22 February - 23 February

22 February

Afternoon drive

We decided to head to the west of the reserve on the afternoon game drive, it was a wise decision as we encountered, over four hundred buffalo moving north! We spotted them from a distance in the thick bush veld. We chose a good spot, switched off the engine and played the waiting game. One by one, the breeding herd started to reveal its true mass, we sat in the middle of the congregation as the slowly grazed along.  As we sat patiently, enjoying the amazing view of the bovines, we spotted something quite rare. A genetic variation of the Cape buffalo, it had a pigmentation variety thus causing it to be speckled! We soon after decided to leave the herd as they were grazing about. Right after we stopped for a lovely sun downer, we headed back east towards the lodge. Right as we were about to turn in to go back to the lodge we received good news! The two Matiba male lions were just east of the lodge! We headed straight for the sighting and enjoyed the visual! Slowly giving tell tail signs that they are about to move after their siesta in the open plains, constant yawning, licking and cleaning themselves, but well worth the wait! As the one mail got up he moved off south but the other stayed put allowing us to get one spectacular show! As the two males were vocalising in full breath showing their strength and dominance thru sound! Yet another amazing day in the amazing bush veld.

23 February

Morning drive 

This morning was a hat trick for overcast weather! But this allowed us to focus more on the plains game, as the big game where hiding. We headed to the hyena den to try our luck and see if the cubs were out, and lucky we were as one female was lazing about and all four cubs were playing around the den biting sticks and wrestling each other like siblings do. Shortly thereafter a tower of giraffe also made for good conversation as they were browsing on buffalo thorns, showing off their fourty centimetre long tongue, wrapping around the branches pulling off the succulent leaves. A buffalo bull was also present, grazing on the long grass in a shallow pond. On our way back a baby flapped necked chameleon strolled across the road flaring his colour changing skin as we looked upon his tiny size.

Greetings

Jaces Bornman