Back with Mandlovu at last.
But it took most of the day to find them and an overheated car. With the grass standing some 4 to 5ft high it didn’t take long to block up my radiator, even with gauze in front to keep them out.
Mandlovu and her herd were with the same little family from the other day in the north east of the reserve. These guys and the big herd couldn’t be further apart.
Also with Mandlovu were 2 young bulls, the one being Snorkel. He’s doing really well and his breathing problem almost seems to have gone.
So why would these elephants be so far removed from the main herd and for such a long time? It’s over a week now.
My only thought is it’s the marulas. Marula trees are most plentiful in this part of the reserve and elephants love marulas!
This image is also part of the Mabhakweni paintings but is a little away from the other painting scene.
This looks to be a zebra. But why was it painted separately? Was the artist just wanting to capture the animal for prosperity?
13th March 2000
Frustration levels back on a high.
We managed to get around OK with conditions not being as bad as anticipated but still hampering progress.
Having picked up Tjololo in the very southern part of his territory near Rocky Crossing, he then gave us the slip only some 15 minutes later as he disappeared into the muddy yonder. The White Cloth female was still in attendance, now some 2 territories away from her own and Tjololo not giving her the time of day. Tjololo kept calling and was heading west a long way further than we have known his territory to extend. This is not surprising as the male leopard that lived here died several months ago.
While napping we were awakened by a Duiker bleating. Following up we arrived on the scene of a python strangling the still live Duiker. But the calls hadn’t gone unnoticed and within some 20-30 seconds of us having arrived a hyaena was on the scene. It approached slightly hesitantly, checked out the situation obviously nervous of the snake. Bit the snake once, we heard a crunch, and then ran off with the Duiker as the snake released its hold.
It’s not often, but this time I did curse the hyaena. All was too quick for me to shoot anything, but what an amazing event and I’m very fortunate to have witnessed it anyway. It was a change for me to witness such animal behaviour without viewing it through a lens as I’m always trying to document everything.
So, yes I was fortunate, but also very frustrated.
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