Daily Archive for November 5th, 2007

Elephants for Africa: Video

It really was a dream come true.

Brothers
The elephant herds moved on to Banyini in the middle of the day. I’ve never seen them here other than at dusk.
And to crown it they came out in force. Nearly the whole Malilangwe elephant population was there, probably about 120 elephants. What a most awesome sight!

Banyini invasion
The pan was totally surrounded by elephants and in today’s heat they were all going wild in the water and mud spending about at least an hour there.
I was so engrossed and so stunned at this impressive sight I didn’t feel the heat that had escalated to over 40 degrees C. No wonder the elephants were loving it so.

Bliss
A young bull was desperately trying to chase the Saddle-billed Stork that was fishing in the pan and I was fully engrossed in filming the scene when I suddenly felt my vehicle rocking and looked up to find Tuchem (an adolescent bull) pushing the front of my car. He wasn’t a threat and soon moved off.
Wow! Wow! Wow!
These sights of Africa’s wildlife and their interactions with me are such gems that will and do stick in my mind forever. My library of these experiences is just growing in my head and will never be satiated. All such special stuff!
(Sorry don’t mean to rub it in but hell I sure do realise how amazingly lucky I am!)

Growing up
I left the elephants to repair a couple of punctures and for my daily run which in this heat was a challenge just to make it back to base.
The lions were still with their zebra carcass at dawn, which no doubt they’ll finish tonight not leaving much for the many vultures that have waited nearly 3 days to get a few scraps.

Still waiting
At sunset the elephant herds were back at Banyini but unfortunately it was now too dark to film. Which in a way was a great change as I could now sit back and absorb the beauty of it all.
A White Rhino and calf had to make way when the elephants arrived. They were covered in Yellow-billed Oxpeckers which was a little unusual. Was it maybe they were getting ready to roost as these oxpeckers roost on their host?

Cleaners

Tjololo 4th November 2000

The Tjololo Diaries

4th November 2000
Tjololo and his girl are still at it but he seems to be taking her home now like a good lad. They headed back northwest. Losing them through a donga and finding them on the other side Tjololo was dining on a baby impala.


We left them heading south to the hyaena den. One of the mothers was there suckling her 2 cubs. Spending the night here getting them used to our presence they soon relaxed down. Later another mother and subadult arrived and together with the 4 cubs had a party.
By dawn the adults had moved off leaving the cubs to play. They soon disappeared underground when a plane came by in the distance. That was them gone for the day.