water buffalo
All activity slows down in the afternoon heat. People and animals take to the shade. We could stay here on the deck for hours mesmerized by the landscape and the animal activity around the watering hole. There are literally hundreds of different animals right before our eyes. Amazing.
Once it cools off a little, we’ll be heading out into the bush on a game drive to get a closer look.
Our trusty driver/guide Newton is ready to take us on our first game drive. There will be 4 of us today for a small driver to guest ratio (1:4) You have to climb up and into these open air safari vehicles. I am tall so this is fairly easy for me. But Newton has a step stool handy just in case you need a boost. Each of us has a “window” seat with a full view. No one is sandwiched in a middle seat.
Incidentally, the other guests have their own driver/guides. A single traveler who had specifically requested and paid for a private tour (1:1) and one honeymoon couple (1:2) had separate tours. This is a luxury safari camp. We were not expected to pile into one vehicle with 6 or 8 people (1:6 or 1:8 or more). This is not necessarily the case with all camps and lodges.
We are following in the footsteps of great explorers, adventurers, frontiersmen, writers, photographers, even royalty and there is no telling what we will see this afternoon. It’s completely unscripted and unpredictable. Fortunately, our trained and experienced guide knows where to take us for the best sightings and he has wealth of knowledge to share with us.
I’m going to stop “talking” now. Enjoy the view. More wildlife tomorrow.
Reticulated Giraffe
African Elephant
Grevy's Zebra
