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    A2A Safaris - leopard https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/tags/leopard en Spectacular Sightings: Why Conservation Counts https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/spectacular-sightings-why-conservation-counts <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>Singita Sabi Sand in South Africa is a pristine stretch of protected land in one of the most biologically rich areas on the continent. The high density of diverse flora and fauna makes the region a prime location for game viewing, as is evident in Singita field guide Ian Mey‘s recollection of a recent morning...</p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/elephant" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">elephant</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/sabi-sand" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sabi Sand</a></div></div> Thu, 24 Aug 2017 07:00:16 +0000 Anonymous 1924 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/spectacular-sightings-why-conservation-counts#comments Seeing Spots in the Sabi Sand https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/seeing-spots-the-sabi-sand <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>The arrival of the monthly wildlife reports from Singita’s five reserves and concessions in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania is always a highlight for us city slickers. Reading about the seasonal changes in the landscape, an exciting game drive that ended in lion kill, the spotting of a rare and unusual species, and all manner...</p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/sabi-sand" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sabi Sand</a></div></div> Wed, 19 Apr 2017 07:00:47 +0000 Anonymous 1888 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/seeing-spots-the-sabi-sand#comments Ruaha’s Spotted All-Stars https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha%E2%80%99s-spotted-all-stars <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><h4 style="text-align:center;"><strong>*** Important ***</strong><br /> From 1 March 2015 this website will not be live anymore.<br /> With the launch of our new Asilia Blog all future blog articles about Rubondo Island can be found there.<strong><br /><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/category/areas/ruaha_national_park/" target="_blank">We invite you to our new Asilia Blog here &gt;</a></strong></h4> <h4>By Pietro Luraschi</h4> <p>Quintessential beauty, unforgettable elegance, striking power, heavenly grace and a perfect balance of many qualities: these are the words that come to my mind every time I see a leopard.</p> <p>Every leopard has its own way and its own character: some are shy, allowing you just a glimpse of them, some are confident in trees but disappear as soon as they climb down, some climb rocks, others prefer trees, and others again do not like much climbing and prefer the undergrowth. There are leopards absolutely relaxed with cars around, then there the one-car-leopards that vanish the moment a second car approaches. Lastly there are the leopards that we never see because they are way too wary of humans – all we find are sets of tracks here and there, but no other sign of them.</p> <p>As guides of <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Kwihala Camp</span></a> we know of a good number of leopards around us, not less than fifteen individuals, but if I have to do the maths, there are probably five of them that count for the 80% of the sightings – our five ‘Spotted All-Stars’.</p> <p><strong>Furaha</strong></p> <p>Furaha, which means ‘joy’ in Swahili, is 4 years old, and at time of writing is probably busy with a litter of cubs that she has not yet revealed to the world.</p> <p>We have known her since she was 4 months old. Festo and I were driving guests in the Sokwe Forest when we spotted a shy female up a rain tree no more then 8 metres from the road, and by her side, a small furry cub as shy as her mother.</p> <p>Their impala kill tucked up on a branch kept them there for four days, and then one night the mother went down, killed another ewe and brought it up the same tree where for another four days the leopards enjoyed their meal. That gave little Furaha the time to slowly overcome her fear of vehicles and has made her a real joy for us since. She is a great fan of sausage trees, which are by far her favourite trees to rest in. She does not use trees much when there is good cover on the ground, but she climbs more and more as the dry season advances.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140902_074113.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-631" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140902_074113.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140902_074113" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_171422.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-632" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_171422.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140917_171422" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172749-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-633" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172749-2.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140917_172749-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172306-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-634" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172306-2.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140917_172306-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><strong>Onca</strong></p> <p>Onca gets his name from the scientific name for the jaguar, as his pattern and shape of rosettes very similar to that of the South American cat. He is three and an half, and we have known him since he was one year old, when he had just left his mother. We found him around Kimilamatonge Hill, which became the centre for most of his activity. He is a very relaxed cat of predictable habits, where he loves the roads, using them to move along the hill to access the best rocks where Hyraxes live. Recently he started killing bigger prey but still stays around the hill where he can count on hundreds of bush hyraxes for easy meals. He has a real love for the mid rainy season, where he likes to sit on granite boulders in the late afternoon when the temperature drops, his elegant body wrapped around the rocks.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140731_094850.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-635" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140731_094850.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140731_094850" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140804_124147-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-636" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140804_124147-2.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140804_124147-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140908_182445.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-637" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140908_182445.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140908_182445" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140924_182059-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-638" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140924_182059-3.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140924_182059-3" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><strong>Bandido</strong></p> <p>Bandido is an old pirate, one ear just a stump, his gums covering the lower incisors, and has a massive body full of scars. He often walks through the camp at night, and he is not afraid of humans: he just keeps a safe distance and does not run away at full speed when we cross his path. Completely at ease when he is up a tree, he does not like to follow roads when he is on the ground, usually moving steadily into thicker areas of undergrowth.