...to safaris. The weather cleared for yesterday afternoon's game drive and all the animals came out to play - warthog, spotted hyenna, jackal and the usual water buffalo, kudu, bushbock and impala. We found a very sleepy and lonely lion resting under the shade of a large tree. But, the best was yet to come. We came upon a pride of 5 lions resting right beside the road. In fact, a female lion was asleep in the road. Our landrover was the only one there for 15 minutes as we watched the lions (who were about 10 to 15 feet away from us) slowly wake up in the fading light. They stretched, yawned and rolled over. Then, the lioness in the road walked beside our landrover and on to the road behind us. One by one, each lion followed her. The last, a male, came so close to the landrover that Alan (who was sitting on that side) was contemplating what to do if the lion popped in for a look, or perhpas a lick. It seems the lion didn't really care about Alan and conintued to follow his pride. We turned around to follow them. They all walked into the bush, did their business and disappeared for the night's hunt. By the time we stopped for our sundowner, it was almost dark. We stood in the road, sipping champagne as the lonley male lion roared for his brother. What a rush.

This morning we drove by a pond where the carcass of a young elephant is decaying. Yesterday the naturalist opened places in his skin to make it easier for the animals to eat. When we drove up today, vultures were in all of the surrounding trees and there was the lonely lion, guarding his food source. His belly was full and he could hardly stay awake.

Now, I'm off for a massage in our villa. Life is really tough, huh?

By the way, Andi, we're staying in Peregrine, the one at the end.

Tomorrow we meet the GAMERS at Madikwee. It will be hard to leave Ivory Lodge but we're looking forward to seeing old and new friends.