The Safari Diaries (Part 3)

The Safari Diaries: Ngala Game Reserve (&Beyond) 

This follows parts 1 & 2 - 
http://stephendcook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-safari-diaries-part-1.html  

http://stephendcook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-safari-diaries-part-2.html

Tuesday 4th September

Drive 4 (am)

This was to be our last drive with Robin & Ernest as Robin was due some annual leave. Laura and I rose early and were out in the 4x4 by 5.30am, before any of the other parties - we felt a 6.00am start was too late and too bright. We didn't have to worry about that too much however as the weather had changed and it was a little cloudy. Although this meant Laura's photography would be hampered, this drive provided immense excitement for all of us - and a new experience for Robin. 

Our first stop was at a hyena den where we saw a family.

Next up we visited at a waterhole where we saw a hippo, or rather the top half of a hippo wallowing in the lake. 

Then it was a couple of elephants but one started to get jumpy so we didn't hang about! 

Not long after, we spotted two wild  dogs roaming. Robin and Ernest knew they looked hungry and that they were hunting. Robin asked us if we'd like to follow them off road and of course we agreed. Suddenly we were in the middle of a hunt with the dogs and our speed increased, as did the amount of trees we smashed and drove over. With our focus on the dogs we shot by lots of other animals namely zebra and wildebeast. Robin was loving the chase and had a big grin on his face. This was the first time he'd followed dogs on a hunt. Although it sounds about sick, we were all hoping to see a kill.

   

After approximately 30 minutes the dogs moved into attack position which meant they crouched and became horizontal along their head, back and tail. They were heading to a group of Impala and we were there too. Then chaos reigned as the dogs became visible and the impala shrieked and ran. It was quite incredible to be in the middle of these forces of nature. The dogs split to chase their own dinner and within moments we had lost them. We returned to the lodge and thanked Robin and after our lunchtime nap we met our new guide and tracker, Pieter and Elvis. 


Drive 5

On the one hand we felt a bit sorry for Pieter after the incredible success we had enjoyed with Robin but on the other hand he had no pressure to find any particular animals because we had seen them all! We didn't need to worry though, although it was still overcast, we found ourselves hunting with animals again for two nights...with adult male lions.



We started our drive with some giraffes and a little while later I spotted the same two dogs that we had been following in the morning. We knew that they hadn't eaten so followed them on a hunt again. This time though they lost us in the bush. We were aware that two adult male lions had been spotted and got in line to get a viewing. At Ngala, only three vehicles are allowed per viewing. We heard over the radio that the lions were moving so we thought we might not get our chance. However, just as we were driving down a track the lions found us. We couldn't believe it. 

We spent the rest of the drive watching these amazing creatures as they moved or when they rested. As it got dark they settled a short distance from some impala and we waited until finally they went into attack. Unfortunately they failed in their mission. 

Weds 5th September

Drive 6 (am) 

The next day the weather had deteriorated and it was raining throughout the drive. Despite this we still saw an African Wild Cat and zebras and giraffes. 

Drive 7 (pm) 

As we were leaving at 10.00am the next day, this was to be our last game drive. We started with a family of elephants that were near to the lodge.

Next up were some zebra.

And then a family of giraffes.

We then unbelievably spotted the two male lions who we'd been with the previous night and spent the last part of our drive following them on their hunt. They eventually went into some heavy scrub and we lost them but not before we heard them attack a buffalo. On the drive back to the camp we could only reflect on what a fabulous experience we had enjoyed. I was so grateful to Laura for winning it too!

See Laura's Guardian article on-line:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/oct/05/safari-south-africa-been-there-photography?INTCMP=SRCH

See Laura's Guardian photo's on -line :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2012/oct/04/safari-south-africa-been-there-pictures