Not only Flora, but all Kingdoms have begun their preparations. The diminutive chameleon has just completed its mating season and now, like emaciated leaves rolling across the dust covered Earth, they trudge along in the hopes of finding enough sustenance to replenish their spent reserves. While doing so, great shadows pass overhead as elephants gorge themselves on the bountiful marulas and figs as they lay strewn beneath their patient guardians.
1 - 2 February
While herbivores make an easy meal of summer, our beloved cats are taking full advantage of the inexperienced calves and fawns frolicking in the face of adversity, with waterbuck and impala on last night and this morning’s menu.
Thandi and Bahuti (female leopard and cub) were found yesterday on a plain littered with thick-stemmed marulas, both up different trees and each feeding on their own portion of waterbuck calf. Curiously, waterbuck have acrid sebaceous glands all over their skin which renders the meat unpalatable to all but the most liberal of palates but seemingly not pungent enough to deter these feisty opportunists.
As the sun set over this epic backdrop we moved off for sun downers which we spent amicably watching over a herd of elephants.
This morning saw Xivambalane (male leopard) being his usual self, nestled deep in some thick bush with all but a handful of rosettes on offer. It didn't take long to identify the cause of his lackluster as he leap up, on guard at the approach of a curious hyena.
Interestingly enough he showed no quarter and soon stood paw to paw with one of Africa’s most powerful predators. Staring eye-to-eye, the standoff didn't last long with the hyena opting to give confrontation a miss and marching off with reason and pride both intact.
Upon closer inspection of our surroundings we discovered a young impala wedged in the fork of a rain tree. Testament to Xivambelane’s continuing success as a young, confident male.
En route home we encountered a young elephant, no older than ten being my guess, but all alone without any supervision. He was at the time, feeding on Marulas which makes me wonder, was he so engrossed in his feast he didn't notice his family moving on? Or has he been separated from the herd through nefarious means somehow? Either way, it doesn't bode well for the little feller and I sincerely hope his mother finds him before he gorges himself on one too many a marula and accidentally staggers into a marauding pride of lions!
Other sightings included; side-striped jackal, serval (next to our parking bay), white-backed vulture, chameleon, eastern green snake, Specke’s hinged tortoise, burrowing scorpions (excessive rainfall has disrupted their fossorial lifestyles), Jacobin cuckoo and a lone Gabar goshawk raiding the masked weaver nests next to our bar!
Thandi and Bahuti (female leopard and cub) were found yesterday on a plain littered with thick-stemmed marulas, both up different trees and each feeding on their own portion of waterbuck calf. Curiously, waterbuck have acrid sebaceous glands all over their skin which renders the meat unpalatable to all but the most liberal of palates but seemingly not pungent enough to deter these feisty opportunists.
As the sun set over this epic backdrop we moved off for sun downers which we spent amicably watching over a herd of elephants.
This morning saw Xivambalane (male leopard) being his usual self, nestled deep in some thick bush with all but a handful of rosettes on offer. It didn't take long to identify the cause of his lackluster as he leap up, on guard at the approach of a curious hyena.
Interestingly enough he showed no quarter and soon stood paw to paw with one of Africa’s most powerful predators. Staring eye-to-eye, the standoff didn't last long with the hyena opting to give confrontation a miss and marching off with reason and pride both intact.
Upon closer inspection of our surroundings we discovered a young impala wedged in the fork of a rain tree. Testament to Xivambelane’s continuing success as a young, confident male.
En route home we encountered a young elephant, no older than ten being my guess, but all alone without any supervision. He was at the time, feeding on Marulas which makes me wonder, was he so engrossed in his feast he didn't notice his family moving on? Or has he been separated from the herd through nefarious means somehow? Either way, it doesn't bode well for the little feller and I sincerely hope his mother finds him before he gorges himself on one too many a marula and accidentally staggers into a marauding pride of lions!
Other sightings included; side-striped jackal, serval (next to our parking bay), white-backed vulture, chameleon, eastern green snake, Specke’s hinged tortoise, burrowing scorpions (excessive rainfall has disrupted their fossorial lifestyles), Jacobin cuckoo and a lone Gabar goshawk raiding the masked weaver nests next to our bar!
No comments:
Post a Comment