Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A Contest Over a Carcass: Saturday, January 6, 2007
(Saddle-billed Storks, Kruger National Park)
We got up early to explore the roads west of Satara thinking that is the direction that the roaring came from last night. West of the camp we saw birders taking photos with a giant Canon lens and a big sign on the back of their vehicle that read "Bird Watching -- Please Drive Around". Sure enough we saw lions guarding the carcass of a Cape Buffalo from a group of vultures. If the vultures landed near the carcass, the lions would arouse themselves and chase the vultures away.
(One of a pride of lions fending off vultures from their latest kill -- a Cape Buffalo, on the S40 near Satara, Kruger National Park)
Moved into a rondavel with air conditioning. The boys promptly fell asleep basking in this luxury. We are seeing lots of game on all of our drives but in discussing our move to Skukuza Rest Camp, we speculate (incorrectly it turns out) that we will see far fewer birds and animals when we move there. We had heard from the South African family at Balule Camp that Skukuza is large and crowded -- so this spurs us into making the most out of our stay at Satara and we schedule long drives.
(Our rondavel at Satara Rest Camp, Kruger National Park)
We have dinner at the restaurant again with Jeff very helpful and engaged. Will wonders if Carole is tired and ready for the trip to be over. The rondavel is crowded with four people but the relative comfort, and the little veranda/cooking area and facilities restore everyone to good humor.
(Spirits restored -- Will on the left, Jeff on the right with Dad drinking some spirits on the veranda of our rondavel at Satara Rest Camp, Kruger National Park)
(Saddle-billed Storks, Kruger National Park)
We got up early to explore the roads west of Satara thinking that is the direction that the roaring came from last night. West of the camp we saw birders taking photos with a giant Canon lens and a big sign on the back of their vehicle that read "Bird Watching -- Please Drive Around". Sure enough we saw lions guarding the carcass of a Cape Buffalo from a group of vultures. If the vultures landed near the carcass, the lions would arouse themselves and chase the vultures away.
(One of a pride of lions fending off vultures from their latest kill -- a Cape Buffalo, on the S40 near Satara, Kruger National Park)
Moved into a rondavel with air conditioning. The boys promptly fell asleep basking in this luxury. We are seeing lots of game on all of our drives but in discussing our move to Skukuza Rest Camp, we speculate (incorrectly it turns out) that we will see far fewer birds and animals when we move there. We had heard from the South African family at Balule Camp that Skukuza is large and crowded -- so this spurs us into making the most out of our stay at Satara and we schedule long drives.
(Our rondavel at Satara Rest Camp, Kruger National Park)
We have dinner at the restaurant again with Jeff very helpful and engaged. Will wonders if Carole is tired and ready for the trip to be over. The rondavel is crowded with four people but the relative comfort, and the little veranda/cooking area and facilities restore everyone to good humor.
(Spirits restored -- Will on the left, Jeff on the right with Dad drinking some spirits on the veranda of our rondavel at Satara Rest Camp, Kruger National Park)
Labels: Satara Rest Camp, Skukuza Rest Camp
¶ 2:41 PM
