Eight of us are now at Tswalu in the Kalahari Dessert. Really hot here over 100 degrees. However we leave early around 5.00 am in the morning back by 8:30am or 9:00am. Go out again at 5:00 pm back by 8:00 pm. The heat of the day we are at the lodge. These are very large rooms and the air con works great.

First day we saw numerous individual animals you do not see in the Kruger area. Sable and Oryx to mention a few. We stopped at four cheetahs. Mom and three two year olds, they were sleeping and raising their heads now and then. We were hoping they would go hunting. There was a Steenbok (a small antelope) they saw but they did not act on the hunt. So we finally broke out the sun downers drinks and then they moved to the location of the Steenbok. Almost like they were waiting for us to do the sun downer drinks before they would try for the kill. We could not follow just watch from a distance. They tried but failed to catch the Steenbok.

Dinner last night was outside near the pool. A series of small plates and a lot of options. Then we crashed.

This morning we went looking for two male loins who are about 19 years old. They are being transferred to an “an old folks animal facility” tomorrow and two new males are arriving. Unfortunately we could not find them. These are male lions we have seen often over the years of visiting Tswalu. However the other vehicle found the Southern Pride and had great sightings. We ended up joining them.

We had some breakfast and are skipping lunch today. Tonight we go to a special restaurant here considered “fine dining”. You go straight from the game drive no changing of attire. We hope to see the meerkats returning to their burrow after a day of hunting.

We also visited the new “tented camp”. LOPAI is the name of the facility. They should not say “tented camp” it is an incredible, spacious and luxurious home with your own chef, butler and private vehicle. The only thing “tent like” is a spiked permanent tent like looking “roof” that comes to a pike over the bedroom. Stunning view with mountains as a back drop. Cost I thought would be sky high but it is only about $500 more per person per night. Truly a bargain.

Not got any of Ken’s pictures yet but will post those later.

SORRY GOT HIT WITH MY ONION ALLERGY SO DID NOT GO ON GAME DRIVES OR POST.

I missed a great sighting with wild dogs and a leopard but will still show the pictures Ken took.