Daily Archive for March 11th, 2007

Elephant calf struggles to swim: Video

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Wildcaster
on March 11, 2007
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Today was a wonderful clear sunny day. And instead of venturing into the field with my camera, I went out on horseback and had the most wonderful ride.

Elephant swimming 3
We saw lots of general game on Banyini. Zebra, giraffe, impala, wildebeest and then 3 herds of about a hundred buffalo each. They were curious to see us on horseback, at first running away but then turning and walking to within about 50m of us before stampeding away again.

Wildebeest herd
The sense of freedom being out there on horseback is truly awesome. Everyday that I’m out there I try to find some excuse to bring horseback riding in the bush into my work day, but as yet I still haven’t got that right.
So today was a day of leisure. Up to now I’ve been working 7 days a week for 4 months non-stop until my recent break. I’ve realised I can’t keep that up and so will be taking off a day a week in future.

Swimming elephant 1
But you can rest assured that on those days Wildcast will still broadcast with fresh content from sometime in that week.
Mandlovu and her herd were swimming a few days ago at Mapanzani weir and truly loving it. Even Mandlovu was getting right down into it. But little Chipfongwe didn’t really see the fun in it as he battled to stay afloat amongst all the tumbling bodies.
Swimming elephant 2

Mabhakweni No.15

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Wildcaster
on March 11, 2007
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Mabhakweni 11A

Another hunter and running in the same direction as yesterdays. You can see this guy in the wide shot at the back feet of the big beast.

This guy is fairly ‘normal’ in my eyes. A hunter running with his bow and arrows.

Mabhakweni 15

Tjololo 10th March 2000

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Wildcaster
on March 11, 2007
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The Tjololo Diaries

10th March 2000
Early morning rains, although only a drizzle and won’t be causing any floods, will again mess up the roads restricting our travel. We need a weeks hot dry weather before the area will be dry enough for us to comfortably travel off road again.
Found a cheetah and her 8month old cub on an impala carcass not far from camp. Had probably killed it around midday.


Tjellers had moved the remains of her carcass into another Marula tree some 50m away. No sign of her, but probably lying in the donga close to the kill.
Tjololo made an unexpected appearance in the early morning. He was with a female leopard who seemed to be courting him. Trailing him and he occasionally ambushed her. She persisted after him continuously throwing herself across his path. They seem to have just met up and this could be the start of a period of 4-6 days of mating. The rains came down and with the leopards moving over boggy ground we had to abandon them.