Last night we saw no evidence of lions and heard not a peep from them. Me thinks they have really gone into hiding!
After a rough day in the office and not finding lions yesterday and again now, I should be unbearable. But hey I’m on a high! For a change I took my iPod out with me and was blasting away while driving around looking for lions. That’s a sure recipe to put me in a good mood.
But I don’t usually listen to music in the field as I need to be in touch with what’s going on around me and sound is so important. But every now and then it’s great to have a release.
And then added to that I had a brilliant workout. So yes I’m flying again, but no sign of the lions.
At dawn I was on Malilangwe dam filming a Yellow-billed Stork fishing which was quite the rave with my iPod blasting me on.
Back at camp briefly and iPod retired to home I ventured down to Banyini and Chekwa pans.
One-tusk was at Chekwa with her family. She was having to wrestle a young bull to get at the clean water, while her youngsters entertained themselves in the mud.
All was rather peaceful until this young bull arrived in a mood of his own. He stormed around the pan ranting and raving, trashing trees, kicking up dust and just going absolutely ape! Having a bad hormone day? And then he wanted to take it out on me, but luckily stopped short and rushed away to the side.
5 minutes of this behaviour and then it was all over and he was being his peaceful self.
29th October 2000
Our two main missions for the day were to establish how many and what age the hyaena cubs are at the den, and to get to see the White Cloth female’s cubs. Alas both went by unaccomplished. There was no activity at the hyaena and no sign of the leopards in the area we were told to search.
There was no sign of Tjololo’s kill and we soon picked him up to the west heading into the Sand river where he rested up in the reeds. I was surprised to see his kill finished and presume he either dropped it to waiting hyaenas or he’s moved it down towards the Kapen river. He couldn’t have finished it already and his gut doesn’t have the tell tale signs of having done so.
We later did find a bunch of rather lazy lions with a male who seemed to want to get into the vehicle. But he didn’t plan to do so in an orderly manner. He soon calmed down and went to sleep not even 10m from the vehicle. Probably just having a little attitude problem.
Quite a way south of them a herd of some 300 buffalo had already taken the time off for their midday siesta.
In the afternoon we went straight back to the buffalo and spent a few hours with them, but didn’t manage to pick up any behaviour. At least the afternoon produced good light and the potential was almost there for some good images, but again another lean day not filming.
Those elusive lions.
We picked up a young lioness south of Nyamsaan pan. She was calling and calling, obviously looking for the rest of the pride. (In the same predicament as me.)
Where is the rest of the pride? If only I knew I’d feel a sense of accomplishment today. But it was another night of no filming and full on frustrations.
Eventually the young lioness headed north.
And then, her BIG lion moment! As she moved past a thicket of palms she froze. We switched off our vehicles and sat watching in silence. I could hear movement in the palms. What could it be?
The lioness went into stalk mode. She’s getting serious! Big potential kill coming up and it’s going to happen right in front of us.
Waiting. Lioness still in her full frozen stalk position. A few more minutes go by.
She can’t contain herself any more and pounces. The palms erupt!
Hundreds of Quelea take to the skies. Yes, just Quelea.
How brave was that to take on so many? Lions rule.
With bravery stamped all over her smile she continued north. Close to the Nyamsaan picket she rested in an open area. Good plan as she’ll be able to hear better in the open.
Not 20 minutes later another young lioness came trotting in to meet her. They were both happy to have company.
But now they were 2 lost lionesses instead of one. Did this improve their chances of finding the pride? Well not if they just lay around quietly.
Unfortunately the boredom got to us and in our sleepy state the lions disappeared in the dark. Hmmmm…..I think we deserve about as much credit as the lions. Which is verging on close to zero.
Dawn didn’t bring much hope. I had tracks of a single lion near Makeche and another lion near Hwata.
What is it with all these single lions running around?
This lone white rhino bull at Hwata got my scent before I was able to get up close and personal. Maybe a good thing as he might just have got too personal.
Still looking for my daily dose of action I ventured down to the Chiredzi river. I always love it down there but don’t often get there. Today it was pretty quiet except for this dude who thought trashing the dead bush next to me would scare me. Luckily not. We ended up watching each other for a good half an hour before I moved on.
Chekwa pan was the place to be. When I got there a big herd of buffalo were just leaving. Elephant bulls kept appearing out the woodlands to drink at the muddy clean water. With them around the herds of zebra had assembled trying to drink but weren’t even allowed a taste of the really muddy water.
The elephants weren’t sharing today. Not even with each other.
But what a great experience! To be surrounded by so many wild animals and all in some sort of synchrony with each other. Some amicable, some not.
Africa’s the best!
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