WEEK IN PICTURES #25
It is week in picture time again and it is with great excitement that I wright this simply because of so much that happened during the week. Thus far it will be the largest selection of week in pictures since we started early-mid 2017.
Let’s start off with the most endangered carnivore in Southern Africa, Wild Dogs. A pack of 17 individuals made an appearance early in the week and since we have seen a few others scattered over the reserve. They move at quite a pace when active early mornings and late afternoons so to keep up with these athletes are nearly impossible, so to find them taking a break on the cool sand was a treat.
We had two cheetah sightings during the week, the first sighting was a male stalking a few impala but soon turned to the nearest shade but the second sighting was of a female cheetah and she came walking out of the thickets towards the vehicle to make sure we get a good look.
Not only did the predators cause a stir but a 2-3 month old black rhino calf took the spotlight as well. The little calf still being very dependent on his mother stuck close to her side but every now and then his curiosity took over and came closer to us for a better look.
These two white rhinos made their way across an open clearing on their way to their feeding ground, they briefly stopped in front of us but soon moved on again.
The hyena den, only found about 3 weeks ago, have been very active with many hyenas moving around. The one morning we counted 6 cubs and 8 adults at least. The cubs are all at the age were they venture a little further away from their den site exploring their surroundings.
A few small herds of elephant were in the reserve during the week. Elephants always seem to amaze everyone with their ability to dig up bulbs or even push a few big trees down to get to the green foliage, but most of all what they are able to do with their trunk.
Three lionesses of the Impalabos pride enjoyed a well deserved Kudu kill early in the week, the kill lasted them a total of three days. Bellies packed full of delicious meat they did not move far and were seen again at the nearest dam.
The Kudyela lionesses were mostly absent this week with only a few sightings enjoyed of them, early in the week we saw 5 of them together with a Machaton male but later only 3 were seen.
All 3 Machaton males were found together at the end of the week as they were mostly separate for the last two weeks or so. They had different agendas during the week as 2 of them were seen together but the third always with the females.
The 2 leopard cubs were not shy at all, coming out the thickets proudly showing their rosette pattern coats.
In between all the excitement this past week we had a few breathtaking African sunsets with a Gin & Tonic in hand.
