WE spot a pair of steenbok immediately. Small and lithe, they mate for life. After a lot of driving around in absolute bush, we find the dog pack, at first not sure how many but eventually Jonny is sure all 8 are still together. This is a relief. They are still melding as a pack. Again we are so close we can hear them yawn.
Before we found them, Jonny got out of the truck at one point and figured he heard a noise as they noticed him get down, so knew they were in the vicinity. Amazing senses.
Jonny also finds the two beautiful big male lions who are now close companions. One was brought into the research with his brother, but brother was killed by other lions. The survivor has a scarred face but has now bonded deeply with the other.
We watch as they take off for a stroll, following them closely as one goes one way and one the other, then reunite and nuzzle one another in greeting again.
WE stop on these night drive for sundowners, our cold drinks that Jonny has packed for us with snacks. To watch the sun go down and the moon and stars come out. It is quite magical out here at night.
Tonight sunset over the lake with one sole elephant and the ducks.
On the way back, Jonny drives, shines his big flashlight all along the sides and in front to pick out many nocturnal birds and animals for us. Sometimes we can catch them on our cameras, sometimes just see them. Rabbits, chameleons in trees, owls, hyenas slinking in the undergrowth, rabbits running scared in front of our headlamps. A couple of times, a scrubhare leaps from the light, a mini kangaroo that is not a marsupial at all!
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