What began as an ordinary early start in search of the dogs ended up a little extraordinary. It is not surprising that those wild dogs have moved off and disappeared like transparent phantoms in the night - without a trace. However, that did not stop me having a go at finding them, but my enthusiasm soon petered out when Kylie spotted some Elephant tracks in the road. I could hear that low rumbling sound they make. Soon we could smell their fresh dung and we knew they were close, but that does not guarantee anything in this thick bush. Heading East toward Chibi pan, I thought we might have been too late, so we parked and enjoyed some bird watching, which included: a Red-crested Korhaan, Three-banded Plover, a Red-backed Shrike and White faced Ducks.
For me, a really good Elephant watch has been scarce at Malilangwe Reserve and I really wanted to capture some of those little guys in the breeding herd. Heading south is like driving into an ocean of clay, so it was back to the main road out of there. Just when I hit the intersection, a midsized bull Elephant peeked his head out the bush…followed by a King sized big tusker!
They were a little weary at first with a succession of trumpet blowing and ear flapping, but then they let us be. We were surrounded by thirty to forty elephant coming out of the woodwork. The little guys were suckling on their mothers, while the entire herd indulged in some real graze for a change.
They were finding little mud pools from the rain and throwing the mud all over themselves, even rolling in the little pools. During the dry season they resort to browsing, but when the opportunity arises they really tuck into that grazing.
When they eventually made their way back into the thickets, we took a drive past the hill where Manyari was last seen and she was still in the area, we are hearing her call almost everyday now. We continued to the top of a hill overlooking Malilangwe dam – talk about ending the morning on a high note!
We seemed to have brought the rain with us on our return from South Africa to pick up supplies. Yesterday we only had one shower, but it was enough to have Kim return early from the dogs, soaking wet. After attending to a few things on my vehicle, I set out later in the afternoon to catch up with the dogs, but Kim was tracking them and left them running west into sum slippery terrain. The sun set to the sound of one of our lionesses’ calls echoing through the hills – feels good to be back!
Early this morning the rain set in and now I’m back to “sticking” to the roads. Unable to track the dogs through muddy terrain, I always enjoy seeing flowing water, so I was keen to check out how the dams were filling up. At Nduna dam the river was flowing into the dam and the water level was rising. What an awesome morning listening to running water, bird-life in abundance and the hippo snorting in the background! Just as I got comfortable, an ominous looking cloud crept over the horizon, which was when I felt it a good idea to expedite my morning drive.
A quick spin past Banyini and Nyari pan revealed some big herds of Zebra and Impala, with a few interesting looking butterflies to photograph. The great success of today, though, was in the afternoon when we were introduce to a new character – a male leopard.
Alan and the Malilangwe team have managed to tag him, so we will have a lot more time to spend with him.
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.
The Elephants spent their hot days around Chinzwini, cooling off in the muddy wallows filled by recent rain. The herd seemed to come from all directions as more and more Elephant came for a drink and wallow. The youngsters like always, took the opportunity for loads of fun, splashing and playing in the mud…
Elephant herds can consist of numerous individuals and the herds often split up and go in different directions. It is usually at places like these mud wallows and drinking spots that they meet up again. This is a spectacular affair of greeting. Rumbling, trumpeting and touching each other to strengthen bonds between them.
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