</p> <p>An old boy, definitely in his prime, he is one of the princes of the Mwagusi Valley, roaming all the area from Mbagi almost to White Rocks, more or less ten kilometres as the crow flies. He is not the only huge male around, as strangely his range overlaps with that of a very shy, blue-eyed male we call Ghost. Last year we saw him with a female between Lorenzo’s and my tent, and keeping just out of view, he mated with her all night, keeping us and half the camp awake!</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20141005_191307-bandido.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-630" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20141005_191307-bandido.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20141005_191307- bandido" width="640" height="425" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_125233-bandido.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-629" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_125233-bandido.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140926_125233-bandido" width="640" height="425" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_115821-bandido.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-628" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_115821-bandido.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140926_115821- bandido" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><strong>BRM and BRF</strong></p> <p>BRM and BRF are two siblings named Black Rocks Male and Black Rocks Female. I know the names lack imagination, but refer to the area where they live. Black Rocks is a basalt ridge surfacing along the Mwagusi River, a good place for hunting hyraxes, one of the favourite prey species of young leopards not confident enough to target bigger mammals. They are probably three years old. When we started seeing them they were around eighteen months old, together with their mother, who was extremely shy. She always moved away from us but the cubs would often stay, curious of cars and people.<br /> At one of the first sightings we had of them, the three leopards were cornered by a pride of lions, perched high up in two huge baobabs! Over time, BRF has become very, very confident, and she is completely unfazed by vehicles even when she is on the ground. BRM loves baobab trees and in recent times has started killing impalas and dragging them up there, but when he is on the ground he likes to keep his distance.</p> <p>They have left their mother to get on with their solitary lives, but sometimes when they meet, BRM always approaches BRF with a friendly manner, and she always tells him off with snarls and growls. This year we found them in a baobab with a third leopard, a male of the same age (BRM2) that seems to have a strong bond with them. He may be a cub of the same litter that left the mother before the other two, and before we started seeing them.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_172702.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-639" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_172702.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140720_172702" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175020-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-643" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175020-2.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140720_175020-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175342-4.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-644" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175342-4.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140720_175342-4" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140726_083401.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-645" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140726_083401.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140726_083401" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140824_085712.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-646" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140824_085712.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140824_085712" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_081132.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-647" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_081132.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140911_081132" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_080846.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-648" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_080846.jpg?w=640&amp;h=425" alt="20140911_080846" width="640" height="425" /></a></p> <p>Sightings of these “Spotted All-Stars” are often the highlight of visitors’ experiences here in Ruaha, with their effortless combination of fierce grace and power, and they certainly are among my favourite animals to photograph.</p> <p>Pietro</p> <p>Visit the <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Kwihala Camp website</span></a> to find out more about the camp and Ruaha National Park. To come and stay, contact your trusted tour operator or <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Enquire/Kwihala.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">enquire here</span></a>.</p> <p> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/624/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=ruahablog.com&amp;blog=65589608&amp;post=624&amp;subd=ruahaproject&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/africa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Africa</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopards" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Leopards</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div> Tue, 03 Mar 2015 11:11:14 +0000 Anonymous 1126 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha%E2%80%99s-spotted-all-stars#comments A leopard or an expat jaguar? https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/a-leopard-or-an-expat-jaguar <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><h4>By Pietro Luraschi</h4> <h4> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140914_182902-2.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-617 aligncenter" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140914_182902-2.jpg?w=600&amp;h=406" alt="20140914_182902-2" width="600" height="406" /></a></h4> <h4></h4> <p>Rosettes are rosettes, but jaguars have very different pattern and shape of rosettes compared to a leopard. On a jaguar, they are large and geometrical, especially on the back, compared to a leopards tighter and more compact formations.</p> <p>There is a young male leopard that lives on the slopes of Kimilamatonge Hill, where hyraxes are his favoured prey. He is three years old and has a striking pattern of rosettes, a pattern that makes him look so similar to a jaguar that we decided to call him Onca, from the scientific name of the jaguar, Panthera onca.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140921_175702.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-618" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140921_175702.jpg?w=595&amp;h=399" alt="20140921_175702" width="595" height="399" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p>When you look at him you may think you are in the wrong continent, or that he is an expat jaguar that left South America to reach Tanzania!</p> <p>Hyraxes are relatively easy prey, which is why in Ruaha National Park young leopards are often spotted around kopjes and granite formations where the hyraxes thrive.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140802_120606-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-616" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140802_120606-2.jpg?w=573&amp;h=384" alt="20140802_120606-2" width="573" height="384" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p>For the last two years, we always found Onca around the east side of the hill, always hunting bush hyraxes with different techniques: ambushing them in the grass, running them up Pepper Seed trees, and stalking them amongst the rocks.</p> <p>The alarm calls of the hyraxes often helped us as guides to find him, his large rosettes moving through the peterodendron, his paws leaving an easy-to-follow trail on the road. He is a wonderful animal, relaxed and tolerant of our vehicles, but wild and fierce.