15th of September:
After a breakfast that was good enough, and with very good coffee under the belt (and a serious hang-over), we headed into Selous proper. One of the largest game reserves, and much of it open to hunting, this is THE strong hold of Wild Hunting Dog. The area around the entrance also has a healthy population of Tsetse flies. These bastards pack a heck of a bite but luckily they disappeared a few kilometers into the park. No joy for us, though we did come across a big pride of lions doing the usual thing: sleep. Driving along the river we came across our first African Jacanas. The swamps along the river were heaving with Openbills and Sacred Ibises, and we watched a Cattle Egret hitch a ride on a Hippo. Black Herons were doing their usual umbrella thingy; sweeping their wings over their heads to, and this one is open to debate, either provide shade to attract fish or cut out the glare. Either way, they are fun to watch. The packed lunch was not roasted chicken for a change but some pretty decent fish. Even better than the fish was a Purple-crested Turaco that gave as good but brief views.
Arriving at the Lake Manze Camp, we got the usual spiel about the dangers of the place being in the bush when, right on cue, a very pissed-off Elephant walked by, seemingly in two minds about whether it should wreck the tables set up for dinner.
Safely installed, we chilled out a little, getting good views of Dickinson’s Kestrel perched on top of a palm tree; a lifer for both of us. White-browed Sparrow-weavers were causing a racket right around us and Impalas took a good look grazing in front o the tents.
Dinner was a communal affair, not my favorite thing, but certainly livened up by a female lion walking by and causing us to abort dessert in a hurry. Ha was more than a little apprehensive and sure was glad to reach back home with the protection of a Massai guard. She did sing and, trained by years of Vietnamese Karaoke, ensured that their was no living thing within a 20-kilometer radius.
Ha was happy with another Turaco and takes that one as “Bird-of-the-Day”, I go for the Dickinson’s Kestrel.