Monthly Archive for March, 2008

Back with the lions before sunset and they hadn’t moved all day. But there was no change in the activity of the lovers, they were still at it every 15minutes.

Was Manyari really getting tired, after all she’d been sleeping for 3 days, except for a little R&R. I reckon she’s saying “Oh not again?”

And their activities went on all night, being closely watched by the other male. He did occasionally get a friendly cuddle from his brother, but only when making sure to keep him away from his girl.

Feeling like he needed to be doing something while his brother was occupied the other male would roar into the darkness. His brother and Manyari would follow suit. Having them all roar right next to the car is the most awesome sound.

Manyari was taking a pounding but all in good spirits, but at dawn when she stared into the sky, I was sure her daydreaming thoughts were, “when will this end?”

At dawn she was into eating grass. Not that she was hungry. And her mate not wanting to leave her side, made sure he had his nose placed exactly where he wanted it.

I’m amazed how in the 3 days that we’ve been with these males how relaxed they’ve become. And daily it gets better. It’s been a true blessing having them mating with Manyari as they learn from her not be scared of us. Without her this would have taken us months. Especially as they used run away at 100m. It’s going to be interesting to see how they react when Manyari is not with them, but I’m pretty sure they’ll be fine. Even the male on his own will let me park about 10m from him.

But this morning was amazing. I was parked filming Manyari and her boy. She then walked to the front of the car and collapsed, acting as if the vehicle didn’t exist. The male followed suit and collapsed next to her not even 2m from the vehicle. And that was of their own accord. They could have lain down anywhere.

I’m hugely excited how well things are going with these guys and the starting up of a new pride.

There were signs of a small group of elephant east of the airstrip so I was hopeful they’d be drinking at Simibiri towards sunset.

I was at the dam early and chilled out on the rocks near the water. I was sure the lions would still be hanging around their rotten carcass, and so enjoyed the late peaceful afternoon at the dam as light faded.
Unfortunately my peace wasn’t disturbed and no elephant arrived.

We joined the lions at their carcass after dark. One of the males was chewing on the rump and Manyari just watching. I really don’t know how they could be eating such rotten meat. Although they didn’t look too excited about it and half an hour later they’d moved away. Even this carcass was too rotten for them. Now that’s saying something! I’m sure if they’d been a lot hungrier they’d have made their way through the rotting tender meat. Well I presume it was tender. Must be with all those maggots writhing around as a heaving blanket in the stomach cavity.

The lion lay up in some thickets some ways from the carcass and spent most of the night there. AND I scored some sleep!
They were disturbed by a young elephant bull who briefly chased them around and later in the night some hyaenas came to shout their abuses at them but were sure to keep their distance. Male lions have a passionate hatred for hyaenas.
It was only as the dawn light came creeping in that the cats got on the move. They didn’t move very far and crossed the airstrip. Manyari was keen on hunting the impala but her cover was quickly blown by the big herd.

I left the lions resting south of the airstrip to go check on the giraffe carcass. The carcass had been moved a bit but there were no scavengers feeding and the vultures were in trees still waiting. That is usually a sure sign there are predators in the area. I searched and couldn’t find any, so why then were the vultures still waiting in the trees?

On heading out this afternoon the elephant were south of Banyini, so no chance of them swimming at Simbiri.
I cruised around Banyini and in the last half hour of light found these giraffe fighting. The light was perfect and these bulls were pretty serious about giving each other a hammering.

As the sun set I changed angles and filmed them in action as silhouettes.
I had Darryl come with the lights and was waiting for it to get a little darker to film them with lights and the orange glow of dusk, but the dudes didn’t read the script and wandered off.

Then it was the elephants turn as they arrived in their hordes to drink at Banyini in the last light. Filming their silhouettes against the glowing orange water, they just kept coming, herd after herd. I suppose at least a hundred elephant drank here tonight.
In relays they drank and totally relaxed, those already quenched stood around my car.

This is totally different to the situation when they drink here in the daytime when they’re easily spooked just from feeling vulnerable in the open.
I thought some of the bulls might head north to swim at Simbiri dam but instead the herds kept to feeding in the mopanie woodland on the north and east of Banyini.
We moved on searching lion activity in the west and all I came up with was this Chameleon shedding its skin. I came back again in the morning to get more photos of the guy.

Chameleons are actually easy to spot at night and yet impossible to see in the day as they’re so well camouflaged. At night they usually go a light green colour and when lit they look almost white so standing out from the foliage they’re resting on. Last night I must have seen at least 20 of them.
Then it was back to Simbiri still hoping the elephants would move in. While waiting we heard hyaenas giggling and found 8 hyaenas on a territorial patrol. They moved south on the ‘Chimize Highway’ running at lope most of the time only stopping to mark at their latrines.
It’s amazing how much terrain these guys can cover in no time at all and soon lost us as they took off into the 6ft high grass near Hwata.
Just being with hyaenas again for about an hour was so so cool for me. I haven’t worked with the guys, well actually girls, for some time now and they’re always so interesting. Just getting to know they whole social system is fascinating.

The rest of the night didn’t turn up anything but lots of dew on my camera boxes.
At dawn I travelled all the way east to Bandama only to head back to camp empty handed for the morning.