Some quick highlights from the first 4 days of Safari in Phinda, as we prepare to head to Jo-burgh for a day of rest and recharging:

3 male lions prowling around a dozen hippos by the side of a dam, while in a standoff with their father - the dominant male of the pride. Roaring back and forth, we looked for and found the father, up close and personal licking his wounds from a battle earlier in the day.

Black Rhino tracking on foot. We finally located the 3 Rhinos in a thicket, and we didn't realize it while looking at 2 off in the thicket about 20m away, the bull was about 10 feet away from us on the other side of a tree prepared to charge if we advanced any further. After seeing the animal up close a few days later, we realize how close we came to trouble since these things are not friendly and not social...

Last night we set out to see more lions and after drinks at sunset watching 2 rhinos, 6 zebras and about 8 giraffes wander through the bush we found 3 female lions on the hunt. They were stalking something with incredible tact, like watching navy seals or something. Finally gave up following after an hour or so but it was incredible drama to see from about 15 feet away at times. We then darted back to the lodge at about 50mph through the trees to catch sight of a leopard walking down the trail. Very rare and very cool to see for that area.