Arriving at Mokuti Lodge after crossing the National Park was like driving into Paradise (compared with Palmwag). The lodge is set within its own vast grounds and until recently was owned/managed by the Kempinski Group who are renowned for their first class accommodation. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with a huge swimming pool, tennis court etc (should you so desire) and the rooms are lovely.
Breakfast was delicious but unfortunately on the way back to our room Ian tripped on uneven crazy paving and was unable to stop himself landing, chest first, on a 2' high path light.
Result – badly bruised chest and quite a severe cut on his forearm. This is where “mankind” makes me so sad, several people saw him fall, more heard me call for help but no one came to our aid, just stood and looked. Anyway we got back into reception and I asked for a first aid kit and got tissues from the loo whilst Ian dripped blood on the nice wooden table.
Finally we got a bit of help and another guide cleaned the cut with antiseptic wash and as we were in the loo making sure no glass was in the cut another guest (whom we’d chatted to briefly the night before in the restaurant) came to offer help. He was Italian, I think, and a doctor so checked out first Ian’s arm and then his chest, making sure that nothing was broken.
So after a bit of a delayed start we were back with the rest of the group for another morning and afternoon game drive. We’d calculated beforehand the number of drives and how many times one of us would take the middle seat in the truck – of course Ian took one every time and with us having our own vehicle we both by default took middle seats for 2 drives. We thought others might, just, take their share of the middle seat but sadly no, 2 of the 3 singles grabbed their spots. The 3rd single however kindly asked Ian which side would be better for him, but once again he took the middle seat as he didn’t have a camera.
The guide was fantastic, superb English, very knowledgeable and engaging and we rather wished we’d been with him the day before although they didn’t see any more than we did. We started off at yesterday’s Leopard spot and this time there were 2 although sadly quite a distance away.
Then Petrus heard about a lion and we found a female with two very young cubs, well camouflagued in the long grass.
She was trying to hide her very young cubs, but with so many vehicles around was getting confused as to where would be safe (on our previous safaris within conservancies there is a maximum number of vehicles allowed near any sighting but here anything goes - so there are self drives along with registered guides although there are moves afoot to ban the self drives - can't come quick enough I say) Especially when you could see how tired the cubs were and then some vehicles actually followed them along the road - glad to say Petrus drove away otherwise I could have kicked up an almighty fuss.
A few other sightings from the day (but nothing new I think)
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Nothing exceptional about these two collared doves (aka pigeons) except I can't do "birds in flight" so I'm quite chuffed this one's sharp.
Impala
Red-billed Hornbill
The highlight was down by the (salt) Pan when a small journey of giraffe was wandering along and got spooked by a large truck (not ours) and proceeded to canter along – a memorable sight.
Petrus then said it was elephant time at a certain water hole and as soon as we arrived we found a Martial Eagle tucking into a Guinea Fowl.
Then down came the elephants, quite a large herd, probably 25 odd.
There was a self-drive vehicle in their path and one by one they had a good look at it before deciding to walk around it (we learned in Zambia 2016 that elephant code respects whoever is there first).
We spent a good long time watching them and in particular the little one – so cute.
Next up was the largest flock of Ostriches we'd seen.
Back to Mokuti Lodge for a lovely lunch and a quick download of photos.
This woodpecker was right outside our room and made a real racket.
This woodpecker was right outside our room and made a real racket.
Back out again at 1500 the drive was less productive but we drove to different areas of the NP and was nonetheless very enjoyable. Whilst this pan looks completely dry, in fact only larger animals like elephant can walk on it at the moment as it's still quite wet and smaller footed creatures will just sink.
Crimson Breasted Shrike
A couple of butterflies on what looked like a Poinsettia (it was about 8' tall but I know they can grow to twice that height in their native Mexico).
Banded Mongoose
Blue Wildebeest
Sparrowhawk
Kudu
Lone Zebra and Palm Trees
Kori Bustard
Another fabulous dinner and with the threat of an even earlier start the next day we packed (again!) and went to bed with Ian given complete freedom to snore as I knew turning over would be painful to him :)