We were up at the same time this morning but that was because H wanted to do a run before we left the camp. It was 24 degrees at 5:30am but H got her run in and then we packed up and headed out. We left the camp at around 7am and it was already 27 degrees and by 8am it had already passed 30 degrees C. We knew we were in for a stinking hot day.

We were heading south as our next camp was Lower Sabie though we needed to stop in at Skukuza airport to fetch some special family members (well one special family member and 2 other family members!). It is about 90 kms from Satara to Skukuza but that takes at least 3 hours as you drive pretty slowly and taking into account the stopping you do for sightings (or in our case to ID birds). There was a reasonable amount of game on the way down but no predators. IBoth H and I added another lifer – Rufous-winged Cisticola (what is described as an LBJ in birding circles – “little brown job”) and H has now added 53 lifers since we arrived (taking her to 374).

We stopped at Tshokwane picnic spot for a late breakfast and then headed down to Skukuza where I had an ice cream and H had a milkshake. By this point it was 39 degrees C and it was just unbearable in the direct sun. We did a little bit of shopping for some essentials and then headed to the airport to collect M (our son), O (our daughter-in-law) and (mostly importantly) I (our oldest grandchild). They arrived slightly early and after getting their luggage we headed out to Lower Sabie (our camp for next 2 nights).

It is about 45 kms to Lower Sabie which takes just around 2 hours. Given the heat and an 18 month old who hasn’t slept, we got there a little quicker and once we had sorted the check in, we headed to the house to let her have a short nap. We did a short late afternoon drive to Sunset dam and then across the river and all of that plus some birding from house we are staying at, has taken our trip tally to 134 (and MO are already in the 40s).

It was delightful to watch some game through the eyes of an 18-month old. Kudu has now been renamed ‘Duku’ 🙂 and Impala is called ‘pala’. She is interested to watch them eat and then say goodbye as we pull off.

The temperature hit 41 degrees late afternoon and it felt like you couldn’t get enough fluids into your body faster than you were losing them through sweat. I was grateful that M started the braai this evening though I did some of the braaiing while he was putting I to bed.

Unfortunately the generator at Lower Sabie is broken and so we will experience no power tonight between 9-11pm. It is 9:15pm while I type this (in the dark) and then just as I write this, the power (fortunately) comes back on. The importance of that is that means the aircon and ceiling fan are back on – wasn’t sure I was going to get through the 2 hours!

Cellphone signal is terrible and so I am not even going to try and post any pictures. Hopefully tomorrow will be better and I will be able to do it tomorrow evening.

Until then ..

I (because let’s be honest she is the most important person here), P, H, M & O