Safari!

Our guide and spotter..note rifle in green case..
There was a slingshot too, in case we encountered Goliath

Safari? Or should I say wild rides in a Toyota Land Cruiser though the Bush Veldt of the Thornybush Preserve? No land untouched by the hand of man..but enticing and thrilling, none the less.

 

Why it is the "Thornybush" Preserve..Acacia genus

The mission of the guide and spotter was for us tourists to see as many animals as possible..and so we made our break neck way..Scenery shots, unless otherwise noted were taken with a Coolpix whilst hanging out of a moving vehicle..

 

Elephants were ubiquitous, and I would say we spent the most time viewing them..

Scenery shot..

Grasses were of major importance and
fed most of the animals we saw

Elephants and Impala taken from Simbambili Lodge deck

Closer look at Impala

Lascaux Cave painting..

We stop now for a bird. Birding was not on the menu, but our guide was a self-professed "twitcher" so would occasionally slow down for birds..of which there were many..birding in Africa is  now on my bucket list..

Ground Horbill not on the ground. Endangered

Looking for birds?

I feel pretty

Leaving now..

We pause for a Gray Curve Bill..plentiful

And a Zebra

Who do the Kudu that you do so well? (with Egyptian Goose)

The Happy Hippo..munched its way across the field
in front of the main lodge

While a Black Headed Oriole enjoyed a snack..

Hippos enjoying a swim..



Two-fer..Mammal & bird. Cape Buffalo and Ox Pecker,
a commensal tick eater.

The birds are also said to warn the buffalo of danger

There was a whole herd of the buffalo crossing the road..we watched for quite awhile, the white under the eyes is from the ears flapping off insects.

Lilac-Breasted Roller



Crested Francolin

Rhino poaching for the "magic" horn is a serious problem



The animals were surprisingly nonchalant about the Land Cruisers..they do not see them as a threat & the diesel smells mask the human odors..They would react differently if we stood up, or walked around..so we had to remain seated at all times..

Here kitty kitty..that is a land cruiser tire behind her..

The land cruisers really do..when the guide wanted to we ran down the "bush", small trees included..I had mixed feelings about that..

But that is how we sat next to the same Leopard
 who lay down next to the cruiser & fell asleep.

Yes, those spots belong to a pair of Cheetahs. We were very far away.
 It was the first time Cheetahs had been spotted in seven months.

There were two "game drives" every day. In the morning we stopped midway for coffee, in the evening at sunset for wine.

The only sunset where I was not flying along in the cruiser.
Before sips of wine..

 After sunset the spotter literally swept the "bush" with a spotlight to see what we could find.

You woke me up!

We saw Lions only at night, and I preferred the moodiness of this non-flash picture, even if poorly exposed..

 

Who tells a finer tale than any of us. Silence does ~Isac Dinesen (Out of Africa)