Flavour of the Month - June 2013: H7 (Orpen - Satara)

[Mel]

[Richprins]

From Peter Betts, 2012:

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 2&start=10

Halfway along the H7 to orpen on the left hand side...nice young male leopard

I saw the leopard above quite far ahead and far in as it was walking right out in the open..I drove towards where it would have come to the road..about 100 metres and by that time it had sunk down trying to be invisible...TYPICAL byut I knew he was there so careful scanning and I found him behind the tuft of grass...Skelm deluxe....it lay like that for about 3 mins and realised that this car with its engine OFF was not going anywhere so he got up and walked parallel...I let him get 30 metres on thinking he would cross and then started and went up to where he was and when he sank down again I left him in peace and went to Orpen

The H7 Leopard half way to Orpen realised he had been seen and caught out in the open (see previous pic of him crouching ina shadow trying to blend in!!) so after about 3 mins he slouched off

Its all about the light...this ol warrior came waddling towards me just past Nsemane Dam early one morning...he was full of Buffalo and I suppose on his way for a pre sleep drink at the dam. I saw him approaching at about 150 metres and as I was the only one there I turned my car sideways nose pointing into the bush...switched off and bean bag on window and let him approach thinking he would go in front or behind me but no he walked straight up to my open window and gave me the look!! You try closing the window at the last minute with a 10 kg plus bean bag on the door frame!!! You can see my car shadow on the road. He was a tall lion and basically looked down on me in my low down Corolla!!

My Nesemane lion eventually left my window and walked past my bonnet and into the bush where he hada good rub on some bushes..This is on his way back to the road where my car was parked properly this time...switched off of course

[nan]

the Leopard is

[Richprins]

Bushcraft 2013:


https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 5&start=10


We were up early this morning as we all had an early night, so ducked out of camp a few minutes after gate opening and again decided to head down to Nsemani Dam and then decide from there on what to do next.

The Nsemani pride were also up early and there to greet us.





The 1 aunty was very active and then started plotting something in the distance which we couldn’t see.







The others all started after the aunty, but the male didn’t seem keen to follow, although eventually something else got his attention and he was off after them.

[Richprins]

A few km before the dam we stopped for a faulty ellie who seemed to be catching a snooze on a log.



The pride wasn’t at the dam, so initially the lips started dragging, but we spotted a few cars further down the road, therefore continued on and found these guys checking out their competition.





Apparently the lions had made a kill during the night, hence the hyena hanging around; however we couldn’t see the kill from our position, so assumed that they finished most of it already.

Around 10 minutes later the 1 lioness started to make a move towards us, which got me excited again “They are going to follow her”



I started the car, which again brought the hairy eyeball from the Cow, but I wasn’t going to listen this time and moved to intercept the lioness.



Next up was a cub following the same route and then the entire lion pride followed over the next few minutes. We counted 17 in total.













I then started to panic as I realized that these lion were heading towards Nsemani Dam for a drink and the first lions were probably there already, so did we wait and watch the entire train, or cruise to the dam.

The Cow put her foot down and we waited for the last of the pride to cross before ducking towards the dam.

26th Satara to Talamati continued

We arrived at the dam to find some of the lion leaving and others arriving, so I was in a complete flap as I wasn’t sure if we should follow the ones walking back or hang around for the ones coming to drink.



Eventually sanity prevailed and we managed to capture a half pride team drink.

[Richprins]

An old scan from the late 1990s

[Richprins]

From a 2012 Katja report:

Let’s continue. We were on our way to Orpen and wanted to look, if the lions were still at the kill. As we got a detailed description where to find them it was not difficult, well there were several cars at the kill anyway so we just couldn’t drive past. Before we stopped at the Nsemani Dam and watched hippos lazily laying around and this lovely Ellie, Girivana.



Arriving at the kill, there were vultures everywhere. On the ground with a piece of bone, on the trees and the only thing we saw of a lion was this.



He was laying next to the buffalo carcass, his belly in the air and dozing. Sometimes you could see a paw being lifted or his tail flicking. Typical for a well fed lion.

So we continued and saw this heavily pregnant Zebra and a lone Buffalo in golden light.





It was getting late and I was keen on arriving in daylight, as I wanted to see „my“ waterhole. Well we managed so, but couldn’t resist watching a herd of ellies taking a mud bath and playing. It was already getting darker, but *sigh* this was amazing to watch.
















