Xhanaxa to Third Bridge 25th July

Today we are heading to the north west part of Moremi, not very far away. Luke is starting to go on strike and is very slow at getting up. There is a bit of a breeze off the water giving the air a slight chill. Now that we can expertly navigate around this area we head back to Jessies Pools. It really is a special place and it's a beautiful morning, again. We can't remember if we have seen a cloud since we arrived in Africa, maybe a few one day. There's fewer animals in the mornings, I'm sure because of the cold, but the birds are out in full force, so many different varieties and a pelican flys in today to mix with the cranes. A hippo is basking besides one of the pools and the usual herds of antelope are around, with the odd giraffe and elephant. We notice lion tracks. As we make our way to our new campsite, some cars coming from that direction tell us they have seen lions an hour ago near 4th bridge. Liam moves into expert driving mode and we speed up. As usual no signs at the intersections and we go right for a ways until we decide it should be left and turn around. A family of striped mongoose cross the road. We come to a bridge and meet another car who have not seen lions but confirm that it is 4th bridge. They tell us there are wildebeest and zebra further up, but that's now boring, we are on a mission. We turn right into what we think is an island called Lions Park, aptly named, a good omen. Another car is coming out, lots of traffic today, and they have seen the lions. The local guide thinks hard on how to give us directions. They are a couple of km's down, past the first sausage tree, through the deep sand, behind the termite mound on the right. You have gone to far if you reach the second sausage tree, and come to the clearing with the dead trees. Turn around go through the deep sand and they are on the left. Off we go. We find the first sausage tree, we enter the deep sand, there are a lot of termite mounds, but sure enough just ahead on the right is a lioness with a reasonably old male cub. So cute. Luke wants one for a pet. This changes daily... They both look very content, the cub rolls onto his back and sits up every now and then. The lioness, just looks at us and eventually turns her back to us, not very interested. They are 20m away. We stay about 10 mins before heading further on where there are warthog and more zebra, one very pregnant. We head back to the lions to find they are gone. We have been very lucky. Our camp wasn't much further up the road, past the wildebeest, antelope, zebra and giraffe. On arrival the office girl was sitting outside. She explained we couldn't go in as there was a baboon in there refusing to come out. He was sitting in the rafters. He had created quite a mess, defecating everywhere and throwing things around the office. She explained that they were a big problem here and to the kids that they had to drop anything they were holding as the baboons were aggressive enough to come and take it off them. Down at campsite no 1, we were again next to the hippo pool in the best spot. No baboons in sight,they must be at the other end. After a lazy lunch, not very exciting now, Liam and I headed back to the office to find out about boats. The boys didn't want to go in a mokoro as it would be too close to hippos and crocs. The baboon was still in the office. We chatted to the girl still sitting outside who is from Serowe, where the Bots president is from. A good man. She would like us to find her an Australian man between 30 and 35, doesn't have to be good looking but preferably with lots of money. She would like to emigrate. Apparently students studying medicine and engineering often finish their studies in Australia. An English couple arrive who have come from Joburg on the route we are heading back, across the pans. They enthuse about its beauty. As we are chatting an English man who they have hired their car from comes running up and demands to know the route they are taking. He tells them all the places they can't go, all the places we have been, as it is too dangerous for their car. Either too wet or too sandy. He is at camp to pick up another rental car who's engine has seized from driving through the water. Neither he or the renter who is going to have to pay for it are happy. We tell them the routes are fine, and head back to our campsite. Later in the afternoon we go for a final Moremi game drive. It's another stunning evening and we see the usual animals including tsessbe and some stunning birds. A lone hippo starts snorting and thrashing about telling us he is not happy, so we head off. It is dark again when we get back. The evening meal is getting a bit desperate and we are all looking forward to proper food at the lodge tomorrow. A frenchman drops in some chocolates. Liam had helped him fix the electric fuses In his car which we are now expert at and we had given him advice on where to go. The hippos are grunting as we go to bed.

Location:Moremi