I awoke to find I had a puncture. Not the most exciting of things to find at 4am, especially as I had to not only change it but also fix it right there and then as I couldn’t go out without a spare.
So when I did eventually get to my dogs they’d already killed, even though dawn was only just breaking. I’m sure they’re using the moon in the early hours to hunt with.
They were still close to Nyari pan where I’d left them last night but soon moved into the hills after cleaning up their impala kill. The only remains I found of it, was one leg.
They sure snookered me in the hills and I left.
I haven’t been elsewhere on the reserve for a week or so, as all my attention has been on them dogs, so I took a drive to Banyini. It was just stunning with animals all but everywhere. Impala, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and eland and lots of them all. So where were the kitties? There was no sign of them in the area. Probably totally unaware of the party on Banyini.
Carrying on down to Hwata pan I found this lone elephant bull. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to push my car or the tree. He eventually settled for the tree.
Getting back to the wild dogs I found they’d pulled a fast one on me. They’d left the hills and moved quite a ways north lying up at a pan in the mopanie.
They were very slow in getting going at sunset, and all looking rather lean they just didn’t have it in them to go hunting but slowly made their way south. Maybe they’re waiting for the moon before getting serious.
The dogs were still sleeping when I joined them at first light. And they continued to sleep till after sunrise. Some of them looked really well fed, which probably means they were out hunting with the moon last night and would explain their late start.
Now they headed west and were soon on the Chiredzi River, Puzzles leading the way. For about a kilometre they followed the river continuously checking out crossing points but Puzzles was nervous of the water. Was it her instinctive fear of crocodiles?
Thankfully she eventually led them away and back east. I always dread they’ll cross the river again, but actually it’s not really a problem. Just makes my travel across there not so easy. (Yes it’s all about me!)
Their river crossing expedition took them into the heat of the day and without a meal they chilled out at a dried up pan. Most of the small pans in the veld are now dry, as we haven’t had any more rain for nearly 2 weeks. And this is supposed to be our rainy season. Doesn’t look promising.
Thankfully I was able to get my vehicle sorted today and all seems back on track.
The dogs moved on east around sunset and were soon on the chase. Puzzles must have killed something small as she and a couple of pups arrived back with blood stains. But they didn’t return to the carcass, which probably means it was another baby impala and they finished it off.
As you’re probably aware, I always make fun of lions being so inactive and on average only being active about 4 hours a day. Well if I notch up the dogs activity for the last few days, they’re not far off that very same target, being active a couple of hours in the morning and again a couple in the afternoon. At least with the dogs, they’re more regular and you know they’re active only in the early mornings and late afternoons.
Oh them dogs!
I was with them before first light. Well almost with them. They were in the dense mopanie so I waited for them to get moving out of there. They headed west and I just never caught up with them. I’d be very close but not getting a visual and then they’d change direction.
What I think actually happened is dad ran off, killed a baby impala and then ran back to the others. And this of course sent me on the goose chase.
I did eventually pick up the pack south of the Gananda river heading south. It was already getting hot but they were happily on the move back into mopanie country.
When they came out the other side the chase was on. Impala scattered everywhere and the dogs came up empty handed. The impala are all now is such good shape it’s hard work for the dogs, so they’re now targeting the youngsters.
But the bush is now so thick too that unless the dogs stay up close to their prey they soon lose sight of them and that’s the end of the chase.
Eventually in the Acacia woodlands Puzzles killed a baby impala. She ate most of it before calling the pups. They were left to chew on bones and a little skin.
A pan close by became their refuge for the day.
I spent some time with them here resting, just wanting to put in hours with them to habituate them totally to my vehicle and slowly slowly to me too.
Then it was back home to work on my vehicle again. I got most of it done but it’s now worse than before. Yes I blew something, but just can’t work out what it is. Hopefully the workshop can help me out on the morrow.
In the late afternoon I limped back to the dogs and was able to follow in fits and starts. My poor car. She’s 20 years old, 350,000kms of off-road driving, and getting tired.
The dogs weren’t having much joy hunting in the late afternoon as the grass in the area is already 3ft high, which hugely lessens their visibility. And when they do get to chase the animals are soon out of sight, and that means the end of the chase for the dogs.
They did bump into a black rhino but the bad tempered dude took off and I lost the dogs heading into the Nyamasikana River in that tall vegetation.
I was hoping to get to the dogs at dawn but management wanted me to help them with some flying. I ended up flying for over 2hours covering most of the reserve, and what fun it sure was. Everything is so green now and the place looks like a fairyland.
