stage in ten years so all the grazing ground is covered or turned into inaccessable islands. That is why so many animals are in the marsh grassland of Savuti. We spotted all the animals we have seen all week: elephant, giraffe, impala, cape buffalo, kudu, water buck, and red lechwe. The ladies got to go to a valley where elephants are grazing on hillsides. Very special.
The men’s jeep witnessed a couple of male zebra fighting for dominance. They were kicking each other and biting and shoving. Very exciting!
Just after a potty break we came across a troop of baboons. A huge male was sitting on top of a bush in which he had trapped a small female and he was torturing her by sitting on top of her! Her screams were so pittiful that Stanley ran the Jeep up to the bush a couple of times to chase off the big brute and the feemale escaped! He said he has seen this before and that the male was punishing the female for some reason.
Just after a potty break we came across a troop of baboons. A huge male was sitting on top of a bush in which he had trapped a small female and he was torturing her by sitting on top of her! Her screams were so pittiful that Stanley ran the Jeep up to the bush a couple of times to chase off the big brute and the feemale escaped! He said he has seen this before and that the male was punishing the female for some reason.
A few new animals showed themselves like the vultures, squawker heron, white cattle egrets, banded marmots - cute little critters whose coloring reminded us of an armadillo - and a black backed jackel.
But the best part of the day came as we were nearing our campground. A pride of lions were on the side of the road. A dominant male, 2 female, two 2-year old cubs, and 2 immature males who would soon have to leave the pride to go out on their own. The dominant male was new to these females and so was asserting himself by roaring and batting around the females! His roars were deep and loud and very scary! After a bit he walked away and the rest followed but we will never forget those roars!
But the best part of the day came as we were nearing our campground. A pride of lions were on the side of the road. A dominant male, 2 female, two 2-year old cubs, and 2 immature males who would soon have to leave the pride to go out on their own. The dominant male was new to these females and so was asserting himself by roaring and batting around the females! His roars were deep and loud and very scary! After a bit he walked away and the rest followed but we will never forget those roars!
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