Weekly Cyberdiary

Mashatu Game Sightings 02 - 08 March 2008

Sunday, 2 March

It’s been very hot in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve lately with thick clouds promising rain but not delivering any. We set out early on our drive to make the most of the coolest part of the morning. As we drove through the reserve we saw magnificently coloured birds and our ranger pointed them out naming them as we went along. A large herd of impala was peacefully grazing on an open plain with a large group of youngsters feeding together in the middle of the herd. Along the river we spotted a magnificent kudu bull with long spiral horns walking proudly amongst the mopane trees. Close to Moddergat a group of nearly 150 elephants were making their way towards the Matabole River and we stopped along one of the elephant paths watching the elephants walking past so quietly with only the odd rumble here and there. A lone jackal was already seeking out the shade of a small shrubby bush and only just looked in our direction as we drove past. By 9 O’ clock most of the animals were already seeking shade and we made our way back to camp, for the comfort of the air-conditioned rooms at the Main Camp.

An amazing afternoon for predators! Near Long Grass we encountered a lone lioness fast asleep in the late afternoon sun. As we approached she hardly lifted her head. What a magnificent creature with such huge paws! Not far from the lioness we visited the hyena den and were lucky enough to find one of the females with a young juvenile still at the den. Elephants were out in large numbers and we spotted two large herds with over 50 elephants in each herd on our drive. After sunset and some drinks on a nearby Koppie we set off again with the aid of a bright spotlight. Below the Main camp along the Majale River our ranger tracked down two leopards feeding on an unfortunate warthog. Definitely the high light of the evening drive!

Monday, 3 March

Not far from the Main Camp a very old giraffe bull died a few days ago and it did not take the hyenas and vultures long to discover the carcass. This morning we saw a total of 7 hyenas feeding on the carcass with dozens of vultures waiting patiently for them to finish. The lioness we spotted the previous day did not move far from where we saw her but now had a partner. A young male joined up with her and both were resting when we came upon them. At the vlei, while enjoying our morning tea we watched a herd of elephants walking into the vlei and feeding steadily on the vlei grass as they moved through the vlei towards Pete’s Pond.

A great afternoon drive with two baby hyenas at the den on the Matabole River, two different sightings of leopards, two large herds of elephants and then on our night drive back to camp a magnificent porcupine scurrying across the road.

Tuesday, 4 March

Today was an elephant morning with Jeanetta, the elephant researcher in the Tuli. A wonderful cool, slightly windy morning as we set out to find the famous elephants of the Tuli. The morning started off slowly with a few sightings of general game and then a big musth bull elephant right next to the road. We watched him for a while, with Jeanetta explaining to us what musth means and how to distinguish between bulls and cows. We continued our drive and not long after found one, and then two and then several herds of elephants walking out into a clearing not far from Cheetahs Koppie. Jeanetta identified the herds as they moved past us, pointing out a baby that was born just over a week ago. In total we saw more than 70 elephants during the morning.

Wednesday, 5 March

It started as a cloudy morning with threatening rain clouds. As we set out on our morning we came across the new pride of lions once more not far from the Main Camp. The young males were once more at it – mating with two of the young females.

The rain held until we safely returned to camp before a quick rain burst came down, just enough to wet everything before it disappeared again. By the time we set out on our afternoon drive the sun was shining and there was little sign of the previous burst of rain. The lions were still just below the Main Camp and after this morning’s activity completely exhausted and fast asleep. A group of wildebeests were cautiously grazing nearby keeping a weary eye on the sleeping lions. Amongst the Acacia trees near the Majale River we came across a small group of giraffes expertly picking the leaves from amongst the tall white thorns with their long tongues. Other game we saw this afternoon also included baboons, zebras and group of big eland bulls and a family of black backed jackals. Of course the elephants were out and about as well and we watched a small family of elephants feeding peacefully as the sun set.

Thursday, 6 March

The lions moved quite a distance over night and after a long tracking session we located them along the Nyaswe River near an old weir. The whole pride of 6 lions was present and again we watched the two young males mating with the lionesses. General game was plentiful and sitting on the banks of the Majale River we watched groups of animals coming down to drink, this included a herd of impalas, some kudus, a big bull eland and lots and lots of guinea fowls. Elephants were scarce this morning but there were plenty of other things to entertain us out on the reserve. Heading back to camp we drove past the giraffe carcass, encountering 12 hyenas feeding and squabbling over the remains.

Leaving the Main Camp on our afternoon drive we came across a small family of elephants close to McNiels Pool feeding along the river. The pride of 6 lions was still along the Nyaswe River when we visited them on the afternoon drive. Driving along the river our rangers spotted fresh leopard spoor and the tracking started, through this bush and under those but alas the sun set and tracking became impossible. Our ranger drove us up a nearby hill where we had an amazing vista of the African plains all round. Our night drive back to camp delivered some of the smaller nocturnal creatures including an African wild cat, a small spotted genet and a nightjar on the road.

Friday, 7 March

Our first stop this morning was to the west of the Main Camp where a bull giraffe died several days ago. By now there was little left, but still the hyenas, vultures and Maribu storks were around cleaning up the last of the remains. This morning we saw close to 10 hyenas still feeding with vultures picking on bones and skin a safe distance from the hyenas. A small family of elephants was making their way towards the Majale River near Lucinda crossing when we came across them. There were several youngsters in this group and one of the young bulls trumpeted at us as we drove past. A large group of wildebeest intermixed with a small family of zebras were grazing on the open plains below Disappointment Koppie. A troop of baboons was slowly making their way through a grass patch collecting seeds and fruits grunting to each other as they went a long.

Again we set out on our leopard hunt, looking for fresh leopard tracks, but in the thick vegetation it is hard to locate these illusive creatures even if they are only a few feet away. Instead we found a family of about 20 elephants feeding just below Braai Koppie and spent our afternoon watching their antics. On top of Braai Koppie, with an amazing vista all around we watched the sun go down, and shortly after set out again in search of some of the more illusive creatures of the night. A porcupine was first on the list. These creatures are a lot bigger in real life and those quills look formidable.

Saturday, 8 March

A magnificent sunrise as we set out on our morning drive. The lions were located near the Tented Camp and we headed north towards where they had been spotted earlier. Three lionesses were fast asleep as we approached and barely lifted their heads. The two males and one of the sub adult lionesses were not present. Driving towards the Majale River we came across a large group of giraffes feeding on the top leaves of some of the shepherd’s trees in the area. A group of about 20 elephants was drinking near Three Mashatu Dam in the Majale River. With the pools becoming stagnant again some of the elephants prefer to dig their own waterholes rather than drinking from the river. Driving along we gave a male ostrich a fright and saw him running off at full speed – never thought ostriches could run that fast! In the process the ostrich scared a small steenbok from its hiding place below a shrubby bush sending it running which in turn gave fright to a family of warthogs sending them running too. What a funny sight to watch!

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