It is another early start, with a wake up call at 5 o’clock, breakfast at 5:30 for a 6 o’clock drive. There appears to be less game at Kwara than there was at Lebala but I think that this is probably due to it being a huge area and the game is very dispersed. Also there are not the herds of lechwe, which were always wonderful to watch. Nevertheless we see a good selection of plains animals. We receive a call that five lions have been spotted but are heading into thick bush. When we arrive we can still see three of the lions though the grass is very long. These are older and more battle worn than the young virile males at Lebala.

Soon the lions lay down in the grass and are then impossible to see. We head off and instantly realise we have a puncture. There is no way George is changing the tyre with lions that close in long grass where we can’t watch them. We drive very slowly over the ultra-rough terrain until we’ve put maybe 100 yards between us and the lions. I think it is the fastest tyre change you will ever see on safari!

I thought I had taken lots of good pictures but many of them are disappointing. I think this is partly because George is perhaps not as good as Mayezi at placing the vehicle in the right position for photographs. It really is a skill and makes so much difference to the shots you can take. It should be obligatory for guides to do a short photography course so they understand a few basics of light and composition. I will need to work on his parking technique! I was cross with him earlier. We had a lilac breasted roller in perfect position to capture it taking off. The light was good as well as the backdrop. I had my camera in pro-capture mode and finger over the button. After 10 minutes my arm and finger were getting tired and I asked George to wave his arms in the hope that would make it take flight. He had a better idea and started the engine. Now the camera is good, and I can take pin-sharp hand-held shots if everything else is stationary. The car shook, the bird flew away and no chance of a shot. He apologised but we never had a chance like that again. Grrr!

In the afternoon we go for a river trip along the channels in the Delta. The sun is low in the sky and we are sailing directly into it so it is very hot and difficult to stop the camera over-heating in the sunlight. It is particularly challenging as I have only taken the 12-100 mm lens(24-200mm equiv) with me and the birds are quite distant. I shall be interested to see the results. It is a super quality lens so hopefully I can crop and still have some sharp images.

We see two elephants crossing the channel in front of us and they then walk off into the reeds.

There are water lilies everywhere and the water is crystal clear, very still and calm. I am just enjoying the tranquility, when suddenly hippos surface very close to the boat. This is less than ideal and George revs up the engine and we make a speedy escape. The water is shallow and if a hippo came up under the boat it could easily capsize it. Bit of a reality check and I am now not quite as relaxed as I was!

We continue through the channels and make our way to the heronry. It is currently largely occupied by Various species of storks. Oh my! Those marabous stork babies are ugly!!

We moor by the heronry for my G&T and the view is just breath-taking. A truly beautiful place to watch the sun go down.

We reluctantly pack the drinks away and head back to the vehicle. We are then treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen. We think it must be the effect of dust from the Kalahari. Totally surreal!