Daily Archives: January 30, 2009

Elephant Wrestle Mania

There was that hazy look in the atmosphere this morning, which as far as I know means it will be a clear day. The sun was out when I left but who knows which way the weather will turn. I headed straight toward the air strip to find a huge herd of Impala already seeking shade. I rescued another terrapin off the road today, and found a huge terrapin at Simbiri dam lying in the long grass with another guy half his size.

Elephants in Shade

The Lions have disappeared in that mopane from last night, in any event, I was hoping to find some elephant near Chibi. One thing about the bush is that things rarely work out the way you imagine in your head. In fact, it is much like life itself, you don’t have to have everything figured out to experience it’s richness. There is so much treasure out there, but it is not all blaze and glory, you have to open your eyes. Funny thing is, today was special, I found the Elephant at Chibi as I had hoped.

Resting Elephants

What was even better was that they were in the water – and I always seem to miss them playing in the mud. I cannot get enough of hanging around that breeding herd. Those little guys are so inquisitive, they came right up to my vehicle to smell the new addition to the herd.

Cheeky Baby

I always seem to have an experience with these Elephants on a much deeper level and anyone who has been around them would say the same.  Blaze and glory then it was for today.

Buffalo Bachelor Party

“From the East side to the West side” is a phrase used by many rappers in their hit songs. Flip the West and East around and it perfectly describes my day, which started out at Sosigi dam in the West and ended at Chinzwini dam in the East.

The long grass has frightened most animals away from open areas because of it being easier for predators to stalk in. There is plenty of water lying all over and I had to seek out all the favourite little nooks and crannies to find any life out there today. There was a bachelor group of Buffalo in the secluded area of Chinwini Dam, tucked between two rock faces. They were enjoying a good wallow as the sun began tearing the clouds apart.

I stick to my theory that the rainy whether has a calming effect on animals, or they just become more docile. I’ve found these buffalo there a few times and they normally high tail it out of there the minute they see me coming, but today they were quite happy for me to invite myself to their Buffalo Bachelor Party.

Later in the day I headed for Banyini to find Manyari and Sjambok. They were lying in a cushion of long grass when I arrived – and still mating! Manyari was getting a little agitated with Sjambok still doing the wild monkey dance on her back. This is going on way longer than her eastrus period would normally last, I won’t attempt any theories about that one.

Manyari was looking hungry and she eased her way up from her bed of grass straight to the hunting field. Her first atttempt was on five or six Impala, but she just ran in and caused too much pandimonium. The candescent light of the sunset had faded and Manyari was now on the edge of the open grassland on Banyini, looking to see that Sjambok was still behind her, she moved off into the Mopane forest. I dare not attempt negotiating those forests in the muddy weather, so I thought a drive through the hills past Nyari would be a most pleasant trip home.