Weekly Cyberdiary
Mashatu Game Sightings
23 - 29 March
2008
Sunday, 23 March
A hot day in the park with slightly overcast skies. At Nyaswe Borehole
about 50 Elephants are making their way to parts unknown. Slowly strolling,
their big grey bodies stand in hulking contrast to the (yellow landscape).
Meantime a trio of lions settle in at Dead Croton. The male and two
lionesses choosing to avoid the heat of the day by taking it easy.
They must rest up for the nights work. The rest of the park is busy
this morning. Herds of impala munch away on crispy grass, occasionally
standing at attention to investigate a questionable sound. A handsome
pair of Jackals finds shade in a tree nearby and to far off a statuesque
eland darts from behind a bush.
Monday, 24 March
Somewhat cooler today but the skies remain slightly overcast. The
morning brings a rare early sighting of a male leopard at Braai Koppie.
He is on the move, perhaps looking for a cool spot to tuck into and
rest for the day. At White Cliffs a rather large group of hyenas gathered
in the rocky area where an old elephant died recently. About 17 hyenas
in all. At Croc Pool about 50 Elephants begin their day by taking
a quick sip from the cool water. Some choosing to drink straight from
the pool while others dig into the soft sand in search of their own
private watering hole. By the afternoon the group had moved on to
Moddergat where they got a bite and browsed a bit. Impalas are much
more visible now and the leopards start showing up as well. Close
to Croc Pool in the Majale a female relaxes in the late afternoon
while a male Leopard does the same at Kanda Rock Camp.
Tuesday, 25 March
The temperature rises once more and the sky has cleared offering little
reprieve from the searing African sun. This morning the hyenas and
the lions are resting. At Majale Island a male hyena prepares for
the heat of the day by doing absolutely nothing. The two male lions
and one female lion do the same at Long Grass. The Elephants however
are busy grazing and browsing near Kudugat. By the afternoon one female
Leopard is on the move at Longgrass, but an elephant calf is not.
Less than a month old, her small stature and lack of experience leaves
her stuck on a patch of thick, sticky mud. Her herd is a tusk less
one and though they tried to free her, their efforts were in vain.
Hyenas wait near by. Her herd lingers for a while, protecting the
little one as long as is necessary. Once the herd backs away from
the area the hyenas feast.
Wednesday, 26 March
The day begins cool but the temperature rises fast. Clearly the place
to be this morning if you are an elephant is Pete’s Pond. Nearly
75 elephants gather to drink from the cool pond while others graze
nearby. The young calves stay close to their mother’s side,
occasionally suckling. The older boys spend their time playfully sparring,
learning how to use their adolescent tusks. Meanwhile preparations
are underway for the release of wild dogs into the park. For now the
pack remains in an enclosed area and are fed a couple of times a week.
Today is meal day. As the dogs heard the ranger’s truck approaching
they begin to line up at the gate. They have become attuned to the
sound of the specific truck that brings them an impala. The luxury
of dining in is only temporary. Within a month they will have to fend
for themselves in the park. In the meantime though they enjoy the
meal. The Alpha male and female getting the choice pieces and other
dogs jump in later. “Runty” the runt of the last litter
(almost half the size of her brothers and sisters) jumps in as well.
When she can’t get the cut she wants she simply tries to snatch
a piece of meat from an older dog’s mouth. Though annoyed they
comply. Wild dogs often make sure their pups are fed first. After
a good meal the Alpha male and female feel a little affectionate.
Look out for a new litter of pups in June.
Thursday, 27 March
A cooler day in the park and the search is on for a wayward leopard.
“Matata, part of the Leopard research program, he wears a radio
collar but manages to sneak out of range regularly. Today the older
cat is nowhere to be found the radio collar proving useless, with
not even the faintest signal picked up. Perhaps, he’s wander
even further into the park looking for an area to call his own. Other
animals had no problem showing themselves. The slightly overcast skies
keeping the heat of the sun away for most of the morning. The elephants
and their young fed hungrily on the greenery as warthogs scurried
around with their babies trailing behind. A large herd of impalas
stormed across the horizon before stopping to grab a bite. Even the
watering hole behind Main Camp hosted a few visitors. First a family
of baboons stopped by for a drink. Their timing was poor though. They
arrived just as a herd of impalas meander toward the water. Like neighbourhood
toughs, the impalas claim the watering hole for themselves. The older
baboons, perhaps seeing they were out numbered, move away from the
water quickly. The younger baboons, to naïve to know better,
reach for one last sip of water before being quite literally run off
by impatient Impalas.
Friday, 28 March
Today is the day the elephants meet. About 75 of them gather in an
almost dry riverbed. Several herds and elephants of all ages including
many very young calves. The little ones play in the dirt, learning
for to use their trunks but never too far from mother. Some of the
calves are so exhausted from the activity the plot down in the sand
fast asleep. One cow gives her little daughter a quick slap on the
bum when the calf fails to wake from her slumber fast enough. Once
again the teenaged bulls have too much energy. They spar with each
other testing their strength and prowess with their tusks. In the
distance trumpeting elephants create a racket. Enough to frighten
three lions who have stumbled on a small herd of elephants and their
calves. The noise was enough to scare the lions off but Mother Elephant
makes sure they are gone by chasing them into the bush. In the afternoon
a Saddle Billed Stork poses and preens in the setting sun. His orange
striped bill complimenting the colour of the setting sun.
Saturday, 29 March
A magnificent morning with a female leopard resting high up in a Mashatu
tree near Croc pool on the Majale River. The elephants were once more
out and about with large herds drinking from holes made in the riverbed
with babies playing and young bulls sparring. Hyenas and vultures
were still feeding on the elephant carcass below Main camp, by now
only skin and bone left. The lion pride has made their way to the
Tented Camp and was sleeping as we arrived in the late afternoon.
One of the Majale Island pride lionesses was located at the vlei on
the afternoon drive.
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