28th Satara to Biyamiti continued
We didn’t have a clear view of the leopard, but the traffic was building, so I was fairly desperate to get 1 pic from a decent angle and move on, but the chap who was in the perfect spot wasn’t going to move for anyone, so we decided to continue on, however managed to snap 1 pic at a better angle on the way past.
I was in “time out” mode by this stage, which is something that happens to me on every trip. I reach a point where the charging for sightings takes a back seat and the will for peace and relaxation takes over. Maybe I burn out, but I was in this mood and just wanted to get to Biyamiti and relax on the veranda for the rest of the trip, so although we spotted plenty game on the rest of the drive, we only stopped for pics a few km before the S139/Biyamiti road turnoff.
We slowed on the rise of a hill and Albert chirped in a matter of fact tone “There’s a lion” and carried on with her book, so I stopped. “Where!!” and she pointed “There!”.
I’m not sure how we never spotted it initially as the lion was 2m from the road, but on the Cow’s side, so I blamed her
After 5 minutes another car arrived, but they stopped about 10m behind us and didn’t seem to have a clue. It was a young crowd in the car and they weren’t pushy, so I was impressed; therefore signalled that we will move for them and that they should pull into our spot. We moved and stopped to watch their reactions.
The surprise and shock on their faces as they suddenly realized that they were 2m from a male lion was awesome to watch. The high fives and thumbs up to us followed, which was cool.
We only stopped 1 more time on the way to Biyamiti as the Cow got excited about a bee-eater.
We arrived at Biyamiti a little early, but the new camp manager was a cool chap and he let us book in and informed me that I could pull in to the staff village to watch the SA versus Aus rugby with them at 5pm, which was awesome as I intended to listen to it on the car radio if I could get reception.
We were issued unit 1 and warned about a leopard that had given people a fright there 3 weeks ago in camp. I think he was talking about the same leopard that Sharifa and Dude mentioned.
Eventually I was sitting on the veranda with a G&T.
At around 4:50pm we decided to at least go and check out the Biyamiti view point before the rugby, which is only 3km from camp and spotted a hyena deep in the bush on the way.
Halfway to the view point the rugby started, but we had radio reception, so I wasn’t overly excited.
SA had a very good start and scored a try in the opening few minutes, which was as we were driving up the hill to the view point, so my normal spontaneous shouting at the radio gave everyone in the car a massive fright. I just hope nobody at the view point heard me as we were faced with a sundowner’s gang and all were looking at us.
Due to the gang already at the view point we decided to carry on a few km, but bumped into a mother ellie with her junior just below the view point, which got the Cow sitting up straight “I can’t face a faulty Biyamiti ellie now, please turn!”
I wasn’t keen either, so we ducked back to camp.
I quickly got the fire going, snapped my normal Biyamiti fire pic, grabbed a torch, some beers, said cheers to the family and headed for the staff village.
The walk to the staff village was rather hairy in the dark and a few imaginary leopards got the heart going on the way.
When I arrived I spotted that most had the same idea, but hadn’t walked as their cars were all there.
I found myself a little lost as all in the room only spoke Afrikaans, so decided to sit quietly and enjoy my beer, but it was an exciting game, so as SA neared the Aussie try line my enthusiasm got the better of me and I realized that I was out my chair and shouting at the TV set, which caused some shocked stern looks from the older viewers, so I quickly sat back in my chair and continued with my beer.
Unfortunately after 3 more beers, I was back shouting at the TV set, but didn’t care at that stage.
A minute before the final whistle I thought that I should make myself scarce and ducked.
My dulled senses quickly revived themselves 50m into the walk back as a bushbuck charged out the bush a few meters in front of me, which nearly had me running back and begging for a lift to my unit.
Next up was a Honey Badger bashing through the bush and then a Genet, so the nerves were shot when I finally arrived at our unit.
The fire was ready for the meat, so my timing was perfect.
Just as I was about to put the meat on we heard a big bang from the side of the unit, which got the Cow out her chair with speed.
Nervous inspection produced a small swallow.
The swallow had flown into the glass sliding door and was stuffed, so I announced that a Genet would be getting a free chow, which caused a massive uproar, the rats started blabbering and I got a greasing from the Cow, so went to fetch the swallow.
The Cow sat cuddling the swallow with the rats in close attention for 5 minutes before letting it go, but the poor thing couldn’t fly and ended up hitting the wall and it eventually settled on the side of the table.
This gave me new confidence though, because at least it was alive, but I wasn’t sure how long that would be the case as there may have been other things damaged which weren’t apparent, so I announced “Leave it and let’s see”.
Suddenly I was under attack “You can’t leave it Dad!!”, so I looked at the Cow for support but the attack continued “DO SOMETHING!!”, so in panic I grabbed the swallow and tried to help it fly, but this ended in another crash and another greasing.
Now I was sitting holding the swallow, so looked around for an escape route “The fire is dying, I have to braai!!” and tried to hand it over, which didn’t work.
Suddenly I remembered that I had seen a bin inside, so the swallow got a home and a water bowl.
Halfway through braaing a Genet came charging past, which got the rats jabbering as it was assumed due to my earlier comments that the Genet was plotting the swallow, so the poor Genet wasn’t welcome.
After supper I went inside to put my camera in our room, but as I put the camera on the bed something ran out from under the bed.
The brain was a little slow due to the beer and the nerves dulled due to the walk back from the staff village, so I didn’t react initially, but this “thing” was seriously large and I could hear its feet on the floor.
The “thing” stopped and looked at me and I went cold “Parktown Prawn!! No it can’t be, it’s too large for that, but it is, SPIDER!!”
This caused the giant beast to take off down the passage “COW, COW!!” The Cow walked in the front door with an attitude which still remained from the swallow “WHAT!!”, but I was too late in my response as the beast was already charging full speed at her.
The Cow broke into an Irish dance like I have never seen “Whoooo, whooh”, which diverted the beast up the cupboard towards the sink.
“If that had run up my leg you would be dead!!!!”, but I was just trying to push past her to get out the front door to safety.
“Where are you going, you can’t leave it in the house!!”
I won’t elaborate on what happened next on this forum but it involved me armed with the Cow’s shoes and a can of Peaceful Sleep, but it didn’t end well for the spider.
Fortunately there were no more dramas and the swallow got put to bed in the kitchen.
The weather had changed big time during the night and we woke to pouring rain, so I just wanted to get home, but first I had the swallow drama to sort out.
I carefully lifted the dish cloth off the swallow’s “home” and spotted movement, so I felt confident that there wouldn’t be a drama and called the rats.
The swallow flew off perfectly, which got all the rats cheering.
After that we quickly packed the car and even if it meant long lips from the Cow and clan I headed for Croc Bridge with blinkers on without stopping and we were out the park before 7am.
Lastly, thanks to all of you guys that have shared our adventure with us and for allowing us the opportunity to relive our trip.
Bushcraft, the Cow and the Rats.
Earlier this year there were 4 
