Monthly Archive for March, 2009

Wild Dogs Feeding Time: Video

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Wildcaster
on March 25, 2009
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Shakespeare referred to, “Red sky in the morning, a shepherds warning.” In the Lord of the Rings, Legalos said about a red sky morning, “blood has been spilt”, or for us it is, “blood will be spilled this day”, either way works with the Wild Dogs. They were hunting at first light in a fairly open area.

Tail Tug

Over the rise were Impala, Wildebeest, and Zebra, all completely oblivious to the approaching chaos. The Impala started sensing the upheaval, but were running in the direction of the dogs. The Wildebeest grouped together and watched the fate of an Impala bull, the antelope turned and ran but all too late. It was an easy run for the dogs and then untamed feeding.

Taking a Breather

Jiggy had run after another Impala with two of the pups, but came to join in the feast after their failed attempt. Jiggy only managed to pinch a taste before the pups chased him off, that old order of feeding thing again. At the end of it all, there was nothing left to even gnaw on – sorry for you Jiggy.

Hippo Nduna

I left them bellies up to drive past Nduna Dam where the Hippo snorts were drowning the entire hillside. The dam is just about full, it is such a great spot! I then took a nice easy drive back to base camp swinging past good old Banyini Pan on the way.

Nduna Dam Almost Full

Wild Vulture Chase: Video

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on March 25, 2009
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How is it when you’re looking for something you can’t find it? Then when you’re not looking, you find it every where! Those Lions I was looking for – found. From what I can tell, it was Magwaza with… wait for it… three cubs! It was still dark and I was on my way up to the dogs, she was in the road and not too unhappy with me imposing. She walked up the road a bit with me following from a distance, and then she didn’t like it when I turned the lights on to get a picture. Not enough time to get a quick snapper unfortunately, but at least we know what the story is and that she still has the cubs.

Full and lazy

Yesterday afternoon the dogs lay around a waterhole, full as ticks. Their swollen bellies were even making it difficult for them to breath. However, it just takes one instigator and the rest fall in line, so before sundown they had a good old rough and tumble then off to find a spot to sleep. This morning was hectic and as I said before, one instigates the others follow suite. They had their eyes on the other side of that fence again, except this time one was determined to get out on the road.

Fat tummies

He found a spot where the ground had fallen away from the rains and made a dash for it. I managed to keep the others from going out at first, but I had to leave the fence open for the dog to come back in. Before I knew it there were five out on the tar road. Three buses screamed past almost flattening the pups, it was crazy! At least that gave them a good scare, in the mean time I opened up another way in. At first they were up and down the fence like Kangaroos, then eventually found their way back in, they’re kind of stupid that way.

Morning shadow

My heart had sunk into my guts by then, but then I could breathe easy with a feeling of relief. After that it was business as usually, hunting up and down the fence line, but they had to settle for what looked like an abandoned kill, which Jiggy had commandeered. The vultures were already swooping in, but they didn’t stay long as the dogs demolished the carcass in front of their eyes. In the afternoon, the vultures also tried their luck, but the only thing they got was a mouthful of something a little more processed.

Telephone Sunrise

Wild Dogs Fenced: Video

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Wildcaster
on March 23, 2009
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It was still dark this morning when I set out and cold enough for me to rap myself in a scarf and gloves. Still talking to myself about how wounded I felt because I was unable to bring tea along with the electricity being out, I found out where the elephants had moved to. Totally unhappy with me discovering their hideout, they trumpeted and snorted until I moved along – even further north.

Sunrise Dog

It didn’t take long for me to locate the dogs, they had not moved since last nights kill. I crept into their sunny spot and enjoyed the company as the sun rose above the trees. The light was amazing reflecting off the dew lying heavy on the long grass – perfect photo opportunities.

Dappled

They didn’t hang around too long and headed north into the fence line – snookered! This was confusing for them, they looked curious to find out what all the music and commotion was all about in the tribal land across the road. The dogs lost interest and before I knew it we were hunting in stump city.

Candelabra Tree

I veered back onto the road and followed them until they came to a stand still. They had taken down a male Impala; the pups had basically demolished the carcass. Puzzles was pushing in to feed, but the pups closed the gap and chased her off, social order is social order I guess - just like “rules is rules”.

