Time in the bush with guests 23 - 27 August

We started off leaving camp around 15H00, and took a slow drive along the River road, and hoping that we could stumble upon some elephant, and that we did! It was a group of three young bull elephants. They were very relaxed with our presence, but I must say that we did have the breeze in our favour. We sat with these bulls for about 30 minutes, it felt like an hour, and they gave us good photographic opportunities. One could really see all the hairs on their bodies and long eye lashes.   

2010 - Elephant approaching us. 

We carried on with the afternoon drive and saw numerous Johnson's impala, a breeding herd of elephant, waterbuck, warthog and bushbuck.

After having a great sunset, with drinks and some snacks, we started to head back to camp. We managed to surprise a Large Spotted Genet, who posed nicely for the cameras. But unfortunately all my pictures of the Genet where out of focus.

2010 - Three young bulls.

The next morning we set out around 06H00 and the sighting of the morning was definitely that of the 16 Niassa Wildebeest. These are an endemic specie to the area, and are also not as common as one would think, especially when you talk about "wildebeest" "They are suppose to be everywhere", as one guest put it. About 5 minutes before we came across the Niassa Wildebeest, we saw a young bull elephant by itself. We probably gave him a fright as we came around the corner, as he did give us the "hairy eyeball". He then persisted in giving us warnings and trumpeting at us. The only thing we could do was to stand our ground, and eventually after about 10 minutes he meandered into the bushes, always giving us that little side look that elephants like to do when they are slightly agitated.

2010 - Niassa Wildebeest.

 2010 - Johnson's Impala (endemic to the area).
  

In the afternoon, I suggested that we go on the river and do an afternoon canoe trip down river. It takes about 2 hours, and we generally stop close to the area where we normally see hippo. When I said canoe trip on the river, I could see everyones brains ticking with the thoughts of " hippo attacking me" "what if we fall in and there are hippos and crocos". Well after the briefing about being on the river and what to do and what not to do, everone was ready for the trip.
When you are on the river you do encounter the locals (fisherman) on the islands and on the sand banks. They just seem to be part of the system now!!
What I was hoping for, was what we got. Another 3 bull elephants, but different ones to the afternoon before. To see them feeding on the banks and not being sure of what we are when you slowly drift towards and passed them is all very exciting stuff.
We also saw waterbuck, bushbuck and some kudu as we carried on down the river to our pick up point.

2010 - Viewing elephants from Canoes.

 

 2010 - Sundowers after a good canoe trip.

The following morning, we decided that if we found any fresh buffalo tracks, that we would follow up on foot. Everyone was in agreement. This is generally the only way we do get to see them, as they are still nervous of the presence of a vehicle close by to them. After half an hour into the morning drive we got some tracks, and good ones they were. The excitement started!! I parked us on one of the smaller inselbergs close to where we had the tracks. We then got walking. Buanar my tracker kept his eyes to the tracks and had his "sock of dust", for which is used to check wind direction all the time. I was behind him looking ahead. Its important to keep checking wind direction as these buffalo will smell you a mile away and will be gone.
An hour passed when we started to slow down as the buffalo where difinately getting close, as the their pattys "Pooh" where getting greener!! Then we saw them ahead of us about 50 meters,  it was only part of the herd, that we could see.

2010 - Buffalo bull giving us the stare!!

At that time they were not aware of us so we could get a good view some of them. Then all of a sudden one of them turned and ran, and then the whole herd followed, luckily in the opposite direction to us. We waited for a while, then followed again, this time the wind was more constant and in our favour for a long time. Everyone got a good view again and for the last time as we left them and moved back to the vehicle.

Well thats all till the next safari!!