Mel - I’m only gonna think positive thoughts about your return to the KTP. My best sighting of Hanri and her offspring are in this entry. They are a pretty amazing team!
GavinW - as I said in your TT, it’s both interesting and fun to compare sightings at such different times of year. Seems the Black-shouldered Kites were quite abundant already in your April/May trip - I’ve never seen so many there before this trip.
From TWRiv. I moved to Urikaruus for 4 nights - honeymoon cabin. As mentioned earlier, there were essentially NO insects around at night. I even hung a blanket over the back of my car (since the car shelter has lights at night), for them to land on, but zip, zilch, nada.
The day time drives were also a bit slow the first 3 days, with birds making up most of my sightings.
Gemsbok family
One morning was so cold, even this Secretary bird was hunkered down
I started out as the only car to go south that day. After about 40 minutes or so, I spotted my beloved cheetah trio, Hanri and kidlets, high on the ledge, seemingly just waking up for the day.
They slowly began descending the rocky outcropping, ready to take on the new day.
First, a stop at ye’ ol’ drinking hole. At times they focused on searching for the ever elusive breakfast, and other times frolicking together.
I had passed a large herd of springboks earlier in the morning, and they were headed that way. About an hour plus later, the herd was sighted….
SUCCESS! From my vantage point it appeared the kids took it down, as mom had gone after another springbok, chasing it further south. After a bit of time, she rejoined the teenagers who were resting. (Please correct if other info. is available.)
After an exhaustive chase, a much needed rest was taken to catch their breaths.
Next task, drag the heavy carcass into the shade.
Time to enjoy the meal they had worked so hard for.
I ended up spending over 3 hours with them, and left feeling the future for these 3 looks bright. Great teamwork!
Why do predators always eat the guts first? Is it easier to get at or is it the best bite
Brilliant photos and a great sighting
Did you manage to see the chase?
"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
An amazing experience! And awesome to hear that Hanri's offspring managed that kill But even if they appear to be adapt enough to feed themselves, Hanri still has them with her. Maybe also for her own good, seeing that she'll turn 11 soon and this might have been her last set of cubs. (Although I really hope for her and Corinne to set examples by becoming the oldest known females in the park )
Btw, the cubs have been named by now: The female is Misty and the male Miles.
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die.