30 December
I woke up like every morning, but I felt stiff all over, it is not so lekker to sleep in a car but at least it was dry. After my shower I woke up Bierman and we were off for another drive on the H6 as all the dirt roads were closed still. It was drizzling but you could see that the clouds were dissipating in the horizon. There weren’t much happening on our route but we still enjoyed every sighting that came our way.
A Tawny that we spotted next to the road, he then took off, swooped down and snatched something from the road in front of us. He then moved to a tree a bit further on and enjoyed a healthy brekkie.
The light was just horrible so mind the kiekies. The cheetah was gone from the previous day (we know he was dead as you could smell him before you even saw him) was not on his spot of the previous day and we discussed a theories on our way to Nwanetsi picnic spot.
We had some general game on the road as well but with the light being so bad I didn’t even pic up my camera. On our way back I got to spot a Namaqua dove and was glad being able to take a kiekie of one so close to me, but he didn’t sit still for me so this is the best I could get.
And then the highlight of the morning drive was a huge herd of buffies at the H1-3 T-junction. I got to see my first new born buffie and his mum with still the embryotic sac…
I found out later that I was only a little late as it takes about 25 minutes for a buffalo calf to start walking. Even though I missed a birth I still really enjoyed these wild cows and after enough kiekies we went back to camp as Bierman had to pack up and go South again.
When we got to camp there were 2 new fence view sites open and much closer to the bathrooms, at the moment I was about 120m from the loos and these sites were less than 50m so I mad the calculated plan to move as I had another 6 nights in Satara. We did a quick move and I was all camped up in less than 30 minutes, then I made a brekkie for us, it consisted of a hotdog bun filled with scrambled eggs and sliced viennas. With his tummy full and everything packed up we said our goodbyes and he took off.
Now it was time for me to sort out camp,
But first thing’s first, look at my spectacular view, again!!
I had to sun my mattress for 3 days until it was fully dry… There weren’t really a sun today but it was very windy and dry so I hoped it would help my very wet mattress. I decided to bring a normal mattress to KNP with me as sleeping a month on the floor would be not so good for my back and muscles if I had to sleep on a blow up.
I spent the afternoon reading a book and chilling in camp, I got to see a brown headed parrot and enjoyed the company of a rock monitor but by 15:00 I decided to take a short drive, I walked into Riverrat and he informed me about a leopard just E of Nsemani so I went to take a look.
And some other birdies also decided to come say hello as the sun started showing himself.
A Carmine bee-eater
When I got to the leopard spot, there were a few cars but I was told that I just missed him, he jumped out of the tree and walked off. Oh well, I wasn’t bothered as it was how she worked, sometimes you lucky and other times you not. I decided to take the S12 and visit Girivana dam and then go home via the S40. It was a very peaceful drive and I was lucky enough to spot this monitor in a tree.
I also sat for about 30 minutes at the dam enjoying the Egyptian geese and impala. Then it was time to get back. On the S40 I had a close encounter with a slender mongoose,
I sat here for ages and then a car came from the front, I waved them down so they won’t startle the mongoose but unfortunately they are very skittish. They then were so nice to inform me that the leopard had returned and I must go have a look. Just as I turned left unto the H7 I saw the traffic jam, but it wasn’t like the normal ones, the leopard was in the open so everybody had a good spot, there were a line about 500m long and we all had a great view. I sat and enjoyed the spotted cat for over an hour as he was very active on the tree. But he was not very close to the road so my kiekies aren’t as good. Here are a few…
He jumped out after about an hour and I was elated, it was a great afternoon with some spectacular sightings. On my way back I had an encounter with another giraffe with a wart-like skin condition. This was my second sighting in less than a week…
And just before camp I had this strange sighting, an impi with floppy ears, she didn’t want to turn around so I couldn’t get a kiekie from the front.
And the last surprise for the day was when I entered the camp, I had a chat with PetraJ and Scips at the camps-entrance and when we waved goodbye they walked to the shop, I looked into my side mirror and saw a badger stroll just past them. I quickly turned and parked on the non-electrical sites and ran after it with a cam, with the sun setting and taking action shots I wasn’t as successful with a good shot but I did get proof before he disappeared into a personnel only area.
I went home with a huge smile on my face as it was a great day even though I only drove like 70km today…
I made my fire and with a KPA in the hand I opened my braai pack and gooied it on the fire. I also made sommer a quick and easy smash with it as I wasn’t in the mood for any hassles. As I was alone I didn’t really have great company as a lot of people would frown upon me having a conversation with myself the whole night so I decided to go to bed rather earlyish. At least I could sleep in my tent tonight.
To be continued…
Lucky sighting of the badger. 
