It was another cloudy, cold, windy day. But I don’t think that had anything to do with it. There was still no sign of the dogs. I walked the hills checking any cave I could find, including their old den sites, but nothing.
Are the pups now finally mobile and hunting with the adults? They sure looked big enough to do so when I saw them the other day.
With nothing happening at the dog den I tried out the hyaena den. A low ranking mom was suckling her 2 big cubs, about 8 months old. A very peaceful scene, until the little guys arrived. They are obviously from a higher ranking mom and attacked one of the cubs suckling. Just the one and not the other. Presumably this one is a male. They attacked and bit him to stop him suckling so they could suckle. The mom couldn’t retaliate and she got up and moved away from the den. Her cubs followed and she was able to suckle in peace.
But that was only until they heard a hyaena calling a long way east. Suddenly all the hyaenas headed that way. I took my chances along the roads and eventually caught up with them. 9 hyaenas had gathered and all were excited bouncing around with their tails up. But I really didn’t know why.
Maybe it was an intruding hyaena.
They soon got down to their greeting ceremonies and then the laughing began. And hyaenas sure know how to laugh. I just love it!
The laughing was all in excitement as the big mommies hassled a low ranking male. And playing it safe he pleaded subservience. Good boy!
In my travels in search of the dogs I was travelling past where the giraffe carcass was and piles of vultures took to the skies. Surely they weren’t still feeding on the giraffe. On searching I found the remains of a fresh zebra kill, partly eaten. The predator was obviously in the area and that’s why the vultures weren’t feeding. But when I approached the predator had moved away and the vultures came piling in. 10minutes later I pushed them off the carcass to see how much they’d eaten and already they’d just about cleaned it up! Just skin and bones remained.
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.
Eventually I have to get lucky in finding the wild dogs. Another 2 hours in the air today proved useless.
But I did find this ‘prehistoric’ looking giraffe carcass. It must be several days old and I flushed a number of vultures off it. So why hadn’t I seen it the last 3 days? It was in the area I was flying. It just goes to prove that I wasn’t covering the area thoroughly enough and so my hopes of finding the dogs improved slightly.
Knowing the dogs would be hidden under some shade in the heat of the day, I again went to spend time with the elephants at Hwata pan. About 20 bulls were chilling out at the pan and probably spent a good couple of hours there. They would just stand around, then cool themselves with mud, have a little drink, stand around, and so on….
While a few others too much delight in a well positioned tree stump.
In the afternoon it was back looking for dogs.
Then I got info on the radio that Manyari might be at Nduna dam. I’m really keen to know if she’s moved over there. I knew if I raced there I would probably make it before sunset. On the way I quickly made a pit stop at Manyuchi pan in case the dogs were there. Indeed they were!!! Such good news. But where are they hanging out.
The 2 adult dogs drank at the pan and then headed west. In the tall mopanie I briefly saw, and really heard them sending a hyaena packing. For no reason at all, but because they can.
Once I’d lost the dogs I went back to the pan and started back-tracking the dogs. Their tracks headed southeast. Eventually I was back in the hills. And then Voila!!! There were the pups being their reckless selves wondering in the hills. I snuck closer and then they saw me. Slightly alarmed they moved off and stood at the entrance to a small cave. So this is their new home.
The sun had set already and just as I peered round the cave I was greeted by the full moon rising.
It just doesn’t get any better.
Then I broke one of my golden rules “Never walk in the bush after sunset.” This is because predators behave very differently at night. They are much braver. In the day lions will run from humans but at night it’s a very different story.
Before heading back to the car I wanted to see if there wasn’t any way I could get my vehicle up to this den site in the morning. Slowly I made my way around the hills and I think I’ve found a way, although it will take some serious rock moving and road building to get there. Mission for tomorrow.
I made it safely back to the car walking by the light of the moon. But not a comfortable situation, especially knowing the lions are now using this area.
I had just taken off and was only meters off the ground when my goggles totally fogged up. The warm moist upper air reacting with my cold goggles had them misting up. I had to take them off for a few minutes while everything adjusted to the warm upper air.
And below the mist lay thick across the bushveld, initially making ground visibility almost zero. But it didn’t last long.
Again I didn’t pick up any sign of the wild dogs. I’m beginning to wonder if they haven’t moved further a field.
I was at Hwata pan in the heat of the day where the elephant bulls were again hogging the clean water. I was there for a couple of hours and the bulls were there all that time. None of them having moved off but others came in.
Then a cow herd arrived. They came in at such pace, at first I thought they were being chased. But they were just desperate to cool off. They had no intentions of drinking and especially not waiting for the bulls to clear off.
At the hyaena den at sunset were just the 2 young cubs. They seemed a little lonely, obviously waiting for others to provide some fun. Instead they came to check out the vehicle coming right up to it. The closer they get, the cuter they get!
I left them waiting for mom.
If I hadn’t seen the wild dogs a couple of days ago I would have been totally lost as to where to start searching. I now just hope they haven’t totally put me off their trail. And yet again today after much flying and much walking I’m still no closer to having any more clues where they’re hiding out.
It was a hot day and in my travels I encountered about 15 elephant bulls all vying for the clean water at Hwata pan. They were shortly joined by a couple of cowherds. Of course the cows and calves had no chance with those big bullies around.
And instead the calves went crazy in the mud. These 2 little guys were beside themselves and so much like our kids in the mud. The one little guy left to join mom but it wasn’t long and he came running back for more when he saw his friend having such a whale of a time.
While lying next to my car photographing these elephant, something told me to look behind me. There standing ever so tall and only 10m away was this bull. He’d crept up so quietly I didn’t even hear him. Thankfully he didn’t hassle me and moved on to drink.
I can only believe if I keep at it I will eventually find these dogs. Of course I can’t keep at if forever, but hopefully within a week I’ll have success.
I searched long and hard today without joy.
At first light I was in the sky hoping to catch the dogs on the hunt, and then hoping to find the pups at a den. I flew for 2hours without success.
Leaving the airstrip this herd of Sable were coming in to drink on Banyini. They are such spectacular animals, especially the adult bull with his pitch-black coat and horns that reach round in a huge arc almost touching his shoulders at their tip.
I headed up north and continued the search on foot. I came across zebra, warthog, impala, baboons and these giraffe scattered when I came strolling through. But still no sign of the dogs!
So the search goes on.
Around midday I was sitting in my car eating and sandwich and drinking tea. Then it happened. I fell asleep. Yes I fell asleep while chewing on my sandwich and holding my tea in my hand. Of course I was rudely woken when the hot tea spilled over my arm! Luckily no blisters, but it sure is sensitive.
It was back to the hyaena den at dusk where the moms were busy with their wake-up call getting their little ones out the den. then it was time for my knock-off call as it got dark.
Earlier in the day I had reports that Manyari and another lioness were seen at Nduna dam. This is really interesting as Manyari is back in the heart of Nduna pride territory. Is she going back to them?
Her 2 males were seen on Banyini last night heading east towards Nduna. I wonder what’s on the brew?
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