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This is still DAY 5 (16 June). Here are a couple of more shots of that old male lion. We must have sat here in the Land Cruiser for over half an hour just watching him munch on the impala carcass. Mike tried to speculate just how he got control of the kill. He knew that because of his injuries he was in no shape to take down an impala by himself. He must have come upon another predators kill and taken it away him, like maybe a cheetah, which the lion has the upper hand, even with his injuries.
After a considerable amount of time watching him we decided to move on and let the old boy enjoy his meal. We came upon this magnificent specimen of another one of the Big Five. I’d hate to be in the way when this guy gets mad. He looks like a real powerhouse of pure unadulterated trouble. And he’s got a face that only a mother could love.
After we left the Rhinoceros we came upon this Wildebeest or Gnu, a huge bull elephant with a defiant look on his face, and a beautiful leopard who decided to show us his teeth. We figured that he had a great ambush spot staked out and he was waiting for a hapless impala to come by, and we were not making it easy for him.
He gave up on the ambush and we followed the leopard for a while. Mike said he was probably marking his territory, an we saw him scratching the earth with his hind legs, spray on the spot, and then he would give out a large and deep roar, which Mike said was his verbal declaration to all that could hear him, this is MY territory, so stay clear.
As the light started to fade Mike used his spot light to keep him in our view. Leopards are such beautiful animals. Back at camp that evening we cleaned up and then went to the bar before dinner to have a martini. The chips are made by the kitchen staff, and have no salt on them, so I guess they are better for you. The dinner menu for tonight is below.
It’s very difficult to read I know, so I’ll type it here. FRIDAY DINNER Hot leak and potato soup It was all actually very good. The next morning, DAY 6 (17 June) we started off on our morning game drive. It was very chilly. You can tell from our ski caps and bufondas that it was a struggle to stay warm. While most of the time we never came across another group in a Land Cruiser, we knew that there were others out there. This morning Mike got a call on the short wave radio that one of the other groups had spotted a leopard with a cub, and it headed into the bush. Mike drove to their location and we tried to enter the bush from different directions thinking we might flush them out. Mike was quite a driver. He headed for a hill that if we could top it, we would be in the bush area that we thought animals were hiding. I held my breath as he attempted it, and he got almost to the top and the Land Cruiser could go no further. So he backed down, and got a better start at it. Our companion in the seat in front of us later that evening said he was relieved that Mike backed down thinking he had given up, but then Mike hit the throttle and headed back up this steep hill. He made it on the second try. My knuckles were white from holding on. Going into the bush, however, failed to produce results, so Mike drove us out onto the road again and we headed back around for a different approach. He made a right turn and in about 10 yards he spotted the mother and her cub laying in a clearing close to our path, and the cub was nursing.
While we sat watching them the cub seemed to get his fill, and decided to prowl around, and he even came up to our vehicles front bumper. The mother was not alarmed in the least, but her eye was definitely on her cub. The cub then decided to attack his mother in a playful manner, going for her throat. Mike had called the other group and told them we had found the pair. We watched them for about 20 minutes more, and just as the other group showed up, the two strolled off into the bush. We were so lucky to have been able to observe them for so long.
Back at camp we took some photos of the camp itself. By the pond at the receptions building were the beautiful bronze statues of a family of warthogs. Our accommodation was #20. We enjoyed our deck and a glass of wine between animal drives.
Back out on the trail for our evening game drive, the first animal we spot is this beautiful leopard. It has found the perfect location to lay in wait for a hapless impala to come innocently walking by. In the first frame below he is almost impossible to spot, but he’s there.
I think the leopard is my favorite animal of the Big Five. He is so beautifully proportioned. A predator to be seriously reckoned with. I think he is growing impatient for us to move along so his ambush can have a chance of working.
We do move on, and very soon come upon a herd of impalas. I mentally urge them to take off in the opposite direction from which we had come. I know they are necessary for the leopards survival, but they are such beautiful animals.
Mike stops in a nice spot and sets up his table for ur morning treat. As you can tell, we are enjoying this adventure very much. Mike heard from another group and he headed in their direction. He didn’t tell us what they had found. We had yet to see any lions.other than that old injured male. This find was like hitting the jackpot. The two cubs were big, but far from fully grown. They eyed us carefully until we stopped the vehicle, and then they went back to napping, licking and scratching.
The mother had an itch which she scratched with her hind leg, just like our cats do, which I took as proof of their ancestral link. ;o) Cats make such great pets. Midway through the morning and evening game drives, Mike would select a wide open space where you could see any animals that might be lurking, and he would set up his little table with a cloth and everything, and would pour us all a glass of wine. For the evening game drive this they referred to as the “Sundowner”. It was a welcome treat for us, and so civilized.
The snacks and the beverage would change from drive to drive, which made it a surprise each time for us. I liked the MalaMala Camp style of doing a safari. Mike was an excellent guide and a very fine man. We enjoyed his companionship very much, and he was a wealth of information. If you plan to do a safari which includes MalaMala camp, I can highly recommend that you ask for Mike Kirkman to be your guide. You won’t be disappointed. After being thoroughly refreshed with our treat, we carried on and came upon a group of zebras enjoying the shad of some trees, and a lone elephant on the move, probably heading for the river for a drink. There was a beautiful stork looking for a meal at the waters edge.
And lastly, we came upon two cheetahs, which Mike said were brothers. They tend to hunt together as a team, thus doubling their odds of success. As we approached they lifted their heads to see if we posed any danger. Deciding that we did not, their heads slowly began to feel heavy, and their eyes closed, as they drifted off again. At last, they were overtaken by their desire to sleep.
Thud they were fast asleep again, oblivious to our camera action. They too were enjoying the share of a tree. This is a good time for a selfie. The cheetah is a beautiful animal. I think the impalas keep them well supplied with fresh meat as these two looked well fed and quite healthy.
Like our own cats, I suspect that these two spend most of the day sleeping. What a great life they seem to have. And we are so fortunate to be here and see them in their own habitat, free and content. We could learn so much from them about life. Back at camp we wandered around the grounds a bit before going for lunch. It was a beautiful setting with lots of lush foliage.
The architect knew what he was doing when he designed this place. The bronze warthogs looked almost alive, real works of art. Workers were busy renewing the thatched roof on one of the buildings. It was interesting to watch the process. It looked a little dangerous as none of the workers had safety lines. OSHA would have a field day here.
We walked over to the Sable Camp. Their large meeting room was beautifully decorated with many animal heads on the walls, and the tusks of an elephant mounted on a huge framed board.. These trophies were from a time when big game hunting was what drove the safari business. I much prefer shooting them with my camera. Perhaps I’m missing a few genes from my ancestors which were critical to our survival, but I don’t care.
This is a good place to stop for now. More to come in the next episode. I hope you are enjoying these. |
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