Our final morning drive and Tino opted for a lay-in so just three of us shared the vehicle with Paolo and Zak. We headed West to try and find Black Rhino. Paolo stopped the vehicle so that we could get a glimpse of some of the smaller birds and we were rewarded with sightings of: Green-backed Cameroptera, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Black-backed Puffback Shrike, Green White-eye, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Golden-breasted Bunting and Forest Weaver.
A troop of seven Warthog trotted in single file across the burnt savannah with tails pointing skywards; one had lost his right tusk. At a large dam a pair of Water Thick-knee foraged at the water’s edge whilst two sedate Hippo surfaced, gently rippling the water and watched us warily. A Wattled Lapwing flared into the long grass.
Moving on we were treated to a fine display by a Pink-breasted Twinspot, a vivid Yellow-bellied Greenbul and a seldom seen Black-headed Oriole. At the top ridge of a dam were the two male Lions that dominate the park. That dominance will soon be challenged by the introduction of two larger males from Madikwe.
As we made our way home a Saddle-backed Stork glided effortlessly overhead whilst a large troop of Baboon fed and argued noisily in the tree tops. Our last sighting notable sighting was of a Slender Mongoose, his black-tipped tail slipping into the bush.
