Wednesday 21 January 2009 - So what is the guaranteed sure thing to get me out of bed at 4.45 a.m.?? Robbie Williams in his underpants? Close!! Answer - Game Drive! As soon as the alarm goes, it's up, dressed, bit of brekkie and we're off! It is hard to explain the appeal to someone who hasn't experienced a game drive! Of course there is the ridiculous early start, then hours and hours of spent looking into dense green foliage, getting eye strain, seeing only dense green foliage with a smattering of impala! But then there is the upside. For me I guess it's a combination of things, seeing the sun slowly rise, the stillness and freshness of the bush, the smell and the anticipation, it truly alerts all the senses.On our final drive in Satara, I can see a structure on the horizon, unsure as to what it is, binos at the ready, I thought I'd check it out! Oh just a water container, man made water hole for those tall enough i.e giraffe and elephant! But wait, whats that....fur! Lion I shout! Just to the edge of the container is a magnificent male lion strutting his stuff. By now the vans shrieked to a halt, with all three occupants binos glued to the lion area, and on closer inspection, there look - in the grass, an ear twitched - he's not alone, he has a female companion! So we sit and we watch, we sit a little longer and watch some more, seriously I could be here all day!
Then on the horizon, all ears and tusk! A male elephant taking advantage of the drinking facilities! The elephant promptly chases off the lioness, has a drink, ignoring the male lion, wanders off in the opposite direction. Hold on, wait a minute - I could have some fun here me thinks (Ellie), turning round, he charges at the male lion! Leo scampers off quick sharp, then realising Ellies game, turns back all hard like - I'm not scared of you! Walking back past Ellie to his woman......'saw him off babe', she looks totally unimpressed! So all in all just an average game drive really!
The rest of the day is taken up with a First Aid assessment, drive to Orpen and then bird and tree analysis. Fabulous!
Going Wild about lions roaring in the darkness as we eat our tea.
