The rains have been great in holding back for the day and looks like we could have another dry spell ahead of us. But it sure will take some time before all terrain is again driveable as the soils are so waterlogged.
Despite that we managed to keep up the dogs this morning. They were right in the east hunting in the mopanie woodlands but were unsuccessful. The pack looks lean but all still maintain their peak athletic condition.
We left the dogs resting fairly late this morning, as they’d been off to a late start with the morning chill that had set in early. It was pretty cold for a mid summer’s morning, but soon the sun was out baking again.
Besides these giraffe bulls sparring with each other, it was pretty quiet out there. And the only thing disturbing the peace was my very unhappy vehicle. Before I knew it she was overheating and coughing and splattering. When I opened the hood and removed the radiator cap I was treated to the fireworks. The radiator was like a steam train spewing steam and a rapid rate and not looking like letting up. Luckily close by was a pan and I was able to fill it up and soon found the water pump was the problem. It was leaking badly and had caused the overheating.
We managed to limp home and were grounded for the rest of the day. And probably another couple of days as I try to get spares from South Africa.
Monthly Archive for February, 2009
Rain, rain, rain and maybe that’s what’s caused us to have all the technical problems we’ve been having. I think it’s the first time in 2 ½ years that Wildcast hasn’t broadcast for 2 days in a row.
Anyway all is back on track now.
It’s been raining for the last 3 days, and not just a gentle drizzle. Pouring all night and into the morning, only letting up for a few hours in the middle of the day before pelting down again.
And the dogs just aren’t loving it. As soon as the downpours start they retreat, trying to take cover wherever they can. But that doesn’t make it any easier for me. The last time I was with the dogs in a downpour they bolted when they saw the cover up on my vehicle. So now I have to sit it out in the rain, but have my camera covered and safe, and the dogs are a lot happier.
The rain hasn’t made it any easier following the dogs either. Off road travel becomes really risky but as long as they stay in the sandy areas all is fine.
With the rains the elephants have moved back to the sandveld areas where they love to dig up the jatropha tubers, leaving this huge holes all over the place making travel just not so smooth.
I’m expecting Puzzles and Jig to be mating soon. The wild dogs in southern Africa typically give birth around May, June. With a gestation period of 69 to 73 days, we could see things start happening soon.
So you may be wondering who “Jig” is? Well it’s Puzzles partner of course, the alpha male. Puzzles and Jigsaws, and so Jig or Jiggy is the dude!
I was off across the Chiredzi River again this morning; I saw the same crocodile that was at the crossing in the river yesterday and he enjoyed yet another ride on the wave I created as I went through the water. I needed to get more than a glimpse of those Wild Dogs today, I had picked up their direction and was hoping that they weren’t on the move yet. But it was not to be, these dogs were on a mission and before I knew it I had them heading back across the river. This is great news, because they are back on home turf!
I was still nowhere near them when I fell into temptation, I had to take a few pictures of some Ground Hornbill next to the road. I was back on track and the dogs had crossed what we call the Orphan Road, a main road that links East to West on Malilangwe reserve. They were weaving in and out of the bush, obviously on the hunt, until I eventually waited in the road until they crossed again. Finally I got to spend a bit of time with the guys, but they didn’t sit still until later when they headed to Nyari Pan to take a drink.
They definitely came to the right spot for game; however, seems like the pups were left to nibble on the remains of an abandoned carcass, or it may have been that the Alpha male had really tucked into his kill before he let the pups have a go at it. It is not as easy as it was to kill these Impalas, they are in great shape and the Alpha male will need to run them down over great distances. After the dogs had settled down in the hills for the morning, I was left at the base of the hill, only to come back later in the afternoon.
Kim is back in the driving seat and he headed out to catch up with the dogs in the afternoon. They were moving North already and Kim stuck with the dogs until a huge cloud burst interrupted our afternoon activities. There’s nothing like getting soaking wet in the rain and enjoying it - makes one feel like a kid again!
