Hi all

Great report, Andi and Ngaire! We were wondering how things were going in Tintswalo and glad to hear of the enjoyable environment and game drives. It sounds like lots of fun.

We are so pleased all of you are virtually joining us on safari. Our award winning photographer has provided the executive summary above; here's the supplemental highlights.

Our afternoon drive started off on a good clip: all three leopards were satiated with impala and resting. We entered a steeper valley and saw 3 leopards in adjoining trees. Unfortunately, the Djuma webcam truck had the prime photo taking slot. We start our game drives 30 minutes later than the others, so we had limited time to catch Karooli (the leopardess) and her two cubs in action. Drat! We hoped for better luck next time.

Texon saw a huge elephant with great lighting. From there, we drove around looking for great things, and filled in more of our bird checklist along the way. We were coming back to the presiding hippo hole, where - shazamm! - our staff had set up pondside sundowners for all. The sun cooperated with a bright orange descent against tree branch filled background. Grant spotted his newest find: a Rover TD-5 Defender owned by none other than Jessica the chef. We got several great shots of her truck. Afterwards, we ambled homeward with a nightime sighting of the leopard in the spotlight on the prowl down the dirt track, ignoring the grazing zebras nearby.

Dinner was unintentionally exciting, as the outdoor dining was quickly disrupted by lighting and thunder. A new host, Eugene, had his first full day on the job starting with our dinner. We had to reassemble in the indoor dining space as a quick, heavy shower beat down on the patio. We lucked out with a break in the rain long enough to get us to our rooms. We lost power briefly and snuggled into bed as the rain opened up across the wetlands. We were rudely awakened around 2:30 by a hippo-hyena howling contest. Hippo won for volume; hyena for frequency.

Morning came very early and we were a few minutes late for take off. In no time, we saw Karooli and her cubs ambling up the dirt track in the first light of dawn. The cubs practiced stalking and pouncing as mother kept the leopard pride reasonably close together. All the pictures I shot in the low light look like 'demonic cats' - a bare outline and bright spots of light where the eyes should be. In about 20 minutes' time, the light was sufficient to get more wonderful shots of the leopard family. Karooli decided to aim for a flock of guinea hens. It was fascinating watching how the guinea hens picked up on the leopard approach, flew into a tree and warned their brethen of impending danger. That round went to the guinea hens.

Karooli then started looking for cape buffalo dung, and rolled in it with the cubs to disguise their arrival for wary prey.

After we left the leopards, we found perfect light for a group of giraffes. We went on our further search for getting the lilac breasted roller in full wingspan. Texon and our able bodied tracker, Lots, gave us the time of our life. Lots found another watering hole occupied by a termite mound crowned with 4 .. count' em 4 .. cheetah brothers. My heavens .. we will probably never see this again. The shots were uniformly magnificent .. all 297 of them along with a few short video clips.

For two days running, Texon has earned the VBMOS award - Very Big Man on Safari. The other ranger/tracker combinations have a ways to go to exceed their excellence in finding amazing animal sightings.

Texon brought us back, where we finally found Miss Botswana - that saucy Lilac Breasted Roller. I used my best bird whistles to coax her/him into flight. Missed on the first one, but nailed it on the second try. We saw an unusual African Hawk Eagle close up, and a good shot of the yellow hornbill on the wing. We are still eluding the photo capture of the Rhino .. but we are assured the rhino will respond and provide beautiful poses.

We were brought home along the road into camp, where the baboons were trooping with with two tiny babies clinging to their mothers on the run. Jessica has the monkey warden stick, and she spares no monkey from a very red bottom who messes with her kitchen.

I had a wonderful foot massage from Patience, whose african name is .. wait for it ... Tintswalo. Tintswalo means 'mercy' in English. Time for the gym, then a shower, super tea and more in store for us to see.

Happy mother's day to all, as we close the Ocho de Mayo edition of "Djuma Today: Texon spots Lots of Game"

Cheers, Anne