Safari Day 2!

4:30 AM wake-up call.  Safari waits for no man.   It’s dark at that time, but by quarter to 5 it’s already kinda dusky.  Well, dawny, I guess I should say.   We got to the lodge for coffee and a quick snack before heading out in our truck.  today we saw some lion cubs that all the guides had been looking for, but ours had a hunch that paid off.  We tried to get some photos, but they didn’t really work out.  But still!  We saw lion cubs that were maybe two months old and that most of the others at the reserve hadn’t seen yet!  Great!  Their birth had raised the total number of lions on the reserve to 16.  (FWIW, there are also 32 elephants, about a hundred giraffe, and a cheetah.  There are 40 species in total, but we’re not sure if that includes birds, cause..  birds.)

After the drive, we napped as well as we could, though one of us proved a more astute napper than the other.  Also, the water in our shower seemed to have given Becca a bad rash, which caused nap-damaging itching,  Damn.  It also made our hair look. ..  flat.  And knotty.  After spending the day goofing off and playing Scrabble, it was time for the afternoon drive, from 4-7, with a beer break in the middle!  Fun!

Our guide, Promise, was from KwaZulu Natal, but by the ocean, so not exactly local, but more local than us.  His town apparently has a hippo problem, which is terrible for them, but still kinda awesome.  He really knew what’s what out there- every question he got he answered super thoroughly.   Becca was particularly enchanted by what he called the “follow-me” signs that animals have on them, by which we mean bold markings..  under their tail, let’s call it.  He suggested it was to help the young follow the old through the bush in situations where following is pretty crucial.

He also said zebras always look fat cause their gut bacteria produces so much gas.  Seems reasonable!  He also mentioned that wildebeests and zebras made good buddies because zebras could see well and wildebeests could hear well, so between the two of them, they kept each othe rsafe.  We did super often see them together, so that’s good.  The wildebeests sell out the zebras when they have young, choosing to spend time with impalas, allowing the brown wildebeest babies to blend in better.  Interesting!

Other highlights of the day were the anti-poaching dudes who drive around on dirtbikes carrying rifles to protect the animals.  Which is obviously the best job ever.  I asked the dude if I could take his picture, cause he’s such a badass.  He agreed, and here he is:

So there are rhinos on the property…  We saw at least 4, but no idea how many more there are.  If we see them, we’re not supposed to share photos of them that day, cause apparently the poachers scan social media looking for rhinos so they can get them more easily.  The reserves shave off their horns to make them less attractive to the poachers, but it also makes them more vulnerable to other animals.  Still, even the nub they leave on them could fetch $65k.  (Rhino horns are like fingers nails; they grow back.  Every few months, they have to capture, sedate, and re-file the horns.  Pardon my cursing, but Gosh Darn poachers and the idiots who think ground up rhino horn is a good thing to eat.)

Anyhow, despite the fraught situation rhinos find themselves in, they still get on with their lives, being rhinos, marking their territory, etc.

Anything else to add today? How about a couple videos!

And here’s one of a rhino walking around while our guide talks about the scent of different animals urine.

adventuourse stretch that ushers us into the arctic zone of Kili.  We continue the trek on the South Circuit path through the Karanga Valley. We camp tonight at Karanga Camp." data-title="Day 5" data-big="" />