The impala rams were doing their daily sparring session on the airstrip at dawn, and with not a cloud in the sky the morning light was brilliant.
The morning jackal patrol was on time as usual as the family went about chasing insects.
After all the normal airstrip behaviour, it was time to move on. The elephant had snuck past the airstrip in the night, their tracks were all over.
We eventually picked them up south of Chikwelane. Mandlovu and her family were there, Toothpick and others. In total about 40 elephants.
They took to the hills and I followed but this time on foot. This is the way I love to get around the bush. And walking in the hills is just stunning with all those wonderful backdrops against the sandstone hills and being high up I am able to get some really great different perspectives on the elephant.
But Mandlovu had a different perspective on me.
Unfortunately the wind in the hills swirls around the place and one can’t plan one’s approach as it’s always coming from a different direction.
Mandlovu picked up my scent and was immediately upset. I tried talking to her as I do whenever I’m with her in the vehicle. She wasn’t impressed. She charged. It seemed like a mock charge but I didn’t hang around and scrambled up the rocks.
The herds moved on and I followed. All over the hills water is seeping into little marshes providing plenty of water for the elephant and great places to wallow and mud bathe.
After more than 2 hours of following them I lost them in really thick bush where the grass was a solid matt at least 6ft high. Taller than me.
It was too risky for me to keep following so I moved up the Nyamasikana River. It was easier going in the sandy river, but the camera and bean-bag were now really weighing me down.
A buffalo bull was sleeping in a pool in the river and unaware of my approach. Not a good thing. So I clapped my hands and spoke to him. He got up slowly and shook his head at me and then just stood there and had no intentions of moving away. If anything he had intentions of moving towards me! But when I tossed a stone in the water he took off into the thick undergrowth on the river bank.
I was happy to leave the soft sandy river bottom and took a well worn hippo path hoping it was a short cut to Lojaan dam. I had now been walking 3 hours and the camera was close to becoming a disposable item.
Crossing a small spring I noticed a pool just upstream with branches overhanging it. Just then it erupted as a hippo took fright charging out of there. I can only be grateful it took off the other way.
The path did eventually lead to Lojaan where several elephant bulls were wrestling in the water. This didn’t impress the resident pair of hippo.
It was here that I ran out of tape and all the more reason for me to locate the car.
Eventually after a long hot, dry, 4-hour walk I got some refreshment at the vehicle. Even the now hot water in the bottle was just the best.
We drove back to Lojaan dam and the elephant were still swimming but soon headed north.
What a magical day spending all that time so close to the elephants and just being out there walking the hills. That’s just the best thing for me. If only I could walk all day every day!
Recent Comments