Day 103: Last full day on Timbavati — Breakfast in the Bush — Leopard Cubs — Wild Dogs — Close Encounter with Lions
We went back to find our girl Marula this morning. She was gnawing away on her impala carcass and then pushing some grass and dirt in an attempt to hide it. Al really wanted to see her pull it up in a tree to keep it from the scavengers.
Then she walked away and met up with her cubs. For the next 20 minutes we watched a scene out of National Geographic. She claimed a dead tree and one of the two cubs followed her. Al got some incredible pics — likely the best of our entire time on safari.
That was all before 7:30 am. That scene of Marula and her cubs had us feeling like we were playing with the house’s money, not caring if we saw anything else today. But Al zoomed off, having gotten a tip on his 2-way radio. We sped down the airstrip (which the kids LOVED) and then on the paved road for a few minutes before coming across a pack of 15 – 20 wild dogs!! We had learned about the Painted Dogs from David at Somalisa but never got to see them in Zim. This was such a treat. They are adorable, playful, savage beasts.
We thought something was up when Al wasn’t driving straight back to camp at 9am. Turns out we were stopping for breakfast in the bush. Rockfig has this little carved out area with a buffet counter, a braai, two tables and a functioning toilet. We ate breakfast with Al and our new Belgian friends joined at the other table. What a morning!
After some school, a swim and lunch at the lodge we headed back out for our evening game drive. It was our last “full” drive and turned out to be the most memorable. Al had reports of lions on the 2-way and we headed out to track them down.
We got lucky again.
In an area of the reserve that Al hadn’t spent a lot of time in — he was looking at a map to find out where to go — we turned a corner and found two female lions lying in the road. The rush of anxiety and adrenaline when you see a lion unexpectedly is one of the many feelings that draws safari lovers. The two females were joined by a third. Then they got up and walked right by the vehicle.
We were all holding our breath —- except James who was fast asleep.
We thought that was the best sighting of the trip and then a male — the same one we saw on Day 1 here at Rockfig, appeared out of the grass. I somehow managed to get this video while avoiding shitting my pants.
We followed these four lions for 15 minutes or so, then turned around when the bush got too thick.
We loved how excited Al would get after a great sighting. Here’s what he’d do…
I need to make this into a gif.
It was time for sundowners and Margaret and I needed a triple G&T!
We drove home thinking we couldn’t possibly have any more legit sightings today. But we drove by a watering hole and saw several elephants drinking and two or three swimming and playing.
Then a few minutes later we stopped and watched 5 or 6 giraffes grazing with the nearly full moon behind them.
A few minutes from home we stopped in a little clearing and got another astrology lesson from Al. The night sky was beautiful despite many stars not being visible because of the bright moonlight.
Dinner was a buffet of perfectly cooked steak, chicken, veggies. The kids had pizza then watched iPad in the lounge while Margaret and I had chatted with Al.
What an incredible last full day at Rockfig — one we will hopefully never forget.
