Saturday 7th October 2017
Camp Okavango/Camp Moremi
Up at the usual time so that we can fit in a last short walk before we leave for Camp Moremi. Once again Boston joins Tau on the walk to ensure that we don’t get taken by any wild animals.
A good start to the day as we take the boat to a landing area for the walk and very soon come across a beautiful malachite bird on a branch along the water’s edge. However, this tranquil early morning scene is quickly disturbed by the arrival of a male malachite intent on some post- breakfast sexual activity. This is achieved in a matter of seconds and off he flies to bask in this glorious conquest.
Our next encounter is with a very large croc who pays no attention to us whatsoever and on arrival at the landing area for our walk we are delighted to find an elephant blocking our way. The reflections in the water make for some memorable shots. For the next ten minutes our animal friend puts on a great performance at close quarters until she moves away and leaves the way clear for us to disembark.
Once on the walking trail we again see a sausage tree bearing fruit , the weight of which would challenge the most robust of digestive systems.
As usual the track we are taking leads us past any number of antelopes, among them the evil-tasting and evil smelling water buck, the ubiquitous impala and the fine-looking kudu.
In amongst all these items from the lion’s menu we are able to add the beautiful Little Bee-eater bird with its yellow throat, and orange breast.
One last look at a very pretty tree with lilac flowers(at this stage not yet identified) and it’s back to the camp for lunch before taking a 15-20 minute flight in a light 4 seater aircraft to Camp Moremi to the south-east of our previous camp. Shortly after take-off from the grass airstrip Gail is able to take some shots of elephants on the islands and the delta wetlands below.
As with Okavango, Moremi is in very attractive location and the format and modus operandi is very similar to our previous accommodation. We are met by a welcoming party, including one of the managers, a delightful lady called Tendani and our guide for the next three days, Grass. Grass is a sharp contrast to larrikin Tau but he is nevertheless a very pleasant fellow for whom nothing is too much trouble. As this is more of a land-based camp we will be spending most of the time in the Land Cruiser, rather than walking and we are soon off on our first excursion.
Our ugly duckling, the Wart Hog, shows his face on one of our earlier drives and Public Enemy No.1 as far as I’m concerned, the baboons, live down to their reputation with the usual repertoire of habits, ranging across obscene, depraved, generally anti-social. I know that they are all God’s creatures but the Almighty must have had a real off-day when he worked on this one. Surprisingly, the baboon is Grass’s favourite animal, purely because the rest of the world hates him!
We soon spot the very large Spur-winged Goose, measuring up to 102 cms and with some very glossy and black plumage.
It becomes immediately evident that the animals are here in greater numbers and more readily accessible than at Okavango and our next encounter is with an adult elephant giving himself a mud-bath. We will clearly have to change the saying ” as happy as a PIG in s..t !
As we proceed down the track we are fortunate to view Zebras, all with their unique markings, our old friend the Water Buck, a herd of buffalos, numerous kudus and quaintly-named African Hoopoe. To complete the line-up we have the African Fish Eagle, African Darter and finally the Spotted Bush Snake whose camouflage is so good that that we struggle to differentiate it from the branches of the bush in which it is resting.
We eventually arrive at a large lake for our usual sundowner where other groups arrive to join us. We are treated to a real performance from the many hippos in the water and a spectacular sunset rounds our first day at Camp Moremi.
However, the day is not quite finished as the staff have got wind of the fact that a lady from the USA had already had a birthday celebration at Camp Okavango and , not to be outdone the staff put on a song and dance performance which would not be out of place on Broadway. Truly memorable, not only for the lady but for all present. The staff at these safari camps never cease to amaze us .
Cheers
The Obese Ferret.
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