We started off the morning tracking a lioness, but her tracks disappeared into the thick bush, so we lost her.

Then looking up at a nearby ridge, we saw a couple of elephants, so we thought we would stop by and see what they were up to. After a very bumpy drive we found them – a large breeding herd. It was wonderful to see so many mothers and babies. It made me feel very positive about the future of elephants in this reserve. We sat watching them for ages. Several of them were busy pulling apart a nearby tree, which started to look a lot worse for wear. They came right up to the vehicle, but seemed not to mind the intrusion of us watching them peacefully munching away on the foliage around us. That was the joy of just being 2 guests in the truck, we could watch elephants to our hearts content and not worry about what the additional guests wanted to see. Being around elephants always makes me feel happy.

All too soon, it was time to return to the lodge for brunch. Heaven forbid you should miss a meal.

On the road back to the lodge I pondered on the wonderful diversity of wildlife in the reserve, from the majesty of the huge elephants, to the elegance of the impala, to the joy of seeing a little squirrel. They are not at all like our bird seed stealing squirrels back home. It is like every creature has something so unique and appealing about it.

Especially the hard-working dung beetle we encountered on the road just outside the lodge.

After brunch while everyone else seemed to have retreated to their rooms for a siesta, we sat in the lounge doing battle with the WIFI. It was working marginally better, but Brian was able to catch up with the issues he was dealing with.

Suddenly I heard that tell tale sound of branches breaking, and looking up, there was an elephant right in front of the boma. She was joined by several other elephants, so that was the end of computer work. We watched them eating away at the trees surrounding the main lodge, and then 2 babies and a mother came right up to the pool and started drinking from the water trough next to the pool.

After noisily guzzling away, seemingly refreshed, they took to eating the grass and pulling up the weeds in the sandy river bed where we had eaten dinner 2 nights ago. It was so exciting to have them right there in front of us. I thought to myself this is the day of the elephant.

After they left, we returned to our room, and sat on the deck reading. Shortly after sitting down, I heard that crackling sound, and there right in front of our room was an elephant. It was partially hidden by the trees and bushes, so I didn’t get a decent photo. However, it was fantastic to see it right there by our room. It was hard to concentrate on reading my book.

A young couple from Manchester had arrived at the lodge, and they joined our vehicle. They were very sweet, and so excited to be in the game reserve. They were constantly taking selfies with animals in the background. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. I love it when people are as enthralled by the wonder of a game drive as we are.

Phanuel was intent on finding out what the lions from the Giraffe pride, who we had seen having breakfast yesterday, were up to, so we drove off in the general direction of where they could be.

Brian and I have 2 favorite birds. The lilac breasted roller, and the African Fish eagle. The latter is very similar to the American bald eagle, and we get very excited when we see a bald eagle back home in the US.

A small disappointment about this trip was although we had seen an amazing number of beautiful birds, we were yet to see a fish eagle. This changed as we were on our way to find the lions, when we saw a fish eagle in the distance. Not the greatest of sightings, and certainly not great from a photogenic point of view, but at least we saw it, and it made that wonderful familiar cry as it flew away. Elephants and a fish eagle. Life is good.

The lions were not too hard to find – once an interesting sighting is made the ranger who came across it, announces this on the radio, so all of the other rangers quickly head in that direction. As there are several safari vehicles in the reserve it would be awful if they all descended on the sighting at the same time. However, they have a very good system whereby there is a maximum of 2 vehicles at any one time at a sighting, and the vehicles try to stay as distant from each other as possible. So you often don’t know that the other vehicle is there. Then when you have had enough time at the sighting, if there is another vehicle who would like to see it as well, you move out of the area.

So, after one of the rangers, Gideon, announced where the lions were. we headed in that direction, and soon came across the cubs from the pride who were hanging out taking it easy in the shade.

The adults were not too far away. The male was off sleeping by himself, and the females were sleeping under a tree, Suddenly one of the females looked up in the direction of a giraffe that had come to the nearby dam for a drink.

Slowly she got up and started to head towards the giraffe. The other females followed her, and the male raised his head to see what was going on.

