13 June, Croc Bridge
We woke up bright-eyed and bushy tailed, and were ready to go at 5.45. When I turned the car on, lights started flashing and I saw we had a flat tyre!

We drove very slowly to the petrol station where a lovely lady poured soapy water over the tyre and located the hole. She then phoned the "guy who fixes tyres" and told us that he lived close by in the staff village but he couldn't walk to work this morning as lions had killed a kudu right at the entrance gate!! About 10 mins later we saw the "guy who fixes tyres" casually walking on the other side of the fence....Africa is not for sissies!

He eventually managed to plug the hole and we were out the gate at about 6.45. The Brat was not happy about all the leopards and lions we had already missed out on!

I told him that everything happens for a reason and to forget about the tyre!
Just outside the gate I slammed on brakes for this Grey-headed Bush-shrike with what looked like a little frog.

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We decided to go and have a look at the lions at the gate, but when we got to the bridge we could see what a traffic jam there was on the other side, so we turned around and went on our way!
A little further on and we came across more fighting giraffes!

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About 15 minutes later the Brat urgently whispered "STOP!! LEOPARD!!"

This was another fantastic spot by the Brat!

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© Bush Brat
It was right next to the road but didn't want to reveal itself!

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© Bush Brat
Other cars soon started to arrive and as we tried to explain where it was it decided it had had enough of the noise, and calmy walked off!

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© Bush Brat
We waited around for a while to see if it would reappear, but no luck.

The Brat was unhappy that it had been such a quick sighting but I reminded him that if we hadn't been delayed with the flat tyre, we wouldn't have seen it at all!
Some boons.

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© Bush Brat
I love this pic!

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© Bush Brat
We decided to take the Gomondwane Loop and just before the S137 turn-off we came across a few cars. Two male lions were sleeping far off.

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