MADIKWE.
The first nights game drive was very different. It is hard to come from a "go off road for anything lodge to limited to big five sighting off roading" A mind adjustment is necessary. We did go off road. Tough off roading to say the least this area was thick thorn bushes. Best to come here first but the logistics do not work.

First evening. We saw elephants, zebra, wildebeest, and two sleeping three year old male lions. Nothing super exciting but the size of the three year old male when he stood up was Impressive we all got some good shots.

Drive the first morning - our bad timing morning.
Two of ladies found it very cold the last day at Mala Mala so we decided to go to winter hours and have a full breakfast at 7.00 am and go out when we finished and still stay out three hours. This way we avoided the very cold start. However as we left the lodge we heard cheetah had been spotted, a coalition of four makes. They were mobile and we raced out as fast as we could. Almost the vehicles lost visual. Great disappointment, then they found them again in a different spot they had been chasing an impala. We were excited again we got there when a car pulled out for us but at that moment they were lost. We went in thick thorny bush to try and find them again. Our ranger got off to track on foot when it got too thick and he said it was so thick he could barely walk through it. We tried to find tracks on the road where they may have crossed but no luck.

Then we heard the two big male lions were sighted and they were sleeping. Still we were excited just to see them. Off we raced to the lions. By the time we got there a herd of elephants entered the area with the lions and the lions left and were lost again. As I said a BAD TIMING MORNING. We did see a two month old zebra that was adorable and running and playing

Afternoon game drive
We started the search for the cheetahs. Patrolling the roads with other vehicles but to no avail. We finally gave up. The two male lions had been found again right at our lodge. So we headed in that direction and arrived about 5.15 pm. Best at that time as they may start to stir. Both our vehicles were watching the lions sleep. Looked like they were down for the count. One of our vehicles decided to leave for sundowners but we decided to stay longer, that was a wise decision. It takes patience on safari to wait for things to happen.

The smaller of the two lions started to stir and got up. To our delight he started to roar. Then we heard a roar in return. That sparked the other larger male and they were both roaring. It was fabulous. We called the other vehicle to return but they missed the roaring.

The lions starting moving and both vehicles followed and we heard that the responding roar came from a female lion on the airstrip. The two lions were headed in that direction. Fortunately this was a much easier off roading area. One male has a lighter mane and the one lion has a heavy black mane. They are stunning together, we followed the Lions for about thirty minutes. They walked right next to the vehicles several times. It was so much fun. It was getting dark when we reached the airfield.

There were three vehicles with female already. so the two groups would merge. Since we had been mobile we got priority but they let all five vehicles stay. Big concession but there was no doubt the stationary vehicles were not disturbing the lions.

The bigger male took the lead on the airstrip but then flopped down. The smaller male moved to within about 50 yards away from the female. A bunch of roaring started with all three lions joining in, I was thrilled the other vehicle got to hear that. Then the smaller smaller male flopped.

The ranger suspect this is a female unknown to them so caution on all the lions part was the order of the day.

Two jackals heard the noise and came to investigate I am sure hoping for a kill. Finally we left the cautious lions and returned to the lodge.

Now if only we can find those cheetahs and a brown hyena!! That would be the icing on the cake.