Again after another visit by lions overnight I was careful getting out of the camper, checking around for lions. No lions again this morning, but the lions have dragged things around and knocked over boxes. I later learnt that they have taken the solar panel cloth cover. After I left I searched up and down the track, but I could not see it. Looking again at the lion tracks left last night, I think there were some cubs as well.
I drove down to Piper Pan to find the pan with the most animals yet. I picked up the binoculars and the first thing I saw was an Africa painted dog (or wild dog). Never in my travels before in Africa had I seen one. There were antelope and Cape Buffalo spread all over the pan, and the flocking birds (yet to be identified) milling around the waterhole.
I took the long scenic road around Piper Pan, getting a better view on the other side. I continued north west. The road was corrugated and slow going, I spent most of my time in second gear doing 15kmh. After an hour I suddenly came across another vehicle. They were coming towards me. The first other tourist I had seen for 7 or 8 days. I pulled off the road for them so they could pass.
I was crossing another pan, when a leopard jumped out of a bush I was approaching and ran across to hide under another tree. Once he was in the tree you could barely see him, his camouflage was so good.
A bit later I came across two more vehicles coming my way, I again got off the road for them. There were more antelopes and kudi. The road is nowhere as sandy, I will have to pump my tyres up this afternoon. I have had them at low pressure for ten days or so. At 1pm I got to Letiahau camp, which was shady, but I don’t always like shady as I need sun for my solar panels.
Tomorrow I have to start early. I have nearly 80km to go to get to the gate.