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140727_094603.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-614 aligncenter" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140727_094603.jpg?w=555&amp;h=375" alt="20140727_094603" width="555" height="375" /></a></p> <p>For the first time this year Onca killed a bigger prey species – an impala ram. This is a milestone for him: something that in the future will probably change his behaviour, moving him farther away from the safety of the hyrax hunting grounds towards more challenging but more rewarding prey.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140731_092622.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-615" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140731_092622.jpg?w=546&amp;h=367" alt="20140731_092622" width="546" height="367" /></a></p> <p>We have been blessed to observe his unmatched beauty over the last two years, and hopefully the changes in his life will continue to allow us to enjoy his unbelievable jaguar-like pattern as he roams farther afield.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140727_093551-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-613" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20140727_093551-3.jpg?w=394&amp;h=587" alt="20140727_093551-3" width="394" height="587" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:left;"> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/612/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=ruahablog.com&amp;blog=65589608&amp;post=612&amp;subd=ruahaproject&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/africa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Africa</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div> Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:30:51 +0000 Anonymous 1117 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/a-leopard-or-an-expat-jaguar#comments Ruaha – Land of Giants https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha-%E2%80%93-land-giants <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><h4><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6467.jpg"><img class="wp-image-538 aligncenter" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6467.jpg?w=650&amp;h=256" alt="LF6F6467" width="650" height="256" /></a></h4> <h4>By Ryan Green</h4> <p>On my first ever visit to Kwihala Camp in Ruaha National Park I had an inkling of what to expect after reading the reports from people who live and work in Ruaha and watching Owen Prumm’s amazing film about the lion and buffalo conflicts that occur at the end of the dry season (watch the preview <a title="Owen Prumm" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nb4rMD8DSU" target="_blank">here</a>). I had three days to see as much of it as time allowed and was thrilled to come across so many incredible vistas and encounters with wildlife.</p> <p>I wanted to photograph Ruaha’s vast and rugged landscape and its inhabitants the best way I could, but I understand the limits of being a visitor for a short time and expectations being set too high on what you hope to achieve.</p> <p>So loaded with cameras and gear, I stepped off the plane into the searing heat of Msembe airstrip, where the dry air of late October made shimmering mirages over the landscape. This is the best time for game viewing. Animals congregate close to the dwindling sources of water in the Great Ruaha, Mwagusi and Madonya Rivers. The uncomfortable heat is a trade off with the excellent wildlife viewing you can expect in this iconic park.</p> <p>With only a fraction of the park’s 20,000-odd square kilometres being utilised for game drives, I still only saw very few other vehicles while out on safari, comparable to being in a private concession elsewhere. I really enjoyed the company of the guides, Pietro, Festo, Lorenzo and Marius, and each of them has a passion for the wilderness and the magic of Ruaha that is obvious to all who encounter them. Sandy is an excellent and efficient manager, as well as a genial hostess.</p> <p>The images below capture magical days of a truly unique and special place that will stay with me for a long time.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6445.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-537 aligncenter" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6445.jpg?w=412&amp;h=541" alt="LF6F6445" width="412" height="541" /></a></p> <p>The river may appear dry, but the elephants know that there is water just below the surface. They dig down to it, and then slurp away. After the elephants leave, other animals are then able to use these holes to access the water.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6495.jpg"><img class="wp-image-539 aligncenter" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6495.jpg?w=611&amp;h=449" alt="LF6F6495" width="611" height="449" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7432.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-553" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7432.jpg?w=609&amp;h=410" alt="LF6F7432" width="609" height="410" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Giraffe, zebra and baboons utilising the water holes dug by elephants on the</p> <p style="text-align:center;">Madonya Sand River.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6438.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-527" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6438.jpg?w=605&amp;h=408" alt="IMG_6438" width="605" height="408" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Ruaha sunset, featuring a trio of the park’s iconic trees: Acacia Tortilis, Hyphenae Petersiana Palms,and the ubiquitous Baobab.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6447.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-528" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6447.jpg?w=622&amp;h=419" alt="IMG_6447" width="622" height="419" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p>Ruaha is known for its Baobabs, but I had no idea there were so many. I think I saw more of these incredible trees in one day than I have ever seen before. They spend 8-9 months of the year completely bare and then at the end of the dry season put out large white flowers that bloom at night, and only last a day. At the same time, they begin to produce leaves that will eventually grow into a thick canopy.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6798.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-543" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6798.jpg?w=642&amp;h=432" alt="LF6F6798" width="642" height="432" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Some trees just budding out with leaves, the others still bare.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6684.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-531" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6684.jpg?w=648&amp;h=436" alt="IMG_6684" width="648" height="436" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A male lion rests in the shadow of the branches above.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6687.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-532" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6687.jpg?w=651&amp;h=438" alt="IMG_6687" width="651" height="438" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6858.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-544" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6858.jpg?w=657&amp;h=425" alt="LF6F6858" width="657" height="425" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6870.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-545" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6870.jpg?w=660&amp;h=455" alt="LF6F6870" width="660" height="455" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">We came across a large herd of buffalo resting in the shade of a grove of Tortilis trees.</p> <p style="text-align:center;">Close by, a pride of lions dozed below a Rain Tree, keeping a wary eye on the herd.