Eager to start our day, we were at the gate in the dark and slowly, full of expectancy, we drove to the first water hole. It barely got lighter and we realised we were driving in grey, impenetrable mist and could not see a thing. When we got to Hapoor water hole, despondent, we decided to wait hoping the sun would eventually come through this heavy, lazy mist and we would see something.
Soundlessly, a hyena materialised next to the car, walking towards the water. Then two youngsters appeared in front of us and came to sniff the tires and sure enough their curiosity made them inspect us from so close, I could hardly frame them in my view finder. Eventually, six of them sniffed around and picked up old bones for a game interrupted by a little spot of mating.
By that stage, a golden sun tried desperately to pierce the mist and this is when one of the hyenas came running back into the water for a bath and some playful splashing. Backlit it was an extraordinary fantasy with golden streams running off its body. We were breathless with excitement.
This incredible sighting was followed by another most entertaining one when a silent family of elephants appeared for a drink and we could observe the little ones being protected an always kept in the center of the group.
For the next two mornings, seven hyenas emerged from the persisting, thick, haunting mist to come and drink from the water hole right next to the car.
It was simply astounding to see buffalo’s and elephants shrouded in mist which gave the scenes such an unexpected ghostly feeling.
We had a marvelous time, the game, birds, dung beetles and thunderstorms were magnificent.
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