We awoke at 6ish and lay in our big round double bed in the tree house listening to the world wake up. The hippos were grunting as they returned to their safe haven, the river, vervet monkeys were bouncing through the tree branches in the tree on the opposite bank and there was a range of birds providing the morning chorus. We lay there safe in the knowledge that breakfast wasn't arriving until 0730. The sun soon warmed the air - it was going to be another hot day. John was up first and went down the small 5 stepped ladder to the next level were there was a small bathroom complete with flushing loo and tin sink which allowed a quick wash and brush up - luckily not a mirror in sight! After breakfast of cereal and rather interesting marmalade croissants we headed out for a walk up to the top of the ridge again where we sat for 30 minutes or so watching the world of the different animals evolve and interplay - it was the next best thing to a helicopter but far more peaceful. As we got to the top of the ridge we saw a small herd of oribi - a new species - no photo as they ran off pretty quickly. On the way back down to camp we came across a big 'tower' of static giraffe - John counted 18 - and another 'journey of giraffe' approximately 10-12 strong, moving slowly towards them and us- amazing sight ( today's photo is of some of the tower). One final detour to miss a lone male buffalo and we were back in camp enjoying a mug of tea and much needed showers.
We opted for another night drive as we cannot do them at the next camp so had tea at 4.30 and left at 5pm returning at 10pm. As we left camp we had good views of a lilac breasted roller,which I unsuccessfully waited and tried to get it flying but as I tired of waiting it flew- typical!- Fischer's starling, Ruppells long tailed starling, migrating European beeaters and a slender mongoose. We then drove across the plains to see if we could see the mother lion with her week old cubs - we found her but the cubs were hard to see as they we hidden behind her great big legs- we then found the rest of the pride, following one female as she walked off - we thought she may be going to hunt - but after some distance she lay down and didn't budge - we guessed she had probably only had 22 hours of her requisite 23 hours of rest today and still needed at least another hour so we headed off looking for other animals. In the light of the full moon some of the diurnal birds were singing as the light confused them so the spring hares, scrub hares, white tailed mongoose x3, a common genet, black backed jackals, hyena and plains game we saw all had an unusual night-time serenade. Back at camp we had a lovely hot chocolate before heading off to bed....sleep came quickly....in the background I could hear zebra alarm calling and running round the tent - hopefully they survived the night.