Kalagadi NP Mata Mata

Saturday 23 to Wednesday 27 January

Lockdown Day 303 to 307

On Friday we heard that the river North of Mata Mata is in flood and is flowing slowly towards the camp and beyond; for the first time in 20 years. We managed to secure two extra nights up North to wait for the water. On Saturday we saw lions again on both our early and late drives.

On Sunday we hung out in camp most of the day. We bought a bit of wi-fi just to send a few messages and for Neil to download his Sunday Times. More lions in the evening. 

On Monday we had to move to Kalahari Tented Camp again, just 3 kms away, for a night but it was awesome there with a spectacular view of the river bed and lots of game.

The river still had'nt made it to Mata Mata and  the rate of progression slowed and level dropped so it never reached us after all. More lions on Monday; three different prides and the closest were only 2kms from camp.

On Tuesday we stayed in a two bedroom riverfront chalet with Danie and John. Our lunchtime glass of wine turned into quite a few bottles and an arvie doze. 

We had a late braai and were forced into bed by 10.30pm when the generators went off and we got plunged into darkness. At 3.30am I was awoken by  howling jackals. I shone the spotlight out on them and saw they were distressed by a lioness lying nearby. Again at 4.45am I went out with the spotlight. The lioness got up and came to the waterhole to drink and then ambled past our chalet just as it was beginning to get light. 

After 18 nights in the Kalagadi we drove down to Upington. The end of the Kalagadi trip and the beginning of a new adventure through some of the  National Parks in the Karoo. We are waiting for the border to Namibia to reopen. There's no point heading to the Capetown or back to Joburg during a strict lockdown or until the daily case numbers have dropped right down again and the hospitals are coping.