It’s a long haul all the way down to the dogs in the very southern part of the property. Close on 22kms. I was up extra early for the long drive south to be with the dogs when they awoke, and make it I just did.
The pack members were all very much in high spirits and Puzzles was back with them.
All were actively on the hunt and moving at a fair pace. The chase was on but dad had soon out sprinted the rest, leaving them milling around listening and waiting, and hoping dad had killed.
But not this time. The pack kept on the move north west and had soon crossed the Chiloveka River. I negotiated the Chiloveka without problem to come out the other side finding the dogs harassing a baby giraffe, only days old, that was standing between its mother’s front legs for safety. And what a safe spot that sure is. Any dog coming in close would be dealt a deadly blow with those kicks from mom.
Puzzles and dad, ignored the giraffe and moved on. Eventually the pups realised it was a stalemate and followed on after the folks where they flushed a hyaena in a ravine and had it running scared and screaming. We never did see it but the sounds were just awesome. The hyaena I think making a lot more noise than the punishment deserved.
The next challenge was the Mahande River with its vertical banks. No problem for the dogs but I had no option but to head the long way round only to catch up already having killed, eaten and continuing on north.
At the next pan the dogs called it quits as the sun rose higher and was already baking down on us.
With them passed out I rushed to get my vehicle sorted at the workshop and was lucky to have it ready for the afternoon’s run around with the dogs. But that never happened.
When we arrived with the dogs in the afternoon they were still sleeping off their long walk/run this morning.
In the late afternoon their ceremonial greeting followed its normal course and the dogs then spent the rest of the day milling around the pan, scaring themselves with their own reflections and pulling at sunken sticks only to scare themselves.
They really had no plans on hunting this evening and as the sun set slowly sauntered off east before resting as it got dark.
Tag Archive for 'hunting'
There was no sign of the dogs at dawn, but Manyari and Sjambok were close to Banyini AND mating again! And mating at quite a pace while Chahwihwi just had to wait it out in the wings as usual.
So my thoughts of Manyari having cubs come to an end and we have to wait another 3 months before we can hope for any cubs. Although I’m pretty confident Magwaza has cubs in the hills that we have yet to see. They must now be about a month old and it’s at least another month before they might venture out from their den.
The mating couple kept up their mating tempo and then headed out across Banyini plains where a herd of wildebeest took notice of them. Instead of running away, they stood around snorting their abuses at the King of Beasts. The lions sort of showed an interest but soon were back on the job, mating in front of a herd of about 20 wildebeest, and us of course.
When the couple passed out in the shade I took to the skies and Voila! I found the dogs right down in the south, just north of Malevula hills. The were running around playing. The bad news was I couldn’t get there though with the veld being so wet and those black cotton soils being impossible in the wet. So we had to let them be.
In the afternoon I was up in a helicopter taking photos of the landscape. It sure is so much easier from a chopper and pretty cool to be up there spinning around and doing all the things I can’t do in my microlight. In the last few days I almost feel I’ve been in the sky more than I’ve been on the ground.
It was back to the lions in the afternoon. And how did I know they wouldn’t be up to much else than a little mating here and there? And so their leisurely day moved into night as the couple barely had enough energy to coax each other on, get down to it only to collapse and pass out again.
Late yesterday afternoon I took an easy drive past the old favourite, Banyini Pan; there is just so much activity at the moment. This might not last with the grass growing tall and showers of rain to help it along. I was just in time to catch the young pride of lions from the South poaching on Sjambok’s territory – I would not want to be in their paws if they were caught out!
Lions are known to kill other lions in their territory, but I think they know the pride is moving up in the hills with cubs on the way, we hope. The interesting thing is that these guys were just as relaxed with us around as Sjambok’s pride.
After taking a few photographs of them lying sprawled out next to the pan, they were provoked by the sound of Zebra passing by. In typical lion style, each lion was waiting for the other to kick into action and catch themselves some dinner. At first I thought there were only four lions, but then as the hunt began we counted six lions. We don’t see much of these lions so it was good to spend time with them and hunt with them. They are really in good shape; the male is still young and does not even have a mane yet.
This morning was rescue the terrapin day. There is a pool of water we drive through to get to our house and there were a few very small baby terrapins inside. Each time a car came driving through, there would be a whole lot of paddling going on as they made a break for the bushes. I thought I’d give them a fighting chance and dropped them down at the dam. There were only two left to save, but at least they can now go on their merry way.
Kim is out flying to see if he can pick up on the dogs, I hope we see them soon, I’m getting withdrawal symptoms – hey, the thrill of the bush!
To witness lions doing anything other than sleeping, is just pure luck. Lions will sleep for up to 20 hours everyday and only become active in the late afternoon as the heat from the day disappear. This is a time for grooming and bonding with each other and like all children, the cubs will take every opportunity to play.
Adults will on occasion join in the fun after which they most likely will set off on their hunting patrols. Aware that night time is the best time for hunting it makes absolute sense to sleep through the heat of the day, spending as little energy as possible on anything.
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