Young Zebra Huddle

Hyena on Patrol: Video

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Wildcaster
on March 23, 2009
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The sky has made an appearance, a cloudless morning with a dour little chill in the air. I headed for the hills in an attempt to catch the dogs heading out to tend to their stomachs. They didn’t seem to move at all yesterday, so I envisioned a mammoth walk about this morning. The problem was that I just could not seem to get a lock on those dogs, so as I was circling the area in the hills I bumped into two hyenas.

On alert

They were a little uneasy being shadowed at first, but settled in eventually and carried on with their business. They seemed to be walking the perimeter of their territory, much interest was shown to any foreign smell. These are the best moments in the wild, when the animal carries on as normal and one is able to observe first hand the animal behaviour you read about in books.

Hyena Patrol

In the afternoon I began seeing the usual herds of zebra, impala and waterbuck coming out the woodwork again. The elephants have high tailed it out of the hill area it would appear, this is a pitty as I have been enjoying their presence.

Trophy

After a few checks in the usual spots for the dogs, I realized they must have taken a gap somewhere. Just when I felt a little lost as to where to check next, some scouts spotted the dogs on an Impala kill – good news! By the time I was in the area, the sun was down, but at least I have a starting position for tomorrow – if all goes well, I will fill you in on their escapades in the morrow.

Can you see the face?

Lion Titbits: Video

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Wildcaster
on March 22, 2009
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For me, it has been a few weeks of endless searching for some lion action. Manyari seemed to have dropped off the face of the reserve, but I eventually found some tracks of a lioness and two males, which had to be our lions. After many a night out in the bush, I eventually caught up with Manyari, but she was in the river bed of the Mahunde – it was impossible to get in there! I waited through the night for her to come out the river bed, but she pulled a fast one on me and disappeared again, at least I know that her transmitter is still working.

Tired.....

So that is what I have been up to while Kim has been sticking to those dogs. I ran across the other pride of young lions, and managed to drive with them while they hunted, even as I’m writing this blog I can hear the lions calling down at the dam – nothing like it! Kim and I tried to get to the dogs this morning, but they were stuck in the hills, still full from two impalas last night. Even this afternoon they didn’t bother moving. They obviously knew the rain was on its way as I was still putting my cover over the vehicle when the rain came bucketing down.

Teenagers!

In fact, all the animals just disappeared late in morning already, I still tried to find the elephants that I had driven past an hour before and they were gone. The elephants have been hanging around Malilangwe dam and in the hills nearby, many people on the reserve are too scared to drive past them as they can put on quite a performance when they know you are hesitant.

Woodlands Kingfisher

I will be up early tomorrow and hopefully the dogs will be also, but maybe they know that it’s the right thing to do - what I mean is, one must take it easy on the weekend.

Peaceful dog dawn: Video

Published
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Wildcaster
on March 21, 2009
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After all that running around last night, the dogs must have killed cos they looked mightily full this morning and had a good lie-in in the hills.
Eventually they did move further into the hills but were really just moseying around until they bedded down for the day. I bedded down with them having spent the last few hours strolling through the hills with them. Just so cool to walk with them like this. And then falling asleep with the dogs sleeping only meters away.

Down there
I left them for a couple of hours in the middle of the day to go paddling on the dam. With the cool overcast weather the dam was like glass. I just love paddling in these conditions being almost mesmerized by the sharp nose of my kayak slicing through the water. Takes me into a different world, not that I want to be cos the very world I’m in right now is bliss.
Spud was in the hills not far from the resting dogs. He’s in musth at the moment and being a rather grumpy boy.

Spuddy buddy
I joined the dogs again in the hills, still sleeping. I caught another nap.
It was still overcast and cool, and having been sleeping most of the day, the dogs were off to an early afternoon start. I followed them south in the hills for a while, but once they reached the flats, I knew they’d soon be hunting at pace and went back to collect my vehicle.

Lone canyon
The impala were all there on the flats just as they arrived and the chase was on. Dogs everywhere, impala everywhere. Some standing around looking bewildered wandering what had just gone through there. A tornado?
I caught up to Jiggy, Puzzles and Zip having just caught a young impala. They all fed well, when the other pups all arrived bloodstained and most of them carrying a piece of their kill.

Happy meal
With another 2 kills down the pack were again back to bed with full tummies. They past Nhanga pan on their way up to the hills soon after sunset.

Last drink
It wasn’t a very active day for the dogs. Actually a very successful and easy day for them for a change. Sleep all day. Wake about 4pm. Stroll down the hills for half an hour. Chase impala for 3 to 4mins at high speed. Feed for an hour finishing all the scraps. And then stroll back up the hill for another 24hr sleep.