We’ve moved camps, and the internet connection is considerably better.  More tomorrow on the new digs.  

Below are some more game drive pics. 

Goodnight from Botswana.

This hippo has been dead for about 5 days.  By Monday, nothing will be left but bones.  The bush is brutal but efficient.  Here a hyena is chasing off vultures.  The hippo’s skin is very tough, and it is hard to gain entry into the body cavity, particularly in the cold temperatures.  A vulture managed to poke through the abdominal cavity and a wave of noxious gas escaped, towards a jeep with tourists on it.  Vomiting ensued.  This made me chuckle.  

Zebra run away from things a lot. 

The area’s only rhino.  He was recently beat up by elephants (for an unknown reason) and has sustained considerable injuries.  They are unique creatures, unfortunately hunted for their horns which hold zero medicinal properties.  A kilo of rhino horn sells for roughly $45,000.  This is insane for what is essentially a kilo of finger nails, or keratin.  Humans are dumb.  

This is another kudu, a male.  I liked his horns, which are made of a bone core and a keratin exterior.  They are not worth $45,000 a kilo. 

A young, male leopard studies his prey.  Sadly, he is not a great hunter yet.  The warthog we watched will never know how close to death it came yesterday.  Like, with several feet. 

He spent a long time in that tree, which is common behavior for leopards who often perch on high ground or trees to survey the landscape. 

He was mostly nonplussed by our presence.  I told him the verdict of the Depp/Heard defamation trial.  He yawned.

I feel ya, buddy.

A few week old hyena.  Not quite stable on his legs yet, but very cute.  Brave (but over eager) male leopard approached the den, but the numerous adult hyena chased him off with ease.