It was a rather boring morning for me running around town sorting out a few things.
By midday I was back and went jogging with temperatures sitting around 38 degrees C (100F). Luckily this is a dry heat and not too bad at all. Actually I love it.
With these hot temperatures and the air being dry and windy, it was ideal for controlled burns on Malilangwe where fire is used as a management tool to control the growth of woody vegetation.
I spent my afternoon following the fires and filming. Fortunately I didn’t find any animals in the fires, but then they are wise to bush fires as they’ve been part of the ecosystem for hundreds of years, ever since man has been around.
I found some good violent stuff and was filming away when I suddenly realised I was surrounded by fire as the wind changed and it came charging down on me like a steam train! To add to the drama, my car spluttered and burped and then finally started and I just made it out of there.
As the afternoon cooled and the wind died down so the fire died down and I was winding down too on my way home.
Passing Banyini, Manyari was there with her Nyari pride. They were really feeling the heat and didn’t budge to even chase the hundreds of flies digging around their nostrils.
AND Magwaza is mating again.
I could never be that close to a fire! Although it made for good video. I look forward to your email everyday. Thank-you so much……..Jeanne
Scarey stuff.
What animal was the skull from you show in one of your pictures? Was the animal caught in the fire or was it a previous kill?
Thanks.
How do you eventually extinguish the fires?
Buffalo skull. Old one from a lion kill.
The fires burn themselves out. They get burnt all the way round a block and so burn out.