South Africa 2024: Day 7

8 December 2024: Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Sundays are our day off from the usual chores, but that doesn’t mean we take it easy! Today was all about laundry, tidying up our tents, and hanging out in the volunteer center—but it also brought some fun wildlife action with Game Drive Bingo. Of course, most of the animals were hiding from the heat, but we still managed to fill in a few squares.

Highlights included seeing the handsome bull, Gobisa, and a huddle of elephants. On a hot day like this, elephant huddles can serve multiple purposes: communication, calming, or simply bonding. I also spotted a female giraffe strolling by. You can tell her apart from the males by her narrower horns and the extra hair on top.

Baby season is in full swing! We saw adorable baby impalas staying close to their mothers. You can always spot impalas by the distinctive black stripes along their backsides. Even the buffalo were surprisingly chill today—usually, we’d give them a wide berth!

The cheetah boys, Amani and Asante, are still acclimating in the boma and are set to be released in January. Unlike the last release, these cheetahs have spent extra time getting used to this territory. Watching them, you notice how the giraffes near the fence line keep a careful eye on them—and soon, all the surrounding wildlife takes cues from the giraffes. It’s like a rehearsal for what’s to come.

And of course, the flamboyant tree was alive with the songs of weaver birds during the day. At night, they’ll be busy weaving new nests, showing off their remarkable craftsmanship. Even on a “day off,” the bush is never quiet—and that’s what makes it so magical.

Species logged today:

MaBirds: Burchell’s coucal, Yellow-billed stork, Hamerkop, White-backed vulture, Yellow-throated longclaw, Fork-tailed drongo, Cape starling, Paradise whydah

Mammals: Impala, nyala, wildebeest, hippos, Vervet monkeys, elephants, water mongoose, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, black-backed Jackals Porthos and Artemis

Reptiles: crocodile

Invertebrates: Longhorn beetleelmeted guineafowl, African cuckoo, arrow-marked babbler, giant eagle-owl