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6888.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-546" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6888.jpg?w=661&amp;h=445" alt="LF6F6888" width="661" height="445" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6929.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-547" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6929.jpg?w=664&amp;h=422" alt="LF6F6929" width="664" height="422" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A little further on, we found these four females and a cub, resting off</p> <p style="text-align:center;">what must have been a big meal.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6404.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-535" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6404.jpg?w=668&amp;h=513" alt="LF6F6404" width="668" height="513" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Ruaha has one of Africa’s largest concentrations of lions. This male wears the scars of a recent</p> <p style="text-align:center;">territorial battle with another male.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7613.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-555" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7613.jpg?w=689&amp;h=407" alt="LF6F7613" width="689" height="407" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Another pride lies in wait for the unwary, scanning the white-hot glare of the dry riverbed.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6432.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-536" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6432.jpg?w=690&amp;h=457" alt="LF6F6432" width="690" height="457" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A large and colourful Agama Lizard</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6721.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-541" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6721.jpg?w=678&amp;h=488" alt="LF6F6721" width="678" height="488" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A baboon feeding on the fruit of a Sausage Tree (Kigelia Africana).</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6782.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-542" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6782.jpg?w=681&amp;h=449" alt="LF6F6782" width="681" height="449" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Monochrome zebras.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7158.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-548" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7158.jpg?w=679&amp;h=470" alt="LF6F7158" width="679" height="470" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Bat-Eared Foxes are normally very shy so it was a real treat to discover a den close to camp with very relaxed adults and puppies. The three puppies played outside of the den in the cooler temperatures of predawn or evening.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7223.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-550" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7223.jpg?w=674&amp;h=435" alt="LF6F7223" width="674" height="435" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7216.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-549" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7216.jpg?w=673&amp;h=453" alt="LF6F7216" width="673" height="453" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">The pups venturing out from their den.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7369.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-552" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7369.jpg?w=679&amp;h=574" alt="LF6F7369" width="679" height="574" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A tiny Dik-Dik antelope.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7739.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-559" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7739.jpg?w=687&amp;h=462" alt="LF6F7739" width="687" height="462" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A magnificent herd of Eland, the largest of the antelopes, with an</p> <p style="text-align:center;">endless Ruaha vista behind them.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7584.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-554" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7584.jpg?w=689&amp;h=407" alt="LF6F7584" width="689" height="407" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A male Black-Faced Sandgrouse guards his cryptically coloured chick.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7323.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-551" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7323.jpg?w=671&amp;h=612" alt="LF6F7323" width="671" height="612" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">A baboon mother and baby basking in the early morning sun.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6969.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-534" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6969.jpg?w=676&amp;h=455" alt="IMG_6969" width="676" height="455" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Giants of Ruaha : the park has Tanzania’s largest population of elephants,</p> <p style="text-align:center;">estimated at 15 000 animals.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6501.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-529" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6501.jpg?w=577&amp;h=389" alt="IMG_6501" width="577" height="389" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6811.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-533" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/img_6811.jpg?w=412&amp;h=610" alt="IMG_6811" width="412" height="610" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">Baobabs have the ability to heal and grow over the scars created by elephants.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7691.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-556" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7691.jpg?w=606&amp;h=408" alt="LF6F7691" width="606" height="408" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">The landscape just seems to go on forever…</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7699.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-557" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7699.jpg?w=609&amp;h=410" alt="LF6F7699" width="609" height="410" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7700.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-558" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7700.jpg?w=614&amp;h=414" alt="LF6F7700" width="614" height="414" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">And changes dramatically from place to place.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7858.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-560" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f7858.jpg?w=611&amp;h=411" alt="LF6F7858" width="611" height="411" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;">On my last night, I saw Furaha (Joy in KiSwahili), a female leopard with her kill in a tree.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f8047.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-562" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f8047.jpg?w=613&amp;h=413" alt="LF6F8047" width="613" height="413" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6575.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-540" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/lf6f6575.jpg?w=611&amp;h=412" alt="LF6F6575" width="611" height="412" /></a></p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;">This is a land of giants, and of a scale so great that one visit will never do it justice.