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So pleased to have found your entertaining trip report, especially the photos of the human pride. I really appreciate seeing the faces behind the anonymous aliases. Looking forward to following the rest of your holiday.

Fell way behind .
Stunning sightings COS .
Awesome AWC and raptors .
It is a pitty that the foal was a still borne. Maybe it was due to the fact that it was born hindlegs first .
Thanks for sharing .

Awwwwww shame the poor little bokkie the poor mom, did she mourn the foal at all? I remember a few years back when someone hit a lion cub with their car and the baby died the mom stayed with that cub for hours mourning the baby cub she blocked the road so no one could pass it was one of the saddest things I ever witnessed shame your poor kids ai

Such a pity that the birth of the Springbokkie didn't have a happy ending Cape of Storms!

Awesome that your kids can learn so many different sides of life through nature!

Just catching up now! COS - you have a unique fresh way of writing a TR!
Congrats to your daughter for the KB in flight, loved your AWC, and you experienced such a special sighting, and captured it really well. Poor bokkie though, but such is life!

@wanderw thanks for joining! I will let my daughter know and she loves that photo so she will be proud you all do to!

@hilda I know it was very sad but read on and you will see we have a little turn around the next day!

@Sheenaugh-Lee it is very sad and broke our heart. She did mourn it and later in the report I have a few photos of how she stayed with it for a few days.

@barryels You are so right. It was definitely a difficult birth and others at camp told us that once they go into labour the birth is pretty quick not near as long as we saw.

@Stampajane thanks for joining! hope we live up to the expectation

@Jan van Wyk Thanks Jan!

@anne-marie Drama it was! Girls were in tears for a long time and mom buck was very sad too!

@Trrp-trrrrrrrr thank you We try to take them once a year because our lives are so "unnatural" that a bit of the bush every year can hopefully instil life lessons that will remain forever.

@Philip1 thanks! and it was a big pity

After the sadness of the dead fawn we headed back for camp for what was now lunch. Temperatures soared to 40 degrees and we basically parked ourselves in the pool at Mata Mata. It proved to be a brilliantly relaxing afternoon. Check the pool’s reflection in the shades! For a Capie who has seen nothing but rain for a few weeks this was heaven!

At about 5 we decide to go for a little sundowner drive till the gates close. What a great decision. Excuse the PATHETIC photos but as usual when you don’t expect something to happen it does.


Once again the little African Wildcat shows us why it is a true survivor and opportunist. We saw the blur of action as it pounced on the poor little squirrel but alas only caught the final moments on camera. What amazing speed and skill!




Of course I had my girls crying for the poor victim and now had to deal with the deaths of two small creatures in one day!

In all the excitement we hit a heavy patch of sand and the first of a few vehicle issues on the trip! As mentioned at the beginning of the trip our adventurist spirit is reflected in the fact that we came with a Polo to KTP!! Now some adrenalin as we need faithful Sandy to pull Silver Bird out of a tricky situation!

For those who don’t know my kids named the vehicles on our previous trip
BMW X3 Red = Sandy
Silver Polo = Silver Bird

These became our “handles” when chatting on Walky Talky.... “Sandy come in.. we have a problem”

Good thing we have all our rescue equipment and the “Rescue Rangers” get to work. Pink Lady is the Lookout..... I know we are breaking the “no body part out of the car” rule but knowing what lurks in these grasses we have to be alert. Bosvrou #1 is capturing the moment for nostalgia in years to come.



Jan Peter-man and Lion Hunter(who now is hoping his Lion luck has run out!!) hitch Silver bird for our rescue operation!

Like the “Bush Pros” we think we are, we pop Silver Bird out of her disaster and head on back! What a relief.

Wow Cape of Storms, when I looked at the first picture, I thought the AWC was picking up her baby. In the meantime it was lunch! Poor Squirrel, but a very fast Kitty Cat to be able to catch the Squirrel! Great (although sad) sighting!

What a calamity with Silver Bird and the sand! Great that you had all the necessary "rescue" equipment!

Had a few pages to read but I am updated now

Your talented daughter has taken a beautiful kri bustard photo

and I feel for them witnessing the still birth

Some gorgeous pics of the african wildcat with her kill

Glad you got out of the sand safely

Cape of Storms,

Super pics....How fortunate to have been at the right place at the right time to witness the AWC kill.

Not nice to witness a kill, however that is nature taking care of itself.

Glad you got out of the sandy situation successfully.

poor gilrs, there was not the good day for them
but first time I saw an AWC with a kill

what an adventure for Sandy and Silver Bird
glad you have all you need

What a sighting not only is it a AWC but its a AWC kill Stunning!!!!

@hilda Now that I look at it you are right does look like a baby....

@Sharifa Thank you it has been quite the adventure so far

@Trrp-trrrrrrrr Definitely luck of the draw

@anne-marie It was a bit of a "death" day! But a swim in the pool seemed to help

@Sheenaugh-Lee thanks!!

On our way back to camp it was heart wrenching to see the mommy Springbok still trying to get the baby up


That evening we decide to do a slow braaied butterflied leg of lamb. Let me tell you the chefs were out doing themselves!


Before we left my fellow pride members had a bit of a chuckle at me when I bought some garden solar lamps but I think the night time ambience around camp was perfect. Just excuse the washing!!!

COS your camp site looks really organised.

I really feel sorry of the bokkie