With an early start in the sky we picked up Manyari to the south east of the airstrip.
Leaving the area we headed south west onto the Chiredzi River and then flying low we headed upstream and encountered buffalo, waterbuck and just off the river a small herd of eland.
Unfortunately the wild dog remained elusive, BUT we did get lucky finding a new hyaena den north of Manyuchi.
Back on the ground we followed up on Manyari. She kept moving on and off in the morning heading south eventually resting up as it got hot. She seemed lethargic in her movements and just not herself. Then I noticed a small porcupine quill in her chest. It really is a small one and probably no deeper than a cm in her. But there’s a good chance she may have other quills in her body that might have broken off and we just can’t see them. I sure hope she’s okay. All we can do is monitor her daily.
On to Hwata pan all was quiet. As we waited in the shade Snorkel came strolling up behind us in complete silence. He passed by only meters away. A few minutes later another bull did the same. 4 of them came by in this way to drink at the pan.
They were soon followed by several giraffe.
Interestingly, a pair of Lesser Striped Swallows were at the pan collecting mud for nest building. This is unusual as these birds usually only arrive in a couple of months. No doubt the warm weather we’re experiencing has something to do with it.
I meant to post this like on Saturday, but I forgot about it until I was reading XKCD, clicked on random and this popped up. Brooks Snorkel
Oh, Brooksie! I just knew it was you!!
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