12th July: It's All About The Timing!

Pic of the Avie.

Afternoon Drive.

( Grant, Godfrey & Colbert.)

Lions ( White Lions) / Peru – Snare Rd.

Elephant ( 7 x Kambaku's) / Motswari – Motswari Bushbraai Rd.

Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Argyle – Straight Rd.

Buffalo ( Breeding Herd) / Peru – Peru Dam.

Buffalo ( Dagha Boys) / Motswari – Motswari Trough.

Buffalo ( Dagha Boys) / Motswari – Motswari Southern Access.

Afternoon Synopsis.

Greetings all, it's Grant here, but I'm sure you all would soon realise that from the pic's. I'll be taking over the blog for the next couple of weeks as Chad takes a well deserved break from blogging and he can concentrate on his new book, look forward to that!

So as you may have read, the game viewing over the past weeks has been pretty phenomenal with a whole bunch of special sightings. Although our drives have been brilliant they have also been somewhat frustrating with us arriving at the wrong times and being in the wrong positions. This was not the case with this afternoons drive and it would appear our timing is back.

We started off spending time with a beautiful bull herd of Elephant, which included the ever impressive Classic, not far from Motswari Camp. We parked ourselves in amongst the herd and watched as they fed mere metres all round the vehicle. It was a very special privilege to be accepted amongst them and they went about their natural business without giving us a second glance, super confident in their own stature. Given the option I would have spent the entire drive amongst these gentle giants.  

We then headed off to a breeding herd of Elephant that was not far away that lessened the withdrawal effects. It was once again nice to spend time with these fascinating creatures and be able to make a comparison between the two differently structured herds.

Knowing that the White Lions were in a thickly vegetated area, think dense Mopane, from the morning drive, we decided to take a chance and visit them later in the afternoon hoping that they may get mobile and move into the open.  

When we heard they had in fact moved into the open it was our cue to respond. We got very lucky and timed our arrival as they moved out into a vast open area as the sun was setting. We followed them as they moved across the plain stopping here and there to gather their bearings and shake off their afternoons slumber. We all sat in silence and spent some quality time with this special pride until eventually our time came to move on for sundowners.

From the way they were moving their intentions were clear, they were on the hunt and with a Buffalo herd not far away lets hope they get lucky during the night.