Nxai Pans 28 July

We got up before sunrise this morning and headed out to the waterhole for breakfast. We we there before sunrise at 6:45 and before the animals. Antelope came in first with a few jackal. It is obviously the social meeting point for Ostrich as about 80 came in whilst we were sitting there. Wildebeest , a few Oryx also arrived and Zebra were in the distance. After a couple of hours of watching, we went for a drive, the boys took in turn steering which they really enjoy. We passed an enormous Baobab tree, similar to ones we had seen on our Australian trip. Back at camp it was a damper making day. No one else was around camp as we spent the rest of the morning mucking about. Liam and I decided to walk up to the office to ask about Meerkats, it was longer than expected. The ranger on duty wasn't impressed when he asked where our car was and we told him it was back at camp. He flatly said it was illegal to walk and we would have to wait for another car before we could go back. Eventually, he agreed to let us go, after a long lecture about the dangers of wildlife, which we duly took on board. Of course as soon as we left 2 elephant appeared, so he suggested plan B that he got his rifle and walk us back and we decide how much that was worth. I stayed behind as he walked Liam back, they arrived back in the car about 20 mins later as I was talking to some South Africans who had just arrived. We payed him what we thought it was worth and went off to the waterhole. There was the usual hive of activity but nothing too exciting so back to camp for another couple of hours. Late afternoon we headed out again and watched an elephant take over the waterhole and make a huge mess as he had a bath. 2 giraffe arrived shortly after, a couple, the male who was hugely skittish. We watched them try and have a drink with an amazing sunset in the background before heading back to camp at dusk. The elephants were in camp again raiding the water tanks, passing back and forth in our campsite.

Location:Nxai