No new roads open yet unfortunately so we decided to repeat Day 1 at Satara and drive south and then east. For some reason, today the road was much quieter both game and bird wise. The tar road heading east has never been a favourite of mine. I think the dirt road is much better as it runs along the river and it generally is teaming with game. Unfortunately it was not open so we couldn’t take it. Just after we stopped for coffee, H and I decided to turn around and rather head back and then head down south instead because it was so quiet. We literally only had seen one kudu and one giraffe in about 20 kilometers. It was such a contrast to yesterday’s morning drive.
The south drive was more productive including seeing a wobble of ostrich (I didn’t make that collective noun up!). Can also be called a flock, herd, pride or troop by the way. But I think I like wobble the best. It was quiet a large wobble of ostriches – maybe 20 altogether – and they were tightly grouped together. As you might tell, the fact that a wobble of ostriches made the blog today, that the rest of the game and birds seemed to be somewhat absent. We drove as far as Nkaya Pan – did some birding there and then headed back to Satara for breakfast and a loafing/do little day in the camp. As evidence of doing little, after my son sent a caricature generated by AI of what it knows about him, I fed it that prompt with a photo of H and myself and the result is below.
It is our last night in the Kruger Park tonight and so I went all out with the braai. Unfortunately the ‘poor fire’ neighbours had moved on but neighbours further down were genuinely staring in admiration. Or maybe they were worried that I might set Satara on fire. Regardless it was a perfect fire for our last braai of chicken wings and ostrich steak (which we will eat for lunch tomorrow on the road).
We have tended to eat slightly earlier which means you avoid eating when the bugs start invading you. We usually have some time after dinner to just sit outside and enjoy the peaceful nature of the Kruger Park. Eventually one of us gives up with the bugs biting us and we move inside for the night. I am honestly not sure how many times I have been bitten this trip but the insect repellent spray doesn’t seem to be working very well. Just as I type this, H jumps up and re-sprays herself again and then sprays over her bed and on my bed and now all I can smell is insect repellent. It isn’t just mosquitoes (though those seem to be sneakily everywhere), it is also many other bugs both great and small. Today when we walked late afternoon it was midges and flies.
One last night of hearing lions contact calling …
P & H