Back behind the wheel.
With lots of speedy footwork the guys had my vehicle back on the road this afternoon.
I headed straight out to look for Stitch and Whisky but ran out of light without covering their range and had no sign of them.
So tomorrow I really do have a mission to accomplish.
And just before making it back to camp it rained. Now what’s it doing raining at this time of year. That really is a little unusual. Although with global warming, nothing is normal anymore.
With no wheels this morning I left camp early and went walking around Malilangwe dam and then in to the hills. Oh it is just so cool to walk out here!
I didn’t see much in the way of animals, just hippos, crocs in the water and a young Nyala bull. But the water birds were all there - White-breasted Cormorants, Fish Eagles, Marabou Storks, Yellow-billed Storks, Spoonbills, Grey Heron, Goliath Heron, Hadeda Ibis, White-crowned Plover, Wattled Plover, Blacksmith Plover, Pied Wagtail, Egyptian Geese, and African Jacana.
For some reason today on my walk I was concerned about being had by a python and what would I do? Usually I carry a knife with me, but today I didn’t and this was now my concern. Anyway none of them dared attack me.
But while driving looking for the dogs later in the afternoon, I saw a snake track cross the road. No big deal ‘cos they’ve always passed by there ages ago. But something made me stop about 20m further and I was alerted to birds chattering and squirrels alarm calling. I strolled over there to find and 8ft python slowly making his way. Of course when I approached he went into his defensive/attack mode. But I was luckily too big for him.
Pretty sure that’s a man but looks like he’s been short changed. I don’t believe this image has any connection to that bird.
1st June 2000
The boys are back on the block!
The afternoon started off interestingly with a showdown. An elephant in musth decided he had right of way in the road, and the thick bush prevented either of us from moving aside. Either he reversed or we did. With the engine off and filming he approached, a slow shuffle purposefully kicking up dust as he came. He picked up sand in his trunk and sprayed himself. I had thought of giving in, but thought the engine starting might alarm him. We sat tight. He kept coming with urine dripping continuously, emitting an overpowering smell. Next his trunk was sniffing the bull bar. He drew it in (I mean his trunk, luckily not the bull bar) and advanced still closer. Now his tusks were over the bonnet. (I had heard of someone having an elephant charge their vehicle and not being able to start it, used the elephant’s push to start and drove off. I had similar plans.) He stood there motionless for some time. We followed suit. Then he decided enough and backed off and started feeding not paying any attention to us as we started up and drove on by.
Back in the saddle with Tjololo is always a good thing and soon after dark we found him on patrol hurriedly marking as he went. Once he headed south away from the Kapen he slowed down. (presume he might have found evidence of another male in the area that was causing him to mark profusely).
Tjololo is looking really well and stomach as usual with a slight bulge. His fast gait and confident marking reinforced his proud ownership of this estate, which was of more interest to him than our return.
Seeing a genet in the road he gave chase but soon lost it. Now locked in to hunting mode he stalked some impala. But lost them too.
While casually continuing on through the bush he dashed ahead of us, leaving us to listen to the death cries of a Duiker he had surprised. A hyaena heard the cries too and Tjololo had to quickly tree the male duiker.
That kept him occupied for the rest of the night and we left him at dawn with a little carcass remaining and the hyaena still waiting.
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