The next morning, the very last day of 2010, we got up before the crack of dawn. We were driving all the way to Skukuza to stay with friends.

We were waved off by a family of Ground Hornbills.

We stopped at Letaba for some breakfast and saw more Ground Hornbills in a tree

We didn’t stop often, but couldn’t resist these piggies

Or this vulture picnic near Satara

Marabou Stork joining the party

Around siesta time we spotted a couple of rhinos and a baby rhino resting in the shade

We stopped for a delicious cappuccino at Satara and had a bite to eat too.

Further south we admired this emerging tusker, who turned his back to us. 😐

We stopped to watch this Saddle-billed Stork for a while

We were happily driving further south when we suddenly bumped into a major traffic jam. Whoa: Lioness with cubs coming our way. Fast!

We quickly turned the car and managed to follow her for a minute, before she disappeared into high grass.

Wow. What a sighting.

We entangled ourselves from the other cars are headed back towards Skukuza.

We spotted a couple of eagles in a tree. I think they could be Brown Snake-eagles. Cause they’re eagles. And brown. (Big foto)

We finally arrived at Skukuza

where we flopped down in our host’s lovely garden and watched the piggies eat it

Of course, after the long drive, we never managed to stay up until 12.

The next morning we woke up early. Three guesses what our first bird of they year was …

My first bird of the year was the lovely call of the haa-haa-haa-de-dah. 😐

Ah well, ’t is the bird of happiness.