Sunday 21st
July
We were brought coffee at 6.30am, had a
quick bite of breakfast at 7, and off on our mokoro (canoe) trip shortly after
7.30. The air was freezing, which was a complete contrast from last-year’s
mokoro trip, when we practically fried in our skins. Our poler was BT, a young
man with a great sense of humour, always chuckling about something, but also
knowledgeable about the wildlife of the area. We saw a painted reed frog, with a
head and body about 3cm long, absolutely beautiful. There were three mokoro on
our trip and we all drifted peacefully along. At our tea-stop we discovered that
BT, Clifford and Skills, the three polers, were all from Seronga, where we had
such an odd experience last year. BT told us that they had all “run away from
that place” when it went downhill, but we didn’t really get to the bottom of
this. Anyway, it was obviously being mis-managed last year, apparently they are
improving it again now.
Back to PomPom for brunch, followed by a
nice afternoon rest. Then Barney spotted an elephant in the swamp. We watched it
for about 40 minutes as it gradually made its way towards the island and then
towards the staff accommodation. Someone chased it away by clapping and we saw
it start at the sound, then move in the direction of the main lodge. It really
is extraordinary how these huge creatures move about so quietly. Eventually we
saw it in the swamp again. It must have gone full circle.
After high tea we were off on another
game drive. In the morning a leopard with her cub had been seen and the guides
were keen to find them for us. In a way I felt sorry for them, being chased all
over the place. Rams, BT and the guides in the other cars tracked them down to
an area of thick bush,
July
We were brought coffee at 6.30am, had a
quick bite of breakfast at 7, and off on our mokoro (canoe) trip shortly after
7.30. The air was freezing, which was a complete contrast from last-year’s
mokoro trip, when we practically fried in our skins. Our poler was BT, a young
man with a great sense of humour, always chuckling about something, but also
knowledgeable about the wildlife of the area. We saw a painted reed frog, with a
head and body about 3cm long, absolutely beautiful. There were three mokoro on
our trip and we all drifted peacefully along. At our tea-stop we discovered that
BT, Clifford and Skills, the three polers, were all from Seronga, where we had
such an odd experience last year. BT told us that they had all “run away from
that place” when it went downhill, but we didn’t really get to the bottom of
this. Anyway, it was obviously being mis-managed last year, apparently they are
improving it again now.
Back to PomPom for brunch, followed by a
nice afternoon rest. Then Barney spotted an elephant in the swamp. We watched it
for about 40 minutes as it gradually made its way towards the island and then
towards the staff accommodation. Someone chased it away by clapping and we saw
it start at the sound, then move in the direction of the main lodge. It really
is extraordinary how these huge creatures move about so quietly. Eventually we
saw it in the swamp again. It must have gone full circle.
After high tea we were off on another
game drive. In the morning a leopard with her cub had been seen and the guides
were keen to find them for us. In a way I felt sorry for them, being chased all
over the place. Rams, BT and the guides in the other cars tracked them down to
an area of thick bush,