I really didn't think it would happen to me but it did this year: I have turned into one of them, I've become a twitcher, just like my Dad. This last weekend I went to Moremi Game Reserve and stayed at Camp Moremi, in the Xakanaxa region. It was beautiful and we had a fantastic time but I could not help myself and all of a sudden I have a paper and pen in my hands and I'm counting bird species: i'd like to know how many bird species can you count in two days in Moremi Game Reserve.
I can feel that my traveling companions are not impressed as I am asking our guide, Mod to stop every few minutes to confirm bird IDs as we have not arrived at the lodge plus we are late for brunch.
2 hours: 39 birds.
My fellow group of travellers trundle off to digest the delicious impala pies we have just eaten and for a lay down in the canvas, tented rooms with the beautifully decorated beds. It's hot though and the Camp Moremi pool looks cool and inviting, set in stunning natural swamp vegetation. I'll have a swim, drink a glass of Rose and see if anything flies past.
5 hours: 47 birds.
It's time for afternoon tea and we enjoy delicious hand-made bread sandwiches and a lovely banana cake. We discuss where we will be taking the boat on our afternoon activity and what we would like for our sundowners- Gin and Tonic of course! What a treat, we spend the afternoon on the water and wash the day down with our drinks and chew on some biltong.
7 hours: 58 birds.
Dinner time brings a special treat for us as the staff have arranged for our group to have a private dinner on the deck and the table is glowing in warm light from beautiful lanterns. We finish the night with a Amaula on crushed ice and head to bed early, to be ready for the mornings game drive.
5am wake up and we are off at 6. I'm excited to learn that there are Carmine Bee Eaters still nesting in the ground on Marula Island, an hours drive away (for non-birders) and also that they have sighted lions there so it is easy to encourage the journey down there. We see so much on the way and drive through stunning landscapes such as mopani forests as well as forests of dead trees, drowned by encroaching swamps. Unfortunately for everyone else, the lions have disappeared but we all see the Carmines and what a sight it is. They are as beautiful as I imagined. We have tea close by and set off back to the lodge, we are late for brunch again!
24 hours: 117 birds
The afternoon brings with it storm clouds and rain. Everyone is excited because it is the first storm of the season. Pula! We set off in our ponchos in the rain and drive to Paradise Pools, it looks a bit bleek for birding and we only see a few in-between the herds of Red Letchwe before we decide to go back.
31 hours: 125 birds
Our group decides to have a sleep in, we have a delicious lunch all together then set off for slow trip to the airstrip.
48 hours: 140 birds