Monday, April 18, 2011

April Week 3 Highlights

We were greeted by a male and female white rhino on Main Mac as we left camp. The female moved off but the male was quite intent in occupying the road. 




A female steenbok was found close to Main Mac. She was very relaxed as she browsed on vegetation.


The lion viewing this week has been fantastic. The old lioness with the seven month old male cubs was found near Windmill Kruger.




Later in the week they were once again found in the Day One River. We watch as all three leapt across the water.




Towards the end of the week they were located on the north eastern side of Brass Monkey Donga. 




One of the Mapogo Males was located on the clearings at Nkombe Dam. We arrived at nightfall and we were treated to the male roaring. This has to be the most spectacular sound that one can hear at night from the African bush.


Tlangisa has been seen up near the Sand River. She killed an impala ram close to a large termite mound. She feed on it for a couple of days, only to be chased off the kill by Xikavi. Female leopard don’t enjoy intrusions from strangers.


Tlangisa was watching her kill being devoured from the safety of a nearby marula tree.


Xikavi was later seen rolling in buffalo dung. This behaviour is normal as they like to mask there sent with the dung of large herbivores.


The Balabas male leopard was lying up on a termite mound on the western firebreak near Kelly road.


Shinzele was chased up a marula tree by four lions, male and female.


The Banded Legged Golden Orb spiders are gradually disappearing as they seek refuge from the approaching winter.


The following morning four Ground hornbills were perching in an old tree. These birds are rarely seen outside of protected areas.


Male cheetah tracks were found on Main Mac. After tracking the animal, he was found resting on a termite mound. 


Late that afternoon, Makamisa was lying up on the clearings at Mackenzie Windmill with a full belly.



The wild dog sightings have been great. We followed the pack to Gorman’s kaya were they crossed Newington Road. They killed a young Nyala before heading west to the den.






A young bull elephant was in full musth. He seemed quite relaxed as he walked towards up on Dumfries road,


The large herd of buffalo was seen on Johnsons Mumba Drift. A Red-Billed Ox-pecker was on the back of a male buffalo.


As we crossed Little Serengeti / Main Mac junction Metsi and her two cubs were heading east. We followed them to an impala carcass. As usual there was a lot of competition at the carcass.






The Kishane male attempted to kill a large male warthog. He missed and the warthog made a furious escape.



We had a very close sighting of a male hippo at Schotia Dam. He seemed quite relaxed close to the vehicle.


The pregnant female Burchels Zebra still has not given birth. She looks extremely uncomfortable.



After tracking a male giraffe we had a great sighting. The tall male was blind in one eye, but was very relaxed.


The birdlife at this time of the year is still prolific. Cattle Egrets, Lilac-Breasted rollers seem regularly.



A juvenile Martial Eagle was seen at Shona-lee Dam.








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