Camp Hwange

As I type this I am sitting in my tented bedroom, at Camp Hwange in Hwange National Park, overlooking a pan.  It's siesta time; thursday afternoon.  We've just had lunch after being out all morning on a game drive and it's time to have a rest before setting off again on the evening one; sunset, sundowners included.

A few days have passed since the last blog but will fill in on all that later.  We've either been travelling or been on the go but mainly we have had no internet or, if available, not at speeds that can  carry this blog.  For now am very much in the present.

Painted Dog

We zoomed into action at about 5.15 this morning when Julian told us to get in the truck "quick quick".  Adam and Sima joined us. We had to drop everything and just go.  We sped out.  Painted Dog had been spotted and he was in hurry to get us to see them.  He succeeded.  Three dogs out of a pack of five had been separated from the other two and it was these three that we followed.  Painted Dog were once known as Wild Dog and were considered vermin.  Better understanding made them an endangered species and they are now protected and have their own conservation project based in the Park.  All very exciting and quite rare!

After returning for a quick breakfast we set off again as lion had been seen near Mandavu Dam.  Again we had the most amazing sightings.  It was hard to count but there must have been about 17 lion all in all - in one group there was one young male; could just see his mane beginning to grow, three young lionesses and four cubs.  Very lucky indeed.  We were away from camp for six hours all in all.  A very, very good day.

I'm watching you!

A great game drive with Julian, Adam and Sima.  We saw 3 of the Big Five (Lion, Buffalo, Elephant - other two being rhino and leopard) as well as hippo, zebra, giraffe, warthog, croc, impala, roan, sable, kudu males and females, dassies, steenbok, duiker, baboon, spring hare, black backed jackal and then there were all the birds - guinea fowl,  included.