Day 4 Tuesday 5th July: Rooiputs Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

"Lion in the camp" shouted Sarah-Jo. A huge black maned kalahari lion wandered in and made it's way around and left. There was great excitement and nervousness as everyone jumped in their cars to follow it as it set off across the valley. It was a freezing windy morning, -6 degrees at 08h30!

A visitor to our campsite!

Richard and Karen set off to the Nossib area to revisit the riverbed where 25 years earlier he filmed the world famous Meerkats United. In one of the great scenes in the movie Richard filmed a Marshall Eagle swooping down and taking a ground squirrel; yesterday 25 years later he returned to the same spot and unbelievably saw a juvenile Marshall Eagle - could this be the same family still roosting in the area?

The rest of us split up and headed off in various directions up and down the Ayob River. Once again everyone was delighted with their sitings of great bird life, the gemsbok, springbok hartebeest and wildebeest in classic poses in dunes in the river bed. In the early evening we came upon 3 male cheetahs in the dune line above the dry river bed. We raced back to summons the others; we followed them for about 5 kms. As the daylight ended we returned to camp delighted with one of the most memorable sightings you ever hoped to see.

This has now become the custom, we once again had a magnificent banquet 'braai'. So 3 days at Rooiputs are coming to an end as we travel to Mariental in the morning and then across to Swakopmund. Some of the highlights include: Jimmy's Master Chef meals, Johnny making homemade bread in the fire; Nic K-B's pap worthy of worldwide acknowledgment and finally Dave's patience and kindness in managing the hot shower procesqs for the team!

Rooiputs is a beautiful camp in a gorgeous setting. Our 4x4 trailers and different designs of tents have proved more than adequate and very comfortable. Our gas heaters have been a huge hit to take off the chill! We've lacked for nothing and having the most incredible trip so far.