Sunday 27 February 2011

26th February: At Long Last!

Pic of the Day.


Morning Drive.

( Herald, Elliot & Johannes)

Leopard ( Kuhanya) / Karans – Western Cutline.
Elephant ( Kambaku) / Peru – Timbavati/ Umbabat Cutline.
Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Motswari Southern Access.
Buffalo ( Dagha Boy) / Borneo – Abercrombie Dam.


Afternoon Drive.

( Herald, Elliot, Johannes & Grant)

Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Mostwari – Motswari Southern Access.
Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Motswari – Xinatsi Dam.
Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Barnes Post.
Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Sean's Clearing.
Elephant ( Kambaku) / Vielmieter – Hide Dam.
Leopard ( Kuhanya) / DeLuca – Timbavati / Umbabat Cutline.
Lion ( 3 x Maghlatini Males) / Scholtz – Scholtz Dam East.
Buffalo ( Breeding Herd) / Scholtz – Scholtz Trough.
Buffalo ( Dagha Boy) / JayDee – Madala Crossing.
Buffalo ( 3 x Dagha Boys) / Java.



Daily Synopsis.

My guests choosing to sleep in rather than go on drive before checking out, meant no morning game drive for us. By the sounds of things we missed out on busy morning, filled with general game and most importantly, finally a Leopard in the North! And not any Leopard, but the ultra relaxed Kuhanya resting in a Maroela Tree while half heartedly taking in the world below! Being a rather toasty day we are hoping she is still around for this afternoon when we start with new guests.

Having all new guests, Jacky and I were starting a fresh and looking for anything and everything. Herald, Elliot and Johannes were all in search of Rhino, this would mean an afternoon in the West and the South for them.

We got off to a great start with a small breeding herd of Elephant at Xinatsi Dam, drinking and taking the proverbial afternoon mud bath. We also got lucky with a young Hyena sleeping below the dam wall in a drainage line, sheltering from the day's heat.







We did not have to travel far before our next sighting of a beautiful Bull Elephant, who we spent considerable time with as he was so relaxed and went about his business without paying us any attention.  





We had to travel even less distance to our following sighting, as Kuhanya had heeded our plea's and remained in a Maroela Tree not far from where she had been all morning. It was a great sighting as she was quite active and appeared to be keeping a close eye on something that caught her attention nearby, that had her posing in a number of fashions. The highlight coming when the big Bull Elephant made his way in her direction. She was totally aware of his approach yet remained completely relaxed and only turned to face him before lying down to watch him as he passed directly below her, completely unaware of her presence, and here I was telling my guests Elephant have a great sense of smell!






Lucky for Kuhanya it was a male tree, otherwise she would have been on the receiving end of a good shaking, as Elephant are inclined to do when passing Maroela Trees bearing fruit. With the Elephant moving off we also took our leave and left Kuhanya to herself and whatever was catching her fancy off in the North.











We spent the rest of the afternoon in the North taking in general game and appreciating the smaller things, and the fact that we did not need to travel South for a change. The others did not have much success with their Rhino but did pick up on a fair amount of general game, as well as finding the Mahlatini Males late in the evening resting at a pan. This must have made a great sighting with them sitting out in the open at the water's edge and the sun setting in the background. They appear still to be following the herd of Buffalo as they to were also found not far off to the North.

Guess what we'll be doing in the morning!

6 comments:

  1. Oh wow!!!
    my two favourite animals. Great pictures - I have been taken back to the bush.
    Sue UK

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  2. That is one beautiful leopard - fantastic photos and a great update.

    Thanks.

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  3. It´s good to read the last week that animals are animals and the bush is the bush and not to dictate. Once you have a good day and once you have a quiet day. Enjoy the photos so much. Thank you very much

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  4. Fancy opting for a sleepin when you could be out seeing the Elephants, and Kuhanya is such a beautiful Leopard. I really would'nt want to miss her. Thanks for the photos, and the news
    WS

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  5. Beautiful pics. I too couldn't sleep in when there is a game drive to be had. Any news of the white lions? Keep up the good work. Thanks.
    Jen from Australia

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  6. thanks everyone for all the comments...i must say i was also quite envious reading about theat Kuhanya sighting!!! so wonderful to have her back - we hadnt seen her for almost 2 weeks i think??? Does seem as though she had been hanging around further east than usual,hence, us not finding any sign of her...lets hope she returns to the area around the lodge now :)

    tiny, that is so true, and it is what makes the bush and the Timbavati (by having no fences around it)so special - you never know what you are going to find - and each day is different...a 'quiet drive' can turn around in an instant, you just have to be out there to be able to witness it :)

    Jen; the white lions are still well - we heard yesterday that they had been locatedon an adjoining shareblock to the north-west of our reserve....not sure of their direction of movement, but the lsat time they were on that property, they ended up returning by walking past Motswari Camp...so lets hope they do the same soon!

    cheers,

    Chad

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