I think I was being tested today.
It rained in the south last night and conditions down there caught me off guard.
The elephants were still hanging out in the grasslands and so of course I followed. Tall grass looked like a safe enough spot but then I went down. Right into that deep black clay. I had luckily stopped myself digging in too deep. Then it was a matter of jacking up the vehicle, not so easy when the jack keeps disappearing into the soft clay, and piling logs under the wheels. I eventually had to place a couple of logs on the clay, put my spade across them and then put the jack on top of that to prevent it sinking deeper.
In the end it wasn’t too bad, the elephant had moved off and ¾’s hour later I was on the road again. Although be it a very wet road.
Leaving the elephant in their ‘no go’ area I went to work around the hills. Things were pretty bleak in there too and I haven’t had any sign of the lions for a few days.
I was down at the bottom of a deep donga/ravine when my 4 wheel drive lever decided to malfunction. Actually no function at all. So with a bit of speed and lots of courage I charged out of there at high speed with wheels spinning and luckily not losing any camera boxes.
Back at camp at sunset I at least managed to sort out the gear lever and hope to be fully functional tomorrow.
Jogging again today I came to a skidding as a 8 or 9ft Black Mamba (Africa’s most deadly snake) reared up in front of me only 3m away. He was alarmed as much as I was and quickly disappeared off the side of the track while I stood motionless and watched him pass. These snakes can apparently out run a man and I wasn’t about to put that to the test. They are also known to be highly aggressive and to chase people, but this is only when they are cornered and do this in self defence. Thank goodness!
I was soo glad to see that you captured some video of Giraffes! Great job Kim!
How often are giraffe killed by lion? I would guess that they could not outrun a lion. How do they defend themselves? Their kick must be pretty powerful - with those long legs.
I read somewhere that a giraffe can decapitate a lion with a well-placed kick. True?
Also somewhere on line I watched a short video showing giraffes communicating without sound (that humans could hear) to giraffes up to a mile away. There was a lot of neck movement involved. Have you seen any sign of this ‘communication.’
Being 5 foot tall, I long ago thought that in my next life I’d be a giraffe. I need to learn more before about them before i commit myself to this idea.
Giraffe can run damn fast. I think lions rely on tripping them or over balancing them. But giraffe have a vicious kick which lions are fully aware of. Even so lions do kill them and in some areas they specialise more on them having developed a technique.
Easily decapitate a lion!
I’ve never seen any communication between giraffe. Except staring to point where danger is.
I helped a new born giraffe to its feet last year and when standing our eyes were at the same level. Quite something.
Kim,
I too saw a video that showed the giraffe using a sound that they make. It was a podcast from PBS Nature program. It’s still available to watch if you’re interested.
That must be quite a story - being close to the birth of a giraffe.
the only sound i’ve heard giraffe make is a sort of snort but it’s really just exhaling loudly. but not that loud either. You have to be pretty close to hear it.
Kim it’s not sound that we can hear. I think it’s mor vibrations that only the giraffe can hear, but it is documented that there is a communication. Maybe like the ellies. Are you able to check out the podcast that I was refering to? You can find it on iTunes under the PBS Nature section.
Okay. Will check this one out. Thanks
Decapitate a lion! That’s more than a fair share of exaggeration. Harm severely, but decapitate! That’s too far fetched. Some old wives’ tales relate to “accounts” of ostriches killing a lion with a kick (according to one, an ostrich killed two lions with a couple of kicks, blah-blah-blah!). However, I can attest to the power of a giraffe’s kick: I’ve watched one attempt to intimidate a predator (a leopard or a lion - can’t recall the details) by kicking against the ground, emitting a mighty thud. Well, that’s certainly more than any horse would manage - and decapitate or not, that kick would squash any human like an overgrown bug!
…and they are no slower than most horses, too.
Larger animals can feel/hear low frequency sounds. It would come as no surprise of Giraffes joined elephants with this capacity. cane swords
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