Humidity has been excruciating of late following 50mm of rainfall over the past week. Deep pools of water drench the soil while plants and spider webs are adorned with vapor droplets. Like crystal chandeliers they refract light in a dancing symphony while critters of all shapes and sizes scurry about, always busy in their own, personal scramble for survival.
A dung beetle slowly rolls his prize along the heat shimmered soil, occasionally climbing atop his mountain of gold to survey his surroundings and ascertain his course of action while his counterpart remains firmly fastened, unyielding in her grasp she rolls along for the ride, making no contribution but it matters not, for her greatest role is yet to come, the giving of life in a cycle unbroken.
Driving has become somewhat precarious of late with a plethora of creatures forever crossing the roads, we must needs remain vigilant in our pursuit of wildlife, never wanting to accidentally expunge a life unnecessarily as millipedes, scorpions, snakes, tortoises, giant land snails, chameleons and an array of insects intercept our paths!
It does however, make for an interesting drive, with so much to see and talk about, conversation is never found wanting. Ah, what a wonderful world we live in!
In amongst elephants and buffalo, we meandered to Big Dam where we stopped to take it all in, sharing a special sunset with hippos and water thick-knees, the latter making their all too familiar call, reaching a crescendo and then dying, somewhat alike to a car battery whose final announcement slowly descends into silence.
Sun downers adjourned, we drove along Seep-line where great fortune presented us with a female leopard known as Moya (Shangaan for wind). While following her on her quest to stake a claim on the land, I met a fairly unwelcome visitor upon my lap; a golden orb spider whom I had inadvertently dislodged from her sticky webbing. Not wanting to disappoint, I calmly remained on course behind Moya, keeping one eye on her and her chosen route while the other remained warily focused on the critter that had now made its way down my leg and to the peddles where, sandaled toes sat at the mercy of her kindness.
Fortune favored the brave this time, when Moya disappeared and the unwanted passenger was gently ushered out the vehicle with all my toes left intact. Thank you orb spider, I owe you one!
Elephants, buffalo and general game proliferated this morning with Xivambalana (male leopard) yet again making an appearance behind Chitwa Dam wall where he was found strangely enough, lying in the drainage line and soaking in very shallow water. I have to say this was a first for me having only seen a leopard crossing a flooding river to get to her cubs on the opposite shore once before. Xivambalana seemed to take no notice that he was getting wet at all. Maybe he should have been born a Delta cat?
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