We were very lucky with elephant sightings throughout our trip. I could have spent ages watching this group drinking and splashing about at the waterhole, but we did have to keep going to make Satara before the gates closed.
Time for a refreshing drink
Drinking with a trunk is a messy business
Lovely splash of cooling mud
Catching the hippo yawning at the waterhole was pretty cool, as was this mid-tree squabble between two Tawny eagles (I think?). Never did figure out what the issue was though.
Open wide
This is my tree!
Another ‘Big Five’ species we saw plenty of was buffalo, especially near Satara where the grass must be tasty. The late afternoon light was lovely to work with, as long as the animals were on the right side of the road. A Burchell’s coucal and a pair of male Waterbuck posed very cooperatively.
Bashful buffalo in the long grass
Loving the grass
Burchell’s coucal in gorgeous light
Beautifully posed waterbuck males
We made it the camp just in time for sunset.
Nature in Focus 
That was all on the first day. Wonderful. When can we go back ?
It was a good day. I’d love to go back again soon and for longer.