Last night we sat for a long time under the sparkling starry sky with a glass of rum and a cigar. It was absolutely calm; the wind had fallen asleep and the moon hadn’t risen yet when we got into the sleeping bags at 9:30 pm.

The next morning – it was the day that Santa Claus visits the children at home (in non-Covid times!) – is vigil at 5.45 a.m. We watch the sun rise and look forward to another beautiful day. I start the engine just before seven o’clock. We leave tables and chairs behind as we return in the evening. Not much is going on at the first two water points. But that changes with the third one, where we come across giraffes, elephants, zebras, springboks and the rare eland, an antelope the size of a cow.

We made a stop-over at the Dolomite Camp, near the western border of the national park. A beautiful lodge with a breathtaking view. One that stays also without guests! We drove back to Olifantrus camp and are about to settle down. But then we leave everything where it is when Brigitta sees elephants coming to the waterhole, which is less than a hundred meters away. One observation place is raised; the other, behind thick armored glass, at the height of the elephants …

PS. What an experience to watch an elephant drink from three meters away – a queasy feeling!