Day 6 - Ruaha

This is the first morning that we were still both sleeping when our juice and wake up call arrived at 530am.  Another gorgeous sunrise morning. 

Sunrise from our tent balcony

Sunrise over infinity pool

Sunrise over dining room table

Off we go for another safari drive starting at 6AM.  Within the first 2 hours we have had the most amazing day.  We start off again with beautiful early morning photo opportunities

Can't resist these gorgeous morning shots

Laughing Dove

Black faced Vervet Monkey

Next up some excitement as Nancy has spotted a pack of 8 painted dogs.  This was on our list of hopes to find that we hadn’t seen yet.  We were all very excited, including our guide.  They were crossing the dry river bed so we sped around to the other side of the river and were able to find them again.  We also came across another jeep who saw a lion steal the kill from the wild dogs.  The dogs are in the sand river and we have some great views, 2 of the dogs faces are full of blood, they did get to eat a bit before the lion found them.  The dogs then moved off into the bushes and came out again near to where we were waiting on a road, so really lucky to see them this morning, our hopes were really high for Selous,  this was a total surprise to find them in Ruaha.  Our guide has been in Ruaha for about 3 months and this is the first time he has seen them.

Looking around for the lion that stole their kill

Evidence that this guy got a little to eat before the lion stole their kill



We drove to the other side of the river, and surprise look who came out for a visit!

 Next off we went to find the lion that had stolen the kill from the dogs, this was a large male lion with the full mane, first one we have seen this trip, so a nice bonus. 

White Browed Coucal

River crossing to go look for the lion

Beautiful male lion that stole the wild dog kill

Next we find two female lions that go for a drink in the river, and we now we decide to stop and have breakfast near the river so we can see if there is any more action.  Again we have a fantastic box breakfast, so much food, and good to get out of the jeep and spend some time on our feet instead of sitting, though I didn’t love having the lions so near by.

 

 

Breakfast break

Breakfast served on the hood of the jeep today

Breakfast view, the lions were drinking in the water hole on the left, too close for me!

 

 

This cutie posed for us at breakfast

 

After breakfast we just drive around, looking at birds, and whatever animals we come across.  We hear that there has been a leopard siting, so we spend some time trying to find it but weren’t successful.  We also see the longest line of buffalo making their way to the water, as far as the eye could see.

Fork Tailed Drongo

So calm and relaxed

Something spooked them, warning, put your tail up and run!!



Stripping tree, you see so much elephant destruction as you drive around

Find water and you're sure to find a photo op in dry season

So vulnerable in this position, poor guy

Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk

Southern Ground Hornbill

I want to transport myself back right here

Verreaux's Eagle Owl

Cape Buffalo cooling off

Hamerkop

Lilac Breasted Roller

Hello

On our way home for lunch, you can see the tents at the very top of the hill.  It is not a fun drive up there, I can't imagine it in the rainy season.

 

Back to the camp at noon, time for a swim before lunch which feels great.  A new couple have arrived from the UK, everyone else has left now, they are lots of fun, so I think we will have a lot of fun here the next couple of nights.  A bit of a break today before we go out on another drive at 4PM.  One thing about this came is for the 4PM game drive you meet at 345 for tea.  Tea also includes cakes, it seems like it is never ending food here, and with the pretty much total lack of exercise not so good for the diet.

Start off our afternoon safari:

Namaqua Dove

Von Der Decken's Hornbill

Rainbow

 Turns into a crazy game drive this afternoon.  Lazero hears there is a leopard on the ground on the move, so we are off to try to catch it.  This is an absolutely crazy drive, I am sure there will be bruises.  We do get there just in time, with the one other jeep from our camp, and the jeep that had called to let us know about the leopard.  The leopard is walking and then rolls around and then disappears into the bushes.  We drive around the outside of the bushes and are looking for the leopard, Ron says it is right here, right below the front of the jeep on his side.  We are so close, so amazing.  The 3 jeeps were in line and the leopard walked along the entire line of us all, so everyone should have some amazing shots.

Beautiful leopard getting ready to go hunting

Baboon takes off to alert all that a leopard is around, we couldn't believe how fast and how loud he was!

He is right beside our jeep here, Andre is on the wrong side of the jeep for a great picture

The baboons are watching very closely to see what happens next

Leopard went off hunting and we lost him, on our way now for sundowners.

Stopped to visit the owl again

Nice bum, she mooned us!

Gorgeous sunset again

Can I join you?

Sundowners with Lazero the coke man

Supper tonight was lots of fun.  The latest arrivals from England Cindy and Keith are really nice and we all fit in well together.  It is only the 6 of us for dinner tonight, plus the camp manager Tanya.  We have lots of laughs, a bit too much wine maybe, and great to hear the different camp stories.  What an amazing day, I hope it is a total repeat tomorrow.

 

Stick Insect- Going back to our camp tonight this twig started walking, after a couple of drinks I didn't know what I was seeing! 

Filet Mignon for supper tonight