Day 29

This morning began with breakfast and getting our geology tests from last week back – I got 100%! I am genuinely amazed. We then had a lecture at 0700 on mammals – what a huge topic. We focused on their foot structure, digestive systems, thermoregulation and all sorts of other facts about them – so interesting. Then it was time for brunch – today we had some sort of cheese, ham and onion quiche, muffins and salad.

We spent the first part of the afternoon filling in the mammal section of the workbook and then it was time for a Game Drive, and what a Game Drive it was.

It started off quite slowly, we saw buffalo from the bridge on the way to Makalali, we saw a few birds (eagles and vultures) and then we saw a couple of giraffes necking – which was quite cool.

We saw a really injured young zebra (it looked like a lion had bitten it a couple of times but that it had somehow got away), so sad but the circle of life.

We stopped for drinks and then it turned into an epic game drive, but as it was getting dark I didn’t get any photos. First of all we saw a really big black mamba hiding in some bushes which was cool. Next we saw a few nyala which are really beautiful. We saw another giraffe as well.

We carried on driving and first we heard a hyena calling, then we saw the hyena – only for a couple of minutes but it was really cool to see. After the hyena we saw a lion. It could have been a spectacular sighting but another vehicle drove past us and stopped right in the way and asked for directions. Vaughan nicely answered their questions whilst the rest of us were quietly seething, when they moved on, the lion had gone! Then we were quite vocal about our annoyance! We hunted around for him for a while but didn’t find him.

Our next sighting was a chameleon, I have no idea how Vaughan spotted it, but he did. It was so cute!

Our last sighting of the day was a herd of elephant, right by the road and really near the entrance. We couldn’t stop and spent any time with them because the spotlight really irritates them and they get mad, but they were so close and so huge!

We drove back to camp, delighted with our drive – not a bad birthday present for Michelle. We had chicken pie and salad for dinner, then had showers (the water that hasn’t worked for a couple of days is now working again) and then it was time for bed.