We watched as the females slowly headed towards the dam. The giraffe stopped drinking and nonchalantly ambled over the some nearby trees, indifferent to what could be a very nasty situation.

The lionesses then sat down again, seemingly unsure whether there was to be giraffe on the menu tonight or not. We left at that stage, as Phanuel wanted to go and find the 2 male buffalos that had been seen recently. Known at the  “dagga boys”, he was convinced we wanted to see them, so off we set.

I thought this was a good idea as I wasn’t sure if it would be the best thing for the young couple from Manchester to witness a gory kill on their first day in Africa.

Well, the dagga boys were nowhere to be found, but we had a good time watching the giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest that we encountered during our search.

We took a short cut on the main road to get back to the lodge, and our return was delayed by a giraffe who was enjoying standing statuesquely on the road, with no intention of moving on.

As we waited for him to get out of the way, the full moon started rising. It looked absolutely huge.

Back at the lodge I was pleased to find out that the lions had decided against giraffe for dinner, and had instead focused on a nearby wildebeest. However, they must have lost their appetites, because they abandoned the whole hunting expedition, and returned to sleep near the cubs under the tree.

I must admit I can relate to that. I mean, not the giraffe eating bit, but I have on occasion ordered something on the menu, and then soon afterwards, regretted my decision, and requested something else. However, I have then thought that I was not hungry after all. However, as much I would have liked to go and have a nap, I have ended up consuming my second choice. Mind you, it is pretty rare that this happens. I wondered if this was a common situation for lions. I asked Phanuel, and he reassured me that it was.

All in all, it had been a splendid day, and it was about to get better.

The lodge has a sleepover hide on a dam on their property. I have seen sleepover  platforms at other reserves, and had always wanted to try them, although I was a bit concerned because they did not have bathroom facilities.

Well the one at Kambaku is very different. Talk about a luxury sleepover.

The upper platform had a king size bed, with a roof over it, and it is totally open on 3 sides. Behind the bed is a bathroom with a flush toilet, hand basin, and shower. Not to mention tea making facilities. There is electric light, and outlets so you can charge your phone and camera batteries if needed.

On a lower level there is a deck with 2 chairs and a fire container. Below this, there is a hide from where you can unobtrusively watch birds and visiting game.

Well, we got there at 9:00 PM, so it really was a bit dark for game viewing, but there were flood lights on the water, and a very bright full moon. Phanuel had brought a cooler of wine and gin and tonic for our drinking pleasure. He lit the fire, explained how we could use the radio in the case of an emergency, and he left us alone in the bush and started on his 15-minute drive back to the lodge.

We poured ourselves our drinks, and settled in to observe the scene around us. Not much in the way of wild life, a hippo that glided silently back and forth in front of us, and 2 terrapins. However, the night was filled with the sounds of birds, crickets, frogs, and calling impalas.

Suddenly I heard that familiar sounds of branches breaking. We looked out onto the bright moonlit bank of the dam, and sure enough, there was an elephant. I was so excited. Our own private elephant! But wait, there’s more! Quietly out of the trees and bushes on the bank more and more elephants appeared. It was a large breeding herd coming down to the dam for an evening drink, and a bit of splashing around. It was totally magical. They were all having the best time, and here I was, drinking wine by the fire, and having a front seat view of it all.

We watched until they all headed off on their way, and I decided that being past midnight it was time for bed. I so hoped that we would hear hyenas and lions during the night – but that bed was calling, and I knew that in a few minutes I would be fast asleep, and the night sounds of the African bush would pass me by.

It was chilly getting into bed, but I soon warmed up. The moon was still very bright, and the gently breeze was blowing the mosquito netting open, but here I was. Sleeping out in the open in the bush – what could be better? I fell into a deep sleep.

It didn’t last for long. I was awoken by the sound of splashing in the dam. More elephants? Alas no, but the resident hippos who had clearly had a wild night out on the town had returned to the dam and were having a pool party. They splashed around and grunted happily, and seemed to be having the best time. I wanted to continue to watch them, but alas I fell into a deep slumber.