Safari Updates

Chitabe: An Entire Morning with Wild Dogs ends our Eventful Safari   From Brendon:During and after dinner last night we heard Wild Dogs calling, calling, calling. We could hear them in the distance, then listened expectantly as they came closer and closer, then receded again. At bedtime they had returned and were not too far again.Finding the tracks from last night was a simple task this morning. We followed these, peering hopefully all around as we travelled, but the tracks were old - from last night.Then fresh tracks! The dogs travel fast, but these tracks were fresh, so we headed off again with renewed enthusiasm.We caught up with the pack and there were nine very busy active dogs running around.     The reason for their disquiet became clear as we watched. One of the females was coming into season and the males were driven to a state of excitement.  ...

From Brendon:We had to make a decision as we left the Lodge this morning. Lions? Leopard? Search for Wild-dogs?We went to the marsh area to try and find the lions we had left there yesterday but there was no sign of them. Instead we found a different lioness on her own.     She is usually accompanied by her three subadult cubs, and as the sun started to rise she started searching for her pride, contact calling again and again. The early morning golden light was perfect for photography as she walked along, calling and searching. Finally she climbed a termite mound and after looking around she lay down to rest, still no sign of her family.Meanwhile we had heard the sounds of two male lions calling in the distance so we headed that way. We spent a wonderful hour trying to find them. We followed their tracks, then lost them...

From Brendon:Our aim this morning was twofold. The lions were not far away and the males looked ready for a meal yesterday. And those tantalising paw prints belonging to the wild-dogs were also nearby.While searching for the wild-dogs we photographed giraffe, elephant, zebra, different buck, and different birds - but no signs anywhere of the dogs. Then, finding some lion tracks we followed these and found seven lions again lying out in a wide open space giving us marvellous photographs to add to our already large collections. Three young males were playing vigorously, mock- fighting each other, stalking each other and the resting adults, and racing at speed around the area, behaving like young children everywhere.Several pools have appeared in the Chitabe area as the waters recede, and the pools are filled with trapped fish. The fish have less and less space as the pools shrink in size, and each pool therefore...

From Brendon:We could hear lions calling as we enjoyed our predawn coffee and snacks so our first objective was to try to find them.Finding their tracks was quite easy and these led us straight to the pride lying in an open dust bowl. The sun wasn't up yet and there was a bit of cloud cover so we parked and waited. Then, as the sun's rays started to pierce the clouds the lions began to stir. Slowly one yawned - then, yawns being catchy, the others started yawning in unison.   Photo: Hilton Kotze   They got to their feet lazily and rubbed heads for their morning greetings. Flash and spotlights helped us to get some heart warming shots of this waking ritual.Then the pride started to walk, without any apparent destination. When a herd of giraffe came past they glanced up momentarily but showed no inclination to hunt. As the...

Brendon Reports:We were so eager to make the most of our final game drive on this safari that we were all ready at the vehicle long before the sky started to change from black to grey.Lions have been very scarce here for a few weeks, but we hoped to find some tracks and to use these to possibly locate a pride. With this in mind we headed north toward the Moremi border.  On the way we stopped when a herd of elephants created an amazing spectacle as they crossed the marsh with the rising sun behind themThen we found large Leopard tracks and set off in pursuit - we followed the tracks, drove around, but could not find him so we headed north again to continue our Lion search.We had travelled quite a distance away from the Leopard tracks when who should we encounter but the same Leopard we had been...

Brendon's Bulletin:This morning we decided to explore a totally different area in Chitabe and went way up to the Moremi boundary. The area is indescribably beautiful and the vast open plains remind me of the Serengeti plains. The plentiful game reinforces this impression. Large herds of Elephants, Giraffe, Tsessebe, Lechwe, -   Photo: Hilton Kotze   - and Impala roam in the lush vegetation, and Steenbok seem to be all over the place. We stopped for ages to get photos of a one week old Zebra tottering along with mother, while the male members of his herd chased one another, with occasional short fights breaking out as they tried to assert their dominance over each other.The birds in the area are also spectacular and we concentrated much of our time on the very busy Bee-eaters. We then passed through a ghostly petrified Leadwood forest. That was quite an eerie experience. The...

Brendon's Bulletin:There was a magnificent sunrise again this morning as we followed one of the waterways in search of the resident birds.And we were well rewarded -About thirty Wattled Cranes arrived ...    Photo: Hilton Kotze   ... and the males were performing their courtship displays. They jumped around, flapped furiously, threw things and chased the females in all directions. The activity was quite frenetic and at times it seemed that there were just Cranes everywhere.To add to all the activity, in between the Cranes were male Impalas. The rutting season has just started and males were sparring, locking horns, and shoving each other aroundAnd as if that was not enough, a pair of Black- backed Jackals arrived on the scene, running around in search of something we could not see with all the activity going on. They would stop for a quick drink and then start rummaging and chasing some...

Brendon's News:There is something really special about getting up in the early, mysterious darkness before dawn and then venturing out after a snack and some steaming, delicious coffee.The first shards of light pierced through a thicket of palm trees on an island, causing us to stop and wonder at the beautiful spectacle and of course to capture the magic on our cameras.We headed to the marsh area to photograph birds and as we arrived in the area we were thrilled beyond words to see a Civet. Not only that - he was completely relaxed, and this usually shy creature hung around for ages, allowing us to take photo after photo. We spent quite some time with him - until he eventually sauntered slowly into some thick bush, giving us a final farewell glance over his shoulder.We were still feeling the thrill of that encounter when not 100 meters away we found...

Brendon Reports:We flew into the Chitabe airfield yesterday at around 1430 after a short but stunning flight over this beautiful area.The forty minute drive to the Lodge gave us a taste of what lies ahead ... and raised our excitement levels to fever pitch. Plentiful game teemed at every turn with various buck species, Elephant, Giraffe, and a breathtaking variety of birds.We were met at the Lodge by smiling faces and a welcome song. Then, after checking in and a light meal we were ready for our first adventure.We were struck by the lush beauty of the area and oohed and aahed at the numbers of Impala and Lechwe. Then we stopped for a herd of Elephants joyfully splashing around in some shallow water. The soft late afternoon light meant that the images we captured are quite dazzling.Nearby a Black-backed Jackal was foraging in the shallows, trying to catch fish in...

  Wim and Ben in Japan:   DAY 11   A big storm hit us last night and we awoke to a world covered in inches of deep snow, including most of the roads being snowed over. We decided to start our day at the Red-crowned Crane feeding grounds in Tsurui, located closer to our hotel.  We arrived before the Cranes, so we positioned ourselves to capture lovely flight images of them as they flew in for their early feed, beautifully back lit by the soft morning sunrise, as they landed on silky smooth, freshly deposited snow.   Photo: Frits Hoogendijk    As predicted enjoyed capturing fairly lengthy courtship displays for most of the morning. So enchanting!   We decided around midday to relocate to Akan, the same feeding centre we were at yesterday afternoon and this is where we spent the remainder of our day.  Each feeding ground offers very...