On dawn patrol the Nduna pride were lying up in the horrible mopanie scrub east of Banyini with tummy’s all seriously distended.
I was happy to find Mandlovu and her herd had moved out of the Manyoka area and into more manageable country to the south of Nduna.
When I first found the elephants I was surprised to see so many large bulls together. But of course there’s only one thing that to does that – a cow in oestrus.
Chipfongwe’s aunt was in oestrus.
I was greeted in a not so friendly manner by a big bull, Spud. Being in musth it wasn’t surprising he had attitude. Also being the biggest bull there he took over Chipfongwe’s aunt and later in the day they mated with much rumbling and screaming from all the other elephants as if applauding them. Or was it jealousy!
As desperate as I was to film the mating, it just didn’t happen. Well I got some of it but yet again trees and bush intervened.
The herd moved on slowly with their entourage of about a dozen big bulls who were constantly kept at bay by Spud. He wasn’t having any bull come near his girl.
Later in the afternoon at Bandama pan the herd hoping to drink and wallow were still be hassled by all the bulls but did eventually have a few moments of peace at the pan in which to drink.
The rest of the afternoon was spent peacefully but with Spud still very much at his lady’s side.
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