We were up at around 6am yesterday as Siya was taking us on a bush walk. After signing the indemnity form (never a good sign just before you encounter wild animals while walking), Siya gave us a safety briefing, told us what to do and more importantly what not to do. He loaded his rifle and then we headed off in single file along and down to the river. The plan was for around a 2-hour walk and then back to the lodge for breakfast and to pack up and then head to the next camp (Hilltop).

The walk was very leisurely with frequent stops for explanations around trees, dung, spoor etc. Siya’s knowledge of the area was impressive. He grew up not far from the camp and so he knew the local traditions and area very well. He quickly picked up that we were keen on birding and so he started stopping less for trees & dung and more for birds. His eyesight was also pretty phenomenal in that he saw birds we struggled to find with our binoculars.

We ended up at the hippos and they were very curious of us. They kept coming closer and closer but Siya said it wasn’t an issue because they can’t climb up the rocks we were standing on because their legs are too short. I wasn’t too enthusiastic to find out – a hippo chomping at your ankles also doesn’t sound like fun to me. We did add 20 birds to the trip list and I also got a lifer. It was a fantastic experience and while we didn’t see any exciting game, we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

After breakfast and packing up we headed out from the camp, heading north into the Hluhluwe part of the park as our next two nights would be at Hilltop Camp in the north. We didn’t see much on route but did stop at picnic spot which also has local curios for sale (obviously popular with foreign tourists). We arrived at Hilltop Rest Camp at just before 2pm and managed to check in immediately to our accommodation for the next 2 nights. We are staying at Mtwazi Lodge which is a 3-bedroom house with an annex with another bedroom. The accommodation again is very comfortable and nice. We had been warned that the accommodation in the park was rundown and not in great condition but our opinion is exactly the opposite. Everything is actually in reasonably good condition (and in many cases better than you find in the Kruger Park). We have been pleasantly surprised.

A late afternoon walk around the camp yielded another lifer and some more birds for the trip list. This was followed by the mandatory braai for dinner and then off to bed so we could be up at sunrise for a morning game drive.

Until tomorrow (or maybe later today if I have the energy to write up today’s blog at the end of the day) …

P, H, B, S, O & A (no change as no one did anything of note either way)