When I’ve been away a while I like to travel around the reserve checking on the different pans, waterholes and changing vegetation just to get myself back in the swing of things.
Hwata pan was quiet at dawn and later this herd of buffalo came to drink at Banyini before stampeding back into the mopanie.
Midday heat and several elephant herds were in full swing wallowing at Lojaan dam.
Mandlovu was there too with the family. And Chipfongwe was beside himself in the mud just being a real boy with no worries in the world and not stuck to mom’s apron strings. He was doing his own thing rubbing on tree stumps, ploughing his head into the sand and falling all over himself in the mud wallow.
Only once most of the herds had moved off, One-tusk arrived with her family. Having finished her wallow she came to give me her usual greeting leaving a huge muddy trunk stain on the bonnet of my vehicle, just because she can.
Reserve management started their controlled annual burns today. They burn about 25% of the property each year, mainly to control bush encroachment.
I was hoping to film animal’s reactions to the fire but didn’t find any in the area.
But it was interesting to watch the trees with all their old quelea nests as they spontaneously burst into flames. Not good for the trees. Although it doesn’t kill them it does set them back.
Adorable! Learning the ecstasy of MUD!
Sue