CKGR - Besides the donkeys *

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The owner of Dinaka , having a nap in the safety of his vehicle, whilst I have to sit under a tree, and snooze. Need to rest before going out at night , to find owls, cats etc.

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Thanks Dewi 8)


This was a Linyanti shot that a certain mite could enjoy, the elephant being far from the vehicle



Many roadblocks are to be found in Chobe, mostly manned by animals full of bull. It is a great pleasure to have a park to yourself, if you move off the main north/south dirt road.


Evidence of fishing without permits was found in Moremi.

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This letter from Dinaka has made me itch to get back into Botswana :mrgreen: :mrgreen:


Hi Dean,
We have dozens of action shots of this whole episode.


We had just arrived at the waterhole for breakfast, to find 2 lionesses
lying at the water. They suddenly perked up and we saw kudu coming in to
drink. The one female moved into cover carefully and lay in wait. The
pregnant female crouched at the waterhole. A young kudu cow walked straight
up to where they were lying and in a couple of strides, she was caught. She
fought, but did not manage to get away. The second female joined in to pull
the kudu down, and they lay for ages until the kudu stopped kicking. After a
long while the one female dragged the carcass into the shade of a nearby
tree, and then they both lay down and ignored it!! Next we saw a warthog
trotting down the road further up. One lioness got up and circled the pig,
then ambushed her. She managed to get away. Next came her 3 little piglets a
little way behind her. The lionesses pounced and caught one, much squealing
and it managed to get away. The chase was on. The piglet ran into a thick
thorn bush, and the lioness tried to dig her out. We watched in amazement as
the small piglet then kept launching herself at the lioness from the bush!!
This went on for quite some time, with the lioness jumping back each time,
until finally she caught the little pig in mid jump. Lots of squealing and
then silence.
We had 5 guests here, and the cameras were clicking madly! Some fabulous
photos all round. Breakfast was almost ignored, tea went cold - far too much
excitement!!
The guests stayed to watch for some time and finally the lionesses opened up
the kudu stomach, and pulled out a foetus. So sad, but nature at its best.
They did not eat much at all - they just were not hungry - pure
opportunistic kills!
I will send the picture of the warthog when I get it off Dave's camera.
Turned out the little thing had a deformed foot, which shows clearly in the
photos.
Some of the guests saw a leopard at the top waterhole yesterday afternoon,
and a wildcat, so great sightings all round. The rest are going up there
now, so I hope they are just as lucky.
What a day at Dinaka!!
Cheers
Love
Mel

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Here are some of the photos Dinaka Safari Lodge sent me, today

These are awesome action photos.









Now to try any convince my wife that she wants to go to Botswana this winter :lol:

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Some piglet worth his weight in bacon -O -O

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Got another update sent to me.




Subject: DINAKA'S ANIMAL ANTICS

This is Cheeky Chops caught in the act this morning, eating the door mat
(left outside by staff!) He hops up and down off the verandah as if he owns
it! He drops the mat off the end of the verandah and then jumps down on it
through the bars, then goes back up. Also having a good look at himself in
the glass. We chased him away eventually. They are all lying in the
firebreak behind the Lodge now. Kept us awake all night with their roaring -
they were under chalet 4 all yesterday.
We are going to put gates at the top of the stairs of each chalet now, to
try and discourage him. The teen females are not nearly as naughty.
We are now also going to put rails all around the pool deck, as they knocked
over one of the heavy chairs last night -must have jumped up onto it. Spoor
all over the place, right against the walls of the Lodge.
Cheers
Mel, George and Dave








I have asked Dinaka to send me stuff every now and then. I will post here.

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Thanks everyone,
the problem with posting this,
is that it makes me start to itch for a trip back to Botswana..and I am too busy right now to go there

I remember an electrician of recent British descent, on site at Dinaka a couple years back.
He was too frightened to sleep far from the house. He therefor would not sleep in those tents.
He would sleep inthe lodge kitchen that just had swinging doors seperating it from the dining room, which in turn had only canvas rolled down to keep nature at bay.
He did not want to die alone. He thought the owner would hear his screams if he slept nearby. He would go to bed with deo cans and a lighter at his bedside -O -O to make a flame torch if need be -O -O .

I could not resist waiting for him one night in the dark , for his return to his lodging.
A few shuffling noises made by my feet in the sand had him scream like a girl -O -O

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Thanks Dewi, Mel, Flutterby and Bushcraft for taking the time to read my drivel :roll:

Here is a you tube link of the hunt at Dinaka, be patient. :lol:

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Got a call from my friends at Dinaka Lodge, I can come visit in the last week of April

So will drag my family off to the bush again.
Will include sleeping out on a platform next to a waterhole ,night drives galore etc ,next to the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Will get a bit of swamp in too, maybe a morning or two of fishing.
Might take my wife out to dinner at a snazzy Maun take away.