Today's wake up call was a person knocking on the door but the regime was the same - knock at 5.30 and breakfast at 5.45am.
We decided to drive this morning but walk this afternoon - to get different perspectives and also to stop us getting jeep bound!
Our safaris always started and ended with a river crossing this meant a great viewing of the martin and beeeater colonies.
This mornings highlight was a leopard resting at the edge of a plain watching the Puku - but they were also watching him.....empasse! We also saw a kudu with young and a Mozambique spitting cobra - a large black snake and today's picture - a family of crowned crane. Emanuel our guide was very good with tress and plants we saw the rain tree, a small baobab and by the end of the week had seen the green five - leopard orchid, lions tail, rhinoceros thistle, elephant grass and buffalo bean......he ignited a passion for plants in John and was very interesting. We also checked on our baby hippo - it was doing well and thankfully the crocodiles had backed off but mum and baby were still away from the pod which would have been equally dangerous for the baby.
When we returned to the lodge I went for a swim, even though the pool was small I found arms only and legs with doggy paddle was an energetic option which worked well and ensured I stayed fit and earnt my lunch!
When we returned to our room we had a siesta and woke to see a pencil thin green snake on our deck - it didn't look poisonous but apparently it was - not a killer but you would get a headache if it bit you! It transpired that it was a green spotted bush snake hunting for frogs - it wouldn't be disappointed as there were lots around.
On our afternoon walk we were led by the head guide, Sebastian, who was the walking guide - we had a lovely walk and saw very chilled waterbuck and lots of birds - after sundowners we had a night drive - we saw the moonrise - that was a first for us - a lioness with half a tail, elephant shrew and genet.
Our return trip was thwarted by the boat engine which failed to start again but thanks to Axon, our spotter, and also the newest staff member, who luckily was mechanically talented, the problem was fixed and we returned for dinner!