Shingwedzi, 30 April & 2 May 2014
April 30 2014. Driving "home" to Shingwedzi camp.
Looking at the other side of the riverbed I see a tusker
so, parking and trying to find out "who" is this... recognizing the tusks, this must be Nkombo! But, where is his collar?
Looking again and again... no doubt it must be Nkombo
Part 1 of the Nkombo story:
He was just coming from the river
He likes climbing hills near riverbeds
end of part 1...but
another day, May 2nd late afternoon and returning to Shingwedzi camp after a drive.
Part 2:
Nkombo again in the riverbed.
Like I said at the beginnen of this "monitoring" report you hope your favorite animal comes closer... well, he did and how
coming from the river after toothbrushing, a fresh and clean Nkombo
Can't help it but I automatically started some whispering
"come my friend, like to make some new internet pics of you"
and then.... coming so close, a bit of heartpounding (sometimes a (tusker)passion can be so rewarding
)
even more closer... could see his eye and I think I gave him a
I saw him first in 2011 and now 2014... very good condition and tusks growing well too, amazing to see a single animal in this huge area again. Specially after the sightings with Kaleka and Ngodzi, also seen them before. Feeling really privileged by this.
Another special thing was... while watching Nkombo I met my tusker friend R Brett, we made an appointment for that day in Shingwedzi. Great to share this moments with another tusker lover, our cars at short distance from each other. One of these days
Nkombo crossed the road and still eating he disappeared in the bush....
A last shot
Then the collar... R Brett found a collar near the Confluence loop... so that could be the reason he did not have it anymore.
Next day I searched for it and just by opening my door I could take it. handed it over to the ranger with the suggestion to ask STE (Save the Elephants) if they could say more about the number on the collar.
