There is still no sign of the dogs.
But all of Malilangwe’s other animals were out to greet us. A couple of herds of eland were watering on the Chiredzi river and a few elephant bulls making their regular rounds to Chekwa pan.
In the afternoon we ventured right into the very south of the reserve. I haven’t been down this way for a few years. Our destination was Chiloveka dam (:map:) It turned out to be all but dry. There were catfish/barbel floundering in the last remaining mud and what seemed to be a resident Fish Eagle that would be taking advantage of them.
The dry mud on the dam proved to be an exciting playground for the girls. Well especially Penny. A warning of “Careful, the mud looks hard but is soft just under the surface” went floating on by on the same wind that carried the message to her. And then “Daddy, I’m stuck!” And stuck she was. Her one leg just wouldn’t budge and her ears were totally blocked to dads advice on how to extricate herself. She continued tugging on her leg but it just didn’t budge. By now dad was contemplating sliding across the mud to help her, knowing that if he walked across there his heavier body would sink in before even reaching her.
Finally Penny mulled over using a little of dad’s advice. “Pull slowly, very slowly and your leg will come free”. Indeed it did, but then the other leg got stuck. Well only just and soon she was out running across the mud back to me.
On our way home we were rewarded with this white rhino cow and her calf. It’s amazing how placid these animals are compared to their ‘bad tempered’ cousins.
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