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| Pic Of The Day! |
(
Grant.)
Elephant
( Kambaku) / Argyle – Timbavati/ Umbabat Cutline.
Leopard
( Ntombi & Cub) / Vielmieter – Steep Tsharalumi.
Rhino
( Female & Calf)
Afternoon
Drive.
(
Grant.)
Elephant
( Kambaku) / Buchner – Buchner Dam.
Elephant
( Breeding Herd) / Buchner – Kruger Cutline.
Buffalo
( Breeding Herd) / Buchner – Group 13 Access.
Daily
Synopsis.
Waking
this morning and setting off on drive it had the feeling that it was
going to be one of those quiet days. I'm not sure if it was the
overcast skies, the windy weather or the fact that I was pre-empting
a quiet one due to the fact that all the drives of late have been
incredible and we were due a slow one sometime or another.
With
our mission being Rhino and Giraffe we set off directly to check our
Western Boundary. It was not long before we bumped into a nice Bull
Elephant who was lit up nicely by dawns pastel light. Not spending to
much time with him we continued on our way West.
Reaching
the boundary after a number of herds of Impala and Zebra we turned
South checking along the boundary to see if we could pick up on any
fresh tracks coming in. As we drifted further South with no signs my
feelings of a quiet morning were starting to be reinforced. Well
that was until Makipi's and his brother, Shindzuti, were found in an
area not far from where we had just come. Very tempted to turn around
we decided against it as we had seen very nice Leopard and the
morning was still young. We had plenty of time to find what we were
looking for.
Continuing
away from the sighting we changed tactic and received permission from
Kings to follow up on the Female Rhino and her Calf who were last
seen on their property yesterday evening. Rerouteingg we decided to
head through Steep Tsharalumi as Ntombi and her cub were last seen
their the morning before. Maybe we would get lucky and find her in
amongst the rocks with her little one. Driving through the area we
found nothing and no signs of her so we continued to the South to
follow up on the Rhino. Not getting very far we received a message
that Ntombi had been located on foot and that she was heading
literally straight for us. Readjusting our position slightly we
waited on a drainage line that she was travelling along and sure
enough within a minute or two she popped up and crossed the road in
front of us. She appeared on a mission and was calling out constantly
as she continued along the drainage line towards Steep Tsharalumi,
where we had just come from. We continued to follow her and would
switch off occasionally so that we could hear her very impressive
call. She was clearly calling out to her cub and if we stuck with her
long enough she may lead us to it.
As
she did the day before she walked down into the riverbed in an area
we cannot access by vehicle and had to watch from the steep banks. As
she reached to riverbed floor and called out her youngster came
bounding out from underneath some trees that had been washed over in
the floods. It was no wonder we did not see it when we travelled
through earlier. Reunited they went about greeting one another
excitedly before heading to the Western bank. We rushed off to the
opposite side to get a better view but no sooner had we got there she
changed direction and started to head back to the East. Once again
crossing banks we found her sitting in the middle of the riverbed. It
was as if she was playing a game with us because no sooner had we
settled in she moved back to the Western Bank and settled in to feed
the cub. Once again crossing over we were just in time to see her get
up and start to move back again to the East. This time we sat and
watched until she was on the opposite bank and then we followed. With
the cub being a little cautious of the vehicles we kept our distance
as Ntombi made her way on nearly the exact path she had used to get
here. It was about then that we received the news that a kill had
been found a lot further to the South and it was suspected that it
was hers. With the direction and determination that she was
travelling in it all made perfect sense now. She must have come back
to collect her cub and lead it to her kill. We continued to follow at
a distance and would get brief views of the cub as it kept to the
covers. With us having had an amazing sighting and others arriving on
scene we took our leave. Examining my photo's afterwards it looks
like Ntombi's cub is a male.
If
that was not enough for the morning we received news that the Rhino
and her calf had been found in pretty much the area we were heading
to. With not many stations responding we popped in for a visit. On
arrival the two of them were feeding but it was not long before the
calf decided it was nap time and lay down. Mom continued to feed
around her and at one point even fed on grass alongside the calf that
had been pushed over from her laying down. It was another great
sighting as we sat on the Southern end of a grassed plain with the
two of them. With time running out we eventually left them as we
started our long journey back North.
Along
the way we picked up fresh tracks for what must be the Mafikizolo
Pride West of Hide Dam but not having the time we could not follow
up. So much for my feelings! A trip up North may be in order for this
afternoons drive. I wonder what awaits us?
With
Lion, Leopard, Elephant and Rhino all a possibility in the South on
afternoon drive we chose to head in the opposite direction and head
off to the far North East. Having had a spectacular morning drive it
was now time to enjoy the peace and solitude of the African Bush and
there are few better places than one of my favourite properties
tucked away on the Kruger boundary. We were still looking for
Giraffe but had added a herd of Buffalo to our Christmas list as well
as Hyena. Where we were heading is not exactly Giraffe country but it
is always good for Buffalo, Elephant, Rhino and Lion on its day. If
it does not happen to be that day then it's the spectacular vista's
that saves a drive. On this occasion we were to be lucky and we found
ourselves a breeding herd of Buffalo early on in the drive.
Unfortunately with it still being rather breezy they were not that
settled and kept moving off whenever we manoeuvred around to get a
better view.
Leaving
them we continued our quest North and it was not long before we
picked up very fresh Lion tracks, both Tiyani and I recond they were
from late morning. Not being far from the Kruger boundary we decided
to follow up on foot until they crossed. This process was temporary
delayed when we stumbled as big a Elephant Bull as we had had the
afternoon before. The only difference this time was that we were on
foot, ok, also not quite as close, but without the shelter of the car
it felt like he was even closer. He was as chilled though and went
about his feeding paying us very little attention, so we went about
our business and followed the tracks North into Kruger. This is now
the second time this has happened with Lion tracks in as many visits.
Making our way back to the vehicle we continued on towards our
sundowner koppie but were temporally delayed by three Hippo that we
found in a small pan, who knows where they came from and also a
breeding herd of Elephant that were not far beyond the same pan. You
can see the animals in this area don't often have contact with humans
as they are very wary and keep moving off if you try get to close. I
love the fact they still have that wild side. Once again missing
sundown but this time at least it was still light we enjoyed our
drinks overlooking the bush
Our
trip home was to be very uneventful and the couple of laps that we
drove around Motswari in search of Hyena, that might I add we hear
calling nearly every night, proved just as unsuccessful. All in all
though it was a well balanced day and we can only hope that tomorrow
is just as good.
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