Unfortunately we had to leave this gorgeous herd, but you know, you leave one sighting and are rewarded with another one. We noticed a movement on the right side and couldn’t believe it, there were two male lions who just left their kill. They were far off, but lions are lions. At the kill two Black-backed Jackals had their feast.





And again Vultures where waiting for their turn.



Shortly before reaching the camp another Ellie herd moved towards the setting sun. We loved this scenery and I wondered if those ellies might come for a drink in the night.

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 2&start=10

[Richprins]

Not mentioned yet is Nwamutsatsa windmill just a few km from Orpen on a loop to the southern side. It doesn't have great visibility and is often inoperative:

2nd August 2011

I woke up and got ready quickly to enjoy the peaceful morning outside with a first coffee. The cottage is absolutely fantastic! There were animals at the waterhole, but I didn’t have the camera ready. I didn’t mind and just indulged in the atmosphere. Johanna was so tired this morning that she refused to get dressed, well no problem, with her pyjamas on she was carried into the car. Later we told her, that this might have been the reason for all the sightings we had that day. From there on she had her pyjamas on every morning we left camp and only get dressed after an hour or so.

The morning greeted us again with a beautiful sunrise.



Our plan was to do the Rabelais Loop. On the way we turned in towards N’wamatstsa Waterhole and this is what we saw shortly after.



Another Hyena den, we couldn’t believe it. There was another car in front of us, which soon turned and drove off. It was such a lovely sighting, that we couldn’t believe that they were not interested in watching this interaction. There were Hyenas everywhere and we had to keep an eye at the back all the time, as an adult was sneaking around behind us.
The little ones were so cute and cheeky. One looked more like a little fluffy teddy bear. They were greeting each other and playing in the middle of the road.







Sorry to bore you with all those Hyena pics, but I just couldn’t make up my mind which pics I should leave out.
Especially one little male was in a playing mood and chased the older Hyenas, he was trying to bite into the hint legs, much to our amusement.







Some of the youngster were really curious and came very close to the car, but soon left again to join the others.



These two stopped their morning play and watched the others punishing the smallest of the group.





It didn’t took long before they joined the group again.





They had so much energy and it was awesome to watch them all on our own. We heard a lion roaring, but it seemed he was far away. We stayed with the Hyenas till they had enough of playing and vanished into the bush.







We moved on as well and spotted a Black-backed Jackal strolling around.

[Richprins]

We drove on and took the turn off to Bobbejaankrans, where a car stopped us. It was Norms, who noticed our YR. Unfortunately he was working, so we only could chat for a few minutes, exchanging our sightings. He told us about a leopard on the road which we had just missed. It was great meeting you Norms and it would be lovely meeting you again next year.

On our way again, we saw general game like a female Nyala, lots of Yellow-billed Hornbills, a Crested Francolin and a majestic Kudu bull.






Back on the H7 we had more luck with game and saw a small herd of ellies. This little one was curious, but followed mummy immediately as she moved on.



We drove to a lookout point and the road was crowded with baboons and impalas crossing.



All the way we tried to find the „Orpen leopard“, but to no avail. The lions also didn’t wanted to show up again. Instead a lone Wildebeest rested in the shade of a tree and two Zebras were cuddling.







We were back on the H-7 and spotted some more eyes in the dark , a Barn Owl, wow, a first for us.



Some Ellies were busy eating beside of the road, it is a strange feeling to see them at night, they look much bigger. I still hoped to find lions, but we didn’t find any, nor even heart them roaring. Only a lone Black-backed Jackal showed up.



The drive was nearly over, when Denise spotted something in a distance. We had to point both spot lights in the direction, so our guide could ID the animal. It was a small spotted Genet. Another first one for us!



Well, it is not the best pic and I hope you can see what it is.

The last animal on the drive was this White-tailed Mongoose, I don’t know if it is the „Bianca“ which showes up on the cam from time to time. The Mongoose didn’t turn around and vanished into the bush immediately, but we were really happy to have seen it.

[Richprins]

From a 2012 pooky report:

Day 3 28th March 2012

Matt and Shane were desperate to see lions ( they had never been to KNP before)
so we again got an early start and down to Nsemani dam - success - a mating pair of lions.
Great excitement. We were watching quietly with about 4 other cars when a little red car came
passed us all not knowing what we were watching until the lions jumped up right in front of them
The lions moved away a little so we all turned around to get a better view. We parked about a car and half
behind the red car - plenty of space we thought - we had our back to their back. Next thing they come reversing
back straight into us. Well We were in a Discovery so no damage there but he hit our tow bar and dented his car Ei






Shall I shant I? -O

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... f=46&t=606