Cubs still alone and females give us the runaround - 01:04 pm

16 Oct 2008

We set off, as usual, just at first light. It is lightly overcast today, but the sun will burn off the thin cloud cover soon. I head off to try to pick up tracks of the Xakanaxa pride while Boris, a new addition to the team, and Gareth head up to where we left the cubs last night. They find them in the same place. Still alone. The lionesses have not come back for them during the night.

Working my way around Deadtree island, I come across this bull elephant. He is very relaxed and I spend some time photographing him as he feeds on short grass, kicking up dust as he scuffs the earth.
After a long time searching I eventually find the tracks of the lionesses. They have cut through the edge of the permanent swamp north of Deadtree island and are heading east. They covered a lot of ground last night and it takes me some time to follow up on them. It appears that they have entered the thick mopane forest to the east of the area

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Lionesses launch hunt at red lechwe - 10:48 pm

15 Oct 2008

The six lionesses eventually become active again. They spread themselves along the eastern edge of the floodplain and watch two red lechwe rams from the cover of long grass along the edge. The lechwe realise that something is amiss and are clearly agitated, but I do not think that they know where the lionesses are.

One lioness, closely followed by a second breaks from the cover of grass and tears across the open channel. The lechwe however have a good head start and manage to out-run the lionesses. They head for the safety of the water and the lionesses abandon the chase. Strangely, the other lionesses stationed up the channel do not move to intercept the fleeing lechwe. The hunt seems to have been well planned but poorly executed. The lionesses remain hungry and will no doubt hunt during the night.

There is no sign of the cubs and they may be in for a long lonely night if the lionesses do not go looking for them before continuing to hunt for the night. 

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Spectacular sunset - 10:43 pm

15 Oct 2008

The atmosphere at this time of year in the delta is heavy with dust and while this can make the late afternoon light soft it does make for spectacular sunsets. The forest of dead trees on the island always help create such atmospheric images.

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Saddle-billed stork - 10:33 pm

15 Oct 2008

At the edge of one of the last remaining pools in the channel before us, a saddle-billed stork feeds.. These are large, striking birds and in the evening light she adds a beacon of colour to the floodplain. Female saddle-billed storks have yellow eyes and the males brown.

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The little things - 10:26 pm

15 Oct 2008

While sitting waiting for the lionesses to become active again, I notice several dragonflies flitting around in some bluebushes at the edge of the channel. These are such beautiful insects Their vibrant colour in the late afternoon light and their delicately latticed wings make for some great macro shots and I am kept suitably entertained while waiting.

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Lionesses begin to hunt red lechwe - 10:13 pm

15 Oct 2008

Brad radios us and tell us that the lionesses are on the move. They are moving in formation down the eastern edge of Deadtree island and are hunting. Up ahead of them are some red lechwe and impala grazing in the channel. The cubs are all still under the tree and we decide to head across to Brad and the lionesses. Just as we arrive however, the lionesses lose interest for some reason and all lie down again on the edge of the floodplain. We choose a spot opposite the lechwe and wait.

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Pride male roars beneath setting moon - 10:07 pm

15 Oct 2008

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Wattled cranes soar past - 01:40 pm

15 Oct 2008

The lion cubs are showing no real sign of moving yet and will probably not do so until it cools down a bit. There is always something going on around us however. A pair of wattled cranes glide past us. These cranes are highly endangered, mostly due to habitat depletion and the delta is one of the last viable breeding grounds left for them.

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Elephants drink and make their way through the swamp - 01:35 pm

15 Oct 2008

The two bull elephants slowly make their way through the island. It is hot and windy and they move companionably towards the floodplain to the north. They pause briefly to drink and then push on through the miscanthus grass. They may well be on Deadtree island again this evening.

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Elephants at midday - 01:17 pm

15 Oct 2008

Sitting with the lion cubs, we notice a pair of bull elephants making their way towards us. It is by now very hot and they seem to shimmer through the heat haze as they approach. We recognise them as two of the bulls from Deadtree island last night. The one has no tail and the other has very torn and tattered ears. This is a great example of elephant bull social structures. The bull with no tail is quite a lot younger than the other and keeps a respectful distance. Young bulls will attach themselves to more mature bulls in a type of apprenticeship. They, with their sharper senses, will quite literally assist mature bulls and in return gain knowledge and experience. 

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