Thanks Pumbaa, yes it was a lucky lion day
It's always very dry in September/October, but due to this it's obviously much easier to find animals, however many of the birds are missing
Browns in Kruger September 2019
Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
It's always very dry in September/October, but due to this it's obviously much easier to find animals, however many of the birds are missing
Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
28th Talamati to Biyamiti continued
I was so keen to get to Biyamiti and just relax that I was almost irritated as a wild dog crossed the road in front of us
, however the Cow and Rats woke up big time. The lone teenage dog cruised into what seemed to be a drainage line and highlighted more dogs that we hadn’t seen yet.
The dogs all went to sleep and it didn’t look like they were going to move until later, so we finally moved on to Biyamiti just after 3pm.
After unpacking everybody did their own thing, but I sometimes battle to sit still, so Albert and I explored around camp and found ellies, bushbuck and some buffalo sleeping in the riverbed while Hawkeyes stalked francolins around the unit.
I was so keen to get to Biyamiti and just relax that I was almost irritated as a wild dog crossed the road in front of us
, however the Cow and Rats woke up big time. The lone teenage dog cruised into what seemed to be a drainage line and highlighted more dogs that we hadn’t seen yet.- 27.jpg (185.64 KiB) Viewed 611 times
- 28.jpg (191.91 KiB) Viewed 611 times
The dogs all went to sleep and it didn’t look like they were going to move until later, so we finally moved on to Biyamiti just after 3pm.
After unpacking everybody did their own thing, but I sometimes battle to sit still, so Albert and I explored around camp and found ellies, bushbuck and some buffalo sleeping in the riverbed while Hawkeyes stalked francolins around the unit.
- 29.jpg (165.42 KiB) Viewed 611 times
- 31.jpg (119.52 KiB) Viewed 611 times
Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
I have a wood fire ritual at Biyamiti, mainly because it extends the time outside around flames and Albert seems to be as fascinated as me with fire because she always takes pics.
After supper I conned the clan to walk the fence line with me in the dark to look for animals but it turned into an interesting event as every small noise got the clan assuming an attack from an unseen animal was imminent and my odd war story dropped in didn’t help.
“There’s something following us!”
“I can’t see the floor, what if there’s a snake, shine where we are walking, Dad you are walking too fast”
“Keep up you lot”
“There’s something following us!”
The Cow was certain that something was moving around on the fence line behind us and I had heard a rustle, however I thought nothing of it, but enjoyed playing along, so I aimed the torch down the fence line behind us and to my surprise eyes reflected back which got the clan jabbering big time.
It took a few seconds to ID the suspect as it was about 30m from us
“What is it? Wait, it’s a civet!”
The civet was still slowly heading our direction, so we planned an ambush. I gave the Cow the torch, got the camera ready and we waited in the dark quietly listening for movement.
The dark shape continued to approach along the fence line and I was grinning in the dark as I could see that the civet was going to cruise straight past us, but I expected it to bolt as soon as we put the torch on, however it initially just parked off looking at us.
The Civet stood still checking us out for around 20 seconds and then looked around and continued with its mission so we followed along until it sat down to watch us again.
- 32.jpg (69.99 KiB) Viewed 610 times
After supper I conned the clan to walk the fence line with me in the dark to look for animals but it turned into an interesting event as every small noise got the clan assuming an attack from an unseen animal was imminent and my odd war story dropped in didn’t help.
“There’s something following us!”
“I can’t see the floor, what if there’s a snake, shine where we are walking, Dad you are walking too fast”
“Keep up you lot”
“There’s something following us!”
The Cow was certain that something was moving around on the fence line behind us and I had heard a rustle, however I thought nothing of it, but enjoyed playing along, so I aimed the torch down the fence line behind us and to my surprise eyes reflected back which got the clan jabbering big time.
It took a few seconds to ID the suspect as it was about 30m from us
“What is it? Wait, it’s a civet!”
The civet was still slowly heading our direction, so we planned an ambush. I gave the Cow the torch, got the camera ready and we waited in the dark quietly listening for movement.
The dark shape continued to approach along the fence line and I was grinning in the dark as I could see that the civet was going to cruise straight past us, but I expected it to bolt as soon as we put the torch on, however it initially just parked off looking at us.
- 33.jpg (154.86 KiB) Viewed 610 times
The Civet stood still checking us out for around 20 seconds and then looked around and continued with its mission so we followed along until it sat down to watch us again.
- 34.jpg (170.86 KiB) Viewed 610 times
- 35.jpg (164.77 KiB) Viewed 610 times
Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
After spending 20 minutes with the civet we decided to leave him/her in peace and headed back towards our unit, but the waving torch light picked up something in the lower branches of a tree just down from our unit and we initially thought that it was a yellow tennis ball stuck in the tree, however as we got closer it became apparent that it was a bird.
The bright yellow chested bird refused to wake up even though we were standing directly under it; hence we never got to see the face, so we had no chance of an ID, however skilled birders may still be able to offer an ID.
We sat in the dark at the unit for around another half an hour chatting before everybody cruised off to bed.
To be continued
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The bright yellow chested bird refused to wake up even though we were standing directly under it; hence we never got to see the face, so we had no chance of an ID, however skilled birders may still be able to offer an ID.
We sat in the dark at the unit for around another half an hour chatting before everybody cruised off to bed.
To be continued
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Alf
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
Wild dogs and then the civet inside camp 
Next trip to the bush??
Let me think......................
Let me think......................
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Richprins
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
What brilliant stuff, Bushy!
An advantage of having less noise and light at a bush camp?
but I sometimes battle to sit still
Understatement of the decade!
And wild dog!
An advantage of having less noise and light at a bush camp?
but I sometimes battle to sit still
Understatement of the decade!
And wild dog!
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Lisbeth
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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
Those sleeping wild dogs are not easy to spot, if not by the smell 
I must admit that the fire looks fascinating
Great encounter with the civet
Being night animals they are not seen very often
The yellow bird is most likely a village weaver.
I must admit that the fire looks fascinating
Great encounter with the civet
Being night animals they are not seen very often The yellow bird is most likely a village weaver.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
Re: Browns in Kruger September 2019
RPIf I could afford it I would only stay in bush camps
I sit still longer with age
