Bayala continued

11 October - pm

Afternoon game drive and our first stop was at a water hole where we saw African Fish Eagle, Darters, Weavers (below) and some Herons.

Hearing a rather strange sound from the water I turned to find myself looking directly at a Hippo ! This was a new animal for me and long awaited after missing them in Northern Namibia.

We had a late afternoon snack as we watched the various visitors to the waterhole. A Giant Kingfisher put in an appearance

and for Herons we saw Striated (Green-backed)

and just as we left a Yellow-billed Stork joined the party. The light was fading and we departed to the snorts and bellows from the group of Hippos as they prepared for their move out of the water and onto land for the night.

Some spotlighting on the way back to the lodge gave us two sightings of Gennet and a Flap necked Chameleon.

The end of day 1 and what a day it had been. A superb evening meal followed and then a reasonably early night - because yup Game Drive no 3 tomorrow. Little did I know..........

12 October

Up early in preparation for the game drive and after coffee and rusks we departed.

At the first dam there were a pair of White-faced Whistling Ducks

then an African Wattled Lapwing

Garrick looked a little restless as I was scanning for birds and quickly said there was a change of plan. The engine fired up and off we went. I asked him to stop so I could photograph some passing Nyala (below) but clearly something was up. I didn't know whether to raise my hopes for something with spots or consign my thoughts to some logistical problem. We were heading back to camp !

and as we neared the camp entrance there is was, the cause of Garrick's quick about turn

a Cheetah ! Lying in the road wagging it's tail and looking from side to side. Garrick had been tipped of by one of his colleagues ..........

Unlike some safari experiences where big cats get surrounded by many vehicles we were fortunate enough to be just one of two vehicles. After watching this perfectly honed killing machine for five minutes the other vehicle left and we sat just the four of us watching one of my all time "most wanted animals" as it looked around, stretched and stood up. Blooming excellent ! Changing our position occasionally gave different light settings.

Reluctantly we left as the Cheetah seemed to be settling in for a prolonged rest. As it turned out this was the only Cheetah sighting of our trip but what a experience. I was truly made up. Now we just needed the next one with spots please ----- but with 30 thousand hectares to hide in I knew this was a big ask. Bayala and many surrounding lodges/reserves had taken their fences down many years ago to provide a huge reserve.

Continuing the drive we stopped to look at the diminutive Emerald-Spotted Wood Dove

Barbets are a favourite of mine and this Crested Barbet didn't disappoint even if it didn't raise it's shaggy crest for the camera.

Nearby another, this time a Black-collared Barbet

Next up was Lilac-breasted Roller sporting just about every colour in the paint box

Then it was back to the mammals with Black Rhino and White Rhino, Nyala and of course more Giraffes.

The final bird of the morning drive was a Black-crowned Tchagra

Breakfast awaited. Next up sunbirds, zebras up close and very personal with an Elephant plus a Giraffe road block.