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p 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src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/526/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/526/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/526/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=ruahablog.com&amp;blog=65589608&amp;post=526&amp;subd=ruahaproject&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/africa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Africa</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lion</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div> Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:13:28 +0000 Anonymous 1030 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha-%E2%80%93-land-giants#comments Impressions of Ruaha National Park https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/impressions-ruaha-national-park <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><h3>By Judith Rosink, Asilia Sales Manager, East Africa.</h3> <p>Judith recently had a whirlwind tour of the Asilia camps in Tanzania, and here she shares her impressions of a day at Kwihala Camp in Ruaha National Park with us.</p> <p>This was going to be my first time to visit this National Park — I had read a lot about it and had been told that it would be very remote and completely different to the parks in the so-called Northern Circuit of Tanzania. We were only three passengers in the plane; a Dutch lady with her daughter were my travel companions and coincidentally, they too, were going to spend a few nights at Kwihala Camp. Upon our arrival at Msembe, we were warmly welcomed by our guide who offered us cold drinks while he arranged our park fees. The drive from the airstrip to the camp was 17 km, and since we had been delayed by an hour we had to go straight to camp. The landscape on the way was stunning- changing every five minutes from open plains to areas full of wild date palms, to beautiful woodlands.</p> <p>When we arrived, Michelle the relief manager was awaiting us with a snack platter lunch, and while the two other ladies prepared themselves for their afternoon game drive I took some time to investigate the camp.</p> <p>At around 19h30 we were all invited to have a drink at the “bush television” fireplace, where the most delicious snacks were offered. Pietro the guide insisted for the whole group to have dinner below the stars, so a large dining table was set up outside. Dinner was served by candlelight, and the meal was absolutely mouthwatering!</p> <p>Afterwards I went to my tent for a good night’s sleep – I did not close the curtains because I really enjoy experiencing bush life and woke up to every single sound I heard to see what was surrounding me. Something small was scratching my canvas almost the whole night. I could not see what it was, but I suspected it would be a gecko. The next morning I had to wake up very early to go on a game drive with Pietro and the two other Dutch guests. After only ten minutes of driving, (it was still dark and we were using a flashlight), something large came out of the woodland – it was a very relaxed mature leopard who was obviously on his way to hunt. We tried to follow him but after 30 minutes we lost his tracks. It was too dark to take pictures but the memory will always remain with me.</p> <p>We continued on our way, and witnessed the most amazing sunrise. Half an hour later we saw a group of young male lions courting a lioness. Unfortunately our game watch was brutally disturbed by some other tourists being noisy so we had to leave. It was our luck that after ten minutes we spotted another male lion, and he was not alone – in fact he was very much in love, courting a lioness! We followed them, as when they are mating, the act will usually occur every few minutes, and go on for days.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10551019_10203742325013726_740246780287112485_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-457" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10551019_10203742325013726_740246780287112485_n.jpg?w=200&amp;h=150" alt="10551019_10203742325013726_740246780287112485_n" width="200" height="150" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10494683_10203750756424506_9030754912474884491_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-456" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10494683_10203750756424506_9030754912474884491_n.jpg?w=200&amp;h=150" alt="10494683_10203750756424506_9030754912474884491_n" width="200" height="150" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10403530_10203742322973675_2030062658015656454_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-452" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10403530_10203742322973675_2030062658015656454_n.jpg?w=200&amp;h=150" alt="10403530_10203742322973675_2030062658015656454_n" width="200" height="150" /></a></p> <p>Afterwards, both of them were drinking water at a waterhole when the lioness decided to walk away. Suddenly we heard the roaring of another male lion close by. The first male did not hesitate a second and started running towards the sound. We followed, and found the two males fighting. Being in the same territory, these two males would have known each other, most possibly being members of the same coalition. In such a case, the two lions would have established a hierarchy of dominance long before, and the fight was merely to reassert this claim, and wouldn’t result in serious injury on either side. Had the battle been for territory, the outcome would have been far more violent, possibly even fatal.</p> <p>The first male won the battle, and then he continued his courtship of the lioness.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10341606_10203742327933799_6476830250532660901_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-450" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10341606_10203742327933799_6476830250532660901_n.jpg?w=299&amp;h=200" alt="10341606_10203742327933799_6476830250532660901_n" width="299" height="200" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10306314_10203742317893548_8200149409569256078_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-449" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10306314_10203742317893548_8200149409569256078_n.jpg?w=267&amp;h=200" alt="10306314_10203742317893548_8200149409569256078_n" width="267" height="200" /></a></p> <p>Since we had left camp without breakfast, Pietro found us a beautiful spot close to a riverbank, with elephants walking around us. We had a late breakfast laid out on the bonnet before we continued on our game drive. Lorenzo (one of the other guides) called to report that a leopard had been spotted on a rock, and we set off on our next mission. It took us an hour to reach it but sadly, by that time the battery in my camera had died!</p> <p>At 4pm we left again for a game drive and came across a herd of elephants in what appeared to be a dry riverbed. By using a combination of extraordinary sensory perception and experience passed down over generations, these animals have learned to perceive where water lies beneath the surface of the sand. At a point where it is shallowest, they dig a perfect hole, scooping out sand with their trunks until they can access the cool water below.</p> <p>From where we sat, we could even hear the sound of the water slurping into their trunks, which made for a spectacular sighting!</p> <p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10384141_10203718486617781_3746837588016300293_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-451" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10384141_10203718486617781_3746837588016300293_n.jpg?w=504&amp;h=343" alt="10384141_10203718486617781_3746837588016300293_n" width="504" height="343" /></a></p> <p>This phenomenon is not unique to Ruaha’s elephants, as it has been seen in many dry areas of the continent; but it is a testament to the incredible intelligence and adaptive abilities of these animals.</p> <p>Continuing on our way, there was another surprise was waiting for us. Two male giraffes were measuring up who was the strongest, showing off by slapping their tall necks against each other. This is a dominance display where the combatants pound each other using the full force of their necks: with a combination of considerable weight and momentum, their heads and horns become sledgehammers, and it happens that giraffes knock each other out, and in rare instances are killed from these blows.