Eyes wide open at 5:15 so I decided to take a shower. The bathroom in these tents zips up separate because they are outside. The shower toilet and sink opens to the sky full of stars. It was dark and cold at 5:15 but the showing experience was unforgettable.

Troy opted to take his in the warmth of the afternoon. I haven’t had a blow dryer since we left the river lodge so my hair stays in a bandana or under my hat. But somehow I still feel beautiful.

After a coffee we head out. Our early morning drive was out on the Savanah. Reminds me of a grassy plains. The teensy flies are everywhere. They provide ponchos with netting. They burn elephant dung in a can on the back of the jeeps to keep them away.

Heards of wildebeest, some random warthogs.

Hippos all along the marches and river. Maribou storks with beautiful feathers.

In the Victoria days they were almost extinct because they used the feathers in the hats.

A nest of baby fish eagles then a ways away the mother.

White Pelicans, vultures like none I’ve ever scene. Crowned cranes, oxe pecker, trumpet hornbill, So many birds I can’t remember them all. To see such huge birds in trees and in flight

Is breathtaking.

We just drove upon a pride of lioness and their cubs. About 8 months old. So unbelievably cute. They are resting in the shade. They hunt at night. Last night we saw the males quite a distance away.

When the cubs are small the Mother’s leave them to go hunt. When they get a kill the mother goes back and brings the cubs to the meat. When they are old enough they go with the Mother’s to hunt. The males eat first then the females then the cubs.

We saw “Red letchwen” another type of antelope they have bigger horns and can run through the marshes.

“Puku” smaller antelope very Similar to impalas. With small hooves they stay on the sides of the marshes and rivers.

We stopped for tea in an open March area.

Surrounded by birds.

On the drive back we spotted a fish eagle perched in a tree with a big fish on the branch he was eating. It seemed so strange as the river was quite far away. A family (called a sounder) of warthogs with the four babies running every where reminded me of my own sounder of warthogs back home.

Back to camp for lunch then two hours of free time.

I’m afraid poor Troy is simply worn out. This is a very fast paced trip. With lots to see and do. We haven’t had internet since we left Johannesburg and he has not had much time to play any video games. On our earlier game drive I was holding on to him as I saw him nodding off and I didn’t want him to fall out of the jeep. My darling is a trooper though.

The people on the group are all so very nice.

Eight of them are friends and live in Virginia.

Judy is a widow from LA traveling alone. Jim and Deborah are from Oaklahoma, Nancy her sone Alex and his girlfriend Marina are from New York. I was wrong about this being an over 55 group. Apparently there are travelers of all ages on these oat trips. What I like is that they are trips with learning and adventure combined. The guide Peter is an old soul. He’s Adams age but handles the group with such experience. He must have to I suppose to keep us all on schedule and safe. The guides really know their stuff. I can hardly keep up with all

Information they spew as they go. So much to learn about between the animals, birds, vegetation and people in each location.

Kafue National Park is the size of New Jersey