Wednesday August 6th

Beginning of search for wild dogs: 5.30 am
Wild dogs located 07.55 am
Because the dogs are severely endangered, they must be monitored twice daily. We finally found them by the river, hiding behind a bush. I am here to tell you that a fairly small bush can happily disguise 4 wild dogs extremely effectively.
Zimanga is also warthog capital of the universe. They are everywhere, including one family which has found a hole in the fence and regularly visits the camp. They are fairly nervous and the sight of people will send them back outside the fence, though the babies have still to learn exactly where the escape route is and will run behind mum, missing the hole entirely and being brought to an abrupt and unexpected halt.
No warthog was harmed in the recounting of this story.
Nice birds. Here is a random list:
Lappet Faced Vultures (lots); Tawny Eagle; Marabou Stork; Black Stork; Fish Eagle; Bronze Winged Courser; Yellow Hornbills (lots); Fork-tailed Drongo; African Open Bill; Egyptian Goose (lot)s; Malachite Kingfisher – I have a ticky list  There are more.
Coffee and rusks were taken at probably the highest point in the reserve. (I will upload a fairly rubbish photograph, which doesn’t do the view justice.) By this time the 150 layers had been discarded and the strappy top had been liberated. I am sensitive to the feelings of my reader and no photo will be forthcoming.