Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

The we left our packs to climb a low summit:
chinspot battis
2 giraffe - I spotted them some distance below.
12-15 water bucks, as we neared the summit
Reached Matshemhlope, 670 feet, with river below at 200 feet on topo map.
2 buffalo seen near river below.
58
We returned to our packs and then descended to the river for lunch, on some rocks overlooking the
river. There was a lot of baboon scat on the rocks, and now one of the buffalo was not far below
us. We ate watching it. The buffalo seemed old and tired. Eventually, it got up and walked down
to the river.
green pigeons, close at hand.
fork tailed drongo
crested barbet
5 water bucks
A nyala buck and 10-12 females gradually made their way up the river toward us. The females are
very different in color from the darker male.
brown hooded kingfisher
After lunch, we crossed the river and shortly reached a campsite frequently used by Ian Player,
when he walks in. Some gear is stored here. We pitched camp. I had night watch 9.00-11.00 p.m.
Quiet night.
July 24, Monday.
Bruce Dell baked a beautiful loaf of bread in the morning, in a pan, but this made a late breakfast.
Martial eagles, 2 of them, flew over camp and perched over the river where we could see them.
A rather slow morning. We crossed the river again, then recrossed it back and walked out. The
old buffalo we had seen the day before was still around.
When we were almost out, there were three buffalo seen at a little distance.
We returned to the combi (van), and unpacked and repacked.
On the way out in the combi:
wildebeest
Charlton-Perkins, William, Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Park. Cape Town: Struik, 1995. ISBN 1-
86825-745-2.
Mountain, Alan, Paradise under Pressure (St. Lucia, Kosi Bay, Sodwana, Lake Sibaya, Maputaland)
Johannesburg: Southern Book Publishing, 1990. ISBN 1 86812 277 8. 133 pages.
We drove back to Wayne Elliot's to recover Jane from the dogs. We got there about 5.00 and took
a rather welcome bath.