It’s always just great being out here in the wilderness but when all the animals perform in front of you it’s an ultra special experience! Today was one of those very special days.
Of course the wild dogs were first on the agenda and we arrived there at dawn. BB’s pups were out wandering a fair distance from the den. I thought this was really brave or stupid of them as there were no other dogs around. Only about an hour later an adult suddenly appeared out of nowhere and fed the pups. Then we realised that the whole pack was around, lying under bushes a short distance from the den, close to where we found BB’s pups. So just when I thought I knew it all, presuming the adults and alpha pups to be out hunting, I was of course wrong!
With the dogs being out of action we were on the look out for more entertainment from Malilangwe’s other stars. Bandama pan (21 02.99 south, 031 57.41 east) was our next stop. With the cool weather not many animals came in to drink. Some warthog, zebra and impala made brief appearances. But the place was alive with doves and flocks of Red-billed Quelea coming in to drink and the occasional raptor diving in on them but without success. An immature Owambo Sparrowhawk also dropped in for a drink.
All morning we had been criss-crossing elephant tracks and finally they were headed west. We took our last chance and headed on to Chekwa pan (21 05.88 south, 031 53.21 east). Sure enough a breeding herd of elephant were already drinking. But what was really special this time was the elephant calf enjoying a mud bath while the rest of the herd stood around her watching and even helping her when she seemed to be having difficulty in the mud. But there was nothing stopping her. She wanted mud! And she wanted to be covered in mud! Rolling in it, falling in it, throwing it all over her body and just having a whale of a time. These little ones are just so playful and we can’t but help seeing our children in them in the way they just love water and mud.
While they were all peacefully enjoying themselves at the pan, the 2 big bulls there suddenly turned tail and took off. Of course the rest of the herd panicked too and disappeared. At first we were a little perplexed as to what had panicked them. Initially I thought they had caught our wind, but the breeze was fairly strong and blowing to us from them.
Then from the bushes behind us another herd of elephants were rushing on to the pan. They weren’t concerned about us at all. By why did the other herd spook at their approach?
This herd too entertained themselves in the mud including a bull with a floppy ear. He got right down into it, just like the calves. It’s quite something to see this huge beast rolling around at ease in the mud.
All psyched up we had to leave Chekwa and get back to the dogs. They had their first afternoon greeting ceremony and then headed straight out hunting. This was the earliest I’d had them go hunting in the afternoon, and BB led the way. She headed off at a brisk pace with all the adults and alpha pups following. What was the rush? Before long they had travelled about 4kms and were already at Manyuchi pan. Milling around here for a short while the pups seemed to be encountering water for the first time. Even the adults were cautious to approach the water. Maybe they were used to the flowing water of the Chiredzi with its hidden danger of lurking crocodiles.
BB took the pack on further south to about 6kms from the den. The alpha pups had never been so far from home and were now looking tired. BB and 2 adults disappeared up front while the rest of the pack including the Alpha male and female milled around, then headed back to the den with the pups. It was now well after dark.
Cassia abbreviata - another tree bringing on the signs of spring.
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