Safari Day Four - Christmas Day

A better sleep last night! Getting used to the noises.

Christmas morning breakfast, greeted with huge smiles and hugs from all the staff. They are so very charming, these people. Everyone smiles and shouts, 'Jambo!' and if you're near enough, a high five.

And today was full of treats, of course. The first one was watching the flock of huge Maribou storks by the river. The Egyptian geese were squabbling.

Missed shot of the day:I lined up a stork perched on top of a tree, looked away, and it soared off. Huge wingspan. They fly the highest of all the birds, and have a special oxygen pouch on their chests.

I had mentioned to Marco that I'd like to see a male lion. I've seen several females. He didn't hold out much hope...

THEN... We came upon a fresh kill. Right by the side of the road!!!! A big male lion was lying in the grass, the female was a bit nearer, and nearby was the unmistakable bulk of a dead zebra. A cub was still feasting. At times, his whole head was inside the body. Marco thought the kill had been made that morning. WOW!

We came upon a lone elephant, right there on the road, munching on a tree. He was actually blocking the road, and I just hoped he didn't get annoyed as we edged past him, inches away from two whopping big tusks.

We drove on through the grasslands, back past the herds of wildebeest. We saw several groups of hyenas, no doubt having smelt the fresh kill. Also saw a Kori Bustard again, and he stretched out his wing for me.

Highlights today:hugs from the staff at breakfast; seeing black kites overhead when we had lunch under a big tree looking down on the crater; a lone cheetah sitting up on a rock, looking out over the grasslands.

But a highlight we've been looking forward to all day - we're back at the luxury lodge, with walls, for two nights. It's like coming home - the welcome. And I'm really all a-quiver at the prospect of Christmas dinner tonight. We had a fabulous one last time, so I know we not be disappointed.

A memorable Christmas Day indeed.

PS I've back-blipped the last two action packed days...