June 1,2000 Well just when U think U've seen everything, we start our day with 9 lions, 5 males and 4 females, in very plain view, right on the rode. They walk right beside the jeep and on down the rode. We watch them out of sight and are just thrilled. The game in Kruger is awesome!! Some nice giraffe,hyena, zebra, wildebeeste and warthogs,as well as several hippo round out our morning animal sitings. Kruger is a birders dream!! We see greenbacked parrots,burchels coucal(the rain bird), the huge black and red ground hornbills(about 3ft or 1m tall),bateleur eagles,fish eagles, a dark chanting goshawk, and a look alike gymnogene. A great day by any standards! After a relaxing lunch, and great conversation with Edgar(new guide and Andrew's twin brother), we head along the Sabi River. We see many more birds, and hear wonderful sounds and spot several crocs and hippos. Stopped to view a bird, we hear a baboon bark, as we wondered what another car had stopped to watch. While they watched the baboon, we recognize it as a warning sign,and scan around. I spot why the baboon is barking. Barely noticeable, I see a form poking from the roadside grass. The sunlight hits her head and I recognize the shape of a cat. Quickly I can tell it is a leopard. Edgar is as thrilled as I am,almost fumbling the radio mic as he excitedly calls in our find. We watch as she crouches low,slinking across the road. Watching her to the other side of the road and out of site in the tall grass again we move on. We see a lone male elephant walk across the Sabi River, and on to shore. We chat that we are amazed such a large animal can hide! Further on I spot a few ellies on shore entering the river. Then I see several who are ahead of them, part way across. We sit in awe watching about 20 elephants cross the Sabi River. Not by accident, one mother on the upstream side then 2 babies,then another mama, so as to keep the babies safe. We watch until all have made it. Next we spot a male giraffe on our side of the river,looking at several others on the opposite side. He thinks better of crossing to join them. We sit and watch from quite a distance,the 4 giraffes browse, THIS IS AFRICA!! We saw the tall but also the small, seeing dwarf mongoose, slender mongoose and banded mongoose all in the same day. The dwarf mongoose is much smaller then I had thought, with top weight being about 200grams or less then 1/2lb. I will sleep well knowing I will see many more great things tomorrow. One Last Day at Kruger or Frank's Place Main
