9 Mavunje nr Kongola 3/5/15

Slept reasonably well.

Took a 15km drive to Mudumu Game Reserve. On the tar road which cuts through the reserve, we had a lovely roan sighting.

Decided to go into the reserve. Road in some areas was thick sand ... really felt like we were off the beaten track. Saw some hippo and nothing else!
Stopped off at Kwando Camp to try our luck for breakfast. No such luck ... too late! Place is nice but very commercial compared to Dan's.
Proceeded to Kongola and had fried chicken and chips from a roadside Chicken Hut.

Went out on boat with Dan at 15:30. No ellies but plenty of birds and hippos. Dan's tilt and trim function (on his boat motor!) has packed in. Compounded with water level being down ... Luis and Dan had to get off the boat and push or pull it through the narrower channels. I've heard of horsepower but we had 2 manpower.

I was desperately trying to obtain a pic of a little bee eater in flight. We went to a place where they hang out in big numbers, I called it Bee Eater Avenue. I must have had over 100 attempts. This was my "best" result. They're contrary little blighters.

The Pied Kingfisher was a little easier

Magnificent sunset as always. Later, the full moon was up and Dan remembered that last year our boat ride was also during full moon.

Had a run in with some hippos ... Very exhilarating. Remember the tilt and trim problem ... It involved manual adjustment locking the adjusted position into place. The motor was tilted quite high to clear some shallow water. End result is when we needed to reverse due to angry hippos, the prop cavatated so .... no reverse. Much pounding on the water with paddles and the hippos fled. Adrenalin pumped! No pics, happened so quickly.

Safely back at camp around 7ish. Dan joined us for late supper. Great day!