Getting our Ellie Fix (March 2016)

[Lisbeth]

Ja, the smaller animals seem to be darker and more shaggy down there, maybe it's the cold?

It seems to be the other way around........
Maybe it's the heat?

[Flutterby]

The jumping jackal pics are lovely , and so are all the ellies.

[Mel]

Thanks nan, Lis, PJL, RP, Pumbaa and Flutts for your kind comments

I might get on with my MZNP report before you

We do know for certain now that you are indeed

Ja, the smaller animals seem to be darker and more shaggy down there, maybe it's the cold?

I would think so too

[Mel]

Let's move on with Addo's pest... the warthogs... They can be quite useful every now and then as you'll see later on
However, you basically fall over at least one of them once you enter the game area. Needless to say that after the novelty of seeing
ebbed - which was after a couple of hours, actually - only the close ups and interesting ones or those who happened to be at a sighting
of something more exciting were photographed.

For the closeness


For the piglets


For the suckling


For the laughter


For being at the right place the right time - Harpoor Dam


For the colour

[Mel]

But like I said: Warthogs can be useful too! One day we got notice that the cheetahs were seen on Gorah Loop close to Carol's Rest. We were still quite far south at that point but since we would stay in the Main Camp for the first night, we had to go up and check in there eventually anyway. Plus, there was nothing particularly interesting to be seen at that time anyways. So off we went to find the cheetah... Boy, when we arrived there, we thought we had ended up in Kruger At least 20 cars left, centre and right... And the cheetahs lying low. Well, we settled in to wait out everyone who was in a better viewing position than we were. Patience paid of and slowly but surly we were able to get closer to the point where we would at least see the cheetahs a bit better IF they ever bothered to get up. So far, all we had seen was a tail... but it was clearly attached to something as it was still moving and it looked suspiciously like it belonged to a spotted cat

While waiting we gathered that half of the two-legged population on Gorah Loop was sitting there and not even knowing where exactly the cheetahs were hiding But each to their own, I guess

Anyways... this boy gave me a short glimpse and lots of hope after having sat there for an hour



Another hour later it was the warthog closing in that got the cheetahs moving



They were obviously not that happy that the warties got a bit comfortable around the kill the cheetahs had made (we figured it was a hartebeest)


This one had obviously been the receiver of the hartebeest's struggle for its life. But late pix from PJL show that the cheetah healed fully again.





We sat with them for 3 hours straigth and still hadn't checked in at the Main Camp. When a guide arrived at around 4.30 pm we asked him until when we could do so.
He got all worked up and told us to leave immediately if we didn't want to be late. Well, gate time was 6 pm (or was it even 7? Can't remember anymore)
and the camp is about a 15 Minute drive from where we were Standing We went anyways though... nature's call was loud and clear after having spent almost the whole day in the car

[Lisbeth]

You found the famous clandestine cheetahs

[Richprins]

Mello!

You know warthog sometimes eat a bit off a carcass?

[nan]

and Cheetahs sighting

well done
like the Phacochere too

[ExFmem]

Love the "Jumpin' Jack(al) Flash", the impressive ellies and their 'lil ones, and even all the different stages of warthogs, , but the cheetahs....sigh...beautiful sighting.

[Dewi]

Aha! I knew you had a TT on the go somewhere Mel, it's taken until now for me to find it again.

I know, I know. I should have asked for directions.

Stunning bird pics from where I last left you here. Love the BS Kite & the crows/jackal buzzard interaction sequences.

Some great ellie shots. Lot's of lions and really nice cheetahs, but the young jackal pics take the biscuit. Fabulous photos.