November 12, 2013

Orpen Camp              

First full day in the park.  Up at 0400, eat cereal and prep instant coffee.  On the road in the dark which transitioned to cool, dark drizzle.  Part of the road to Satara was washed out so we took the detour and then north to the Timbavati picnic site.  On the way we pulled down a road for an overlook, which is one of the few places where you can get out of your car.  On the short road up we came across the largest baboon troop I’d ever seen.  Baboons are fun to watch.  Not necessarily that easy to photograph because they’re usually on the move, fanning out and moving as a troop in one direction.  Stopping to pick up some leaf or seed along the way, but always moving along.

Then on to Timbavati where we stretched our legs.  Then back to Satara for lunch.  Then home by about 1430.  A nap, and then I went out for a short drive this afternoon.  The weather had shifted from gray and drizzly to clear and windy with soft clouds.  Still, not too hot.

We didn’t see any predators today.  Really a low excitement day, but still that gives me the challenge of photographing baboons, buffalo, impala and zebra.

Last night we heard hyena from our bungalow at the camp.  This morning as we were getting up we heard lions.  They’re around.

They’ve obviously had a lot of rain here and it’s greened up, which makes spotting animals more challenging.  Tomorrow, not sure….  We’d talked about taking food up to Timbavati and making breakfast, but I’m inclined to go south.  We’ll decide in the morning.

And now it’s 2140 and I have to get up at 0400.  Time to sleep.