Hipp, hipp o'day!

After a few weeks in the bush with half-day game drives, we were all excited when it was time for a full-day game drive to the river. An early morning (6 am) start ensured a great beginning of the day and we had not come far before we had an excellent waterbuck sighting. Usually they tend to hide behind a bush, or even a small twig (!), as soon as they hear your car but this male was kind enough to stay out in the open for a long time. Meanwhile we competed in trying to remember every little fact we’ve ever heard about this beautiful antelope.

Arriving at the river, our instructor took his rifle and walked down to the river bank to make sure it was safe, before the group went down to enjoy the scenary. Hippos seem to be very friendly and relaxed but is in fact the animal that kills most people in Africa and it is advisable to be careful, especially when they have calves. This group barely noticed our presence though, occupied as they were with enjoying the cool water on this hot day. Hippos can’t swim and therefore calves often float, resting their heads on the adults that are standing on the bottom that the young can’t reach. They get around in the water through walking and jumping on the bottom and this is also how they ascend to the surface again to breath, after holding their breaths for up to five minutes!

We had brought lunch and some books so that we could relax on the river bank for a couple of hours, during the mid-day heat. We chose a spot were the bank is quite high and therefore not easily negotiated by the heavy hippos.
Not only hippos inhabit this peaceful river but also some huge reptiles and a grey heron (the same species as in Europe) provided some entertainment, walking past the crocodiles looking for something to eat. In fact the bird life around the river is amazing and we saw many different species during our rest, among them kingfisher, fish eagle, hammerkop and ibis.

On our way back to camp we bumped in to an old friend…
The female leopard had recently made a kill and hid the antelope in a bush. She wasn’t too impressed with one of her cubs that tried to play with her and the meal while she was eating and she quickly made him realize just that. Giving up on his boring mother he went out in search of his playmates…
Shortly thereafter the sun set on yet another fantastic day in the African bush.

/A