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10600674_10203750573299928_8506985584318355147_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-459" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10600674_10203750573299928_8506985584318355147_n.jpg?w=502&amp;h=381" alt="10600674_10203750573299928_8506985584318355147_n" width="502" height="381" /></a></p> <p>Moving on, we tracked a pride of 14 lions feasting on a giraffe. In Ruaha, the lions are known for their large pride numbers, and this forces them to take on bigger, more dangerous prey: a giraffe is a considerable prize, and would provide enough sustenance to last them at least a few days.</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10553579_10203750753504433_4034096510441289084_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-458" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10553579_10203750753504433_4034096510441289084_n.jpg?w=300&amp;h=200" alt="10553579_10203750753504433_4034096510441289084_n" width="300" height="200" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10450152_10203750753104423_2119618195560001041_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-455" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/10450152_10203750753104423_2119618195560001041_n.jpg?w=300&amp;h=200" alt="10450152_10203750753104423_2119618195560001041_n" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p>We then returned to camp for another delicious candlelit dinner below the stars, and later as I lay in bed I thought how incredible it was for me to have experienced so many exciting encounters in just one day!</p> <p>The following morning it was time for me to pack and get ready for my journey back to Arusha, completely blown away by this incredible place – I will definitely return, that’s for sure!</p> <p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/1654087_10203735441281637_4808390573063285617_n.jpg"><img class="wp-image-448 aligncenter" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/1654087_10203735441281637_4808390573063285617_n.jpg?w=538&amp;h=409" alt="1654087_10203735441281637_4808390573063285617_n" width="538" height="409" /></a></p> <p> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/465/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=ruahablog.com&amp;blog=65589608&amp;post=465&amp;subd=ruahaproject&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lion</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div> Thu, 09 Oct 2014 14:36:09 +0000 Anonymous 1007 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/impressions-ruaha-national-park#comments Cameras for conservation – the Ruaha Carnivore Project’s camera trap program. https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/cameras-conservation-%E2%80%93-the-ruaha-carnivore-project%E2%80%99s-camera-trap-program <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><h3>By Ryan Green, Travel Writer.</h3> <p>The Ruaha Carnivore Project has initiated a study using camera traps to gather crucial data on the movements of predators within Ruaha. These cameras provide an excellent, non-intrusive way of monitoring wildlife, and sometimes they can be used for entirely different reasons.</p> <p>Amy Dickman, director of the Ruaha Carnivore Project, (RCP) has been co-supervising PhD student Jeremy Cusack, who has set up the initiative with Trevor Jones from the Udzungwa Elephant project with assistance from the RCP team.</p> <p>The camera-traps have been set out across the Ruaha ecosystem, and the aim of the project is to learn more about the diversity and relative distribution of carnivores and other wildlife in this critically important landscape. There is one permanent camera-trap grid stationed close to Msembe, the Ruaha National Park headquarters, and that has been revealing some wonderful images of carnivores. These include the elusive caracal, as well as some great photos of cheetahs, which are typically very hard to capture on camera-traps due to their wide-ranging nature. In addition, images of lion, leopard, serval, and three termite-eating mammals (aardvark, aardwolf and bat-eared fox) have been captured.</p> <p>“These images provide invaluable scientific data for us on species’ occurrence and habitat selection, but are also fascinating to see.” Says Amy. The camera traps have been very productive so far – “ We have conducted initial camera-trapping across the landscape, and one of our Tanzanian research assistants will be using these data for his MSc, while we have had over 1500 carnivore sightings reported to us thus far. We will share these data with the Tanzanian authorities and other stakeholders, so we can help them develop the most appropriate conservation and management strategies for these globally important large carnivore populations.”</p> <p>It is estimated that Ruaha holds approximately 10% of Africa’s lion population, meaning that this, and other studies associated with it, might well hold the key to the survival of the species in an increasingly crowded continent that we share with them.</p> <p>Thus far, the RCP has gathered some fantastic images of not only the large predators such as lions that are their main branch of study so as to reduce the causes of human/wildlife conflict in the region, but also some of the lesser seen, but equally fascinating creatures that inhabit the park. In addition, the RCP and Lion Guardian Daudi were able to play a vital part in helping a local community track down a young disabled boy who had gone missing in the bush.</p> <p>Lion Guardians are an innovative program initiated by the global big-cat conservation NGO Pantera in Kenya, and are being trialled in Ruaha by the RCP. This approach centres on training and employing the local lion-hunters as conservationists, therefore giving them a tangible benefit from carnivore presence. Now in its second year, the Lion Guardians program has proved to be extremely beneficial in harmonising human/lion coexistence in the area around Ruaha, and sometimes in unexpected ways:</p> <h3><strong>Lion Guardians help find a disabled boy in the bush</strong></h3> <p>Livestock become lost in the bush relatively often in the study area, and it is part of the role of Lion Guardians to help the community by trying to find them and avoid depredation. In April, the Lion Guardians played an extra-important role when a disabled boy became lost in the bush, and they teamed up with other young men to help find him. The boy was eventually found after spending a night alone in the bush – and interestingly, RCP’s camera traps captured some photos of the search, including photos of the lost boy, the search party, and also a lost cow, which was found and returned by Daudi, one of the longest-standing Ruaha Lion Guardians. These kinds of community actions are very important, as they demonstrate a clear benefit to local people from the presence of the Lion Guardians and the wider RCP project.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/boy.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-293" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/boy.png?w=513&amp;h=385" alt="boy" width="513" height="385" /></a><br /><em>Camera-trap photo of the lost boy</em><em> </em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/search.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-303" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/search.png?w=534&amp;h=401" alt="search" width="534" height="401" /></a><br /><em>Camera-trap image of one of the search parties looking for the boy</em><em> </em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/cow.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-296" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/cow.png?w=549&amp;h=412" alt="cow" width="549" height="412" /></a></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>Image of a lost cow, which was found by Ruaha Lion Guardian Daudi, and was returned safely to its owner before it could be attacked by a carnivore</em><em> </em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/caracal.