 |
 |
| |
| |
January 2005 Dear All Already a whole month into 2005 and we are still experiencing some good rain and powerful storms associated with our summer season. There is no shortage of grazing for the herbivores and wonderful trees in leaf for the browsers. The bush is abundant with the sweet scented golden flowers of the round leaf teak. |
||
| |
The big herd of 400 buffalo has passed through our area several times in the last few weeks, looking healthy and fat. A large number of cows have calves at heel and many more are on the point of giving birth.
The guests have had wonderful viewing of them at the waterholes drinking with gusto and wallowing in the shallows. The terrapins could be seen moving like torpedoes through the murky water towards their targets, the underbellies of the buffalo, where with great relish they feast off the ticks! |
 |
|
|
For the Ximungwe pride of lions and 14 cubs, Christmas came again very soon! Two bull elephants had a vicious battle and one died because of the puncture wounds caused by the others tusks. The rangers recognised the dead elephant as one who had been giving them a trouble in recent days by its truculence. He was in musth. This condition, usually occurring in bulls between the ages of 25 and 40 years, is characterised by copious strong smelling secretions from the temporal glands and penis. It leaves them feeling particularly bad tempered and uncomfortable. It was a sorry sight for the guests to see the carcass of such a magnificent animal lying in the road, but they seemed able to detach themselves from this by the incredible lion sighting it produced. Four of the females with 10 of the cubs arrived on the scene within hours. One ranger had slit opened the back of the carcass to make feeding easier and to prevent gas build up within the body cavity. The cubs were clambering over each other and scrabbling on each other’s backs for leverage to the higher spots. Three of them had their own battle for the tip of the trunk although their sharp little teeth did not make much leeway with the thick skin. While this feeding frenzy was going on, the trees surrounding the area were thick with vultures waiting their turn. After 2 days, with the heat, even the lions had to admit defeat and gave way to the vultures, hyenas and maggots. |
|
 |
|
|
The incredible lion viewing continues and seems to dominate at the present. The rangers found the female leopard, Mambiri, up a tree on an impala kill. After they had positioned the vehicles for a good view, she suddenly became agitated and took off. As she has always been very relaxed with cars, this seemed unusual behaviour for her. The rangers tried to follow her but she hid herself nearby in the long grass of a donga so she was barely visible although still within sight of the kill. Within minutes, the lionesses of the Ximungwe pride began to appear one by one, having picked up the scent of the kill. Mambiri had placed it in the highest branches of the tree. |
|
|
 |
The guests watched in amazement as one of the younger lionesses climbed up to the first branch and sat precariously, showing little of the leopard’s agility. For about half an hour she growled at the other lionesses below - as for lions possession is nine tenths of the law. She kept glancing longingly at the kill high above her but everyone except her knew that it was impossibility. Eventually she made a very ungainly descent and one by one, each lioness took her hopeless place. Last but not least, and, equally unsuccessful, the big male took his turn. As darkness fell, they gave up their desperate quest and Mambiri was able to return and finish off her meal. |
|
And even more on lions! We now know that the Sand River Pride further north on the property in the Sand River also have cubs. We think that there are about eight of them and very much look forward to more cub viewing. |
|
| |
The hot weather has brought many wonderful sightings of elephants swimming in the dams and dusting themselves on the banks. This is usually with a lighter coloured soil that reflects heat. We have continued to have special viewing of breeding herds with young ones. It is an amusing sight to see the young, when left behind, rushing off after their mothers, their hind legs almost under their ears, roaring in frustration and tails cocked in alarm. We have also been seeing a mother with twins, which is quite rare with elephants. |
 |
|
 |
Earlier in the month, there was some wonderful viewing of the female leopard, known as Dayone, and her tiny leopard cubs. She had hidden them in a rocky outcrop but their curiosity would get the better of them with the arrival of the Land Rovers and they would come out of their hiding to watch the guests. Then they would continue their rough and tumble and childish antics, providing awesome photographic opportunities. Her exact whereabouts are currently unknown although tracks have been seen in the same area. |
| |
As mentioned last month, we are attaching a photo of the leopard cub feeding and swinging from the kill that was caught up on a lower tree branch. We have been very lucky with cheetah. It has been almost a daily occurrence for the guests to see one female with three adolescent cubs, another with two cubs, a very large male and another young male. The guests have witnessed several impala kills right in front of the Land Rover. |
| |
We take this opportunity to welcome Nordick back to our team as a tracker. Some of you may remember him as a barman who left us about a year ago. As he puts it, he has now “ come back to his roots”. He replaces Goodwill who has gone to join the police force.
We thank you all again for your continued support and are very happy to see so many of you returning to enjoy the Savanna experience. |
| |
 Warm Wishes Paddy and the Savanna Team |
| |
Copyright © Photographs taken by Paddy Hagelthorn and Neil Wright Wildlife Interactive |
| |
All contents Copyright © 1999 - 2005 Savanna Private Game Reserve Design by WebCatz cc |
