We missed lions at the daraja for a matter of minutes, the spoors were very very fresh, undisturbed by francolins or other birds.
The day was hot, sunny with just some clouds around and very few game. The scenay of the flowing Mwagusi was stunning as usual. We decided to have breakfast at the midway crossing. It’s a crossing of the river but we cannot cross it now so the side of the water is an ideal spot to stretch the legs and getting something to eat.
When we went down to the spot we had a big surprise, at least one hundred elephants were scattered along that stretch of river, some of them in the water some on the banks. We parked the car and we had a great breakfast watching elephant crossing the river, bathing, playing in the water, sparring, trumpeting and drinking. Talking about drinking, after ten minutes we were having our deserved breakfast a lioness walked down on the opposite side of the river, just in front of the car and to our delight quenched her thirst drinking from the running water.
Some half an hour later from the same spot a breeding herd came down crossing the river towards us and getting to this side only 5 mtrs from us.
On the river drive we saw another lion, this time a big male but the best things were a pigmy falcon, later on a lesser asian cuckoo in the hepatic form and eventually a flap necked chameleon.
The afternoon we drove in mbagi, we got beautiful sighting of brown necked parrot and purple crested turaco and most of all Amon spotted a magnificent leopard laying on a branch of a big rain tree.
The cat was relaxed and we enjoyed it for at least one hour before heading back to camp.
We felt blessed by the sight of the elusive predator and even more blessed of being able to watch him without disturbing but still feeling that intimacy with nature that is given when we are lucky enough to get a glimpse of the most wonderful of the cats.
A spotted eagle owl is perching on the top pole of my tent.
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