After the good rains yesterday the elephant herds moved back into the sandveld they so love when it’s moist.

They can stand around for ages digging and throwing the moist red soil over themselves while Chipfongwe falls into these holes getting in the way rolling around.

Of course further south in the clays the rain had filled up a number of mud wallows and as soon as temperatures showed any tiny sign of getting hot, the herds ducked into a wallow.

I think I too have to master this art then at least I won’t be cooking in the heat.
While following the elephant I disturbed a pair Wahlberg’s Eagles on the ground. They took off and on investigation I found they had killed this European Roller which they had been feeding on.

When the elephant kept moving south into the clays I abandoned them.

Arriving at Lojaan dam soon before sunset a lone hippo started displaying for me. Or rather at me in the vehicle. It was fun to watch him open his mouth as wide as possible as if yawning, but it was a dominance display to say watch out I’ve got a big jaw and big teeth. Then he jumped half out the water only to crash back in again. And when he wasn’t doing that he would surface in spray of water. Quite the display. But then he is just a young bull all on his own trying to make it in the world.

(Earlier in the day I had been challenged by a 22year old American guy working here as a volunteer for a few months. How rude of him to want to challenge me, more than twice his age! This challenge has been on for several weeks now and soon became America vs South Africa. The challenge was to kayak around the Malilangwe dam, about 20 minutes and then a 6km run. He sure was a confident fellow with a big mouth, but lots of fun! Unfortunately he let America down badly in both events!!! Now he’s calling for a mandatory drugs test! Next he’ll be calling his mother.)
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