This morning we went out slightly later again as the first 15-30 minutes of the drives had generally not been productive and so we thought between that and letting I sleep in a bit, we may as well head out later. Our plan was to take the main road east to the Shitlhave and Transport Dams in the hope of seeing some water birds at least to add to our trip list (and maybe a lifer if we were fortunate enough). As it turned out, it was one of the most disappointing drives we have ever had in the Kruger – basically no birds at all and nothing special on the game front either. Maybe that is what caused my headache which I couldn’t shake the balance of the day (despite a nap when we got back).

H summed up this mornings drives as follows “You know it is a bad drive when you saw less birds than game”. It wasn’t that we didn’t just see anything new, we just didn’t see anything. It was as if someone had stolen the game and bird life and only left a few to tease us into believe there was more. Maybe they knew it was Sunday and were all having a day of rest? We didn’t add a single new bird to the trip list and for H and I that remained true for the balance of the day. For M & O, they actually managed to add a few to their trip list and a lifer late in the day as well. H & my trip list is stuck at 189 birds and M & O have theirs at 160. This after saying yesterday that we should easily surpass our previous trip best of 200 (spoke way too quickly it seems).

Flapjacks for a late breakfast, a nap, a swim, an ice cream and then out we went for our late afternoon drive. On the road for only 1km and we spot a leopard and its cub on the side of the road. Number of other cars besides us = 0. We got to watch and photograph them without anyone else around and then when other cars arrived it was just 2 others and then the leopard decided to walk down the road (and proceeded to do that for over a kilometer). The cub kept dodging in and out of the bush as they walked. Probably one of the best sightings a leopard I have ever had. Even I was fascinated. And there is the paradox of the Kruger. A terrible morning drive contrasted with 2 minutes outside the camp and you see the best sighting of leopard that you could imagine.

Eventually the leopard and her cub headed into the bushes and seemed to almost immediately vanish from view. Timing is everything in the Kruger. We headed off back onto the route we had planned to take and while we saw some of the usual other things (elephant, kudu, waterbuck), nothing could top that sighting of leopard.

M did the braai tonight – chicken wings, steak, gem squash & mushrooms accompanied by H’s famous penne pasta. Tonight is our last night with M, O & I. Granny & Grandpa will be sad to see I depart tomorrow. We might miss M & O too! It has been a pure delight seeing the next generation enjoy the wildlife. I will even miss her asking grandpa for more tortoise or pala (egged on by M usually) and has a look of disappointment when grandpa doesn’t deliver immediately. We have one last drive tomorrow am before we drop them off at the airport – let’s hope it is a good one.

Until tomorrow … I, P, H, M (for braaiing tonight) and O