The big five

Monday,  September 16.
At 5:30, our guide knocked on the screen door. At 6 we were in place in the Land Rover and on our way in the cool morning air with a deep red sunrise in the east. As usual, the rifle case is on the dashboard in case there is a 'problem.'
After a while we came across a group of 'retired' cape buffalo males. They have a reputation as being of unpredictable temperament so we approached them slowly. Their horns look a combination of Poirot's mustaches and a toupee.
Next we passed a pair of white rhinos which we were told need to eat 80 kilos of grass a day.
Moving on,  we were startled by trumpeting as we came close to a young male elephant. Curious,  he came coser until he was right by us, munched some grass and then ambled across the road.
Driving on for a while we rounded a bend to a waterhole where three hippos would spend the day. They are nocturnal and the water takes a load off their feet and protects them from sunburn.
So we have been exceedingly lucky. In two drives we have seen the big five: elephant,  rhino, lion, leopard and cape buffalo. Not to mention vervet monkeys, giraffes, hippos and all the rest.
After our mid-morning breakfast we sat for a while in the "hide" overlooking the water hole the preserve maintains. The animals pass by, drink, and continue on their way. We've seen giraffes, zebras, warthogs, impalas, nyalas, kudus, Mongoose and monkeys.
On the afternoon ride we had to wait for a group of rhinos to get out of the road, searched for a reported pair of cheetahs (which we didn't find), drove down a dry river bed to see two female lions resting in the sand. While there, Rick dropped his glasses over the side. You don't get out, even when there aren't any lions 20 feet away, so it didn't look good. But the ranger managed to fish them back - and it was fascinating to watch the lions' reactions. While the big green vehicle got barely a notice, the movement of a long pole getting the glasses beneath it, put them instantly on alert.
This pride has three females and one is in estrus. The ranger said she and the male should be nearby.
After the stop for drinks as evening fell, the tracker spotted the third female in the pride and we headed through the bush to get closer. When we got there, we saw the male lion resting from his mating labors (once every 15 minutes). What a guy.