During the course of my morning drive I heard this voice in my head to search for the dogs across the Chiredzi River. Well, actually that was Kim on the radio, but wouldn’t it have been great if it was a voice in my head? Kim was flying yesterday to locate the dogs, so I was immensely keen to explore the land across the river and find the dogs. I have not spent time with them in a long time now, so any opportunity is a good one. The day was already a scorcher by eight o’clock as we weaved our way in through the Mopane forest.
We were heading towards a dense marsh land, which is not navigable by our vehicles (that means by no vehicle). After many detours and river crossings we had the dogs on the other side of a stream. After one glimpse of them they pushed off deeper into the marsh. At least they are closer North than what they were and I hope they cross back over into Khayeni area. On the way back we had time for a bit of breakfast alongside a stream, I lay in the rocks letting the water flow over me for some fresh water therapy – loving life!
I’m always glad when Kylie comes along, she is a master bird spotter and we enjoyed a pair of Long-tailed Paradise-Whydahs flying in the forest. I still hadn’t found anything to film, so we went past Nyari Pan for a sneak peek. It turned out to be a good call; there was a breeding herd of Buffalo with two young calves lying in the shade, with two Elephant bulls splashing in the water.
It was a serious congregation of wildlife, a herd of Wildebeest, impala and even Baboons came running through for a quick drink. The sun was now beating down on us as midday rolled by, it was time to head back to home base. What a successful day and I’m hoping to catch the dogs as they move out of that marsh area.
We are into a new month and time is holding back for nobody. We headed out with our morning fix of tea in a flask, our direction – the leopard at Sosigi. He was a little further North than usual, but Alan was already on the guy and he guided us into the dense vegetation. He is not used to two vehicles yet, so after a the first spot he didn’t stick around and doubled back on us a few times. The leopard seemed to relax, but we didn’t want to stress him out.
We left Alan to carry on his day tracking the leopard. Hopefully soon he will be relaxed enough to stay in the open so we can sneak a bit of footage, these are exciting times – the suspense is killing me!
The sun is beginning to burn the long grass, there are so many different kinds of seeds that stand tall and burst into the air as you drive over them. This is not good for me, because I’m suffering with Hay Fever at the moment. Puffy-eyed and all, I continued the morning drive admiring some interesting wild flowers, which I have no idea what the names could be.
I drove down past Sosigi Dam to find a group of Egyptian Geese, the usual resident Hammerkop and four White-faced Ducks. I then went a round about way home, past Nyari Pan, Banyini Pan and Chibi Pan.
Unfortunately I couldn’t find the Elephant herd I’ve been filming, but there were many Wildebeest and Giraffe to keep me entertained. I also stopped to have a look at a Zebra foal that was close to the road, they are quite on edge with this dense bush and don’t normally stay for the show.
Last night we were determined to find some kind of predator, hopefully stumble upon our lions. Manyari seems to have ditched Sjambok, I found his tracks on a road near the air strip yesterday and she is no where to be found. The exciting thing is I saw Magwaza’s tracks with smaller tracks crossing the road from Nyari heading towards Banyini, this could mean that her cubs have survived so far!
Anyway, after a wide search for some excitement, the best we could find was a two meter African Rock Python on the hunt and two Pearl Spotted Owls. Just before we headed out today, we had a special visitor in the bush, Kim had just returned and noticed the birds going crazy. I hung around to see what the upheaval was about. A slender mongoose with his tail in the air was tearing through the bush, but the Mongoose wasn’t the culprit, he was having a go at a massive Mozambique Spitting Cobra! So that was our adrenaline rush for the day as we guided it away from the house.
We visited Khayeni Pan on the west border, there was a big herd of Blue Wildebeest with two Woodland Kingfishers putting on a great show diving in the water. Sosigi Dam is still looking good, the water level is up and we stumbled upon two dugga boy Buffalo’s wallowing in the water. They didn’t stick around, so we did a round about past Nyari Pan, there is mostly Impala around, but they are looking healthy and strong.
The clouds formed some interesting shapes at sunset and we ended the evening overlooking Malilangwe Dam with the Lions roaring in the background - another hard day in Africa.
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