Greetings,
We had some good sightings these couple of days and here I am to tell you once more...
Saturday the 12th of March we decided to go and walk at Ngwenyeni Waterhole and while driving in the dark and Double Banded Sandgrouses and Nightjars shooting up in front of the vehicle we found a herd of Buffaloes next to the road. After watching them we got closer to the waterhole and suddenly saw a big cat figure next to the road. The Leopard quickly went and hide behind a bush while looking at us, over the bush. Eventually it became more relaxed with us and crossed the road and disappeared between the long grass and Francolins sending out their alarm calls.
On the walk we heard another Leopard calling and found 2 Wahlberg Eagles mobbing a Giant Eagle Owl. Close to the vehicle on our way back after breakfast below a big Marula Tree we almost stepped on a Boomslang, but think he got a bigger fright than us and sailed away very quickly.
That evening we found Elephants at Ngwenyeni waterhole and a lost Hippo behind the waterhole. At Shikumbu we found Zebras and Giraffes and at the Bush Braai site heard the Elephants taking a bath in Sable.
Sunday the 13th on our Morning Walk we again had the animal sighting luck, but not with the wind. As we started walking we got very fresh White Rhino footprints and later the dung and proceeded tracking them. We then got to a spot where a herd of Buffaloes crossed the Rhino tracks and not long after that found the Buffaloes. The wind wasn't in our favour, so they ran away, and as we tried to make our way around them, they ran again and again. Eventually after tracking the dust cloud in the air we managed to view maybe a quarter of the herd and once again after watching them for a few seconds they made their way down to the stream, where we got them for the 1st time. Just as we started walking up the slope I heard some Yellowbilled Oxpeckers and thought of our Rhino's and there they were. Unfortunately as with the Buffaloes they did the same. Ran away from the very stinky smell of Humans. Eventually we found a White Rhino Cow and her very young calf and left them for breakfast at a spring.
On our way back to the vehicle we found a part of the Buffalo herd again, and this time with more of a adrenaline experience.
Some of the Buffaloes jumped up and got away from us, but the 1 cow came charging into our direction. At this stage Johan was on my right and the guests behind us. As I shouted and loaded my rifle she stopped, turned around and disappeared behind a Mopane bush. Suddenly she made her appearance again, I shouted again and once more she turned and ran away and charged us again. After the 4th or 5th time, I saw some movement in the Mopane bush and realised by making out the back side and tail that it was her tiny little calf which was stuck!!!
I then just shouted to the guests "GO BACK!!! GO BACK!!!" and luckily the calf got loose and ran away with his mom. Ai that was a experience I have never had before and will never forget...
On the 14th of March at Shivhulani waterhole on that lovely Monday morning we had another walk and found a Elephant Bull. He didn't know we were there and just made his way passed us, and we viewed him from a safe distance. Along the stream we found a African Civet Cat running up the animal path and disappeared quickly like what cats can do best.
Monday evening on the Night Drive we found a Elephant Bull before Ngwenyeni waterhole and after giving us a mock charge he made his way to the water. We went on the Shikumbu and Sable Loop and found lots of Chameleons, Impalas, a Giraffe and a few Spotted Eagle Owls.
On the 16th of March I did the Bush Braai before I went on my off days and got some Elephant Bulls at Ngwenyeni waterhole, Giraffes, Zebras, Baboons and a Jackal at Shikumbu.
On my off days and while having my family for a visit we found Wild Dogs behind Masorini and back at work this morning on the Drive a Leopard about 400 metres into the Park.
Our other amazing sighting this morning was at Ngwenyeni waterhole where found 3 Spotted Hyeanas taking a bath in the water trough and saw the 1 had something in his mouth. Eventually after dropping it into the water and picking it up a few times I saw it is a Leopard Tortoise. 2 of them were playing, while the other 1 started crushing the shell for a morning snack and eventually they ate the Tortoise.
That will be it for now, until later...
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