It was only my fourth but last sunrise alongside the Khwai River.

I was sad.

Unfortunately, I needed to move on and leave the Khwai for various reasons.

This has been my all around favorite game-watching, camping, meeting people, watching sunrise and sunset, photography, mud driving, river crossing, and appreciating nature kinda experience so far in Africa ‘24.

For all the right reasons.

I was in great company and had so many different experiences along the grass- and woodlands in this short period of time.

Although I have only been here four days/ three nights, it felt so much more intense and just as relaxing at the same time.

There was still so much more to explore. I could have easily spent a few weeks here. Maybe next time.

Us three amigos had coffee together before first light, guessing how far away the lions were from camp. Two prides seemed to be just over the river claiming their territory while another lot wasn’t far from camp either. The lions are on the move, no doubt about it.

Matteu and Marcel shared a cab and went for a cat scan. His hired trooper is running low of gasoline, as he is calculating his km on the dashboard. Should have gotten a diesel wagon.

The two of them went for a game drive, whilst I had other plans. I noticed a zebra crossing worth exploring. That’s right.

This zebra was crossing the waters and looked perfect in doing so. The weather was calm and partly cloudy over the river this morning. Excellent conditions for my friend Rick.

Zimba opted for the perfect model in this terrain, he simply is the best adventure vehicle in Africa.

We just tackle any terrain.

We love driving through these muddy puddles.

This is our world.

What an adventure we had so far.

I can fully rely on him as I know that Captain Pieter has given us the best start ever. Aye, and dankie Capitain.

Matteu and Marcel returned without any glorious photos taken. None of us had seen a leopard before our separate departure.

It has been a quiet morning all around. The only benefit for me as it was time for me to move on.

Adieu Matteu. I hope we will stay in touch and meet up again somewhere. Stranger things have happened.

The same goes for Marcel, who accompanied Zimba and me to the elephant pools where we had a coffee and musli good-bye.

A lone elephant bull of mature age joined us for a drink.

He enjoyed a mud bath and applied sunscreen thoroughly. The aerial view is a perspective not seen before.

The most effective sunscreen, however, is being in the shade. His huge body ‘just’ covered all the shade given by an acacia tree.

He stood motionless for some time, blending into his surroundings. The colors of his mud screen camouflaged with those of the timber.

He was very tired and he looked a bit sad. His eyes were closed most of the time as he took cover from the sunny rays.

It seemed that his massive head was kept up against the tree trunk.

Both of his tusks had chipped off, it’s a tussle around here.

I needed to get going but couldn’t stop and wander about this elephant. What is he thinking?

He turned and looked me eye-to-eye. It was an instant connection. I could feel his presence.

‘You and I are not so much different. Two mature loners follow the path ahead.

Depending on the weather and people around you. Happy to share, happier to go alone.’

I felt like giving him a bighug and wrapping my arms around his trunk. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Just around the corner, a herd of zebras grazed happily by the river’s edge.

These black and white Mohicans weren’t as skittish as before and so I snapped happily ever after.

Some classy buttocks.

Some choreography whilst grazing.

Outstanding hairdoo.

Catwalk.

But even within this horde, something seemed odd.

A lone zebra stood all by himself under a shady acacia tree.

The alpha make may have abandoned this young punk into the naughty corner.

He seemed a little confused. So was I.

His mates kept looking towards him.

There was another surprise sighting not far.

Another zebra lay in the high grass, out of sight. From my point of view, she looked well rounded and ready to pop.

I didn’t want to stress this black and white group more than I already have.

I was behind on my schedule as well as usual as I had one more look to the acacia academy.

A mysterious good-bye to a majestic marvel.