Tjololo 9th April 2000

9TH April 2000
Although we were unfortunate to miss several filming opportunities, it was great to spend so much time with Tjololo again traversing “no go” areas and only being stuck twice while on his trail.
After crossing north over the Maxipiri we were taken totally unawares when having lost Tjololo and still searching for him, the bush exploded ahead of us as several nyala took flight. But claw and flesh had already made contact as a female nyala succumbed to Tjololo’s strangle hold. Having killed the nyala he dragged it off to a tree. Our attempts to follow were short lived when I got stuck. While digging ourselves out we heard a brief growl as if Tjololo had been surpised by a hyaena.

Back on the trail again we were frustrated to find 2 lions with his kill. Another bit of action not recorded as the elements continue to play havoc with us. Both lions were very well fed and the young male just played with the carcass before both of them fell asleep next it without having fed.
Tjololo hung around the area for about an hour. After not hearing any feeding activity he went back cautiously to check on the carcass. Finding the lions still there he left heading east on the northern bank of the Maxipiri. Again we got stuck, but picked him up further east on the road. Eventually he headed south but was already a long way north of where we knew his territory to end.
By morning we had his tracks still heading south east and eventually into Kruger.
Tjololo continues to extend his territory without any signs of a competitor. When will he stop? Just his extension last night adds some 15% more area onto his present territory. He sure “Stands Alone”.

At dawn after leaving his trail we found ourselves in an area that quite honestly is not traversable. Nobody had been there for months and we found out why. The roads for some 3 or 4 kms were under water and mushy. We had no option but to go for it. If we’d got stuck in the middle of it, which we so nearly did when the road disappeared becoming a gully, we would surely be stuck for days as not even a tractor would have got to us. Will surely be staying out of there for some time.