And he did not start that tingling.
After the wake-up call and the short first breakfast, we made ready for the morning exit.
After the rain in the night, the clouds still hung very low.
"Our" three from the neighboring state, renounced as they wanted to leave early.
The new couple, who had reached the camp much too late the day before and had missed a drive before,
were now our new companions on the car.
The guides had packed completely in oilskins, we had at least rain jackets on.
No sooner had we set off, put in a light rain, which was then very quickly intensified.
So we pulled over the ponchos lying in the car.
But we quickly realized, that they let the water through ......
We cruised around, met a sullen elephant bull, who wanted to pursue his skin care in peace.
Otherwise it was very quiet, or nothing going on in the bush, - but not surprised, after the night with the many rain.
After about 1.5 hours I turned around to our companions, and asked them if they would like to continue on the road ....
"Not really, we are already completely wet, - better back."
I talked to Never and he just nodded .....
Within 15 minutes we were back in the camp.
After an almost hot shower (we were back too early ...) there was a copious breakfast.
The air got higher and the cloud cover opened.
I looked around the camp area a little, watched a few birds in the trees, at the tent and we rested. - time passed ....
Never looked over and said that we should get ready for 2.30 - 2.45 pm.
He or Michel would then pick us up and bring us to Djuma.
The Meet and Greet:
In the right time Michel was then there.
"Can you start?" He asks. "And whether" !!!!
So we sat down in his "noble safari car" and drove off.
First he showed us corners where new projects should be realized in the near future.
Et al it should be built in the bush, a platform where guests can stay overnight for one night, completely alone.
The starry sky for free.
Then we approached the boundary of the area, where we now with Michel directly over the strictly camera-guarded border from the Manyeleti area,
crossed over to the Djuma side.
Normally this way is forbidden, even Michel may take this only under certain conditions and with previous registration and approval.
Real tough laws here, with high penalties for disregard!
At the cameras, he said, now we all wave friendly, as a thank you, we are allowed to pass.
Crazy !
So now we were on the "sanctified land" of Sabi Sands / Djuma, - the land of Tingana, Thandi, Thalamba and Hukumuri, the leopard,
which inspire me / us and the many other viewers worldwide.
The branch to Djuma was reached and a short time later we were at the camp of the TV crew.
Kirsten, Head of Production welcomed us and we went to the control room with all its technical equipment.
A lot of monitors hung on the wall, tens of keyboards in front of it. The director's desk, ect.
and yet only one branch office, because the main broadcasting center was relocated to Johannesburg at the beginning of January.
Since also from Kenya (Mara Triangle) is sent and probably also soon from Botswana, the situation is central.
I remind you again, the whole thing is running on a livestream via the WWW.
When switching between Kenya and Djuma 10 seconds off-time should be scheduled.
Everything was very exciting and very informative told.
At once we also met a very familiar face in the TV room.
Tristan Dicks, got the last info, because he would be live in about 60 Minutzen.
Nevertheless, he took the time and talked with us for a while, and it was .....
My nervousness before this meeting was blown away, the talk went completely relaxed and as so often in SA.
If one encounters strangers there and there is a conversation, the mutual attention is very noticeable.
Here it was a bit different, because I "knew" all of them.
They are either on the TV or on the laptop, almost "roommate" in our living room.
You yourself speak into the lens of the camera and yet they teach you to be on the car.
I told him that and he was very happy that I / we feel that way, - "That would be a very nice thank you for his and her work here in the team."
"See you soon again" and he left us.
At the door, the next surprise, Jamie Paterson, also a "homemember" and for years, today without live times.
Again, smalltalk at it's best.
- Besides the usual questions from her side and mine, she told us about her project, the hyenas of Djuma and also those in the Mara,
to capture and examine the structures of the clans.
Originally from Jamie, - "If I had known what to expect, ........"
By the way, how this super dainty woman can handle the car in the field? - she has my greatest respect!
The fleet we had already looked at the beginning, Wendy, Rusty and Co. with all technical refinements and improvisations.
Since the TV cameras with their focal lengths really fascinated me, it was time to talk to one of the cameramen.
The Sony Cams, have a focal length of up to 1200mm and form up to 800-900mm super sharp.
If you look at how they are fixed to the car with their tripod, you're already surprised
how they manage to send such great pictures to our home.
Cable ties, fixed band ect, were all present.
Steve (s) Falconbridge, was now my next interlocutor, Him and James Hendry, I had written last year,
- It was about zebras, whether they would really roll from one side, a sand bath, to the other side or just up to the back.
Since we had witnessed the complete rolling process in the Karoo NP, I was able to provide information at that time.
Steve was a bit tense, checked his audio connections to Johannesburg and was somehow already in the tunnel.
Like a racehorse before the start, pawing the hooves ....
He wanted to get out ... Tristan, in the second car, was completely relaxed and we talked for a while about the Kruger,
the accommodations there and about the area to Mopani, where we wanted to go.
149. with Jamie
150. Steve and Jeandre still "cloaked"
151. naked technique ....
151 b.
151 c. Conversation with jeandre ....
151d.
152. Steve explains some things to us ....
153. Tristan checks his audio phones
154. Kirsten, Manuel (camera), Tristan, Steve and us .....
155. "Good father" of safarilive - James Hendry
We said goodbye, because now he had to "go to work": what happened after that, and what Mr. Leopard (Tristan) saw, here:
Youtu.be
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XFaZe9dV8n4?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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Michel, who had sat down on the side, came to Kirsten was still there, as now the veteran James Hendry joined us.
"With Him you have to be careful" if we meet him, I had said in advance, because he is not "completely without".
Always a "mischief on the neck" and always good for a fun, - but here everything went smoothly.
He had just before some information about us, brought to Michel and remembered the zebra story.
Among other things, the conversation about our trip, the impressions of it, got my opinion about their work.
All too short for me, - the good hour went by quickly.
The whole team: scrolls down .......
safariLIVE – WildEarth
Not to mention unmentioned, we also spoke briefly to Lauren and saw Trishala joining us with James and others on one
Had gone on training trip (video at 1.37.40)
As I said for me too short and on the other hand, such a possibility offered, I would never expect ....
The highest I could have imagined in the days on Pungwe would be a chance encounter with a drive on the border between the two
Been areas.
The privilege of being able to experience such a thing, and having one person who made this possible, fills me with special gratitude.
But the day or the afternoon was not over yet, for the meeting I would have renounced the drive.
But Michel had said it would be a shame to let the drive go, "I came up with something."
It looked like this:
Never, who was traveling by car, was instructed to be near the border. A short phone call and after a few ways still in the Djuma area, - "maybe we are lucky and meet Tingana," said Michel,
Then it went back to the southernmost part of Manyeleti.
There, Never and Isacc were waiting for us with the two from Germany.
We changed the car and thanked Michel again for all his efforts, time and attention.
I was still so flashed by the meeting, that I could concentrate heavily on the following meetings.
But good, we could still join the drive .......
Of which in the next part ......
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