Even seeing the wild dogs in the green seems to bring a new life to them. Their coats seem so much richer against the green and in general the pack just looks so well.
Except, when I found them this afternoon, one of the pups was limping badly. It looks like she’s damaged her foot and isn’t using it at all when running but when walking she puts a little weight on it. She still managed to keep up with the pack even on her 3 legs.
They were all chilling out at a pan near the Chiredzi River, but even in their hot lethargic state they still managed to get the energy to chase any Hooded Vultures that ventured nearby to feed on their excrement.
The pack only got active towards the last hour of daylight and the pups had it in for a herd of zebra. Well so they thought. But when the zebra ignored them or advanced, the pups eventually realised they might just be biting off more than they can chew.
I lost the back at dusk heading south into the thickets around Matsanga pan and went to film the rising full moon instead. So stunning, especially as the skies are so clean now after the rains.
It was then back home only to see a lightening storm rising in the west. It was an almost continuous light show. Amazing stuff and just went on and on. But unfortunately it was too far to film AND no rain for us. The forecast has been rain for the last week, but we’ve sure come up short.
I’ve just got younger! Well so I feel after all this time off and chilling out with family and friends for my big birthday. And that all happened right here. So it’s not as if I’ve been away and missed all the action, I was just taking it easy. But now I’m back in the saddle for a big year ahead. 3 films go into post production, while at the same time I’m shooting another film on wild dogs.
And already today they put in some great action! When I arrived at Khayeni at dawn, just a gentle grey on the horizon, the wild dogs were already full-on hassling 4 hyaenas. The sound was absolutely awesome! Each predator trying to outdo the other vocally. The hyaenas with their whoops and giggles. The wild dogs with their twittering and occasional bark.
The wild dogs surrounded the hyaenas and would run in to nip them on the backside, even the pups joining in. Although the hyaenas screamed with delight or pain, they weren’t in any way interested in leaving and nor were the dogs.
For several hours the games went on. And between games they’d rest no even 10m apart.
Usually it was the dogs that started the game each time running at the sleeping hyaenas who jumped up onto their haunches to fend off the ‘attack’, and when things got a bit rough for the hyaenas the big mommy would rush in bringing a balance back into play. Puzzles would alarm each time the mommy made her advances, to warn the pups ‘this one is dangerous’.
And so the games continued for ages until the dogs moved off to drink at Khayeni pan.
It was now already seriously hot and although the dogs hadn’t hunted this morning, they were sure to be too hot to head off now. But I was wrong and twice they chased impala coming up empty handed.
The pups took on some zebra chasing them quite some way off, while mom and dad killed a baby impala and finished it off. The pups soon returned to find their well fed parents, and try as they may, the adults didn’t regurgitate for the pups. Normally they would do but it seems like the pups have now come of age and have to look after themselves.
It was now really hot and the dogs were panting madly but still they kept moving, now heading south. It was only in mid morning that they eventually rested up in the mopanie.
That was the end of my day in the bush too as I spent the rest of the time working on my poor old vehicle. She’s really getting tired and needing lots of TLC.
Last night on my way home with Lindy, we came around a corner to find a zebra lying down. As we approached she slowly got up and the sac fell behind her. She had just given birth. Wow! Lindy was loving it. I was too but without lights to film I was a hopeless case, although I did manage to snap off a couple of photos.
The mare seemed stressed at our presence and we left. Just as well I didn’t have my lights.
The thunder was rolling in at sunset when we set out to find Manyari. We heard one of the pride roaring and immediately we responded to the call. With the whole family on board we could not ignore the incredible colours coming through the storm clouds and the lightning illuminating the sky. We were in a vortex, completely surrounded by “Purple Rain” – just like the song.
Manyari and Magwaza were together lying on the road passing the Banyini plain. Despite my in-laws heart thumping beats, I pulled up next to the Manyari to catch some footage of the lighting behind her. It was an experience no to be forgotten and Manyari did not disappoint as we set out on a hunt. Out of the shadows, Sjambok and Chawhiwhi came to throw a spanner in the works, completely disrupting the whole stalk. We saw some real submission from Chawhiwhi as Sjambok hogged all the attention form the girls, before Manyari disappeared. She has wised up to their intentions and would rather hunt on her own. We left the lions there to laze around on the open plain.
The “Grey of the dawn” pulled me out of my slumber this morning, the very core of a blood red sun staring at me through the window. Kim is back in the driving seat after a much needed time off. The wild dogs have moved from the East side of the reserve to the complete opposite West side, which is the furthest I’ve ever seen them leg-it in such a short time! I will pick them up later at Khayeni pan, where they are comatose for the day.
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