5.9.11
Lions at sunset 30/7/2011
Most interesting sighting of the morning? Fresh fresh Ardvaark spoors...The afternoon was full of surprises, first chameleon in the car park, a cute little thing always a joy to watch, then we started the drive towards Mwayembe. We found lions in the acacias close to water so we parked and watched them to come out as they usually do as the sun is setting. I convinced the guests to wait, I bet on the lions and I actually got lucky.They actually came out before and when they did was spectacular, they went straight to drink at the waterhole, their bodies bathed in pure gold and most of all their reflections printed in the calm water of the spring... It was awsome, the combination of stunning light, blue sky and smooth water surface made the moment unforgettable. WOW!We also got a beautiful breeding herd of ellies with the fantastic background of a baobab forest, and just after three male lesse kudus which are always a treat.
Easy peasy 29/7/2011
We started the day with mbagi pride eating. The sun was not up yet when we found tracks of lions going down the road from camp to w7,
after less then 2 km we found the lions feeding on a freshly killed
zebra. It was a show because they were in the open and the sun slowly
rising made the light better and better every minute.
The guests were chaffed because when we spotted them we were less then
20 minutes in the drive. Super start.
There are some days where everything comes easy and today was
definitely one of them, in fact after less then one hour we spotted
kipunji pride, again in an open area. The cats were all clumped in the
shade of three bushes fifteen meters apart from each other and the
cubs kept moving from one to the other.
We went off for breakfast and we stopped under a beautiful baobab just
to find a huge beehive hanging over our heads...sticks used by honey
gatherer were visible in the trunk of the tree.... best to change
place for our muffins: bees can be nasty..
Eventually on the way back, when the heat is unbearable and you do not
expect to see much we had the best elephant sighting of the day. A
breeding herd feeding on acacia tortilis bark, they were so relaxed
that we could go very close and enjoy every detail, from the calf
trying to chew the bark directly from the tree to the adults pulling
it with the trunk. It was great even if the acacia must have been
thinking differently.
In the evening we had kipunji again, but they moved to w7, buffalo
were coming to drink but because of a car driving in front of them
they decided to go back.
Lions relaxed under a sycamore fig and a couple of them went dozing on
top of a termite mound giving us a wonderful view as the sun slowly
went down.
I also had to come back and help Steven, his car would not start.
Lions drinking in the night was a real treat and I was happy for my
Italian guests that had been very special people to have a around.
after less then 2 km we found the lions feeding on a freshly killed
zebra. It was a show because they were in the open and the sun slowly
rising made the light better and better every minute.
The guests were chaffed because when we spotted them we were less then
20 minutes in the drive. Super start.
There are some days where everything comes easy and today was
definitely one of them, in fact after less then one hour we spotted
kipunji pride, again in an open area. The cats were all clumped in the
shade of three bushes fifteen meters apart from each other and the
cubs kept moving from one to the other.
We went off for breakfast and we stopped under a beautiful baobab just
to find a huge beehive hanging over our heads...sticks used by honey
gatherer were visible in the trunk of the tree.... best to change
place for our muffins: bees can be nasty..
Eventually on the way back, when the heat is unbearable and you do not
expect to see much we had the best elephant sighting of the day. A
breeding herd feeding on acacia tortilis bark, they were so relaxed
that we could go very close and enjoy every detail, from the calf
trying to chew the bark directly from the tree to the adults pulling
it with the trunk. It was great even if the acacia must have been
thinking differently.
In the evening we had kipunji again, but they moved to w7, buffalo
were coming to drink but because of a car driving in front of them
they decided to go back.
Lions relaxed under a sycamore fig and a couple of them went dozing on
top of a termite mound giving us a wonderful view as the sun slowly
went down.
I also had to come back and help Steven, his car would not start.
Lions drinking in the night was a real treat and I was happy for my
Italian guests that had been very special people to have a around.
Golden pipit 28/7/2011
We struggled for our sightings at least in the morning.
The highlight for me was a wonderful golden pipit, it flew off in
front of the car and with a flush of bright yellow went landing 50
metres away in the combretum.... such a beauty.
We also got a beautiful plated lizard
Lions were shy but eventually we got a big male at the beginning of
the first forest, it was sleeping so we left but few minutes after we
left Festo arrived and the lion was nowhere to be seen so we decided
to go back.
We looked for it in the forest and we found a strange situation. A
herd of impala was scared and barking their alarm call, but half of
them were looking in one direction and half at the opposite one. One
lion, the one we saw previously was coming from east, others, a male
and two females were coming from west. The first male was very
cautious, like if he did not know the others.
While the three were laying down he kept approaching almost stalking
them. The other male started also being tense. But then everything
settled in nicely.
In the afternoon we were lucky enough to get a cheetah eating an
impala fawn. the light was perfect, the cheetah beautiful, feeding few
meters from the car.
It was eating and checking around for potential danger, its molars and
premolars, the carnassials shear cutting flesh and skin at a fast
rhythm like a pair of sharp scissors. The muzzle red with blood like a
lady with smeared lipstick.
The highlight for me was a wonderful golden pipit, it flew off in
front of the car and with a flush of bright yellow went landing 50
metres away in the combretum.... such a beauty.
We also got a beautiful plated lizard
Lions were shy but eventually we got a big male at the beginning of
the first forest, it was sleeping so we left but few minutes after we
left Festo arrived and the lion was nowhere to be seen so we decided
to go back.
We looked for it in the forest and we found a strange situation. A
herd of impala was scared and barking their alarm call, but half of
them were looking in one direction and half at the opposite one. One
lion, the one we saw previously was coming from east, others, a male
and two females were coming from west. The first male was very
cautious, like if he did not know the others.
While the three were laying down he kept approaching almost stalking
them. The other male started also being tense. But then everything
settled in nicely.
In the afternoon we were lucky enough to get a cheetah eating an
impala fawn. the light was perfect, the cheetah beautiful, feeding few
meters from the car.
It was eating and checking around for potential danger, its molars and
premolars, the carnassials shear cutting flesh and skin at a fast
rhythm like a pair of sharp scissors. The muzzle red with blood like a
lady with smeared lipstick.
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