Weekly Cyberdiary

Mashatu Game Sightings 17 - 22 March 2008

Sunday, 16 March

We set out with a cool morning breeze against our faces as we drove through the game reserve. Many animals were already out and about and not far from camp we came across a herd of wildebeests moving through the grass. At Crocodile pool the new pride of lions was found fast asleep. It is amazing to see how quickly these lions accepted the vehicles. Another lioness, most likely a female from the Majale Island pride, was seen close by at Kanda waterhole also resting in the early morning sun. A herd of nearly 50 elephants came down to Crocodile pool while we were there for a drink and suddenly the lions were far more wary and rather nervous of so many elephants.

We met up again with the four lions near Crocodile pool along the Majale River on our afternoon drive. This time the two males were once again mating with the two lionesses. The highlight of the evening, however, was a sighting of a magnificent female leopard just after sunset. She was on the prowl and we followed her for sometime as she moved along the Majale River near White Cliffs.

Monday, 17 March

A cloudy, cold morning as we set out on our drive. The lions had moved towards the water tanks where we tracked them down. The older lioness had once more joined the group and all were fast asleep when we arrived. At Crocodile pool, along the Majale River, we came across a young male leopard on the move. As he moved along the riverbank a troop of baboons barked at his movement, warning every animal that would listen that there was a predator around. A herd of elephants was also on their way towards the Majale River and we waited along one of the elephant paths for them. Not long after the whole herd walked right past our vehicle. What an amazing experience!

It was a brilliant afternoon drive with lions, leopard and hyenas seen and most of it before the sun set.

Tuesday, 18 March

It is still very chilly and overcast but it was a great morning to be out in the African bush. This morning on the drive we had a great sighting of a herd of giraffes feeding next to the road. One of the big males literally looked down on us as we passed him on the road. A family of bat eared foxes was a definite highlight. We also had great sightings of all the general game on offer at Mashatu from herds and herds of impala to families of zebras and herds of wildebeest. Near Dispute Corner we met up with a herd of about 15 elephants drinking in the river. Our next visit was to the Long Grass hyena den. Here we found a total of 8 hyenas including a few of the sub adults all resting outside the den.

This afternoon was still cold and windy but this did not deter us from exploring the reserve. High up in the reserve near the Tuli Circle we found a lone cheetah feeding on her impala kill. Elephants were also out and about and we spent some time with a large herd of about 50 elephants near Majale Cocktail spot. Our night drive back to camp was as exciting with a good sighting of an African wildcat hunting in the long grass and a large spotted genet in an Acacia tree.

Wednesday, 19 March

What an amazing morning. We set out with Jeanetta, the elephant scientist, in search of her study animals. To the west of Main Camp we came across a group of elephants walking through the thick mopane thicket. We stopped ahead of them and slowly the herd moved past us. Jeanetta identified the herd as that of Charge. One of the dominant cows walked right past the back of the vehicle and fell asleep no more than a few meters from the vehicle. While watching the herd a lone hyena strolled past in the distance. The next herd was seen along the banks of the Majale River. This was the herd of Funny Face. As we approached the herd two hyenas came running towards us, spooking the herd just a little bit. We watched this herd for sometime, watching the two new babies in the herd playing with each other. While watching the elephants a big male leopard climbed up a tree with a leg of a baby kudu in his jaws. We abandoned the elephants for a while and set off after the leopard which had by now moved into the long grass. After some spectacular off road driving by our ranger we found the male leopard again crunching on the bones not in the least bit bothered by our driving. A highlight this morning was three cheetahs playing.

This evening we tracked down the lions near the old Jwala weir after a long intense tracking session following fresh tracks this way and then that way. The young male leopard me saw on the morning drive was still in the vicinity and we had a great sighting of him feeding on the kudu calf he caught in the morning.

Thursday, 20 March

As we set out on our morning drive we watched the sun rise and with not a cloud in the sky today will be a hot day. We found the lions again this morning, this time near Hamerkop Crossing along the Majale River. But this morning we also spent time on the little things, learning more about the amazing bird life in the reserve and even looking at a few of the critters on the ground. Our ranger pointed out all the colourful birds for us and we learnt how to distinguish some of the birdcalls. Zebras and wildebeest were plentiful and along the bank of the Majale River near McNiels pool we found three big eland bulls feeding on the lush riverine vegetation.

Friday, 21 March

Today started off overcast and drizzly as we set out on our drive. It has been promising to rain for a few days now and maybe today we would receive some. But alas by the end of the morning drive the weather started clearing and even though it remained cloudy for most of the day we received no rain. The lions had moved once more and this time we found then lower down on the Majale River near Church Mashatu. The baboons alerted us to the presence of the lions with their continuous warning barks. Another great sighting this morning was that of a giant eagle owl high up in a Mashatu tree. Elephants were everywhere and we drove through several herds during our game drive.

What an exciting afternoon drive we had. We found the three cheetahs again and watched them kill an unfortunate impala, while the lions in the mean time had killed a warthog. While watching a herd of elephants one of the young babies got a piece of stick stuck in its mouth. It went crazy and immediately elephants from all over rushed to the young baby in a panic. Elephants were trumpeting, milling around and eventually the stick was dislodged and all returned too normal. Near Kanda Rock camp we spotted an illusive leopard walking through the thick undergrowth along the river and we only had a quick glimpse of her before she disappeared.

Saturday, 22 March

This morning we once more set out with Jeanetta, the elephant scientist. Not far from the Main Camp we located our first elephant herd for the morning. It was the herd of Ilze. She had given birth a week or two ago to a little male and this morning we had a great view of mom and baby. Ilze and her tiny baby walked right past our vehicle with the whole herd in tow. We followed the herd for the morning all the way to the Majale River where they stopped for a drink before continuing towards the lower part of the river and the thick riverine where they spent the rest of the morning. Near the Majale River we also encountered yet another herd. This was the small family of Diana walking and feeding along the river’s edge as they went along.

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