Earlybird is worried that we won't make it to the Mata Mata Border Post by its closing time at 3:30.
"What's the worst that can happen?" I say.. "If we don't make it we can check into a B&B" and I find one 14km from the border post which puts him in a better frame of mind!
Of course we do make it - with an hour to spare.
We check into tent 4 and 5. After unpacking we go for a short drive and find the usual gang.
Erich does not allow us to ignore the wildebeest
Jackal checking around before taking a drink
We get back by quarter to six and start the braai. It is chilly sitting outside but Wendy and I have knee rugs and warm jackets so we aren't too fussed. We sit in the kitchen to eat.
But when we go to bed it was freezing. We put two extra blankets on each bed but it takes ages to warm up. I find sleeping with my beanie on helps. If ever you go here in winter - take a hot water bottle!
Thursday 18 June 2015
We rise in freezing temperatures - when we get into the car at 7:30 we find the temperature to be -2 and it goes down to -5 as we drive toward the waterholes. Brrrr. We turn the aircon up to 24 and soon warm up. We welcome the sun streaming into the car too.
There is very little at each waterhole and we when we get to 13th we stop to watch the red-headed finches darting in and out of the water.
We are the only car there when we notice one reversing at speed toward us. He rolls down his window and gives me some good news. Another reversing vehicle is right behind him and has an excited look of anticipation on his face
Wow - we find ourselves in the prime position without any effort at all. "Here they came!" yells Wendy. And sure enough 4 adult females and 7 cubs appear and begin drinking right next to us. The cameras get clicking and it's difficult to choose the best results so here come a whole batch.
There is an overload of cuteness
They are all over the place
They all lap happily for a while and then the cubs begin to play. Soon the moms head in the opposite direction to which we are parked. We decide that we won't turn around to follow them. But just as we start the car Wendy says - they're coming back and they give us another half and hour's entertainment before heading toward the trees and over the ridge. The babies remain behind playing and climbing the tree until one of the moms has to come and demand they follow. It is so much fun.
We are chuffed with our first day and continue on. We stop for breakfast and Earl cooks scrambled eggs, bacon, banana and cheese. Our starter is banting muesli and yogurt. A chap from another group comes over to chat and see whether our brekkie is better than theirs. Of course it is! He tells us they'd seen the lions but also a leopard and cub at another waterhole - how had we missed that!! Wrong place at the wrong time. But nothing can spoil our wonderful lion morning.
To be continued
