12th Skukuza continued
Another larger ellie herd arrived, including a small junior who was charging for the water, so Hawkeyes grabbed my camera and took over pic duty, while the rest of us lazed around with more “tea”
Eventually it was time to cruise and I was keen to check out the lions that RP and GB had spotted just past the S34 turnoff, but it was a mission getting clear instructions as there were contradicting stories regarding distance, so I was confused.
RP and GB had decided on the shorter route back to Skukuza, but I wanted to check out the kill at Mazithi Dam again, so we left the picnic site a little earlier.
A few km past the S34 turnoff we found the lions RP and GB had told us about, but first I had to stop for a Korhaan which got the Cow excited.
We didn’t spend a long time with the lions as they were just lying around, so turned and headed back towards the S33 and bumped into RP and GB in good spirits on the way back to the lion.
The S33 was a mistake as it was very quiet with only a few of the normal gang popping up and the kill had turned into a “vulture meal”, however a lioness did arrive while we were there to chase them. Fortunately the massive gang from earlier had moved off, so it at least it was peaceful.
The rest of the drive down the H1-2 was relatively quiet and the civet was hanging around again on the H4-1 just after the H12 Bridge, but RP had put us off because he had agreed it was a “beggar” so we just continued on.
Around 5km from Skukuza we spotted a few cars stopped on the side of the road, but it was confusing as they were spread out over a fair distance, so we found a spot with just one car and pulled over also, however couldn’t see anything and everybody seemed to be looking different directions. After a few minutes we found out by listening in on another conversion that a leopard had briefly been seen in the riverbed but now it was gone.
I was about to pull off when the Cow shouted “LEOPARD!”
It was pure luck that we had stopped right in front of the spot where the leopard had been sleeping behind a rock and that it had chosen to stand up now, so I was stoked.
The leopard cruised left and then right a few times for around 2 minutes and then disappeared.
The “return to camp/Kruger gate traffic” had arrived in this time and it was chaotic, so we just parked off because the leopard was gone, therefore it would clear.
A few minutes later it started to clear and around 2 minutes thereafter RP and GB came cruising past with their teeth hanging out. They had been cooling off with “beggar” and RP was in fantastic spirits, so wanted to play catch with some “tea” which I declined much to his horror, therefore we both cruised back towards camp.
The Cow quickly got the potatoes going and then ducked off to the shop to try and find something to close the broken window and I started the fire just as RP and GB pulled in.
It was our turn to provide the chow as RP had sorted lunch; therefore I was hamstering around while RP and GB upgraded their “tea” to whiskey, so soon I was also in on it and slowed, hence burnt the Cow’s potatoes.
The Cow then returned and developed a small pelican over the potatoes, but soon got more on the go. She then decided it was time to use our medical tape to close the window with a poncho she had purchased at the shop. We all gave very good advice while watching her.
RP kept stalking me with his camera and when I wasn’t looking he was plotting to grab the Cow’s bum, so GB, who was still trying to be “formal”, kept trying to get RP to sit in his chair.
Hawkeyes arrived in our circle to ask for school subject choice advice, which much to my amusement, started a mini scrap between RP and GB, but Hawkeyes was now very confused, however RP hit a speed wobble and couldn’t talk for a while much to GB’s delight as he could finish his advice without interruption.
I eventually finished the braaing and RP was chirping again, so we all chowed around the fire.
The rats cruised off to bed at around 9:30pm and the Cow at around 10:30am, but the rest of us were into some heavy discussions about the world by this stage. GB suddenly got very loud and developed a bad cough, while RP showed us he had learnt a new language but then lost his voice again.
RP then decided he needed more water for the whiskey but had to get the water from our unit’s bathroom, however the Cow was in bed, so RP was hovering in hesitation at the doorway. I think it was GB who convinced him that the water from the kitchen tap was the same and safer.
We eventually called it just before 12 after making a plan to link up at Skukuza Golf Club for breakfast.
It was good night and we have to do it again
To be continued
and the cameras do not look that small to me 
I was going to give RP a different pip, but it was quick and easy to "pull the hat" down 
evening 
