Last days at Lewa Wilderness

Yesterday evening we drove out on a game drive to look for the three cheetah brothers again.  The plan was to game drive out, enjoy a sun-downer somewhere and then do a night game drive back for dinner.  The trio of cheetah were still pretty full from their zebra from two days before and barely lifted their heads to look at us when we found them. So after a few minutes watching sleeping cats we carried on our way.  The evening light was fantastic and we enjoyed a variety of game across the wide central plain and took a short detour to visit the prehistoric stone tool site.  It is a wonderful feeling to hold an ancient hand axe in your hand and imagine the hands which crafted this beautiful tool and wonder at the kind of life he led. Our sun-downer was at the peak of an old volcanic cone with sweeping views across the plains towards the Ngare Ndare forest and the Borana escarpment.  While sipping gin and tonic we heard a series of warning barks coming up from some impala along the stream course below.  We tried to see through the binoculars what was alarming them but it was getting too dark by then.  We then heard some guinea fowl cackle their alarm cries and I decided to drive down to investigate.  Sure enough, as we reached the bottom of the hill we caught sight of a beautiful big male leopard in our spotlight.  We followed him for several minutes as he prowled along the track and then left him to darkness and his hunt once more.

This morning we drove out before breakfast and although it was quiet in terms of big game it was another of those beautiful Highland mornings with cool air and lovely warm light.  

We leave Lewa today for the next part of our adventure; a camel safari out of Sabuk lodge for two days.  I will be far away from this computer but will update the blog when we get back to civilisation again!