Lions, Lions and More Lions

Well, 2 weeks further on and I’ve seen plenty of lions now. Working 6 days out of 7 and our main focus is to track the lions and monitor their behaviour. A bit different yesterday when we spent all day at a waterhole undertaking a census of any animal that made a visit. Quite a tough day, up at 03:30 and not back to the camp until 20:00.

But a day off today and my turn for a visit to the nearest town at Messina. So catching up with the football scores and off to get the weeks shopping shortly and a meal as well.

We also spent 4 days at Lesheba Wilderness which is about a 2 hour drive south from here in the mountains. This made a nice change and was a bit cooler as well. Getting very hot here indeed now, about 35 degs most days.

Seen a few white rhino now as well and even had a wallow in the rhino pool. Still finding mud 3 days later.

Sorry I have no pictures to upload. I have plenty just not easy from the place I’m in.

Anyway, probably won’t have another update until I’m back in a couple of weeks but then I’ll have plenty of pictures to post.

Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve

Well this is where I am for my 5 weeks in South Africa. It’s very close to the borders with Zimbabwe and Botswana.

I’ve spent my first week here doing my training on how to track the animals in the reserve. Lots of very early starts and it’s strange to be going to bed between 8 and 9 but when you are leaving around 5am …

Not seen too many animals yet but this will change tomorrow when we start our work properly. Did some tests yesterday which started with a written exam at 06:00 !!

Over the next 4 weeks I will be tracking lions, elephants, jackals and wild dogs and we have to spot them and record their behaviour before we can come back to the camp. So we’ve got some very long hot days to come as they could be anywhere in 34,000 hectares.

Today is our 1 rest day a week and I’ve got a town visit today. At a place called Musina \ Messina. Will be collecting the weeks shopping for the camp and will also get a nice lunch. I won’t come back to town for at least 2 weeks.

I’ll try and get some pictures uploaded in the meantime of what it’s like here as well soon.