The “private” Biyamiti road is over rated in my opinion and although we have seen the big 5 and other stuff on it over the years, it doesn’t get me excited anymore and today was no exception so we only stopped once or twice for locals and then at the view point just outside camp for Hawkeyes to take a family selfie.
The efficient camp manager, Gordon, booked us in and soon we were moving into our favourite unit number 9 as luck would have it.
I was immediately in a better mood being in this quiet bush camp and the teeth started to hang out when I noticed water in front of unit 9 as I hoped for some afternoon and evening action.
Our plan was to just park off which has become our way of relaxing when visiting Biyamiti; hence there was no pressure of another drive later, so I immediately started my traditional large wood fire while the rats explored and soon found some local residents which aren’t an issue until they start shrieking at night.
We then all cruised down to the fence as some animals were coming and going.
The Cow had a stove at Biyamiti so a large chow was planned, but I was soon summoned to the kitchen as nobody could get the fancy gas thing to work, so I huffed and puffed as I thought “How hard can it be”, however soon wanted to attack it because it wasn’t a standard gas stove and it was full of digital timers and weird knobs.
The Cow then cruised up to ask Gordon, but he also had no idea, so he summoned 2 people from the staff village and they were able to give the Cow some instructions which saved our fancy supper.
Just before sunset the Cow spotted some bird from the kitchen window, but was busy, so I got sent on a mission with the camera to get a pic and just as I had the bird perfectly lined up some other junior teenage boys came charging past and it took off to another tree, so I wobbled after it for 10 minutes and eventually got a semi blurred pic. I think it’s a grey-headed bush shrike.
After sunset we had a family conference as I could get another night at Biyamiti, but after plenty negotiation we decided to leave our trip as it was due to the financial situation, but the rats remained around the fire to continue debating.
We kept missioning down to the fence with a torch and after about 4 trips spotted 2 porcupines in the riverbed, but they took off at a rate of knots, so I didn’t even bother trying for a pic.
Around 15 minutes later I heard a leopard calling so asked others, but nobody else heard a thing, which irritated me as one must be in tune with the surroundings when in Kruger.
Then the leopard called again and this time the clan were concentrating and heard, so I roared off down to the fence and the leopard called again, but from up the riverbed towards unit 15, so I flashed the torch up at the Cow and she came down, but the rats were nervous as Gordon had told them about the potential for leopards to get into camp, so they stayed at the unit.
“Let’s cruise up towards unit 15 along the fence”
Those who have been to Biyamiti will know what I’m talking about, but there’s thick bush in camp down to the fence from unit 9 to unit 15, so the Cow immediately started
“You are mad; there are things in the bush”
“Relax” and then the leopard went again, so I started off with the Cow still protesting behind me.
Around halfway down something took off in the bush next to us which caused me to first blind myself with the torch and then jump backwards. This was too much for the Cow “NO, no, this is stupidity!” and she started to retreat.
I tried again to con her, but it wasn’t happening and then the noise started in the bush again but it sounded like it was coming towards us, hence the Cow’s greasing increased in pitch, so now we were both retreating and I was aiming the torch around like a paranoid sniper.
The Cow returned to the unit but I decided to park off on a bench in the dark and wait. Seconds later the noise culprit appeared and it was just a bushbuck, but the leopard had stopped calling, so I also returned to the unit.
The wind had picked up, so it was getting uncomfortable next to the fire, so we decided to move onto the veranda and I switched all the lights off to set the atmosphere.
Minutes later there was the slightest noise just off the veranda, so I snapped the torch on and a scavenger genet was plotting to steal.
The genet took off minutes later towards our neighbours so we all cruised to bed.
To be continued
Bushcraft,
Is a thick-knee and a dikkop the same thing 
Luckily the Cow has common sense for both of you 
Something really special, methinks. Observed them watch and stalk, but really hunting and catching, well, that's another story!
I lost count once again. How many sightings and how many different leopards? I really need clear instructions for April 
I also had forum issues 
Definitely more birds around though 