Day 170: Nyalazi Campground (Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park)

We roam the northeastern part of the park, the "Hluhluwe" area. You'd think a quarter of the park had burned down, a somewhat sad sight. But we know from many conversations that this is a natural process. And if you look closely, you can already see the first green leaves. It's amazing that impala and nyala like to stay here. Perhaps the ash, along with the sprouting greenery, offers special nutrients?

We enjoy the drive through the hill country and spot rhinos (twelve in total, including one mother and calf), giraffes (only as necks and heads on the hilltops), and elephants (single and in groups). The elephants here are somewhat larger, stockier, and with broader skulls than in Kruger, or so it seems to us. And buffalo are somewhat smaller here, lacking such a powerful forehead plate.

The only thing we don't see is the hyenas we heard last night.

A funny thing to end the day is the sighting of a monitor lizard in the top of a young tree. At the gate, the ranger explains to us that this is indeed a monitor lizard's favorite safe place to sleep.

The burger in the Hilltop Camp restaurant wasn't great, but it was filling. So, tonight we're only having cold food. The avocados we've been able to buy lately are super delicious, by the way. And to round off the day, we'll have another small campfire. It's cooled down to a cool 22 degrees :-)