African wildlife adventures live from the bush
Just below the Rhino scene we had yesterday, there is this human figure and what seem to be two animals. The human shot an arrow at the animal figure closest to him but it is very difficult to say what animal it is. There is severe weathering on this painting.
What is very interesting is the second animal figure. What on earth could this be? The whisker like appendages make this very confusing. It seem to have a long neck but surely it cannot be a Giraffe?
Despite all the moisture that Lions get from their kills, it is very likely that they will go and find water after a kill. Because Lions are basically at the bottom of the energy ladder, they need to conserve as much of it as possible. This is the reason why they sleep during the heat of the day and hunt at night.
The drinking ritual is also a time for bonding by rubbing shoulders with your neighbor. Lions are very social animals and will do virtually everything together. Females are the golden thread that keep the pride together and consist of mothers, daughters and grand daughters. Males will wander to defend territories and seek females to mate with to ensure their genes belong to the next generation.
In this all new scene, we find various human figures and animals. Humans armed with bow and arrow. Some seem to be holding animals and other hunting.
One figure that does stand out from the rest, is this one running away from the Rhino.
Could this possibly be a Black Rhino? The head that is drawn quite far from the ground could be an indication of this. White Rhino are grazers and their heads are always close to the ground where as Black Rhino are browsers and more likely to charge as they tend to be much more aggressive.
Elephant just love water and will take the opportunity to play and wallow whenever they can. Playing in the mud doesn’t only provide them with loads of fun but it also helps them to get rid of all sorts of biting parasites. Elephant skin is very sensitive. They can even feel a mosquito bite.
Plastering their bodies with mud provide them with a natural sunscreen and insect repellant. Parasites can’t breathe through the mud and will simply just drop off. This bull just seemed like he was in another world.
This exciting new location is found in the Induna Cave, only a few kilometers to the east of Nduna Lodge. It is a rich array of human figures and various animals. Although the paintings are still in a good state of preservation, there is some degree of sandstone weathering.
It appear to be a hunting scene. Could this have taken place during a time when plentiful game was still found all over the lowveld of Zimbabwe?
Over the next few days we’ll look into the techniques used, the different meanings and interpretations of the paintings.
The rains have arrived! I thought I could rush off to Mala Mala when the rains started so I’d be in camp if the flood waters got too high that I had to remove all my equipment. But the rain arrived in a hurry and it wasn’t long before there was no access to Mala Mala from the outside world. So here I sit at home (that’s pretty good) worrying about what the floods are going to do.
The north eastern parts of South Africa have received the brunt of these rains causing more flooding and widespread damage and leaving many people homeless. Many have had their houses washed away. But many live in huts constructed of mud and with all the rain these have just “melted” and collapsed.
Tjololo we are thinking of you and trusting you are safe!
But even more concerned about Tjellers. We are expecting her to have her next litter of cubs any day now, if she hasn’t had them already. She should be high up in a rocky outcrop and alright.
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