Africa Wild

Richprins wrote:That jackal is interesting, Pooky...

I wonder if the head isn't a bit big for it to carry around? Do you have some pics of other tracks around it?

Maybe the Bots jackal are just stronger!

Mello, does that leopard have a name?

Richprins it didn't look as if there were too many other footprints around, but also there was no drag mark.
Something else must have carried the head and skin there

8th Sept 2017

We went out to Cubtjie Quap where the sand grouse were coming in by the dozen to fill their feathers with water
to take back to the nests.

On the way there , there was another beautiful sunrise.









We then went down to Marie se Draai. Seven young lions had taken down an eland. Most were lying flat with full
bellies and the eland was also well hidden behind long grass. We just managed to get photos of these two.







At Caspers the gemsbok wanted to cool his feet down while taking a drink.



A lanner falcon was on the ground watching the goings on.



Another gemsbok came down the river but he wasn't welcome and the chase was on.






One of the other cars called us on the radio to says that there was a cheetah with 4 cubs near the campsite.
We went back as quickly as possible and got there just in time to see mum and cubs walk across the river into the
bushes on the other side.






There was a small herd of springbok in the middle of the river. All of a sudden mum came flying out of the bushes
after a springbok. It was so quick. She killed a young springbok very close to the fence where the new chalets are
being built. The workers made so much noise shout and yelling at her that once she had made her kill she walked off.
This was about 11am. She came back after 5pm when the workers had gone home. She dragged the springbok right across
the river to the other side. Half way along the cubs were trying to help/hinder her. She was exhausted and lay in the shade for
a long while. Next morning there was no sign of her or the kill.






The end of another good day.

Handsome young lions.

I like the gemsbok cooling his feet.

Great cheetah sighting.

Why did the workers shout at the poor cheetah

Alf wrote:Why did the workers shout at the poor cheetah

I don't only wonder, I get all about it

That beautiful cheetah mum is Caster

But hold tight: There is another mum roaming the Nossob side between Union's End and roughly Marie se Draai (just like Caster) who has also got 4 cubs and they are even approximately the same age as Caster's I'm totally astonished about that seeing that both of them live in lions' country and still manage to raise their kids

(Can I use your pix for the cheetah sightings again? )

I love the gemsbok in the water!

And interesting manes on the lion...as they say, no real bush so their manes grow unhindered vs Kruger? Never really believed that story...

Ja, what is wrong with the workers?

Flutterby wrote:Handsome young lions.

I like the gemsbok cooling his feet.

Great cheetah sighting.

Thanks Flutterby. All seven males looked like young males, but I am not sure they would have
managed that big eland on their own. I suppose the weight of 7 lions was just too much!!

Alf wrote:Why did the workers shout at the poor cheetah

I think it was just over exuberance as some of the workers were on the roof tops
so had a grandstand view. They were wishing for some springbok steaks
They were outside contractors.

Mel wrote:

Alf wrote:Why did the workers shout at the poor cheetah

I don't only wonder, I get all about it

That beautiful cheetah mum is Caster

But hold tight: There is another mum roaming the Nossob side between Union's End and roughly Marie se Draai (just like Caster) who has also got 4 cubs and they are even approximately the same age as Caster's I'm totally astonished about that seeing that both of them live in lions' country and still manage to raise their kids

(Can I use your pix for the cheetah sightings again? )

Thanks for the ID Mel. and yes with pleasure you may use the pic - its not very good though

One of our other party saw a cheetah with 4 cubs further north and we wondered how this one had got so far away

I felt very sorry for her having to leave the kill for a good part of the day, but at least she came back for it. There were plenty
of people watching along the fence and they wouldn't move in spite of the rangers asking them.
We were watching from the hide.

Richprins wrote:I love the gemsbok in the water!

And interesting manes on the lion...as they say, no real bush so their manes grow unhindered vs Kruger? Never really believed that story...

Ja, what is wrong with the workers?

Aren't those the manes of young young lions Richprins But certainly the lions here are less scarred than in Kruger.

I don't think there was any thought process from the workers