Monthly Archive for April, 2009

The dogs were on the go early this morning moving out at first light.
We got there to find them already north of last night’s position. They kept a north and we went round on the track hoping to find a better way. Eventually we had to do it cross-country and my trusty Toyota didn’t let me down.
But we didn’t catch up to them till they reached a track, Murphy at his best.
Then it was down to the Chiredzi River. This time Toyota couldn’t make it down the vertical bank, only my personal 4wheel drive was going to work this time.

I moved onto the sandy river and followed the dogs up and down as they seemed to be searching for a place to cross. But the river was up and wide in places. There was no way they would cross and anyway, what is the attraction that side?
The dogs would stop and stare at the water for ages, nervous to go any closer. So they moved further upstream and did the same. Then back downstream, then upstream again. This was Puzzle’s being indecisive and all just followed, including me. It was wonderful to have the pups playing all around me and seeming to be totally happy with my presence. Not so with Puzzles and Jiggy, they kept avoiding me.

I was just loving being with the pack like this, almost like a pack of domestic dogs following me.
Puzzles continued with her river staring and the others joined. All obviously nervous of the water and crocodiles.
Then Puzzled took them across some shallow water onto an island. They stayed here for ages looking west. The river here had narrowed to about 5m but was deep and flowing strongly. To my complete surprise Jiggy crossed, having to swim the last couple of meters. Then Puzzles followed and the pups were hot on her heels. On reaching the other side the dogs all turned to stare at where they’d come from. Was one of them taken by a croc? I had seen a croc enter the water a while ago about 100m upstream.

The pack now headed west and that was the end of me following them. The river is too deep for me to cross by vehicle and it seemed pointless following on foot.
It scares me again that they’ve moved across the river. Right in the west the snaring is really bad as this is out of the reserve’s control area.
AND was one of the dogs taken by a croc?
What is the big attraction that side as they’re always wanting to cross. Hopefully they feel the same way about crossing back onto Malilangwe.
We went in search of lions and elephants.
Some elephant were wallowing close to Lojaan dam, this little guy having so much fun.

Further on this bull was managing to feed himself pulling creepers off the bushes. You will notice the lower end of his trunk is paralysed. He’s got floppy trunk syndrome. It causes paralyses in part of the trunk and is caused by the elephants eating one of the Indigophera species of plant. Eventually after time they usually regain the use of their trunk.

Later in the afternoon we headed into the deep south looking for lions. At Chiloveka dam all these Marabous Storks were lined up along the bank as if in conference. Their crops were all full and could probably have been feeding on the outbreak of armoured crickets in the area.

While they were having a sedately time, the swallows were loving their late afternoon bath, dipping into the water while still on the wing.
Heading back home after sunset, Sjambok and Chahwihwi paid us a visit on the main track. They followed the track north for ages, stopping only to mark on bushes. Chahwihwi also pleasured himself in eating fresh buffalo dung before rolling in it. The King of Beasts will lower himself to eat anything.