Uris Safari Lodge Etosha National Park

... I couldn't quite get the motivation with Gabe sleeping peacefully beside me. So I lay back down and listened to the noises of the African night. I must have been only half asleep because an hour or so later I heard Lance come back from the watering hole and I tried to quietly whisper to him and get his attention, wondering if there was anything at the water hole I shouldn’t miss. But he didn ...

... watering hole for sunset. The watering hole is set up on the edge of the camp with an electric fence and then a stone wall cutting people off from the wildlife but so close and well lit that you have this amazing view of the animals as they come to drink. On the one hand it feels contrived with the floodlights and benches set up, on the other hand you watch as the animals approach slowly, cautiously and you ...

... striking black markings), warthogs, jackals and guinea fowl, egrets and other birds all together in one photo shot drinking. Amazing. This more than any other game viewing place was a highlight as so many animals were in one place. Near the water hole we also drove by lions sleeping near trees. Back at camp we wandered out to the camp water hole to watch animals like zebra and ...

... as well - on the last night at the camp we spent about 2 hours down by the waterhole and in that time there were 15 different rhinos that came along to drink, and 6 of them were mothers with their children (so dont think there is a reproduction problem here!!)<br><br>There were several lions as well - the best was one morning we followed a young juvenile male to a water hole and then he sat down about 10 meters if that from our truck, looking at the water ...

... This part has no water, but parts of it are pretty wet &#8211; as Flora found out when she stood in the very sticky and very smelly mud!<br><br>We did a variety of group and family photos and the children had a chance to play &#8211; they could run as far as they wanted and we could still see them &#8211; flat, flat, flat!<br><br>The drive to Okaukuejo was about 75km and it took several hours. We stopped at lots of ...

... so now we had six!! We think there was one male as he seemed to be standing on guard, while the rest were females and young. They hung around for ages, even chasing the hyenas when they tried to drink! Eventually two disappeared into the bush and the mother and her small calf walked away. <br><br>The remaining female wandered up to the sleeping one, which was right below is, and got him up. They began play fighting and were literally just metres below us as the viewing area is ...

... We dropped Ben off here and set up his tent as he's too ill to be on the game drives today, he's caught the bug that seems to be going around the truck.<br><br>Driving down to the waterholes we saw a group of 7 Giraffes (4 adults and 3 youngsters), Springbok, Blue Wildebeest, Oryx, Burchell's Zebra and Blackbacked Jackal. But when we got to the Chudop waterhole we saw a large gathering of an assortment of animals drinking over a period of time. Managed to ...

... with my camera (2 sets of batteries later . . ). So much so that with 4 layers, beanie and gloves on I was up at 2.15 am and waited for an hour till a sole rhino came and spent 45 mins drinking. Just me and the rhino with the odd jackel wandering around. Not much sound except for lions growling very near by so I was hopeful to see them. Owls flying overhead added to what was to be a day that I will not forget ...

... one pitch. Paul had a bit of trouble pegging his ground tent as the ground is so hard and dusty. The ablutions have been upgraded and each pitch has an electric point and light. The restaurant is excellent, we had kudu, which was very nice together with potatoes, rice and vegetables. The carrots with the salad starter had pineapple juice flavour in them (not apple juice this time Sue). There's a good size swimming pool ...

... is her tomorrow morning and she knows! We are back at 20h. They say the best time for the spotting is between 20 and 22h. When we arrive, there are 4 rhinos at the hole and a baby. Giraffes are arriving. And an elephant. We sip our wine in silence: so much beauty! We go to bed at 23h. Still watching. Dr T claims he woke me up at the middle of the night to show me an elephant. But he is lying. I will wake him up early, though... .