Just setting up a new thread for posts from Lioness. Will be on the Silver Cloud and then flying directly down to the Safari so easier to do this now.

I am all packed - combo cruise and safari gear. Limited jewelry on this trip not even ONE string of pearls for the cruise portion. I may not be recognized if I am without pearls.

I suspect someone may LOAN you a string of pearls, just so you don't go unrecognized!!

I am taking sister June a string I bought for her in Shanghai - maybe she can get them "second hand" when I wear them first so people recognize me.

All you Lionesses, I am happy to whet your whistle. We arrived today at Lion Sands. Trip down was mixed - BA business class sucked in most respects. Lufthansa business on 747-8 was great. We had dinner at ocean basket. Sushi was pretty good; note crab stix are not crab. Breakfast in priority lounge was good, then we boarded flight for Szukuza. Our ranger, Tovie (pronounced Tobie) drove the half hour to lion Sands. We passed impala, nyala, burchess coucal on the drive. Lunch was terrific. Hippos were vocal - one came out of the water before we left. African fish eagle shows up, swoops over the river, flashes us with a fish in it's talons. Kill #1 for the trip.

The Safari God's were definitely looking out for us. We then went to our suite for the next 4 days. A skink takes it's shot and is successful at nailing an insect. Kill#2.

Afternoon ride left at 4 pm (tomorrow is 3:30 pm). We saw a healthy, large herd of cape Buffalo. Next up was a large elephant herd, followed by gorgeous giraffes. We turn just in time to catch a male rhino inspecting his territory, leaving his calling card should another rhino forget this space is occupied.

Shortly thereafter, Tovie gets the call - WILD DOGS. Things really heated up. We trailed the dogs until we lost them. Meanwhile, there is hyena in the road.. wait, make that 2 hyenas ... 3 .. baby hyenas are tumbling after parents ..6 hyenas .. and then we see wild dogs dispatching a nyala baby. Kill #3

The dogs set to devouring the carcass (not pretty) whilst the hyenas are letting loose with their laugh. Dogs speed up their eating; hyenas are arriving en masse. Wild dogs held hyenas off once; gave it up on second surge of 12 hyenas. Hyenas letting loose with victory war whops ... Except there is perhaps 5% leftovers. Hyenas are not satisfied.

We stop for sundowners, then head back to camp. We spot the wild dogs sleeping in the open plains. Umm ... Hyenas have tracked wild dogs and are sleeping not more than 300 yards from wild dogs. We get back to camp. Two more 🦛 s out of water near dining deck. Dinner was fantastic. We headed back to the suite for a well deserved sleep. Hyenas are war whooping nearby and hippos are also vocal, reminding hyenas they are not the biggest boys on the block. What a way to get a Safari off to a great start! Cheers, Anne

Wonderful to hear Anne. Thanks for posting. We can’t wait to get there. In the meantime we are slumming it on the Silver Cloud!

Please keep up your posts, you paint such a great picture of excitement on safari.

It is so nice to hear you are aboard silver cloud, Ken and Sheila. Today we continued to knock off Jeff's wish list. Weather was cloudy and a little warm.

We found 2 male lions in the late morning. They have decided to run the former lion king out of his territory. Two Lionesses remain; last two litters of Cubs did not make it beyond 4 weeks of life. She is expecting Cubs any day.

We bagged a lilac breasted roller sitting on a dead tree branch. Monkeys were abundant .. hmm .and rumors of leopards came up short on morning drive. We arrived back at 9:30 am for breakfast. Afterward, we settled into relaxing and reading. Birds kept flying into our trees, so I took pictures to validate their iD.

Mama nyala decided to park her calf under our plunge pool. He was nervous when we spotted him. We backed off. Mama was waiting to collect her son after lunch. We hope he comes back tomorrow.

Evening drive included cape Buffalo, big Ellie's looking to sniff me in back row. No point in trying a picture - Ellie was putting up ears are maximum spread and truck threading over to my clothes. Did mama nyala put out the word? Tobie busted it up by getting the vehicle under way. Whew!

Eagle and vulture fest followed. I do love raptors. Really interesting shot of vulture, tawny eagle, another vulture stacked vertically in a dead tree. I requested a kori Buster on the wing. Sure enough, it appeared as the sun finished setting.

Saving the best for last, we hit on a double male leopard sighting. One was hiding from territorial male; the other was the territorial male looking to whoop on the interloper's presence and drive him out. It is getting darker and colder. The range Rover ahead of us was having an education session on Commonwealth south african military strategy during the Boar War. No mention of leopard sitting 5 feet away. All I can say is it takes all kinds.

We finally got into territorial male queue. Rutting impalas were doing themselves no favors to be announcing how close they were. We expect an impala kill overnight.

Cheers, Anne

Great to hear those magic words. WILD DOGS. Which lodge are you at in Lion Sands?

Ivory .. we are in one of the add on rooms next to the two bedroom. Very different from whenever we were in
Ivory the other time. So relaxing, great service, food is excellent. Two more days here then makanyi for 4 days

This morning's highlight was tripping across a loose lion coalition. Three young males and an injured/ill lioness. Her ribs were visible. The 4 lions lined up around a cape buffalo herd. These lions did not know how to work together to get a buffalo. They snuck up on herd ... momentary chaos...then buffalo turned the tables and attempt to trample one or more of the lions. Huge dust, lots of noise, moms pushing their calves behind the biggest, baddest male buffalo, and running amok. It was awesome to see it that close. Quote for the day "life as a cave man must have sucked".

Last evening we had a whole lot of excitement. Sleeping wild dogs were first up. We saw a white rhino. Gorgeous in the beautiful afternoon weather. Next turn down the road served up a black rhino in perfect condition. This is only the second time I have seen the black rhino. What a find! There is lots of grass for smaller prey. We've been riding with a very interesting couple, and put two tables together for a farewell dinner. They left this morning.

We had a private drive today. Monster tusker in a field; big journeys of giraffe, vultures galore, beautiful lilac breasted roller shots; and a huge elephant herd. A little sparrowhawk - not an easy find. A very relaxed white rhino mother and her calf took up more space on my telephoto SD card. I have yet to figure out how to transfer pictures. We toyed with asking Tobie for the car keys but never got around to the asking. Outdoor shower rounded out the morning.

We were snoozing til the phone rang. Would we be interested in a surprise at 1 pm? Well, why not? Off we went to the More family hide, and had a great lunch watching an African fish eagle. The little bee eaters took turns bombing the waterhole for insects. Finches were competing with the bee eaters. Another new experience for me in the bush. Bushbuck subadults are missing from our plunge pool today. Leaving in another half hour for another game drive.

Makanyi - four 1 month old lion cubs- first eyes sighting. Hope there are still 4 around for Safari. 3 litters in total - the other two are a bit older. Cheers, Anne