I woke before 5am and could hear a strange screeching outside, I checked with Enoch who did the wake up call and he said it was the pearl spotted owlet. As I went across for coffee, Kim and Ionna returned from the treehouse they heard lots of noises including two leopards and didn't get too much sleep! Consequently John, Kim and I joined Enoch on the walk which left from camp while Ionna went back to bed to catch up on her sleep! Not far from the tree house we found leopard prints then drag marks and finally the fur and some blood stained grass - it seems the girls had heard a leopard killing a side striped jackal! As there were 8 of us on the walk Enoch decided it wasn't possible to track the leopard as there were too many of us and it wouldn't stay in the area. We then snaked our way through the bush looking at poo, plants and tracks - we actually got to see giraffe - the first daytime giraffe here- warthog, Impala and two types of spider - golden orb and garden.
Back on camp, we met up with a refreshed Ionna, had breakfast and finalised our packing before being collected by Will and Carol and taken to Waterbuck Lodge. The last 16k was on an unmade road with lots of ridges which made for a great massage! Will was excited as a very rare strawberry leopard cub ( recessive pale gene) had been captured on one of the research team's camera traps. - it was one of Pippa's cubs - the leopard whose territory is around the camp.
The accomodation at Waterbuck was superb - it used to be a private lodge just for the owners but as the owners have reduced to five they have put the spare weeks out to the commercial market - lucky us particularly as we were the only guests. Even though the weather was cool I had to have a swim, after our light lunch, in the lovely pool. At 4.30pm we headed out on our drive with Hannes and our tracker Loderick. They knew the local leopard Ntsumi (Angel) had made a kill and was probably still feeding on it in the bush so we headed there first. Leopards never choose easy places and with secateurs in hand Loderick pruned his way through the undergrowth until we could get a good view. It was amazing one of the young cubs was in the grass when we arrived but then moved back to the carcass where both cubs were eating - meanwhile mum covered up the stomach and intestines so as not to attract other predators or scavengers. We manoevered to watch the cubs feeding (today's photo) and had a great view unfortunately it also came with a great smell! After 40 or so minutes we made way for any other vehicles who wanted to come and look - Thornybush reserve has a two vehicle maximum at any sighting which is good. As we continued we saw nyala, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest and a clan of hyena with one mother suckling two youngsters. Back at the Lodge we quickly put our stuff in our rooms and went for dinner which was set up in an outside boma around a roaring camp fire. The food was excellent and they managed me being a vegetarian far better than any other lodge - the chef made me some really nice vegetable dishes and no soya meat substitute in sight!!
After supper we said goodbye to Hannes as he is off on leave tomorrow and Elia will take over. Next stop was our lovely big bed and a deep sleep.