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I don't want EJ the brave to be supper ... but that must have been awesome

EJ if my Oor wullie can jump a 3 metre wall with ease .. just think what a leapard could do ... ooooo scary .. Just dont wander to the little girls room late at night !!!

Maybe leopard wanted bacon sausages and mash for dinner too?????

The night drive last night was very different from the night before......also a great group of guests, but much quieter for sightings. It seemed the animals took a message and sent the spotted eagle owls - they were round every corner and we gave up counting them 'common as pigeons' said one man! On my way home I counted 8! Lots of nightjars too.

We had ellies, impalas, scrub hares, waterbuck, giraffes......and a group of 10 rhinos on the way out, and on the way home one actually sleeping on the road near the rest of the herd! A genet also gave a good sighting.

Despite the quiet night we still enjoyed the trip.

Raymond did ask me to do the night drive again tonight, but I have to be up early tomorrow to go to Skuks to help with shooting assessment (not shooting tomorrow myself), and also feel a bit under the weather so said 'sorry not tonight'.

You've had some really great sightings lately ej

Leopard walking past camp is great

Wild Dogs for everybody
and Leopard only for you

We were late setting off for Skukuza yesterday, so I knew we would be held up by good sightings......and we had wild dogs just south of Renosterpan turning.....of course!!!! A little later, thinking about the fact we had to go via the high level bridge on the Lower Sabie road to get to Sand River shooting range I said we would probably now also find a herd of ellies on the road....... We did! But even before we got to the Skukuza road!!! So we were even later....... Oh well, it's Kruger......

Today Raymond asked me to do a night drive again, so I tried to get away a little earlier from the office so I could get a snooze and meal first. Walked to the car, turned on the engine - and realised there was a herd of ellies about 20m in front of me!!!! Did not even notice them as I walked over But they totally ignored me too, so it was OK.

On the way to BnD I saw a herd of buffs near the road and made a mental note to come that way at the end of the drive as the lions might be following them. Then near the BnD gate I found some of the wild dogs again.

The dogs were still there when I came out with the guests, and we followed them up towards the dump site before turning back to continue the drive. Quickly had bull ellie, impalas, hyenas, nightjars, spotted eagle owls, zebs. Then not a lot other than impalas and scrub hares for a while. The spotted eagle owls then turned up again, more hyenas, and eventually hippos too.

On the road back, near the marula tree I saw something in the road......a lioness. She walked around us, then lay down for a while, and when we left got up and followed us a while. We found the buffs almost straight after that.

On my way home I had a genet, the lioness, buffs, and spotted eagle owls, and then ellies as I drove round to the staff quarters to park the vehicle.

and again Wild Dogs

[Hi Ej, it's me, Duffy and my SO Wally, hope you remember us!!!! Have been following you all the time! You are seriously amazing and my goodnes, how brave, and the shooting, I could go on for ever, but , for your sake, I won't, you are amazing and I wish more of us could be like you!!!! God bless you EJ and may you see wonderful creatures and their habits along the way, no matter large or small!!!!! Be good to yourself, much love!!! us

WOW the dogs are really out and about near the roads these days

Duffy - yes I remember you!

Yesterday on the way to the office there were 2 lions resting on the road, today the wild dogs were about! Such boring trips.......!

We also took a break yesterday afternoon and went into Malelane for a lunch (the end of year 'function' which was delayed because too busy). Even though the restaurant has increased the price of the meal we enjoy it was still good. Pm me if you want details.....

I am watching the weather forecasts carefully - looks like another very wet spell coming up.....

Nice to see you at least had some time to enjoy a meal from the restaurant Hope this weather is not going to influence your sighting

Just had Patrick call me and ask me to do a sunset drive tonight - big group needing both vehicles and Texson is going off for a few days.

EJ
Batten down the hatches -- it looks as if you in for some serious rain.
Good luck whatever your duties are and stay safe and reasonably dry-- we hope it is not going to be as bad as January
Thanks for all the updates - thoroughly enjoy your reports

The drive last night was strange - all the animals in the middle of the drive. But that was because I had to change my route and instead of doing the loop round BnD and over Steilberg to find the doggies, I went up to Afsaal and back. Reason was that someone told us there were lions near there, and that was what the guests preferred to go to.

The plains at Afsaal were full of animals, and we were there before dark so it was nice. Eventually found the mating lions too.....and they demonstrated...... But there were 2 Jock safari vehicles there, and 2 more of our vehicles too in the end. For me too crowded, even though everyone was well behaved and we all allowed each other to get good views etc. The guests were happy with their choice, so that was the main thing. Lots of spotted eagle owls about again, and a white-tailed mongoose on the road, and finally a bushbaby hopping across the road and then peering at us from a tree next to us completed the trip.

I had seen Peter on the road too, and he asked me to help with a morning walk today - hence my early start. Very reluctantly as I did not sleep well - very windy here.