06th May: It's A Wrap.

Pic of the Day.

Morning Drive.

( Grant)

Leopard ( Kuhanya) / Motswari – Argyle Dam Rd.

Elephant ( Kambaku's) / Peru – Mphiva Plains.

Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Argyle – Rudi's Rd.

Afternoon Drive.

No Guests.

Daily Synopsis.

With my guests on their last drive and not having found Leopard the previous evening it was our mission for the morning, followed closely by a couple relaxed Hyena if time allowed. With an early check out we were pressed for time and decided to stay up in the North and try find one of our resident Leopards. We started checking to the North of camp were Jacky had earlier heard Impala alarm calling, finding the Impala in question, it had relaxed and obviously whatever had been disturbing it had moved off, so we followed suite. Heading to the airstrip we hoped to find a member or two of the Xinatsi Dam Hyena Clan but came up empty handed, they appear to use the airstrip more in the warmer months. Changing tactic we decided to head to Argyle Dam and check the Sohobele River and it's drainage lines, perfect Leopard habitat. Reaching the junction with the crossing below Argyle Dam our timing could not have been more perfect and as if waiting for us, stood a Leopard who had made it's way out of the riverbed below the dam wall. It did not take us long to identify it as Kuhanya, knowing she is extremely relaxed around the vehicle, we approached closer. After a short while she became mobile and we followed behind her as she made her way along the dirt tracks. She appeared hesitant to walk through the bush and passed up the opportunity to stalk a rutting male Impala, usually an easy target. I guess it must have been the heavy dew on the grass and a cats dislike of getting wet. We followed her for some time as she moved through her territory marking it and at one stage she stumbled across a late Hippo, who was still out grazing, clearly taking advantage of the cooler weather, I'm not to sure who got the bigger fright, her, the Hippo, or us! She eventually overcame her fear for getting wet and moved off into the bush where she appeared to switch to hunting mode, this is where we decided to leave her.

With one down, we still had a little time left to go in search of Hyena. During our endevours we found a nice group of relaxed Bull Elephants, followed shortly after by just as a relaxed breeding herd of Elli feeding. Eating into our time too we eventually left them and headed back to Motswari, alas no Hyena's chose to reveal themselves.

With no guests in camp this afternoon there will be no update for the morning, but not to worry Chad will be back in the afternoon to take over and keep you up to date on all the goings on. I'll be back on Wednesday to take over from Chad when he heads out on leave.