Early Morning Safari

Thursday March 19, 2015

We got up early (Thurs) and went on a dawn game drive; it was cool and fresh and beautiful.

Here’s our guide, scanning the horizon for anything that moves (the French man in the seat in front told him, “you have really good eyes”). Sir, it’s the binoculars….

Sunrise at Pilanesberg National Park.

If I mentioned that the last post may have had a lot of elephant photos – then this one does too! We are constantly amazed at how quiet all the animals are. This elephant encounter really was incredible. Magical. I’m not really into elephants but this moment has been the highlight so far for me.

The mother was walking straight toward me and passed close to the back of the vehicle.

Then this little guy pushed his way through...

and gave us a wave with his trunk.

Cheeky boy!!

Gibbo helped our driving unload the refreshments.

Then had his photo taken with him.

There wasn’t any action at the waterhole. I could have sat here all day; iIt was so peaceful.

We came across this scene; a herd of wary wildebeest acting nervously – and a dozen cars and trucks lined up along the road! Something must have happened before we arrived to indicate there might be some action – there was a larger wildebeest further up the hill, separate from the others, and the guide (not Gibbo, I mean the real one) thought we might see something happen but, alas, nothing did. It has occurred to me that while we’re all oohing and aahing at the scene in front of us there could be a pride of lions right behind us, tap-dancing in tutus and whistling Dixie, and no-one would notice such is the focus on the scene in front.

More giraffe; so elegant.

More zebra; so stripey.

This is why we don't often give Gibbo the camera…….

Aahhh there he is; the day of the jackal.