What a game drive!!

Nxabega has been extremely productive in terms of game viewing over the last few days. Yesterday morning we set off with our ranger Coal and Tracker Joe and not even two minutes into the drive we bumped into a single elephant bull feeding away at the lush vegetation. After having viewed him for the best part of twenty minutes we said our goodbyes and headed up towards the airstrip where we got to see some of the usual suspects: Marabou storks, saddle billed storks large herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala and a large journey of Giraffe which of course we all come to expect at Nxabega (place of the Giraffe). Shortly after having viewed the abundance of wildlife up at the strip we came across a relatively small watering hole whereby there was three rather obese Hippo’s seeking refuge from the early morning sun. We were fortunate enough to hop off the vehicle to observe. Back in the vehicle traveling we came across a huge herd of feeding elephants with many young around , as Coal maneuvered the vehicle for a better photo opportunity the rear tyre sank into a rather large well hidden hole. With great persistence and the handy kangaroo jack we were able to free ourselves and most certainly just in time as we got radioed by one of the other vehicles that they had just found a leopard. So we made a dash for it!! And there in a horizontally prone decaying tree was a magnificent two year old female leopard. She was quite unperturbed by our presence and we watched her for what seemed like hours. Finally she jumped down the tree and disappeared into the tall grass.

Posted: Nxabega by grant oliver, Date: 10 April 2008