Africa Wild

We had a very nice lunch (check The Shed if you're ever in Cradock) with our friends, and it was the prelude to another fabulous afternoon in the park. Our plan was simple... head up the main road towards main camp & check Doornhoek Dam, then up onto Rooiplaat and down the Link Road in time to check Ubejane for foxes & aardwolf before heading out

Simple plans were changed
Doornhoek had lion right at the dam wall



Another young lion was also there, but made a quick escape - they still weren't too sure of vehicles



The lioness wasn't quite so concerned, and tried her best to prove that she was a dragon rather than lion



After hanging around at Doornhoek we realised that there simply wasn't time for Rooiplaat and the Link Road. Instead we went back down the main road so that we could do Ubenjane twice

On the main road we saw aardwolf number 274,563



Ubejane itself was a little bit quiet, but we thought we had gone along the loop just a fraction too early. Some good spotting discovered a couple of bat-eared foxes





The sunset made for some fantastic views over the landscape



The rest of the loop was quiet so we had sufficient time for a second pass. Along the main road between the Ubejane junctions we came across another aardwolf doing its thing



A herd of springbok came through which had the aardwolf concerned - they fluff themselves up to look as big and menacing as possible





However the springbok didn't fall for the trick and promptly chased the aardwolf which was funny to see



With the aardwolf clearly outwitted, we enjoyed the sunset before heading into Ubejane again

Did you see every aardwolf they have there?

More great sightings.

Flutterby wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:44 am Did you see every aardwolf they have there?

I think quite possibly

Fluffed up like that the aardwolf looks ridiculous

Funny to see a "wolf" being chased away by a springbok

Beautiful light in the scenery pics and nice to see something green

I found the other gemsbok...sorry, my brain cells have depleted...






The first lion pic is perfect, although maybe alien veggies in the foreground?

Lucky afternoon, Peej, and the last aardwolf does look quite big...difficult to judge their size from photos?

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:05 am Fluffed up like that the aardwolf looks ridiculous

Funny to see a "wolf" being chased away by a springbok

Beautiful light in the scenery pics and nice to see something green

Thanks Lis - yep the aardwolf aren't particularly brave

Richprins wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2020 6:12 pm The first lion pic is perfect, although maybe alien veggies in the foreground?

Lucky afternoon, Peej, and the last aardwolf does look quite big...difficult to judge their size from photos?

They aren't particularly big - but when fluffed up they do look a lot larger

I was sure that our second loop of Ubejane would provide more aardwolf & foxes as it was really getting dark. After about a km D blurted out 'Aardwolf... no cheetah!'. We weren't quite sure what he had seen as a herd of red hartebeest were running away and had our attention. But there just next to the car at the base of a tree was indeed a cheetah!!



He was up and moving so we quickly turned around to follow him. He spent a short while relaxing by the side of the road





But he seemed in something of a hunting mode so was quickly moving again and scanning the area







We have since learned that this is Mabula - the dominant male cheetah in the park













He was travelling east, and moved well off the road, but we figured he would cross the Wilgerboom river and come out the other side so after waiting a while we were rewarded with a last sighting of him before it was time to head off to the gate





On our way to the gate in the near total darkness (ISO 12800 makes the pics appear light but it really wasn't), there was time for one last aardwolf as well




During the day we had also been fortunate to spot this young chap

I think it's the most beautiful cheetah that I have ever seen

Good grief, Peej!

So you saw ALL the big and hairies in the park, are there leopard?

And it must have taken ages taking the collars out of every cheetah pic!

The low light on the cheetah creates a beautiful effect!

Thanks very much for another class installment with pro pics...they make all the difference!

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:56 pm I think it's the most beautiful cheetah that I have ever seen

He was a very handsome cheetah - very well built for a cheetah as well