Safari

It is 10:30 am and I've been up five hours, yesterday afternoon and this morning I have been on two safaris, at least three hours long.  Saw mother lion and three teenaged cubs almost as big as she is, then for about a half hour saw two groups of elephants, adults teenagers and babies.  Got really good pictures of them for you Marcia.  Today saw cheetas, two brothers, who were raise as cubs with people, one is wearing a collar, they are repeatedly exposed to people like us, when we walked to within about 15 feet of them ( they were habituated to people, and are periodically reexposed to people so as to reimprint on their minds that we are not possible food) so they just ignored is, and stretched out and  occasional groomed themselves.  Besides we knew that they had just eaten a small antelope the remains of which was laying a few feet beside them so had their belly's full, and were no danger to us.  Mid safari this morning a great excitement on the radio system in the expanded jeep, and off we went this way and that, with more jabbering in one of the S. African languages, and more excited turns, up this way and that, and finally it w.as a pack of wild dogs squabbling over

after dark spotlighted lion last night

another type of antelope, they were tugging and pulling at the carcus, each trying to be sure they each got a little more than their fair share.  All of a sudden off they ran, one with the anytelope's head in it's mouth.  The guides then explained what all the jabbering on the radio was about, we were given a rare treat to view the wild dogs.  A little smaller, and thinner than German shepards, but with huge upright ears and brown, tan, black and white sleek coats of hair.  Wild killing machines were how the guides described them.  Thee times this morning we saw close up various groups and individuals of  giraffes, one male, three or so females, and a bunch of teeenagers, most very close to, or on the roads.  Very nonchalant, ignoring us.  one just looked at us and seemed to wonder what we were doing on his road.  After we got back to the resort, during breakfast, a wart hog visited us, tusks and all, just off the front driveway, and I got good pictures of him. Also from a distance saw the head of a hippo,  a croc, some large almost horse sized type of antelope.  Enjoying the safaris.  Another at 4 PM today.  Took the pictures with my camera, can't operate the tablet fast enough, and in daylight you can't see the screen with reflections, so those pics will have to wait to be blogged.