Back from the Bush Braai, we had the Lion roaring at Sable Dam and our pack of Wild Dogs came running passed the Bush Braai site!!!!!
Back to the 2nd of January on my Bush Braai game drive- We saw 2 herds of Elephants, lots of Buffaloes, Zebras, Hyeanas, Spotted Eagle Owls, and while being at the Bush Braai spot heard the Lions roaring and afterwards found them behind Sable Dam- 2 Males and 1 Female, just lying down relaxing.
On the morning of the 3rd we found a Spotted Hyeana at Shivhulani waterhole as we started our walk and after a long search for something mammal wise we found 2 Buffalo Bulls. They unfortunately decided not to join us for Breakfast and ran away.
This was the morning that I dropped my camera, and still waiting to get it back from the repairers, to restart doing what I like alot!!!
On the Night Drive we drove to Reenvoel dam and back and had a big herd of Buffaloes close to the dam, and on our way back to the gate we found our 1st Elephant and saw a few Genets on the night drive too.
The morning of the 4th we bumped into a Elephant on the walk, and must say very close range- to close for comfort!!! Luckily he got as big fright as us, and decided to take the hare's road- (haas se pad), walked away very very quickly away from us. We also found some Baboons, Zebras and Impalas.
On the Night Drive it was definitely a night of all the small Giraffes, Impala babies and Zebra foals. It was sooooo special!!!!
The 5th of January on my 6 hour game drive we were again lucky with Elephant, Buffalo, 4 of the Big 6 birds, and drove to the Letaba River and back.
On the Bush Braai game drive found almost the same.
After my off days, believe it or not, but was back already for a month since my American trip and started with a Bush Braai of 110 pax. We found a Elephant Bull in musth, some Chameleons, Zebras, Giraffes, Buffaloes, but those cats are elusive!!!!
The 15th of January we found an Impala in a Apple Leaf Tree just after Masorini, but the Leopard apparently went and visit his girlfriend after getting tired of watching people climbing out of their vehicles trying to get photo's. So again our luck was out, but at least was part of the restaurant dinner.
On the 16th of January our new Catering Provider started and am really impressed up to so far. But they started with a 43 pax Bush Braai and if it wasn't for the Cyclone that started hitting us, we could have had the supper in the bush. On the game drive we found some Buffaloes, Martial Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, lots of Chameleons, and I think the sighting for the night was our pack of Wild Dogs at Ngwenyeni waterhole!!!!
On the 17th it rained over 100 mm's and David had to do a Full Day Game drive, shame man!!! Don't know what the guests sometimes think, but they at least saw lots, except the cats...
On my soaking wet Night Drive we also had luck with the normal stuff we normally seen around Shikumbu and the Hyeana Den. The nice sighting thuough was to see all the European Bee-eaters, Lilac Breasted roller, Fork Tailed Drongo fighting to catch the Termites that came out of the mount.
Wednesday the 18th on the Night Drive we saw lots of Elephants!!!! By this time it stopped raining a bit, but already had over 200mm's of rain.
During the 20th and 21st we had 2 Sunset Walks and 1 Morning Walk and on all 3 walks we found Elephants, but everytime a different sighting.
The first one on the afternoon of the 20th a Elephant bull that picked our scent up from the soil, and then he came walking up towards us, and turned after I shouted at him. At that stage I already had my guests behind a very thick Mopane Bush on a Termite Mount. The other amazing sightings to me on that walk was to see a dung beetle rolling his dung ball and watched him from beginning to end, how he buried it into the soil. We also later stopped for a Baboon spider hole, and as I was busy trying to fish it out, I heard this Spider Hunting wasp, but couldn't see him. After retrying to get the spider's attention I saw one of his legs lying outside the hole and realised the Spider hunting wasp was busy with its prey.
On our Morning walk from Erfplaas we found a big herd of Elephants and after we followed them for a while we decided to break for breakfast and it was then, when 2 seperate Elephant Bulls came walking pass, but the 2nd one was in musth. He tried to impress us 3 times, but after the 3rd time he turned away from us and as he wanted to come closer again he stepped in thick mud and it was actually soooo funny to see how his whole front leg sank away in the mud and believe that broke his braveness and he just kept on walking into the direction of the herd.
On our afternoon walk from Nandzana South we again found lots of Elephant Bulls, with Giraffes, Zebras and Impalas. The nice sighting here was a Bull that was busy taking a mud bath and with the wind blowing quite hard, he didn't know we were there watching him.
Sunday the 22nd Johan found the Lions on the Mopanie- Sable Dam T-junction on the Night drive.
Monday morning on the 23rd we saw lots, but as murphy wanted it, all far in a distance.
And then our other amazing walk with the Elephants yesterday afternoon from Nandzana, was just another special moment in the bush. We followed them for a while and eventually saw the whole herd, babies and all in a big open area. Some of them chasing each other around, some of them spraying themselves with dust, and some of them just doing what Elephants do best- feeding.
On our way back to the vehicle we stopped for some termites with Buffalo Dung and it was then when Craig interupted me saying, there's something behind you in the bush!!! Luckily!!!! As I looked around I just saw the tall legs, as thick as a Leadwood stump, grey in colour and white tusks appearing from the thick Mopanie trees. I just said to the guests go back, go back and we loaded our rifles the same time and me shouting to the Elephant Bull in musth. Luckily we were not on his menu for a afternoon snack, but the cow he was looking for and luckily kept on moving pass in the very thick Mopanie trees. Another adrenaline rush, and luckily finished and survived another moment in the bush.
And of course that is the end of my next report. Hope you all enjoyed it...
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