Kili sunrise from the compound’s gate.

Sunrise on Kilimanjaro.

Close-up of Kilimanjaro sunrise.

We started the morning with a game drive. As we were leaving the lodge compound, we were treated to a spectacular view of Kilimanjaro in the early morning light. Of course we stopped to take photos. (We’ll send you some, Brett).

There are only 5 cameras. I have to keep telling everyone I’m not a Japanese tourist!

Sun rising over safari truck.

Amboseli sunrise.

During the drive, we saw a couple of lionesses and Patrick stopped the truck. One of them appeared to be disconcerted. She was pacing and mewling while watching a spot in the nearby bush. It was obvious she had cubs of nursing age, which we suspect were hidden in the bush. The other lioness had flap of skin that was bleeding on her left hind leg.

The most probable sources of her distress became apparent when a research vehicle drove the of the bushes and we saw a small group of Spotted Hyaena in the area. When the vehicle was gone and the Hyaena had left, the two lionesses made their way back into the bushes.

Mewling Lioness.

Mewling Lioness.

Older Lioness with wounded leg.

Both Lionesses.

Spotted Hyaena.

Hyaena with leg in mouth. May have been from Lions’ kill.

We decided the show was over – no more toe-shoes and tutus.  So it was time to move on. However, as luck would have it, the truck engine wouldn’t turn over. Patrick jumped out to check under the hood while we stood on lookout with nothing but good intentions and fully loaded cameras. Patrick quickly hammered the battery contacts back into place. He climbed back into the truck and slammed the door… just as we turned and saw one of the lionesses emerge from the bushes and cross the road mere feet behind the truck. JT Safaris was almost short one driver and a truck because, without Patrick, we would still be driving around Amboseli looking for the lodge.

Dad, mom, and little Impala.

Impala: only hours after being born.

Black-faced Vervet Monkey.

Young Thompson’s Gazelle.

Sunburst over an ele.

We went on another game drive once the heat of the day started to dissipate in the afternoon.

Grey-Crowned Cranes.

Roger “shooting” animals.

Hours old ele with mom.

Ele standing firm.

Old, stained tusks.

Ele with huge tusks.

Ele at dusk.

Eron retired to our room after dinner. So Roger went to the lounge patio for a cup of coffee and an after-dinner cigar. Jimmy had given him two cigars last night: Roger tried the Padilla Artemis Torpedo. It was medium-plus bodied stick with billows of smoke, full of cedary notes, and with a rich coffee-like finish. Roger was relaxing, listening to the music from the lounge, and was half way through the cigar when he looked up to see an adult elephant standing on the other side of the electrified game fence, awash in the glow of the floodlights. The elephant stared at Roger for several minutes, then walked along the fence, scratched itself against a tree, and meandered off into the darkness. Having an elephant bid you goodnight after a day of great safaris…. check that one off the bucket list.

Good night from an ele.