During the short drive from the airstrip to Dinaka Lodge, we saw a Lanner falcon in a thick bush. That’s my tentative ID of a cell phone shot.
Then, several kudu, a large antelope, stare at us without fear as we drive past.
Once at the lodge, we gather in the nice main lodge building for a brief welcome and orientation. Some staff are introduced, and then a gentleman talks about the camp and the dos and don’ts. I move closer to him so I can hear better.
It helps. I can hear him, but it takes too long to understand his words because of the accent. That is one of the things my husband was told when he got his first hearing aids—you will have to learn to hear again.
That’s my excuse for what happened later. And I’m sticking to it.
The camp is somewhat protected by electric fencing, but animals visiting the waterhole in front can walk right into camp. For that reason, we are instructed to wait for an escort when it’s dark in the evening and morning.
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| Electric fence connectors. |
Further, we can’t go to the waterhole, but we can go into the fire pit area that is immediately in front of the lodge.
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| Fire pit as seen from inside the lodge. |
After the session, we are escorted to our tents. Sylvia and I will share tent 5.
It’s very nice, but we will learn later that it’s also poorly lit, and we must wear headlamps or use flashlights to find anything in our luggage. Other than that, it’s wonderful.
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| Sylvia likes to have her large duffel bag spread open. I prefer mine to be folded closed, so I use the small area between the right bed and the wall for mine. We haven't yet messed up the tent. |
We quickly unpack and get our cameras ready. Then I head for the main lodge to check out the wildlife around the waterhole. The kudu appear and show off their magnificent form. They are, I think, my favorite of the large antelopes.
Suddenly, the waterhole is swarming with birds! Hundreds of birds in a flock. Some land in trees. It’s impossible to identify them, but I want to try.
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| Hundreds of red-billed quelea. |
I venture out of the lodge onto the ground and walk along the front, making sure I don’t go out farther than the edge of the firepit.
I photograph some birds as I walk along, and then I hear my name being called.
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| Red-billed female quelea. |
“Jeanne! You’re not supposed to be out there!!!”
Oops. I thought he meant "go no farther than the fire pit," and I didn’t. Apparently, he meant we could go only into the fire pit and nowhere else.
Lions. They were seen nearby.
I obey. I’d run out of birds and places to walk anyway.
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| Dining table in the main lodge. |
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| Bar in the main lodge. |
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| Ceiling, main lodge |
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| Ceiling detail |
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| Another gathering area. |
We agree, the Kudus ARE magnificent. Leave it to Gullible to interpret "Go no further than the firepit" to mean as long as you have it in proximity, you are obeying! Glad the lions did not rush in!! The lodge looks comfy. Smiles, Patti and Cap
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