We start this mornings drive with Jamie who has Bryan on camera.
Joffer is on an interview drive. As we all know Sam had to leave due to health reasons.
Joffer had a pre arranged interview prior to news that Sam would be leaving.
He will be on Jamie's vehicle in about 30 minutes time.
Lets give Joffer a Hearty Welcome!!
Last night after signing off with the Nkahuma female lion, Jamie's vehicle broke down and had to be towed so there will be only 1 vehicle this morning. Jamie and Bryan were stuck with a broken down vehicle for some time. Brent did come to her rescue.
Jamie is talking about a mechanic coming into camp to give the vehicles an overhaul and get them all back in shape.
The Nkahuma female we saw last night with Jamie did not have suckle marks but is heavily pregnant and looks to be ready to give birth.
A couple of starlings in the early morning light
Little Boy Waterbuk
The Eastern sky this morning.
Jamie said it is not as cold as other mornings but she still has her hot water bottle.
Bryan is bundled up because being in the back, he gets all the wind.
Jamie explaining that the Sabi Sands and Kruger are an unfenced area and nature is left to control itself.
Rusty Needs A Tuneup
Final Control is going to show us the Djuma Cam while she switches spots with Joffis. Because Jamie sits on cushions and they need to adjust.
He is currently sitting in the back and Jamie will switch spots with him.
Jamie sees fresh Lion tracks
Elephants have decided to kick over a sign
and now we have Dam Cam.
Nice bright morning at the Djuma Dam. Birds are calling.
Joffers is what most people call our new guide.
His name is Jonathon McCormick but he says we can call him either.
(He is enthusiastic with a great smile.)
(Joffers is very expressive when talking. Using lots of adjectives to describe the mist and its layers.
Very well spoken and appears to be having fun)
He grew up on a game reserve in Zimbabwi
He worked with Bryan Joubert (our Cameraman) in the Kalahari. They were doing research on Meercats together.
Meet Joffers!
He also did horseback ride safaris. After 4 hours per day doing that, he said he walked like John Wayne afterwards. He did that for 4 months.
He also worked 2 years in the lower sector of the Sabi Sands.
He is talking about the rutting season with Impalas
He says he likes to compare the behaviours of various animals like Lions and Leopards like "The Days Of Our Lives".
Joffers said there are White Tailed Mongoose tracks in the road
His first sighting of a brown hyena was a very special sighting for him. He was with his Grandfather and they weren't sure what it was at first. He was 13 at the time.
Joffers favourite bird is a Marshall's Eagle.
(I urge you to watch some of the drive on you tube because he is quite a talker and there is no way I can type it all in here. lol)
Mom and Baby Hippo Out Of The Water But Moving Quickly
Joffers gets out of the vehicle and shows us and explains the use of game paths
VIDEO
Drove 10 feet and now he is out of the vehicle again.
Showing us how the elephants kick at the bushes to get the roots
He is getting out again.
Showing us Elephant dung.
You can squeeze it to get water out of it.
Stefan is out on a bush walk so we are popping over to him.
Stefan has Wiam assisting him on camera this morning.
Stefan is looking for a Giraffe and says "Come With".
We see a Grass like grasshopper.
AWESOME Grasshopper and Cricket!
Back to Joffers
Reports of a Female Leopard but she is in a dense area but he is making his way there in hopes that we can get a visual.
Over to Stefan who shows us a Buffalo thorn.
He allows The Black Monkey Thorn To Piece His Uniform
Stefan finds a bug which is furry. He knows it is a bug because it doesn't have mouth parts.
He doesn't know what kind of bug it is.
Stefan shows us what the locals call a "Tattoo Plant". The use the inner juice from the bush to place on their skin in intricate patterns, then wrap it up, and in 24 hours the skin has blistered in those patterns and will then scar. So they use these scars as a tattoo.
A Butterfly which at first looks grey and non descript and then it opens its wings and is very pretty
Over to Joffers who shows us a bone and tells us that many animals practice osteophagia.
Over to Stefan
(Sunlight is bright so its difficult to get a good pic)
A different Praying Mantis with all legs extended
Back to Joffers
He is heading to the Dam.
Joffers talks about the Wild Dogs that died in Kruger park from Scarcoptic Distemper.
He approaches the waterhole and there was an Impala I think but he didnt stop to look at it. Now he is reversing back up the road.
(YAY- He stops for an Impala)
And back over to Stefan
A Centipede eating Snake
Cape Snake
And the snake heads down a hole.
Stefan is saying Goodbye
Over to Joffers who is also saying goodbye
and that concludes the Sunrise Safari
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