Today is Good Friday but more importantly it is our 27th wedding anniversary - last night I asked John if he was as excited as he was 27 years ago - he said ' nearly' and asked if that was the right answer? I am still debating!! It was clear but cool this morning with quite a strong breeze - so as we took to the motor boat this morning in search of more wildlife we added a layer. The coolness definitely kept the birds in bed longer but we started with visiting our resident pod of hippos - not possible in a mokoro - they were wary and the big male looked at us by getting on his hind legs to get a better look! We left them and briefly spotted a cruising crocodile before it submerged. On the bird front we saw jacana, 4 fish eagles in close proximity to each other - their haunting call frequently fills they air and one is never seemingly far away- tawny flanked prinia, flying pygmy geese, a coppery tailed coucal with a cricket for breakfast, several little bee-eaters and a fork tailed drongo drinking on the wing. As we stopped for coffee we could see in the wetland a mother lechwe and young who soon scampered when they saw us.
On the way back we were looking at the bee-eaters when the engine of the boat wouldn't restart due to a flat battery - the boat was tied to the reeds for the mechanics to restore it while we were quickly collected by a boat, with Jade the manger in, which had been visiting another camp.
Back in camp we freshened up before brunch and siesta.
Our afternoon mokoro was very relaxing and we came back in a lovely sunset.
Dinner was a special barbecue to celebrate our anniversary - it was preceded with the staff singing and dancing including the frog dance which we had to do with Tollen. The evening ended with them bringing in a lovely cake - we blew out the candles together.
Back in our room the housekeeping staff had made a heart shape out of red pot pouri on the bed ( turning off the fan first!) and left two chocolate rabbits and some eggs - for Easter - and a bottle of champagne for our anniversary - a really nice surprise.