My excitement was short-lived!
At first light I was in the hills heaving and dislodging rocks to make some sort of a track up the mountain to the wild dog den. It was tough going and with much sweat, a few scorpions and a snake hidden under the rocks, I eventually made it up to the den in my vehicle. Of course I was very happy with myself, not only for getting my vehicle up there but because I could now get the dogs used to my car and I should get some interesting footage.
Dawn started off heavily overcast and it drizzled on and off while I was working my way up the mountain. When I got there, the dogs weren’t around, presumably underground as they weren’t going to lie around in the cold wet windy weather. So I left them and returned around 3pm.
Usually the adults get active around 4 or 5pm and the pups would then be out the den. Well they weren’t about to do it for me today. There was not a sign or a peep from any dog. And to tell the truth I think they’ve pulled a fast one on me and left the den!
In the morning while working my way up the mountain an adult barked once at me and that was it. Otherwise for the rest of the day there wasn’t any further sign of dogs in the area.
I can only stake myself out there again at dawn and just hope they’re still around. Hopefully it was just the weather that kept them underground.
Leaving the dog den in the morning I visited the hyaena den which is only a kilometre and a half away. All was quiet there with only the one mom sleeping at the den entrance. I didn’t expect much else from the hyaenas as this always is their sleeping time.
I travelled across to Nduna dam to see if Manyari was indeed there, but then got a radio message that she was in the west at Nyari pan. Very much back at home, which is good news.
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