17 September 2015
We started
another safari and before we got to camp we already were viewing some iconic
animals: impalas, kudus, waterbuck and even buffalos were seen on camp
road.
Like most safaris
we then started with a sundowner safari. This was especially convenient since
the weather was perfect for a lovely sunset and overcast weather was predicted
for the upcoming days. Indeed they had an amazing sunset with amarula and a
view, so it was a great start of their safari. They also saw zebras, impalas,
kudus, waterbucks, buffalos and, most special, a pack of wild dogs and their
pups.
18 September 2015
It started as a
windy evening upon return from their sundowner and it continued during the
night: a change of weather. Therefor we woke up to a much colder and overcast
morning. Wrapped in winter outfits we set off anyway to add some more game to
our checklist.
Our first
highlights were sightings of elephant bulls. The first was our first elephant
seen and this guy was a bit cocky. At first he was feeding quietly on the side
of the road, but a car speeding by put him in a grumpy mood. After a headshake
at the cars in general he proceeded to feed of a bush with fresh green leaves,
but he had enough of the attention. So he decided to cross the road and when in
front of us he turned to check us out. However after some stern words he
continued on his way and started munching on a bush nearby, all calmed down
again.
Another bull at
a later sighting gave as a great show about how to dismantle a marula tree when
you are 6 tons. He wrapped his trunk around some of the high big branches and
then hang on it with his full weight. Understandably the tree gave way and the
branch would break. Then bit by bit it got devoured by the bull.
Our second
highlight was also a bull sighting but this time it was a buffalo.
Unfortunately
for this guy he was itchy. And apparently not just a little bit as at first he
used a silver cluster leaf tree to scratch his mouth. Then the rest of his
face. Other side needed to be done too, if course. Then the neck (and a dust
cloud came out of that!). We thought he was now done as he proceeded to cross
the road, but there with another tree he started scratching all around the boss
of the horn area. By now we had discovered three other bulls and apparently the
itch was contagious as two others started using trees as scratch poles too. As
not to get itchy from watching them scratch we decided to leave.
Other animals
seen: two separate families of common reedbuck, many steenboks, common grey
duikers, twice a herd of buffalos, sable antelope, giraffes, hippos, wild dogs,
white rhinos, kudus, waterbucks, warthogs, a herd of elephants as well as some
more bulls, impalas, zebras, a klipspringer and vervet monkeys.
Birds included
grey-headed bushshrike, twice a family of ground hornbills, green woodhoopoes,
forktailed drongos, Cape glossy starlings, grey herons, great white egret,
Egyptian geese, helmeted guineafowls, magpie shrikes, yellow-billed hornbills,
lilac breasted rollers, white-backed vultures, bateleurs, a juvenile martial
eagle, an African fish eagle, a pair of tawny eagles, multiple African harrier
hawks, yellow-billed kite, dark chanting goshawk, blacksmith lapwing, African
jacana, Burchell's starlings and, my personal favorite (as we hardly ever see
one), a trumpeter hornbill.
19 September 2015
Another cold
and drizzly day, but it didn't stop us. Yesterday we had great encounters with
many different species, today was a day of less species but great sightings.
This morning we stumbled upon our first cat sighting of this safari, when we
found three leopards. They were playing with each other like cats do, chasing
each other's tails and try to stalk and catch one another. One of the youngsters
actually climbed a tree and laid down for a photoshoot for a little bit, so we
managed to get some excellent pictures. But mostly it was just fun to watch
these cats play.
Our second
highlight was a sighting of wild dogs. These guests have been spoiled with the
amount of wild dog sightings, but this one was so action packed it was truly a
once in a lifetime. When we arrived at the sighting we just saw a couple of
wild dogs lying down, when a stranger turned up: a hyena. Wild dogs are daily
hunters and this lone hyena more of a scavenger than a hunter so he was trying
his luck to follow the wild dogs and look for scraps if they would make a kill.
At first he therefor stayed at a distance but he walked closer and closer. Then
suddenly, as if he crossed an invisible line, the dogs got up and watched him.
Undeterred he kept on roaming around. Just as sudden the dogs had enough of his
company and started chasing him away. Seven against one isn't a fair fight and
surrounded by the dogs the hyena chose to get a little more distance between
them, but not before he had been given a couple of bite mark on his rear
end.
The dogs kept
up a chase on and off for about 10 minutes, twice completely surrounding the
hyena. After they had given the message loud and clear, they moved off. They
started playing amongst themselves and eventually lay down to rest for a while.
However the hyena never waivered away completely, abiding his time to maybe
have an easy meal. Then the bites would all be worth it.
Other animals seen:
impalas, a herd of buffalos as well as some lone bulls, four separate sightings
of common reedbuck (which is actually not common to see), a steenbok couple,
kudus, common grey duikers, waterbucks, giraffes including a tiny baby trying
to drink from mum, another hyena sighting, a cheetah, zebras, a herd of sable
antelopes crossing the road, elephant bulls, a small herd of blue wildebeests
and the same leopards a second time. And some new birds like a crested barbet
and a brown snake eagle were checked off the birds checklist.
20 September 2015
Another
miserable day when it comes to the weather. Compared to the last few days this
was the wettest and coldest one, but we didn't let it stop us as this was our
last game drive! This morning was a buffalo morning as we saw plenty of
buffalos all around. Twice we saw a herd of buffalos and many times just a few
scattered old males hanging around.
Our highlight
however was seeing a white rhino again. On our first morning drive we had seen
so many that we got complacent and took them for granted.
Immediately
put back down on earth the next day as we did not see a single rhino! So today
we could put it in perspective as we had two separate white rhino sightings.
One was a large male, quite close to the road where he stood relaxing, another
of a mother and calf just walking away while grazing.
Other animals
seen: common reedbucks (yeah, they stopped believing it is a rare sight to see
them), common grey duiker, a lone bull elephant with just one tusk, waterbucks,
giraffes, zebras, a hyena, a martial eagle, and plenty of kudus and impalas.
Then it was
time to say goodbye to Angelo, Benita, Sharon and Anita, who would end their
short holiday with a day in Johannesburg before returning home to Australia.
Thanks for joining us and it was a pleasure having you on my truck!!
