Wildcast

Early this morning the game scouts reported seeing the wild dogs near Matsanga pan. I haven’t seen them for about a month now and so was keen to see how they were doing.

I headed out there to find them resting in a shady thicket and no doubt they were going to spend the day there.

I had to let them be, frustrated at not being able to do a head count in that thicket. So right now I still don’t know what the status of the pack is. The few individuals that came out to drink at the pan while I was there, looked to be in good shape and well fed.

Moving on right across the reserve to the east I found Mandlovu and her herd near Nyamsaan. They were feeding heading north and went to drink at Mapanzani weir.

It was quite funny to watch them leaving the weir and climbing over the short wall. They really didn’t have to climb over it but seemed to be enjoying themselves on this obstacle course. The simple pleasures of elephant life.

For the whole afternoon that I was with them there was still no sign of the bigger herd, although I did later find tracks further to the west.

I wasn’t even able to follow up on the lions. But for now I’ll be concentrating my efforts with the elephant herds.