13th February: Back To The Grind Stone.



Pic Of The Day.

 Morning Drive.

( Grant, Chad & Andrea.)

Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Seans Clearing.

Rhino ( Skittish Male)

Afternoon Drive.

( Grant, Herold & Shadrack.)

Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Giraffe Pan.

Elephant ( Kambaku) / JayDee – Makulu Rd.

Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Mbali – White Syringa Rd.

Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Karans – Western Cutline.

Buffalo ( Dagha Boy) / Peru – Giraffe Kill Rd.

Buffalo ( Dagha Boy) / Peru – Giraffe Kill Rd.

Daily Synopsis.

Not to sure what the agreement was whether Chad or myself was writing this mornings blog but it doesn't really matter as there was nothing to write home about, actually it was dead out there and the only two sightings we did have came late in the morning while on our way back to camp.

After a good afternoon yesterday we could only hope for something similar today, especially after the very slow and uneventful morning we had ourselves. We decided to check the North first before heading out West. Actually all three of us stuck around camp for the first hour or so but with very little success, only Shaddy finding himself a nice Elephant Bull North of camp, we all slowly dispersed. Jacky's and my objective if nothing else was to find a Buffalo in some form or other, preferably alive, unlike the one that was lying at Argyle Dam, a suspected victim of the recent floods. This had attracted a nice array of Vultures but unfortunately had not drawn in the Lions like we had hoped.

Bumbling around up in the North we did find ourselves a fair amount of general game which was nice to see as they have also become quite scarce since the floods and you can drive long periods without seeing anything.

Having covered all we could in the North we decided to head South West along the Tsharalumi River, always a good place for breeding herds of Elephant and Buffalo Bulls in the late afternoon. Winding our way slowly along the course of the river it did not disappoint with us first finding a nice Dagha Boy lying up in a wallow and then another down in the riverbed. Although we did not find our breeding herd of Elephant we did find a young Elephant Bull to keep us occupied.

Resuming after a chilled sundowner our timing was once again a little out as we found ourselves a breeding herd of Elephant but being after dark we don't view them so had to leave them for tomorrow. With a little time on our hands and hearing that the Buffalo carcass at Argyle Dam had attracted a few Hyena's we decided to pop in for a visit on our way home. The vultures had not left them much and what they had left the Hyena's were chewing on with long teeth. I think the carcass has been lying in the water a little long and the meat is not all that good as the Hyena's concentrated more on the bones and hide.

With time once again not being on our side we headed back to the lodge for dinner. Two of our guests check out after morning drive and we still have not showed them Lion, Africa's Safari icon, so no guess what we will be looking for frantically in the morning!