As the song by, I think, by one of the Beatles “You get days like this”. Today was one of those days. It started off well with an early exit on the southerly road for a change. The dew was heavy in the night and the road was damp. No dust and a very firm surface. Pleasant to drive on. At Marie’s se Gat I was alone for a while, and I mean completely alone, not even an animal in site. It was pleasant just to sit and enjoy the quiet. After that nothing except the odd buck, ostriches and gemsbok. At Dikbaardskolk, about 50km south of Nossob, I had breakfast at the picnic spot. I generally mind my own business, but could not help overhear a lady who seemed to know everyone else at the site who was saying that the animal sightings were few and far between because of the extensive grazing available and the fact that there was standing water all over the place. My experience too. However, she added, it was just fantastic to be in the park and experience the green. Exactly.
A late evening drive (the gates only close at 19h30) north this time produced the five lionesses I had seen the past three days about 15km from the camp. I expected them closer as per my theory above. They had completely blocked the road in both directions and were going no place quickly. I then found out the reason for their slow progress south. There were two cubs with them which I had not spotted before. It was a very pleasant half an hour spent watching this lot in the company of only about three other cars.
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