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-294" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/caracal.png?w=551&amp;h=413" alt="caracal" width="551" height="413" /></a><br /></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>A caracal, which is a rarely seen, medium-sized cat. The presence of smaller predators is an indicator of a healthily functioning ecosystem that contains an abundance of small prey species, from rodents to spurfowl and lagomorphs, which are a principal part of the caracal’s diet.</em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/leopard.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-301" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/leopard.png?w=558&amp;h=418" alt="leopard" width="558" height="418" /></a><br /></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>A large, mature male leopard captured on camera. Male leopards typically have territories that overlap with that of several females. The presence of this male would then be a good reason to expand the trapping grid in search of females, which could be indentified by their unique spot-patterns.</em><strong> </strong></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/cheetah.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-295" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/cheetah.png?w=565&amp;h=424" alt="cheetah" width="565" height="424" /></a><br /></strong></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>Two cheetahs, which are rarely captured on the camera-traps, as they have large ranges, as opposed to territories. Prey species such as impala and Grant’s gazelles captured in other images would explain their presence. Typically cheetahs, when seen in a pair like this, would be a mother and sub-adult cub, or a coalition of two males. Judging by the images, they appear healthy and have fed recently.</em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/lion.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-302" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/lion.png?w=573&amp;h=429" alt="lion" width="573" height="429" /></a><br /></strong></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>A lioness walking through the Park at night- although not an entirely useful image to identify an individual, this image, along with the imbedded GPS data in the camera, gives the researchers data on lion prides’ territories. </em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/serval.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-304" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/serval.png?w=570&amp;h=428" alt="serval" width="570" height="428" /></a><br /></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>A serval, another of the elusive smaller cats in the Ruaha ecosystem as they are hard to spot due to their retiring nature and diminutive size. The presence of smaller carnivores such as these are indicators of a healthily functioning ecosystem.</em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/aardwolf.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-292" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/aardwolf.png?w=579&amp;h=434" alt="aardwolf" width="579" height="434" /></a><br /></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>An aardwolf – a small member of the dog family that relies heavily upon termites for its diet. Extremely shy and nocturnal by nature, aardwolves live in burrows and are difficult to monitor and study- the cameras thus provide valuable information pertaining to their presence. </em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/fox.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-298" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/fox.png?w=579&amp;h=434" alt="fox" width="579" height="434" /></a><br /></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>A bat-eared fox – a very pretty member of the dog family, which uses its large ears to locate underground prey.</em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/aardvark.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-291" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/aardvark.png?w=587&amp;h=440" alt="aardvark" width="587" height="440" /></a><br /></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>An aardvark – a fascinating animal that is hard to spot in the Ruaha area, as it is largely nocturnal, active usually in the darkest hours of the night.</em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/elephant.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-297" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/elephant.png?w=603&amp;h=453" alt="elephant" width="603" height="453" /></a><br /></strong><em>An elephant, sniffing the air as it walks along</em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/gazelles.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-299" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/gazelles.png?w=608&amp;h=457" alt="gazelles" width="608" height="457" /></a></em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><em>A group of Grant’s gazelle – one of the favoured prey items of the cheetahs captured above!</em></p> <p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/impala.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-300" src="http://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/impala.png?w=611&amp;h=458" alt="impala" width="611" height="458" /></a><br /><em style="text-align:center;">A curious impala getting a closer look at one of the camera-traps!</em></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/ruahaproject.wordpress.com/289/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=ruahablog.com&amp;blog=65589608&amp;post=289&amp;subd=ruahaproject&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lion</a></div></div> Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:47:51 +0000 Anonymous 892 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/cameras-conservation-%E2%80%93-the-ruaha-carnivore-project%E2%80%99s-camera-trap-program#comments Spotting the elusive leopard in the Pilanesberg https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/spotting-the-elusive-leopard-the-pilanesberg <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><img width="250" height="150" src="http://blog.africageographic.com/africa-geographic-blog/files/2014/01/leopard-250x150.jpg" class="attachment-sliderimg wp-post-image" alt="© Evan van Niekerk" /></p> <p>Until a recent trip to Pilanesberg National Park, this travel writer had never seen the elusive leopard. We follow him as he comes face to face with a leopard for the first time.</p> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife-and-nature" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife and Nature</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/pilanesberg" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Pilanesberg</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div></div> Thu, 02 Jan 2014 08:06:43 +0000 Anonymous 631 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/spotting-the-elusive-leopard-the-pilanesberg#comments November news – Selinda Camp, Botswana https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/november-news-%E2%80%93-selinda-camp-botswana <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>November is the beginning of the rainy season for us and as such this past month has delivered fantastic cloud formations, the most amazing sunsets and eventually the first rain as well. Our guests have certainly enjoyed the beautiful light offered up at this time of the year together with the many accompanying photographic opportunities.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_55961.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8960" alt="IMG_5596" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_55961.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Also enjoying our picturesque surrounds this month was a large Nat Geo group. Selinda Camp was fortunate enough to have been selected as one of their stops on a special “around-the-world” trip in celebration of National Geographic´s 125-year anniversary. Dereck and Beverly Joubert headed up the team here at Selinda during the duration of their stay and gave a passionate talk and update on their conservation efforts under the African sky.