I woke up very tender and bruised from the tractor ride.  Despite the incredibly loud frogs singing outside our tent, I'd slept very well.  Sufu brought us some hot water to make tea with.  He'd boiled it over a wood fire so the tea had a smokey taste to it.  It was a only 7am but it was hot with the promise of getting hotter so we decided to get off as soon as possible.  We walked back to the river with Januario and pointed out lion spoor. 

The spoor led straight from the river so the lion had swam across and headed towards camp the previous night.  Dave believes it was either a female or a young male.  They don't tend to have big prides here in Niassa, the average pride being about 3 or 4 lions.  About 80% of lion cubs don't make it to adult hood.  The terrain is tough here and you get a few lone lions around.  There are few plains game here for the carnivores to eat as the grass here is sourveld, which to me looks lovely and green but apparently it is not so nice tasting and without the nutrients which the sweetveld has. 

Education over lets get back to my story!!

Sufu poled us back across the river and we continued our journey.  I took one look at the tractor and I was not looking forward to getting back up there but was desperate to just get it over and done with.  I managed to place myself more in the middle so I didn't bang my hip too much against the frame.  I also noticed Dave kept putting his had over the bolt, which was doing me the most damage, to protect me.  The tsetse flies were worse on the journey home, when I was brave enough to let go of the frame it was to try and swat them off me.  I don't really know why I bothered as the tsetse fly is immortal!!  Once back at Lugenda I was so tired and thirsty and was so thankful for a hot shower.  It's amazing how comfortable Lugenda feels since that trip on the tractor.  I even walked back to my tent barefoot without even thinking about it.