The Selous Game Reserve

Another 5am get up to catch a bus. On embarking the luggage guy tried to get us to pay a lot of money to put our bags on the coach. This led to Vicky arguing with him for about 20 minutes. (I just stood and watched her work with an occasional shake of my head when the man looked at me for help PB). He cracked before we did and our bags were put on without any additional charge. Proper coach this time, but they put 5 little seats across the width of it instead of 4 and the leg room is too small for Vicky. Anyway we got off at the right town at 12noon and got a soda. We texted the owners of the camp we were heading to and as they were passing through on the way back from Dar they picked us up about 2pm. Sat on the back of their truck for 4 hours, but being in the fresh air was a welcome mode of transport after the bus seats.


I saw some of the weird birds with the big beak that eat poisonous snakes and anything else that moves.


On approaching the camp a herd of elephants walked out to greet us. Vicky was of course ecstatic. The camp owner wants to bottle and sell elephant poo to westerners, so she was pleased to see the elephants too. (Mike, be gratefull customs won't let her or we'd have posted you a 'Poo in a Pot'.)


The camp itself was in a lovely location next to the river side which hippos were cooling down in. It was really cool listening to them grunting and talking hippo language to each other.
You had to take your own supplies to the camp and they set up a fire for you to cook on next to your tent. It’s very atmospheric with the stars above you, the bush on one side and the hippo’s chattering away on the other side. And we had it all to ourselves.






Next day we chilled through the morning and then took a safari drive in the afternoon. Saw Elephant, Crocodile, Lion, Hippo, Vultures, Egyption Geese, spoon billed stalk, Water buck, endless Giraffes and Impalla (deer). Learned some cool facts too, the camp owners are qualified game wardens so we had our own personal safari tour and rarely saw another car.
Egyptian geese live in a pair, If one dies, the other just gives up on life and snuffs it voluntarily. Not sure how evolution came up with that solution!


Lion's try to eat Hippo's in the night. They walk up to 8km from their water hole to feed at night and if a Lion attacks they just run to the water all 8km if necessary. They run through thorn bushes and their skin is an inch thick so the lion has a bit of a job in stopping them.
Giraffe's hearts are about 50cm across and the blood pressure is so high to get the blood to their head that they can only drink for about 30 seconds at a time before raising their heads again to avoid passing out.













Went on another safari the next morning and saw lots more including Hyena taking an impala. Zoom in on the photo.


Saw a crocodile skull, even still looks like a Croc.

Crocodiles make us laugh when they walk.




Had a sunset cruise and then headed to bed ready for the 3am start...