The 2025 Botswana Journals, Ch. 21: The Night visitors

    The sky is mostly overcast, though the moon peeks through at intervals.   It doesn't do anything to light up the surroundings to allow an early warning of approaching wildlife.  

 

        We wait.   I continue to search for the unknown critter in the water, not even certain that it's a critter, or simply something floating on the water.

        Then, I think my photo shows an eye.

            It does!   There's a terrapin( turtle) in the water.

            At 8 PM, a black-backed jackal appears at the waterside.

           I'm tired.   The adrenaline has worn off, and I have a full tummy.   I realize it was only this morning that we were in Johannesburg, South Africa, flew to Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana, made the long drive to Tuli Lodge, and then back here to the Lala Limpopo hide.   No wonder I'm worn out.

           I lie down in bed, assured that one of the youngsters will let me know if anything appears.

        Someone does.   Shelly shakes me and says there's action on the horizon.  

    My first groggy impression is that this approaching bird is at least three feet tall.   It looks immense, but it isn't heron or a stork, a kori bustard or a Secretary bird.   Instead, it's a spotted thick-knee, a bird less than half the size of the ones  I was guessing.

I decide to try to stay awake for a while and I'm rewarded with wraith-like images on the edge of darkness.

        A small herd of beautiful impalas comes close enough to identify, but never  reach the water.  They stay a long time, nibbling on ground vegetation, then fade away into the night.

A handsome Blacksmith Lapwing joins them.

       

 I go back to bed, and I'm not awakened until 4:30 AM, when a spotted hyena appears.

        Eventually, morning arrives with no more wildlife.   Until the doves and other birds appear, that is.   Aubry sets out breakfast stuff--yoghurt, diced fresh fruit, various cereals, etc.

Red-billed quelea and a couple of other birds.

African mourning dove.   Note the eye color.

A couple UFOs I'm working on having identified.

The beautiful laughing dove.

The striking Namaqua dove

        And that's it. We get our gear together, and soon the guides arrive to pick us up.    We have a few hours for a game drive on the way back to camp.

The wildlife--or lack thereof--is disappointing.   In the months prior to our arrival, Botswana had lots of rain.   The natural watering spots have enough water for the critters so they don't have to travel far away from their natural habitat.

We will have another night in this hide in two days.   Let's hope for the best.