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_5530-001.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8961" alt="IMG_5530-001" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_5530-001.jpg" width="640" height="461" /></a></p> <p>In amongst all the special guests who shared Selinda with us this month (Note: we only have special guests at Selinda), we also had the honour of hosting Mrs Debbi Fields, of USA  “Mrs Fields’ chocolate chip cookies” fame, and would particularly like to thank her for sharing her famous recipe with our delighted chefs.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010955.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8952" alt="P1010955" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010955.jpg" width="640" height="464" /></a></p> <p>Birdlife has been abundant, especially now that the migratory birds such as the paradise flycatcher and the woodland kingfisher are back in the area.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010824.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8953" alt="P1010824" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010824.jpg" width="640" height="465" /></a></p> <p>Our little wire-tailed swallows, hatched and raised under the Selinda jetty, have decided to stay on with us and now form part of the official welcome committee for our arriving guests.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_5620.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8954" alt="IMG_5620" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_5620.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>As is usual for this time of the year, after the first rains, the large herds of elephants have moved on in search of alternative vegetative nutrition, but we do have the occasional breeding herd passing by camp and single bulls visiting us in camp…. Including our “regular”, whom the staff have named “Bond”, caught here on camera early one morning helping himself to some of the guest breakfast.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_5574.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8955" alt="IMG_5574" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_5574.jpg" width="640" height="463" /></a></p> <p>It’s also time for some of the new generation to arrive and raise the activity levels out on the plains. Impalas, tsesebe and wildebeest have already introduced their newborns to the world and we look forward to seeing many more.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1030311.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8956" alt="P1030311" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1030311.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Of course with lots of antelope around there are bound to be the predators following and our guests have definitely not been disappointed on this score. We’ve had various sightings of different leopards, including two separate mating “couples”, seen on the same day in different locations on the concession.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MG_7099.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8957" alt="_MG_7099" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MG_7099.jpg" width="720" height="480" /></a></p> <p>… and lion have been spotted almost on a daily basis. Leaving us with lots to talk about too, even if a tad sad. There have been quite a few young elephant killed by them this month, which could just be the opportunistic taking advantage of weakened individuals at the end of a long dry season, or possibly a trend developing in the Selinda concession again? We are not quite sure …</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P10300591.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8966" alt="P1030059" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P10300591.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>The Northern wild dog pack of five has entertained us on numerous occasions – including a couple of visits to Selinda Camp itself. Unfortunately without their puppies and it would appear they have lost all six of them.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010881.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8962" alt="P1010881" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010881.jpg" width="640" height="463" /></a></p> <p>The good news, however, is that the southern pack was spotted in the vicinity of our sister camp, Zarafa, with seven healthy and rapidly growing youngsters.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DSCN2404-001.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8967" alt="DSCN2404-001" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DSCN2404-001.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Cheetahs are few and far between out here, but we have managed to get a glimpse of them on four or five different occasions through the month. Some lucky viewers were even able to capture them doing a quick pose in front of the setting sun.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1020045.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8968" alt="P1020045" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1020045.jpg" width="640" height="464" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>And then of course we shouldn´t forget the always present hippo. The added cloud cover and cooler weather means they now spend more time outside the water during the day, offering more than just a set of eyes, ears and a nose protruding above the waterline for better photo opportunities. The rain appears also to have brought about a certain amount of “spring feelings” within them. Testament to that lies with the number of fighting males and mating couples we have seen in front of and around camp of late.</p> <p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010342-001.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8949];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8970" alt="P1010342-001" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1010342-001.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Lots of wildlife activity, happy guests and cooler weather … and this is just the beginning of the rainy season!  Imagine what Selinda still has to offer … can’t wait to see you out here.</p> <p> </p> <p>Eva Spyridis &amp; Dave Pahl</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Camp Managers</p> <div id="facebook_like"> <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greatplainsconservation.com%2Fbushbuzz%2F%3Fp%3D8949&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=true&amp;width=500&amp;action=like&amp;font=segoe+ui&amp;colorscheme=light&amp;height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:500px; height:80px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></div> </div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/botswana-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Botswana Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/headlines" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Headlines</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/recently-spotted" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Recently Spotted</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/selinda-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Selinda Camp</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/dereck-and-beverly-joubert" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Dereck and Beverly Joubert</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/great-plains-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Great Plains Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wild-dog" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wild Dog</a></div></div> Sun, 01 Dec 2013 13:44:52 +0000 Anonymous 361 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/november-news-%E2%80%93-selinda-camp-botswana#comments
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